On January 19, 2018 a meeting was held Hanoi with a review panel of experts from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). The purpose was to review the study “Development of an early warning system for the Dinh river basin” as part of the Belgium-funded project on “Integrated water resource management and urban planning related to climate change in Ninh Thuan province”. In addition to the experts from MARD, the meeting was attended by representatives from the consulting team from the Vietnam Academy for Water Resources and Vietnam Automation and Construction Technology JSC), the Ninh Thuan Board on capacity building and implementation of the water-sector official development assistance and the Technical Support Unit.

Events to raise awareness on water usage have been organised for water-using organisations in six localities including Bau Zon in Phuoc Huu commune, Van Phuoc co-operative in Phuoc Hau commune, Hieu Le co-operative in Phuoc Thuan commune, and for other water-using organisations named Ba Ho, Suoi Vang, and Ka Rom of the Raglay ethnic minority group in Cong Hai commune.

An equipment system is currently being installed as part of an advanced early warning and reservoir monitoring system in the Cai-Dinh river basin in Ninh Thuan province. The system is an activity within the Belgium-funded project of “Integrated water resource management and urban planning related to climate change in Ninh Thuan. This project also includes counterpart funding from the Vietnamese government.

A workshop was held to bring together the various parties involved in the construction works at the Cau Ngoi drain as part of the project on Integrated Water Management and Urban Development in relation to Climate Change. The implementation unit, the Committee on Capacity Building and Implementation of water ODA Projects, organized the workshop to facilitate better understanding and communication between the project managers, the construction firms, and the locally established community supervision boards.

A program of awareness raising on climate change and water resource management issues has been implemented Ninh Thuan province as organized by the Committee on Capacity Building and Implementation of water ODA Projects. In cooperation with the Youth Union of Phan Rang-Thap Cham city, a total nine separate communications events were held involving more than 300 students during June 2018. The activities serve to boost the implementation of communications activities about raising awareness about and response to climate change, and protecting and effectively using water for young people in the city.

Chairwoman of the Women Union in Khanh Hai town in the coastal area of Ninh Thuan’s Ninh Hai district, Mrs Nguyen Thi Thoi, announced that an environmental protection group has recently been established to focus on the beaches in Ninh Thuan province. The group in Khanh Hai town includes the participation of more than 80 people from the Youth Union, the Women Union, the Farmers Union, and the Veteran Union.

On September 12, 2018, the People’s Committee of Ninh Thuan province organised a mid-term workshop on a study about assessment of the vulnerability in relation to climate change for the basin of the Cai river and its surrounding area in Ninh Thuan. The event was chaired by the provincial Chairman Luu Xuan Vinh, and also participated in by representatives of the Belgian Development Agency and the Technical Support Unit, as well as leaders of the provincial departments, the Committee on Capacity Building and Implementation of water ODA Projects, and the provincial districts.

In implementation of the training plan within the framework of the Belgium-funded project of “Integrated water resource management and urban planning related to climate change in Ninh Thuan, the Committee on Capacity Building and Implementing ODA-based Water Projects have recently combined with the Centre for Consultancy and Sustainable Development of Water Resources and Adaptation to Climate Change to organise a training course on “Skills to develop a river contract”. The course was participated in by more than 70 people who are officers and staff from the provincial departments, sectors, and localities.