“Developing Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan” at the district level is a breakthrough idea of the project “Red River Delta Adaptation and Youth” (READY). There has been “National Target Program on Climate Change” issued by the Government and “Climate Change Adaptation Action Plans at the provincial level” developed accordingly. However, this is the first time “Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan” (CCAAP) initiated at the district level, of which, Tien Hai (Thai Binh) is the pilot target district. Within READY project, Asian Management and Development Institute (AMDI) is responsible for deploying these activities.
On 30 March, AMDI successfully organized the training course of “Developing Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan” in Tien Hai district, Thai Binh province. The training is an important basis, providing essential information and skills for the CCAAP Working group in order to develop a climate change adaptation action plan at the district level towards the specific target of completing the draft action plan by the end of September 2017.
At the beginning, Mr. Ngo Cong Chinh – Deputy Director of AMDI emphasized the role of the CCAAP Working group in supporting district People’s Committee and the project team to develop CCAAP at the district level. This pilot initiative of developing district level CCAAP in Tien Hai district, if completed and deployed, will be an outstanding point of READY project. Not only will this CCAAP at district level concretize the climate change issue at global, national and provincial levels, but also meet the practical demands of the locality. And if this CCAAP is successfully accomplished and implemented at district level, it will become a model for other districts nationwide.
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Mr. Ngo Cong Chinh – Deputy Director of AMDI had an opening speech at the training course
Mr. Tran Minh Tien - Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Tien Hai District as a representative of local authority expressed his interest and determination to develop an independent CCAAP for the district. At the training, he also shared that Tien Hai is a coastal district, thus has been severely affected by climate change and extreme weather events such as heavy rain, flood, salinity intrusion and sea level rise for many years. These damages affect the livelihoods and daily life habits of local people. In order to ensure a stable socio – economic development condition for the district, authorities of Tien Hai People's Committee expect to develop a detailed and practical plan, meeting the demand as well as partially improving the living standards for local residents. To get this outcome proceeded, Mr. Tien asked the CCAAP Working group and relevant departments of the People's Committee to seriously undertake these activities.
Besides, Mr. Tien also sent sincere thanks to the READY Project’s personnel for conducting the training, providing essential knowledge on climate change, procedures, methods, layouts and planning frameworks for district staffs who work as a part – time basis and lack of elementary knowledge in this field to proceed the work.
Mr. Tran Minh Tien – Vice Chairman of People’s Committee of Tien Hai district
During the training course, Prof. Dr. Truong Quang Hoc and Director of Centre for Eco – Community Development – experts in fields of sustainable development, green growth and climate change adaptation provided comprehensive instructions for trainees on legal basis, process, framework and new points of CCAAP at the district level.
This is also a precious chance for trainees to directly discuss with the professor and experts about challenges and existing problems of the locality. Practicing tools at the training course allowed trainees to better understand procedures and steps to be taken in developing the CCAAP.
Group discussion activity
The most remarkable result of the training was that consultants, together with the CCAAP Working group and relevant district staffs came to an agreement on CCAAP implementation framework in Tien Hai district.
It is expected that in mid – April 2017, experts and project team will come back Tien Hai district, providing more detailed instructions and accompanying the CCAAP Working group and People's Committee district in developing a very specific plan including processes and steps, besides assigning separate tasks for members. This whole procedure aims to complete the first draft of CCAAP in Tien Hai district, known as at the first draft CCAAP at district level in Vietnam.
The training closed with pleasure of the CCAAP Working group members, relevant stakeholders of Tien Hai district and project members. We believe that, with enthusiasm of the youth, they will develop an applicable CCAAP in line with the local situation for their Tien Hai district. And this CCAAP promises to become a model for other localities across the country to follow.