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Vietnam: Water resources management for water-related risk mitigation

Ngo’ Manh Ha’, Deputy Director General of the DWRM, MONRE

 

Hanoi, 21/11/2024 – On November 6th, the workshop “Exchange of experiences in water resources management and water-related risk reduction” was held at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam, MONRE. Officials from the Ministry, CIMA Foundation and AICS Hanoi representatives attended the event together with Vietnamese water sector institutions.

The seminar is part of the project “Technical Assistance on Strengthening the Regulatory Framework of the Water Sector: Real-time Multi-Basin Operations – AID 12866”, funded by the Italian Agency for Italian Development Cooperation and implemented by the CIMA Foundation, a leading institution  in the environmental monitoring sector in Italy. The project builds on the fruitful collaboration between the AICS Hanoi office and MONRE in defining the recent Water Law, approved in November 2023. It aims to strengthen Vietnam’s regulatory framework for managing water resources, focusing on flood and drought risks.

Isabel Gomes, CIMA Project Manager

The meeting was opened by Ngo’ Manh Ha’, Deputy Director General of the Department of Water Resources Management (DWRM) at MONRE, who emphasized the initiative’s importance for addressing Vietnam’s vulnerability to natural disasters. This is particularly important in light of the recent passage of Typhoon Yagi. Dr. Tran Dien then presented on the technical aspects of the country’s water resources management.

The CIMA Foundation delegation, composed of Drs. Isabel Gomes, Sabrina Meninno, and Lorenzo Alfieri, highlighted Italy’s system for managing river basins, focusing on flood and drought risk and its links to the early warning system for civil protection. They presented the myDewetra platform, a practical tool for impact-based forecasting for risk management in Southeast Asia, showcasing its potential benefits.

“The workshop’s main objective was to identify the points of convergence between the river basin management systems of the two countries, highlighting the similarities and differences in their respective risk forecasting and management strategies, particularly regarding floods and droughts. Furthermore, we identified issues of common interest to encourage an exchange of experiences and good practices within the project and to promote a lasting and reciprocal collaboration between MONRE and CIMA Foundation,” said Isabel Gomes, Project Manager of CIMA.

Daniele Pittalis, AICS Hanoi Senior Expert

Mr. Daniele Pittalis, Senior Expert at AICS Hanoi, presented the projects financed by the Italian Government over the years in the water sector, where the Italian Cooperation is now a reference partner of the Vietnamese Government with recognized expertise. He underlined: “AICS Hanoi promotes and supports initiatives in Vietnam aimed at strengthening institutional and technical capacities and improving efficiency and effectiveness in the sustainable management of water resources. These efforts align with the sustainable development objectives of the Planet and Partnership pillars of the 2030 Agenda, aiming to ensure the management of a resource increasingly under pressure due to rising demands from various production sectors and the country’s exposure to climate disasters. To this end, collaboration among all the actors involved and greater sharing and accessibility of data are essential”.

Sustainable Agriculture: AICS supports ASEAN Countries

Hanoi 18/11/2024 – The Italian Joint Committee, during the last meeting on November 6th, approved the initiative “Scientific and technical support for sustainable agriculture in ASEAN countries -3S” for the amount of 2,829,198.58 Euro.

The project aims to promote the resilience of the population of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members state by mitigating the effects of climate change and promoting social, economic and environmental sustainability through the introduction of sustainable agricultural practices and agricultural mechanization for the corn, cassava and sugar cane supply chains.

A consortium formed by the University of Milan, the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna of Pisa, the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture will implement the three-year project.

The new initiative marks another crucial step in the Development Partnership between Italy and ASEAN for the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation. This comes after the previous approval of the “Cooperation Mechanism for the Competitive and Sustainable Development of Aquaculture and Small-Scale Fishery in ASEAN” initiative for the amount of 2,999,745 Euros and the “Italian contribution to the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund” for the amount of 2,500,000 Euros.

The role of the AICS office in Hanoi is further consolidated with the recent opening of the project office in Jakarta, where the ASEAN Secretariat is based, strengthening operational and technical support for implementing the Italy-ASEAN partnership in development cooperation. With ASEAN, the AICS office in Hanoi aims at innovative and wide-ranging development cooperation, giving centrality to environmental and rural development issues.

Italy acquired the status of ASEAN Development Partner in September 2020 and has since collaborated closely with ASEAN, specifically in environment, rural development, circular economy, tourism, science and technology, and health.

Myanmar: Italian Cooperation’s new contribution to the Joint Peace Fund

Hanoi, 18/11/24 – On October 14, 2024, the contribution of one million euros from the Italian Cooperation was disbursed to the Joint Peace Fund, the multi-donor fund created in 2015 to support the population in Myanmar in the building of an effective and inclusive peace process.

For the third time, after the contributions in 2016 and 2019, Italy renewed its peacebuilding commitment in Myanmar to pursue the Sustainable Development Goal of the for Peace (SDG 16) of the 2030 Agenda.

The disbursement follows the signing of the agreement between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and UNOPS, the organization managing the Fund, which took place last August 20.

The Joint Peace Fund, taking a holistic approach, supports a wide range of peace actors and national organizations at all levels of society through a portfolio of projects that aim to mitigate the impact of armed conflict and violence on local communities, to provide impartial financial, technical and consultative support to those involved in formal and informal peace dialogue and negotiations, and to support women, minorities and youth in active and equal participation in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and reconstruction, and post-conflict governance.

GEFE 2024: AICS Hanoi advocates for “beyond carbon projects” in the Voluntary Market

Hanoi, 22/10/2024 – AICS Hanoi participated to the Vietnam Green Economic Forum and Exhibition – GEFE 2024, held in Ho Chi Minh City from the 21st to the 23rd of October. The event, hosted by EuroCham Vietnam, brought together key stakeholders from businesses, government, and non-governmental organizations from Europe and Vietnam to engage in technical and policy discussions and advocate for sustainable practices and projects.

AICS Hanoi joined the session on Sustainable Finance as Marco Gaspari, Environmental Sector Coordinator, took part in the panel “From Green to Growth – Unpacking Vietnam’s Carbon

Participants of the panel “From Green to Growth” – GEFE 2024

Market Potential“. The panel provided a space for understanding the market landscape in Vietnam, delving into the current regulatory framework and discussing the roles of both public and private sectors in shaping the carbon market. Panelists also exchanged ideas on opportunities for businesses, financial institutions, governmental bodies, and local communities to contribute to and benefit from carbon markets, identifying challenges such as accurate carbon accounting, market transparency, and alignment with global standards.

AICS Hanoi shared its thoughts on how carbon credit projects should maintain the integrity of their credits while also providing social and environmental benefits to local communities, pioneering the so-called “beyond just carbon” approach. The integrity of a credit refers to how accurately and effectively that credit represents a C02 equivalent emission reduction or removal.

In a market that is evolving at a very fast pace, AICS Hanoi highlighted the current challenges in the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM). “In 2023, the VCM saw a 56% decrease – said Marco Gaspari – mainly due to growing scrutiny and criticism from the media and monitoring groups questioning the effectiveness and management of carbon credit projects. In response, new initiatives focused on high standards, such as the release of core carbon principles by the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM), have been introduced”.

Gaspari suggested that to create high-quality carbon credits, one should consider market trends and demands, along with important aspects like the type of emissions affected, the goal of the

AICS Hanoi Environmental Sector Coordinator, Marco Gaspari at GEFE 2024

carbon credit project, and the specific natural resources of the country involved. Regarding emissions, Gaspari pointed out that currently buyers seem to prefer credits that focus on removing carbon rather than just reducing it. He also encouraged project developers to prioritize projects with clear social benefits linked to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in line with the new Core Carbon Principles (CCPs).

Additionally, AICS Hanoi Expert presented examples from other areas of the world that factored in these variables and that could be replicated in Vietnam.  Among these example Gaspari

mentioned integrating mangrove restoration in Nature-Based Tourism-NBT projects or using rice husk for biochar production. Vietnam has over 150.000 hectares of mangrove forest cover which hold great potential for carbon sequestration. It is also one of the largest rice producers, and the rice global value chain accounts for over 2% of global Greenhouse gas -GHG, emissions.

The discussion ended with a general remark on the need to invest more in carbon credit education and awareness to ensure that project developers are not only meeting regulatory demand but are also pioneering locally adapted technologies to accelerate Vietnam’s decarbonization efforts.

 

Vietnam, Bangladesh and Myanmar: the humanitarian support of the Italian Cooperation

Hanoi 24/09/2024 – The Central Emergency Response Fund, CERF, one of the fastest tools for responding to humanitarian

The Aftermath of Typhoon Yagi in Hanoi city center

emergencies, has allocated 2 million dollars to Vietnam, hit last September by Typhoon Yagi, one of the most violent to hit Southeast Asia in the past thirty years. The Fund is supported by the international donor community and managed by OCHA, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

The contribution of 15 million euros (Resolution VM n.29 of 1.12.2023) of the Italian Cooperation to CERF also covers this emergency that has caused 291 deaths, injured over 1900 people, destroyed roads, schools and health facilities in the north-eastern region of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The CERF’s action aims to support the humanitarian response coordinated by the Vietnamese government for the affected population.

CERF intervenes in ongoing humanitarian crises, whether from conflicts or natural disasters, by providing life-saving assistance including food, medical care and any other nature necessary to respond to the emergency.

In recent weeks, the Fund has already allocated aid to Myanmar and Bangladesh, countries under the competence of the AICS Hanoi Regional Office.

The support to Myanmar falls into the category of underfunded humanitarian crises. According to the Humanitarian Update of

The impact of Typhoon Yagi in Hanoi

August 2024, published by OCHA, there are 18.6 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in this country, where violent armed clashes between the army and opposing forces continue. CERF‘s commitment to “forgotten” crises has been renewed for the second time in 2024, totaling 100 million dollars, of which 12 million are for the emergency in Myanmar alone. Furthermore, recently, Myanmar has also been affected by the devastating consequences of Typhoon Yagi, which has caused death and destroyed crops and infrastructure in the country. CERF has preliminarily identified an additional 4 million dollars to be allocated to address this latest emergency, as reported in the OCHA Situation Report of 20 September 2024.

The allocation for Bangladesh, amounting to 4 million dollars, falls within the category of the emergency rapid response for the 5.8 million people affected by the violent rains that have poured into the country for the fourth time since the beginning of the year. According to OCHA, the floods have caused extensive damage to the agriculture and fisheries sectors, with rural roads, fields and fishponds being inundated. Relief operations have begun in the 11 districts of eastern Bangladesh affected by torrential rains.

Biomass Energy Promotion: a way for sustainable development in the APEC region

Hanoi, 23/09/2024 – On September 18th, AICS Hanoi attended the Workshop on Biomass Energy Promotion for Inclusive and Sustainable Agricultural Development in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region.

APEC is the premier Asia-Pacific economic forum supporting sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the region.

The event, organized by the International Cooperation Department of the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and held in Hanoi, was a significant gathering. It brought together line ministries, stakeholders, and key experts from the ASEAN region and the Pacific. The two-day workshop aimed to raise awareness and interest in the multi-dimensional benefits of biomass energy for agricultural-rural development and environmental protection, while also exploring opportunities for biomass energy within climate policy and finance.  It also sought to facilitate the transfer of know-how and practices and foster discussion on a regional strategy for biomass energy development, underlining the importance of the Workshop.

AICS Hanoi’s participation is part of the broader partnership between the Italian Development Cooperation and ASEAN in promoting sustainable practices in agriculture, fisheries, renewable energies and the food value chain.

Marco Gaspari, AICS Hanoi Environmental sector Coordinator, participated in the “Biomass for Growth” panel. Panelists share their views on the opportunities and challenges of involving rural farmers in biomass energy projects and the potential of carbon credit markets to provide additional revenue streams for the sector.

Mr. Gaspari addressed the role of rural cooperatives based on the circular economy model of Italian agro-energy cooperatives and how coffee residues could be used for producing biochar and clean energy. The panelists further delved into how the potential of agricultural residues for carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas, GHG, emission reduction could be leveraged to attract private-sector investment and generate carbon credits.

Huè University: publication of the tender “Purchasing equipment for infection control and operating room”

Hanoi, 20/09/2024 – The tender “Purchasing equipment for infection control and operating room” has been published by the Huè University of Medicine and Pharmacy.

The tender is within the framework of the initiative AID 9627, “Improving health services in favour of specific areas of the Central Region of Vietnam and the University College of Medicine and Pharmacy of Hue”, financed by Italy through a soft loan.

Specifically, the tender aims to implement the component “Improving the capacity of training, scientific research and healthcare” at Huè University of Medicine and Pharmacy and Huè University Hospital – Huè University”.

All the related information is available at the Vietnam National E-Procurement System (VNEPS) website.

AICS Hanoi: mission of Mr Giuseppe Cerasoli, Administrative Deputy Director

Hanoi, 12/09/2024 – In line with the effort to improve the Governance of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, AICS, Mr Giuseppe Cerasoli, Administrative Deputy Director and Head of Corruption Prevention and Transparency of the Agency, conducted a mission to the AICS Office in Hanoi, Vietnam, from the 1st to the 6th of September.

As a government body implementing development cooperation initiatives, AICS plays a pivotal role in the international donor

Ms Margherita Lulli, AICS Hanoi Head of Office, and Mr Giuseppe Cerasoli, Administrative Deputy Director of AICS

community. In this regard, the Agency is required to adapt its procedural systems to global standards and to fulfil specific obligations to be compliant with the status of “Pillar Assessed Entity” authorized to manage European Union funds.

Among the Agency’s Governance progresses and, therefore, in terms of effectiveness at the international level, it is worth mentioning its very recent positioning in the “Good” category of the Transparency Index 2024 (ATI). ATI is the only independent index measuring the transparency of aid from the world’s leading development aid agencies, created by the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI), of which AICS has taken part since 2017. The ATI Indicator analyses data at both organizational and implementation projects levels.

The visit of the Deputy Administrative Director, lasting a week, coincided with the arrival and taking up of service of Ms Margherita Lulli, the new Head of AICS Hanoi Office, from September 1st, for a two-year period assignment.

AICS Hanoi Team together with Ms Margherita Lulli and Giuseppe Cerasoli

“The presence in Vietnam of the AICS Headquarters, represented by Mr Cerasoli upon my arrival, that follows the regency of Ms Annamaria Iotti, Head of the AICS Human Resources Department, confirms the commitment and the current strategy of the Agency to enhance the exchange from the centre to the periphery and vice versa, aimed at increasing the efficiency and achieve the common objectives synergically” commented Ms Lulli.

AICS Hanoi is deeply engaged in different sectors, including managing water resources, water sanitation and hygiene (WaSH), the fight against climate change, health, and sustainable rural development in Vietnam, with a noteworthy focus on the circular economy. Further, AICS Hanoi operates in the Philippines, the Small Island States of the Pacific, and at a regional level with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Finally, AICS Hanoi actively participates in humanitarian and peace-building activities in Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Aics Hanoi: Exploratory mission of Dr. Margherita Lulli, newly appointed Head of the Office

Hanoi—In the week between July 22nd and 26th, Ms Margherita Lulli, who will take over as Head of the Aics Hanoi office from Ms Annamaria Iotti starting September 1st , carried out an exploratory mission in the country to gain an initial overview of the context and initiatives implemented by Italian cooperation in Vietnam and the Far East. Ms Lulli is currently Technical Officer of the V° Office “Environment and Land Use” of the Headquarters of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.

During her presence in Hanoi, Ms Lulli had an initial tangible approach to the ongoing projects, also supported by an intensive agenda of

AICS Hanoi Team and Ms Margherita Lulli

meetings with Heads of Mission of the diplomatic representations with which the office works, counterparts and institutional partners, and the entire AICS Hanoi Team.

“I take this opportunity to wish the future Head of the AICS Hanoi Office a fruitful work experience in Vietnam. The country, as well as the entire region we are operating, is very stimulating, also in terms of development cooperation that follows modern times, with new challenges and opportunities for the entire Italian system,” said Ms Iotti.

Ms Lulli met the Italian Ambassador to Hanoi, H.E. Marco Della Seta, and had virtual meetings with the Italian Ambassadors to Manila, H.E. Davide Giglio, and Dhaka, H.E. Antonio Alessandro. She also participated in the Development Advisors meeting hosted by the Delegation of the European Union in Vietnam and AICS Hanoi sectoral sessions with the Program Experts of the office’s initiatives.

Among the Vietnamese counterparts, she met with Dr Ngo Manh Ha, Deputy Director General of the Department of Water Management of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, and Dr Hoang Thi Thanh Ha, Director of the Department of Foreign Statistics and International Cooperation of the National Institute of Statistics.

To date, AICS Hanoi has focused its action on water resources management, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), the action on climate change, health, and sustainable rural development in Vietnam, the Philippines, and the Small Island States of the Pacific and at a regional level by promoting the development cooperation component of the Italy-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) partnership. AICS Hanoi, also, intervenes in humanitarian and peace-building activities in Myanmar and Bangladesh.

AICS Hanoi at the 10th World Water Forum 2024: Italy and Vietnam for Water Security

AICS Director, Marco Rusconi, Prof. Francesco Corvaro and the Italian Ambassador, Benedetto Latteri at the ribbon cut ceremony, AICS stand, WWF 2024

 

23rd  May – Together with the headquarter of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, AICS Hanoi participates in the 10th World Water Forum 2024 from the 18th to 25th May 2024 held in Bali, Indonesia.

The Forum’s central theme is “Water for Shared Prosperity”, a topic of utmost importance for the AICS mission.

Within this context, AICS Hanoi boasts a long commitment to the water sector, as proven by the implementation of a considerable package of water-related projects in Vietnam, contributing to the Agency’s mission in implementing the 2030 Sustainable Agenda.

On May 22nd, from the AICS Pavilion in Bali, AICS Hanoi presented a hybrid workshop entitled “Enhancing Water Security in Vietnam: Challenges and Strategies“. The workshop has been an opportunity to provide participants with an overview on the management of water resources within the country and with insights of the challenges encountered and the solutions implemented by the Vietnamese Government with the support of Italian Cooperation.

 

Annamaria Iotti and Luca Sartorelli at AICS Hanoi Workshop, WWF 2024

Ms Annamaria Iotti, AICS Hanoi Head of Office, opened the session and highlighted how Italy, as Vietnam’s crucial partner since the 1990s, has implemented several initiatives in the country related to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) and Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in partnership with the Vietnamese Government and the local provinces.

On the Vietnamese side, Ms Nguyen Thuy Anh, Head of the Development Cooperation Board from the Department of Water Resources Management of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam (MONRE), discussed the current state of Vietnam’s water resources, providing updates on the Government’s water resource policies. Finally, she outlined some of the strategic actions needed to ensure water security, considering all the challenges posed by climate change, the lack of water accessibility and droughts, to name some of those Vietnam are facing due to its rapid socioeconomic growth.

Mr Luca Sartorelli, AICS Hanoi WASH Coordinator present in Bali, moderated the workshop. Mr Daniele Pittalis, WASH Program Officer, and Mr Nguyen Quoc Dung, Liaison Officer, focused on the two-level engagement of the Agency: water resource management and water access, quality, and hygiene. The workshop emphasized AICS approach towards solutions and strategies that promote Blue Economy for a better planning and management of water usage in Vietnam.

 

 

The Italian Delegation at WWF 2024

The AICS participates in the 10th World Water Forum with four field offices (Hanoi, Tunis, Cairo and Maputo), various institutional stakeholders (Water Museum Global Network – UNESCO, CIHEAM Bari, One Water Italian Committee) and representatives of the private sector (Acea, Acquedotto Pugliese, Veragon); all of them working in the water sector at different levels.  The Italian Delegation at WWF, led by Prof. Francesco Corvaro, Italian Government’s Special Envoy for Climate Change, includes the Italian Ambassador to Indonesia, Benedetto Latteri, and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation Director, Mr Marco Riccardo Rusconi. 

On May 20th, at the inauguration of the AICS Pavilion, during his open speech, Mr Rusconi stated: “Italy has developed a long tradition in the conservation and management of water resources, and, thanks to an ever-increasing awareness of civil society and national stakeholders on the topic of water, it has a clear role as a leading country in the water sector”.