Mekong Delta Climate Resilience Program (MCRP) in Can Tho City

On 10 February 2022, Permanent Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee Mr. Duong Tan Hien chaired a meeting with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) to discuss the Mekong Delta Climate Resilience Program (MCRP). This program is sponsored by German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). It is planned to be implemented in 13 cities and provinces in the Mekong Delta in the period of 2022-2025.

MCRP aims at supporting the Vietnamese authorities on improving the climate-resilient management of natural resources in the coastal areas of the Mekong Delta to ensure sustainable development in the region. There are 4 components in MCRP, including:

- Component 1: Establishing an institutional framework to promote linkages in the development of the Mekong Delta to adapt to climate change.

- Component 2: Improving investment planning at the regional level for urban and rural water management to adapt to climate change with gender equality mainstreaming.

- Component 3: Applying new, innovative and appropriate technological solutions to combat coastal erosion, thereby strengthening the capacity to adapt to climate change for rural infrastructures and ecosystems.

- Component 4: Implementation of climate-adaptive water-related urban infrastructure.

In 2021, GIZ had business trips and meetings in Can Tho City to deeply discuss with relevant departments and agencies on the service fee for urban water sewerage, flood prevention proposal, and the city's planning. The Department of Construction and Department of Agriculture and Rural Development also attended virtual workshop on the results of MCRP's Phase 1 and consultation of Mekong Delta provinces for the second phase.

Mr. Tim McGrath, head of the GIZ's delegation, expressed his appreciation to city leaders for their continuing support to the program. The City People's Committee has assigned Department of Construction (DoC) to be the focal point to advise the City People's Committee the flood prevention proposal, especially the estimate for it so that Can Tho could hire consultation agency to implement the next steps.

In addition, DoC is also working with GIZ and related departments to prepare a draft for the orientation of water sewerage for urban and industrial zones. The previous orientation plan approved in 2013 was outdated due to the amended decrees and circulars from the central government.

As for the options for urban water sewerage service fee and the roadmap to implement it in 2021-2025, DoC has been working with the Department of Finance to evaluate the fee estimate for hiring consultation agency to prepare the service fee options and its roadmap.

Permanent Vice Chairman Duong Tan Hien highly appreciated the MCRP's efforts and contributions to the Mekong Delta region and he suggested that GIZ work closely with the Department of Construction, Department of Planning and Investment, and other related agencies to implement the program on schedule.