Context:
The Vietnamese part of the Mekong Delta is located in the far south of Vietnam. Vietnam is nowadays seen as a (lower) middle-income country and is developing from a primarily agricultural economy to an industrial and service oriented economy. However, the Mekong Delta is falling behind in economic growth compared to the rest of the country. In addition, it is severely affected by climate change and sea level rise. It has been estimated that 10-12% of the total population of Vietnam will be directly affected and about 10% of GDP may be lost because of sea level rise, unless adaptive measures are taken. The Mekong Delta Integrated Climate Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods Project and the Mekong Delta Master Plan for 2021-2030 aim to tackle these problems.
Objective:
The overall objective of the project is to set up an integrated regional spatial planning approach (known as the Mekong Delta Master Plan 2021-2030) with alignment of all relevant stakeholders. The plan is vital to steer and coordinate the sectoral master plans and their proposed opportunities in the delta for livelihood improvement and socio-economic sustainable development.
Approach:
The approach of the consortium, consisting of Royal Haskoning DHV and GIZ, is based on three pillars (data-people-plan), which provide a structured framework throughout development of the master plan and corresponding deliverables of the project. Each pillar has several workflows representing the main activities to be performed. The data pillar comprises workflows for joint fact-finding, visualization of the findings and development of a data platform available for all stakeholders. The people pillar provides capacity building to those involved in the formulation and implementation of the master plan and the plan pillar supports decision-making processes through an investment plan determining priority measures. Content wise, the Master Plan evolves around the eight components social, spatial, water, environment, project economy, economic sectors, environment and infrastructure. It will be drafted in an adaptive manner within 13 months and backed by several reports and assessment documents.
Types of services provided:
• Evaluation of existing (regional or provincial) plans on environment
• Identification of baseline studies on environment and ecology in the Mekong Delta
• Participation in regional planning conference
• Mapping of environmental stakeholders (line ministries, academic institutions, private sectors)
• Development of a framework on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), taking into account socio-economic factors
• Contributing to planning scenarios
• Development of "diagnostic notes" (state, trends, challenges, visions) on environment
• Detailing regional plan, assessment of key priority projects and calculation of benefits and costs