MRC, GIZ conclude adaptation pilot project in Mekong Delta

The cooperation project “Climate change adaptation through climate sensitive flood management in the lower Mekong Basin” conducts in total four such adaptation projects, one in each of the MRC member countries (Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Vietnam).

GIZ implements these projects on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB).

In total, the first pilot project in Dong Thap province has provided support to 582 direct beneficiaries (in which women account for 45%) and thousands of indirect beneficiaries.

GIZ is now assessing the initial results of the pilot project and officially handing over the project to the commune.

The overall purpose of the adaptation pilot projects is the provision of a vulnerability assessment which identifies, assesses, and implements small scale and low cost adaptation measures to reduce vulnerability to floods in flooding hotspots.

An innovative methodology was used for the vulnerability assessment. It integrated social and economic vulnerabilities to formulate, prioritise and cost justify the selected adaptation measures.

To achieve sustainable outcomes, the project has provided both non-structural measures including training and awareness raising on flood risk as well as practical small scale infrastructure.

The project conducted four trainings on topics such as search and rescue methods during floods, obtaining fresh water and sanitation during floods, and community-based disaster risk management for local leaders.

It has also provided a loudspeaker system to provide early flood warnings for the people, motor boats for carrying out search and rescue missions, and water storage tanks and filters to provide clean water during floods.

Each phase of the pilot projects was guided by a series of consultations with stakeholders at the national, provincial, and local levels, producing a set of adaptation options that was well-suited to the unique needs, constraints, and opportunities of each hotspot.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Dan, Vice President of Phu Thanh A People’s Committee summarised the results of the project activities: “The capacity building and training activities of the adaptation pilot project has enhanced the knowledge of the community particularly the poor, women and children on flood risk reduction and reduced their vulnerability to the negative impacts of flood and climate change. The flood risk and climate change impacts were integrated into the approved 2016 socio-economic development plan of the commune”.

Following the finalisation of all pilot projects, key stakeholders from all MRC member countries will gather in Cambodia for a regional workshop to discuss lessons learned. Ultimately, these pilot projects provide a basis for scaling up the adaptation process throughout the Lower Mekong Basin.

‘The Lower Mekong Basin is one of the most severely affected regions by flooding’, GIZ project Director Dr. Philipp Magiera additionally stated, ‘Climate change will increase the risk of flooding, it is therefore necessary to support rural communities in becoming more resilient to floods.’