The Program

2010 – 2014

Geographic scope:

• Lao Cai, Vietnam
• Hue, Vietnam
• Phuket, Thailand
• Udon Thani, Thailand

Partners: Thua Thien-Hue Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Lao Cai Department of Natural Resources and Environment, National Institute for Science and Technology Policy and Strategy Studies (NISTPASS), Thailand Environmental Institute (TEI)

Funders: USAID, The Rockefeller Foundation

Overview

Building on the  Rockefeller funded Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCCRN) program, the Mekong-Building Resilience Asian Cities (M-BRACE) program worked directly with local governments of medium sized cities in Thailand (Phuket and Udon Thani) and Vietnam (Lao Cai and Hue) to develop and apply practical methods for building resilience to the impacts of climate change. 

In Vietnam, ISET worked closely with city stakeholders in Lao Cai and Hue to envision their future development plans, understand their current trajectories and expected climate change impacts, and adjust their plans to promote resilience and sustainability. We provided coaching and technical support to local project teams to apply ISET’s Climate Resilience Framework and other methods and tools to conduct climate vulnerability assessments, develop climate resilience action plans with priority interventions, conduct in-depth research for key priority areas, and pilot some of the priority actions identified in the action plans. 

One emphasis of the program was in applying the Shared Learning Dialogue approach to facilitate learning and discussions of diverse stakeholders to provide new information, deliberate on findings of assessments, and provide recommendations for driving forward processes to improve urban climate governance through further study, access to information, capacity development, and improving urban plans.

Key outcomes/results

• Enhanced capacity of city partners and core working group members in climate vulnerability and risk assessment, urban resilience planning, participatory planning, project monitoring and evaluation, and climate change communication as a result of training and coaching and the provision of methods and tools.
• Improved understanding of climate vulnerability and risks in Lao Cai and Hue cities in relation with other factors such as land use, demographic, socio-economic, and infrastructural changes.
• Raised awareness of partners, government leaders and staff, and community members on climate change resilience, climate change integration into socioeconomic development plans, and CBDRM.
• Improved flood monitoring and early warning in Lao Cai and Hue.
• Developed an in-depth understanding of the impacts of urbanization and climate change on flooding and drainage capacity in Hue city to support urban development spatial planning.
• Improved understanding of water scarcity under climate change in Lao Cai city.
• Strengthened networks and cross-learning between cities in Vietnam and regionally for urban climate resilience.

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Selected outputs

For more information

Ms. Ngo Thi Le Mai