A learning-by-doing, participatory approach to commune-level disaster drills in Huế City, Vietnam

Solutions Brief

The ‘Solutions’ series shares practical and replicable local knowledge through our work across Vietnam on how to build resilience to climate hazards.

Summary

ISET-International (ISET) worked with the Huế City Division of Water Resources and Climate Change (responsible for DRM so DRM agency afterward) to co-develop a consistent, participatory and standardized guidelines for disaster drills planning and implementation with active participation from commune level government, DRM officers, and mass organizations. The draft was piloted in Quảng Điền and Đan Điền communes, where ISET and the DRM agency mentored local officials to prepare their own drill plans, and mobilize local forces and residents to organize exercise simulating extreme disaster scenarios. All key actors, such as commune leaders, DRM response teams, mass organizations, and community members. Before the drills, participants received training in search and rescue, preparedness, and first aid so they can apply these skills smoothly during both the exercises and real emergencies. This learning-by-doing approach has strengthened and sustained local capacity for disaster response. The draft Handbook on Disaster drill planning and implementation is now being refined based on lessons from these pilots and will continue to be tested and applied in additional communes in 2026 before being finalized for city-wide use.

A learning-by-doing, participatory approach to commune-level disaster drills in Huế City, Vietnam (PDF)