Looking back to look ahead: GEF-Viet Nam Cooperation for Sustainable Development

Opening Remarks by Ms Akiko Fujii, UNDP Deputy Country Director in Viet Nam, at GEF Assembly 2018 MONRE Side Event

June 26, 2018

Date: Tuesday, 26 June 2018, 18:00
Venue: Da Nang city, Viet Nam

His Excellency, Mr. Tran Hong Ha, Minister of Viet Nam Natural Resources and Environment of Viet Nam

Mdm. Naoko Ishii, GEF CEO

Representative from WB and other Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, good afternoon/evening. 

On Behalf of UNDP, it is my great pleasure to be part of this side event: Looking back to look ahead: GEF-Viet Nam Cooperation for Sustainable Development.

As we look back, I would like to start with commending Viet Nam for early engagement with GEF since 1992. The first GEF-funded project, entitled “Conservation Training and Biodiversity Action Plan” in 1992 laid solid foundation of subsequent projects and efforts for sustainable management of natural resources and environmental protection in Viet Nam. UNDP is proud of having provided technical support to this first GEF project in Viet Nam.

(key achievements in GEF 5 & 6)

Recognizing the importance of Viet Nam’s rich biodiversity of global significance, with more than 30,000 flora and fauna species, UNDP has been working closely with the Government to strengthen legal frameworks, enhance institutional capacity, and engage communities in the biodiversity conservation effort. As a result, Viet Nam adopted Biodiversity Law, national biodiversity strategy and action plan (NBSAP) until 2020, is enhancing protected areas systems, including forestry, marine, wetland, and biosphere reserves, and is improving access and benefit-sharing to natural generic resources – bridging between communities and private sector.

Viet Nam’s long war legacy left behind hundred thousand tonnes of contaminated soils in hundred sites throughout the country. GEF support enabled comprehensive inventory of dioxin and obsolete pesticides and technology development, which catalysed environmental treatment of thousands of tonnes of pesticide- and dioxin-contaminated soil, giving back safe land and environment to 3,000 local people. (more than 1,000 tonnes of pesticide-contaminated soil and 5,000 tonnes of dioxin contaminated soil)

GEF support catalysed the scaled action on energy efficiency and climate change adaptation. Formulation and adoption of the Law on Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation and the revised Law on Environmental Protection benefited from GEF-funded technical support. Viet Nam is now making great effort to enhance energy efficiency in some energy-intensive sectors, especially the fast-growing construction sector, and engage private sectors into this important process.

Distinguished participants,

(Look ahead)

The 6th GEF Assembly provides excellent opportunity for us to share best practices and solutions to protect our global and Viet Nam’s local environment for achieving the SDGs.

On this occasion, I would like to propose three recommendations for enhancing effectiveness and impacts of GEF support to Viet Nam

First, we would like to commend GEF for introducing a new approach - Impact Programme in GEF 7 - which is timely and relevant for Viet Nam. Viet Nam’s adoption of the new planning law lays solid foundation for integrated regional planning and programme, such as integrated coastal management.

Second, setting priority and right focus is essential to maximize impacts of intervention. Viet Nam’s fast development is posing increasing environmental challenges with competing priorities. In this context, alignment of GEF support with the Government’s priority programmes will enable to address issues at scale and ensure sustainability. Strong coordination among sectors and streamlined administrative structure will help reduce transaction costs and fragmentation of resources for different projects on the same issue.

Third, scaling up the country-success and sharing best practices to regional project are cost effective ways to address the regional nature of environmental protection. For example, Viet Nam has gained significant capacity and experience on management and treatment of pesticide-contaminated soils. The experience can be easily transferred to other countries that suffer from contaminated soils.

I would like to conclude by congratulating Viet Nam again for making impressive progress in environmental protection, and contributing to global environmental benefits by many local actions.

I would like to assure UNDP’s strong commitments to the continued effective partnership with Viet Nam, GEF and other development partners for protecting rich biodiversity and environment in Viet Nam for a green and resilient development, leaving no one behind.

I wish you all a fruitful discussion this evening.