81271963-Strengthening Regional Coordination and Climate Resilience in the Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta provides livelihoods for 21 million people. It is also one of the parts of the world most affected by climate change. The impact of inappropriate land and water management combined with the consequences of climate change threaten the existence of this ecosystem, its role as a major supplier of rice and other agricultural produce, and ultimately the livelihoods of its people. The Government of Viet Nam has taken the first steps towards developing strategies, plans and legal frameworks aimed at creating the conditions required for a holistic approach to climate-resilient management of the Mekong Delta. This includes the Planning Law that was ratified in 2019 in order to drive forward integrated regional master planning. Other central components of the legal framework include: (a) the Mekong Delta Integrated Regional Plan (MDIRP) which is scheduled for ratification as of 2021 and is intended to pilot and tighten up the new integrated planning processes for the Mekong Delta under the Planning Law; and (b) the Prime Minister's Resolution on the sustainable and climate-resilient development of the Mekong Delta (Resolution No. 120/NQ-CP). Furthermore, a Regional Coordinating Council has been set up for the Mekong Delta but is not yet fully operational. The achievement of these important milestones over recent years has created the basic conditions, but the Vietnamese Government still lacks a fully operational, innovative, and coordinated regional approach. Consequently, climate-resilient management of natural resources in the coastal areas of the Mekong Delta is not sufficiently effective to ensure sustainable development in the region (core problem). The module objective of the TC measure is as follows: Climate-resilient management of natural resources in the coastal areas of the Mekong Delta is improved to ensure sustainable development in the region. The regional focus of the advisory services is on all 13 provinces in the Mekong Delta and on the national level for regional coordination. Measures will help establish the institutional framework for regional coordination and investment planning for the climate-resilient and gender-sensitive management of water resources in urban and rural areas in the Mekong Delta. The programme will also focus on innovative technologies for combatting coastal and riverbank erosion in urban, rural and coastal planning zones. It further aims to promote climate-smart and water-sensitive infrastructure in this area. The current duration of the project is 5 years (from 01/2021 to 12/2025). Based on the mentioned objective, this assignment aims to contribute to regional coordination and the government's transition from the remnants of central planning to the new integrated and multi-sectoral planning approach. The focus of this assignment is institutional development priorities in national, regional, and provincial master planning closely linked with integrating urban and rural development in accordance with the Law on Planning and related legislation. The assignment will be implemented at national level and 13 provinces of the Mekong Delta and contribute to specific fields of activity of the entire project and respective indicators.