US, Vietnam launch new project to reduce environmental pollution

The new project, Reducing Pollution, is a five-year, US$11.3 million effort implemented by USAID partner Winrock International, in close cooperation with MONRE. Joining the launch ceremony were MONRE Minister Tran Hong Ha, Deputy Chief of Mission Melissa Bishop, USAID/Vietnam Mission Director Aler Grubbs, and Winrock International President and CEO Rodney Ferguson. 

“The launch of USAID’s Reducing Pollution project is an important part of the collaboration between USAID and MONRE. We signed an MOU in January 2022 to improve environmental outcomes, and this Reducing Pollution project is a great first milestone. Our joint efforts will raise awareness and promote actions led by Vietnamese to reduce environmental pollution and support Vietnam in achieving its climate change goals,” said Aler Grubbs, USAID/Vietnam Mission Director. 

Vietnam faces a series of environmental pollution challenges largely spurred by agriculture, transportation, and industrial production. Public interest in environmental quality has steadily increased, along with calls for action to improve the environment. The Government of Vietnam released National Action Plans related to air quality, water conservation, and plastic waste pollution, demonstrating the country’s commitment to ensuring broad cooperation to address environmental pollution challenges.

The Reducing Pollution project will address multiple sources of environmental pollution.  The project will bring together different people to collaborate, identify ways to solve a shared problem, and take action. The project will work closely with MONRE’s Vietnam Environment Administration, and the project will demonstrate clear connections between environmental benefits and other social benefits, including public health, employment, and sustainable economic growth. 

To foster Vietnamese leadership in addressing environmental pollution, the project will provide grants to a series of local entities to serve as the “backbone” for each collective impact initiative. These backbone organizations will serve as the local leaders for each initiative, including by gaining public support, advancing policy, and leveraging additional funding.

Through a broad consultative process with authorized government agencies, local communities, and environmental experts, the Reducing Pollution project has identified six priority collective impact initiatives that reflect strong political will, community leadership, and engagement from private sector partners to address environmental pollution challenges.

These initiatives include Pioneering Company, Community and Consumer Responsibility in Plastic Waste Reduction in Vietnam (P3CR); Developing Circular Economy Model in Medical Plastic Waste Management; Reducing Air Pollution from Road Transportation; Reducing Air Pollution from Open Burning; Reducing Pollution in Craft Villages; and Developing a Transparent Environmental Data Disclosure Platform.

The United States and Vietnam are preparing to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of their Comprehensive Partnership. The USAID Reducing Pollution project is yet another example of how the United States and Vietnam work strategically together to address the world’s most pressing issues, like climate.