In support of World Environment Day 2018, events with the theme “Beat Plastic Pollution” were conducted in Ninh Thuan with the cooperation of provincial authorities and the Youth Union. The activities were the initiative of the Belgium-funded project on “Integrated water resource management and urban planning related to climate change in Ninh Thuan province” who combined with the city authorities of Phan Rang – Thap Cham and the local youth union to conduct a series of awareness raising events.

Ninh Thuan: Over the period 11-14 June 2018 irrigation consultants from the Vietnam Academy for Water Resources worked with provincial irrigation management body and local representatives in Ninh Phuoc and Ninh Hai districts to discuss issues for irrigation service delivery and irrigation management. These consultant-service activities are being conducted as part of the Belgium-funded project on “Integrated water resource management and urban planning related to climate change in Ninh Thuan”. The consulting team is being led by Associate Professor Doan Doan Tuan who is the Vice Director of the irrigation management consultancy centre under the Vietnam Academy for Water Resources. The purpose for the activity is to strengthen the management capacity and operational performance of the irrigation system in Ninh Thuan province.

Over the period from 20 to 23 March 2018, more than 100 trainees, including officers and staff from departments and agencies from Ninh Thuan province, participated in two training courses on water resources and climate change. The courses are titled “General knowledge about managing water resources and river basins” and “Integrated water resource management in the context of climate change”.

Working with the Women’s Union Phan Rang-Thap Cham city, the coordination unit of the Belgian-funded climate change project has launched a club named “Going to the market – Pride of housewives”. The project, known officially as “Integrated water resource management and urban planning in relation to climate change in Ninh Thuan province” has a strong communications component aimed towards raising awareness of a variety of issues in relation to conservation, “green living” and protecting water resources.

According to the Committee on Capacity Building and Implementing ODA-based Water Projects in the south-central province of Ninh Thuan, from March 20-30, more than 500 people – including staff from state-owned agencies, pupils, students and inhabitants from Ninh Thuan, directly partook in activities in response to the World Water Day 2018. The event, themed “Nature for Water”, explored how communities and governments can use nature to overcome the water challenges of the 21st century.

On March 23, 2018, the Ninh Thuan provincial People’s Committee organised a workshop for presenting the results of the study on impacts of saltwater intrusion on the lower reached of the Dinh river and proposed solutions.

On March 14, 2018 in the south-central province of Ninh Thuan, the Project Coordination Unit for capacity building and implementation of water related ODA projects organised a training course on database design. At the core of the activity is the data derived from various studies conducted as part of the project “Integrated water resource management and urban planning related to climate change in Ninh Thuan province” funded by Belgium’s government. The training was supported by the GIS expert from the Hanoi-based, Technical Support Unit.

The Belgian Government’s official development assistance (ODA) will help the central province of Ninh Thuan to enhance capacity in the management and operation of its reservoirs and  irrigation system as part of efforts to respond to climate change under tow new initiatives launched on March 8, 2018.

Over the past few years, irrigation works in the south-central province of Ninh Thuan have made great contributions to agricultural and living activities. However, due to drought conditions the lack of water has contributed to considerable hardship in the affected communities. In the context of climate change it is highly likely that the frequency of hot dry conditions will continue becoming worse. This means that the improvements are continually required to ensure that irrigation systems are managed well and that precious water is used as effectively as possible.

The Implementation Unit For Capacity Development And ODA Water Resources Projects (MCDU) in the south-central province of Ninh Thuan has recently inked contracts which support strengthening reservoir and irrigation management as part of the second phase of funding to the Belgian supported project on Integrated Water Resources Management and Urban Development in relation to Climate Change in Ninh Thuan Province.