Terence D. Jones, UNDP Resident Representative to Việt Nam, speaking at the event on Friday. Photo provided by UNDP

HÀ NỘI – A $30 million climate change adaption fund, provided by Green Climate Fund (GCF), has been launched to help small-scale agricultural businesses adapt to changes in water security caused by climate change. 

The launching event was jointly organised by the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the authorities of five provinces: Đắk Lắk, Đắk Nông, Khánh Hòa, Ninh Thuận and Bình Thuận.  

The 2021-2026 project will support more than 5,000 people with access to safe water resources, climate-resilient agricultural practices, and loans.

At the event, Terence D. Jones, UNDP Resident Representative in Việt Nam, said “It is important to build resilience and to apply innovative and climate-resilient tools and practices to support poor and near-poor farmers in adapting to increasingly severe droughts, exacerbated by climate change.”

“This project complements the ongoing GCF project that UNDP supports in 28 coastal provinces, building resilience in communities vulnerable to floods, and bringing together innovative approaches to help more than a million of the most vulnerable people in Việt Nam.” 

Nguyễn Hoàng Hiệp, MARD Deputy Minister said, “The project reflects the strong commitment and efforts of the Government of Việt Nam to support vulnerable communities and ethnic minorities group in being resilient to climate change.”

Farmers will be provided with training on how to manage climate risks to their operations by applying climate-resilient soil, crop planning and management practices to reinforce the investment in water security.

They will also be provided with technical guidance and financial support on climate-smart agriculture practices to improve production and increase yields. VNS