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Disaster Prevention: Strengthening international cooperation

In the framework of the National Strategy for Natural disaster Prevention and Mitigation (PTGNTT) in 2020, Vietnam and the Philippines have signed a Joint Declaration and Framework Program on response to oil spills in the Gulf of Thailand as well as participation in the implementation plan on the oil spill response to help strengthen the capacity, resources management, disaster response at all levels, sectors and communities.

Especially in the first 5 years of implementation of the National Strategy, Vietnam has attracted a lot of financial assistance and preferential loans for disaster prevention and mitigation, including substantial support from World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), UN organizations such as UNDP, FAO, UNICEF ... and foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs). According to the Central Committee for Flood and Storm Control, thanks to support, the central government and local authorities have many more options in mobilizing resources to effectively implement the National Strategy.

According to reports by local authorities, among the communes within the disaster areas in the Mekong Delta, North Central ... that were selected as pilot zones with the direct support and guidance from foreign NGO organizations, 70% of the population has been provided with common knowledge for prevention and flood mitigation. According to the results of surveys in some key provinces affected by disaster in the 3 regions in 2012, the enhancement in awareness and disaster prevention skills of social communities in the sub-projects which were funded by NGOs in some provinces such as Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Nghe An, Phu Yen, Binh Thuan, has been proved as effective.

Central Committee for Flood and Storm Control representatives also said despite the fact that the capital for a number of projects implemented in Phu Tho province by Plan Organization, in Thua Thien Hue by Save the Children Organization, in Ben Tre by Oxfam, in Yen Bai by World Vision is only about 100-200 million / commune, those projects have reached success when people participate in the training, planning, risk mapping.

However, when Vietnam has become the country with the average income in the near future, the ODA priorities for development in general and for disaster Prevention and Mitigation in particular will be decreased. Therefore the government should enact mechanisms, policies to attract sponsorship and international support that are compatible with the new situation.

In addition, beneficiary provinces with small-scale projects funded by NGOs should be replicated in numerous communes, districts with legal mobilized funding in socialized orientation. Furthermore financial resources mobilization for the disaster Prevention and Mitigation has not been paid enough attention.

Concerning international sponsors, in addition to regularly sharing typical information, experiences and lessons about disaster Prevention and Mitigation for Vietnam, they should capture sufficient information about the sponsorship of other donors as well as ensuring benefit fairness among localities when providing them direct financial assistance.