Development of guidelines for emergency response and post-disaster recovery in Viet Nam

A three-year UNDP technical assistance (TA) project (until December 2011) entitled: “Strengthening institutional capacity for Disaster Risk Management in Viet Nam, including climate change-related disasters” was approved in September 2008 by the Government of Viet Nam. This project, supported by UNDP funding of US$4.25 million and an in-kind contribution from the Government, will be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in collaboration with the Provincial People Committees of Binh Thuan, Can Tho and Cao Bang, the Viet Nam Red Cross (VNRC), the Hanoi Water Resources University and other universities and institutes.

The overall TA project supports the objectives of the National Strategy for Disaster Prevention, Response and Mitigation to 2020 and the Action Plan Framework for Adaptation to Climate Change in the Agriculture and Rural Development Sector Period 2008-2020 prepared by MARD, as well as the National Target Program to Respond to Climate Change prepared by Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MoNRE) in consultation with MARD.

Existing emergency guidelines for disaster/emergency response are varied and are not utilized consistently throughout the country; Government guidelines for recovery have still to be developed. Relevant capacity building of staff of the main agencies involved in disaster risk management (DRM) at the central, provincial district and local levels is needed.