An exchange of notes for the project “Strengthening disaster and climate resilience for children through integrating disaster risk reduction education in Viet Nam” was signed on February 10 at the headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. The document was signed by Japanese Ambassador to Viet Nam Ito Naoki and UNICEF Representative in Viet Nam Silvia Danailov, in the presence of Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep, who delivered remarks at the ceremony.
The project will be implemented from 2026 to 2030 with nearly $6 million in non-refundable official development assistance (ODA) provided by the Government of Japan through UNICEF, together with VND10 billion (approximately $400,000) in counterpart funding from Vietnam. Of the total amount, $4.8 million will be directly managed and implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. The project will be carried out nationwide, prioritizing provinces at high risk of flash floods, landslides and flooding, including Cao Bang, Lao Cai, Nghe An and Ha Tinh.
27 million children and residents expected to benefit
Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep said the new phase of the project aims to further strengthen Viet Nam’s disaster risk reduction system based on data and with a focus on children. As natural disasters become increasingly extreme and unpredictable, he said, efforts need to shift from response-based measures to proactive prevention, integrating disaster risk reduction into planning, investment and policymaking processes.
The 2026–2030 phase will focus on three main components. First, it will enhance disaster risk information, monitoring and analysis systems to support policymaking and early warning at both central and local levels. Risks and vulnerabilities affecting children will be systematically identified and updated to facilitate integration into socio-economic development plans.
Second, it will strengthen governance and risk-informed financing mechanisms to support the development of safe and inclusive infrastructure, including schools and community facilities. The approach seeks to ensure that public investment contributes to long-term resilience to climate change impacts.
Third, it will improve the prevention, adaptation and resilience capacity of children and communities through a comprehensive disaster response system, strengthened local early warning mechanisms, regular drills, and the integration of disaster risk reduction education into the national education curriculum.
An estimated 27 million children and community members nationwide are expected to benefit from improved planning, early warning and prevention systems. In high-risk provinces, approximately 2.2 million children and 7 million residents will receive direct support.
The deputy minister requested the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control to closely coordinate with UNICEF during implementation to ensure consistency and effectiveness in line with local conditions. He stressed that international experience should be adapted to Vietnam’s context to ensure practical effectiveness.
Previous phase trained 1,000 officials, supported 450,000 people
During the 2021–2025 phase, with support from the Government of Japan through UNICEF, the project recorded several outcomes.
Policies and guidelines on natural disaster prevention and control were further developed with greater integration of child-related considerations. Technical assistance supported the review and assessment of the Law on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control. More than 1,000 officials at various levels received training to strengthen disaster risk management capacity.
Communication and education activities reached more than 4.6 million children and community members. Over 450,000 people, including more than 167,000 children, received support during major disasters through the provision of clean water, essential supplies, and assistance to schools, health stations and evacuation sites.
At the ceremony, Ambassador Ito Naoki said Japan continues to prioritize disaster risk reduction and the protection of vulnerable groups in its development cooperation with Viet Nam. Strengthening risk identification, improving early warning systems and reinforcing risk governance would help reduce damage caused by floods, landslides and extreme weather events, he said.
UNICEF Representative Silvia Danailov said recent climate shocks had highlighted gaps in risk information and coordination at the local level. A child-focused approach helps protect vulnerable groups while improving the overall effectiveness of disaster risk management systems, she said.
The 2026–2030 project is consistent with Viet Nam’s commitments under the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals.
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