Quang Tri strengthens community resilience to climate change

On November 29, the Quang Binh Provincial Red Cross in collaboration with Plan International Vietnam organized a workshop to launch the project "Enhancing community resilience to climate change" phase 2 from 2024 to 2027.

Delegates take souvenir photos at the event (Photo: Plan International Vietnam).

The project “Enhancing community resilience to climate change” phase 2 will be implemented for 4 years, from 2024 to 2027 in 10 communes in Quang Ninh and Le Thuy districts (Quang Binh province) and Dakrong, Huong Hoa and Vinh Linh districts (Quang Tri province). With funding from the Z Zurich Foundation (Zurich Insurance Group - Switzerland), the initiative focuses on improving the ability to respond to climate change for vulnerable communities in areas frequently affected by natural disasters, while supporting local authorities from commune to provincial levels to strengthen their capacity in applying laws and policies to respond to natural and climate hazards. In particular, children and youth are placed in a central role, becoming active factors in the process of building safer and more sustainable communities.

In phase 1 from 2021 to 2024, the project was implemented synchronously in 2 districts of Dakrong, Trieu Phong and Dong Ha city of Quang Tri province, achieving many positive results. Specifically, nearly 64,000 direct and indirect beneficiaries have benefited from the project. As a result, 6 community shock teams in 6 project communes have been equipped with first aid skills with the participation of 360 members through 18 training courses. 1,500 households have accessed the disaster prevention fund through the Village Loan Savings Group in 12 project communities. 3,000 out of 15,156 people have known how to evacuate when floods occur through participating in awareness raising events. 1,550 households have been able to access the Early Warning System signs installed in the communities. At the same time, six commune-level disaster prevention plans have been integrated into the socio-economic development plan through orientation and advocacy carried out within the framework of this project.

In response to the impacts of climate change in recent years on Vietnam in general and the program implementation area in particular, the project aims to develop gender-responsive and comprehensive disaster risk management plans at the community level, working with local authorities to implement comprehensive and community-based responses in parallel with supporting national government agencies to create an enabling environment for youth-centered climate change responses.

Speaking at the event, Country Director of Plan International Vietnam, Ms. Migena Shulla emphasized: “Communities on the front line of climate change, especially vulnerable groups such as women, children, the elderly, people with disabilities and ethnic minorities in mountainous areas of Vietnam, are facing increasingly severe risks. The project “Strengthening Community Resilience to Climate Change” not only equips them with essential knowledge and skills, but also empowers them to confidently respond to and mitigate the impacts of natural disasters and climate change. This initiative is also in line with Plan International Vietnam’s vision 2025–2027, which aims to empower girls, young women and youth to become positive drivers, promoting sustainable and inclusive solutions, thereby building more resilient and sustainable communities.”

The project “Strengthening community resilience to climate change” for the period 2024-2027 aims to support communities in disaster-prone areas in mountainous and rural areas in Quang Binh and Quang Tri (Photo: Plan International Vietnam).

The workshop ended with a strong consensus and commitment from the participants in continuing to support the community in disaster prevention and climate change response. With a clear strategy and direction for the period 2024 - 2027, the project "Strengthening community resilience to climate change" promises to bring about sustainable changes, improve the quality of life and enhance resilience for vulnerable communities in Quang Binh and Quang Tri.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/quang-tri-tang-cuong-kha-nang-chong-chiu-voi-bien-doi-khi-hau-cho-cong-dong-207926.html