Lead organisation: University of Potsdam
Partners
- Centre for Social Research and Development (CSRD)
- Institute for Earth and Environmental Science
- University Amsterdam Vietnam Rivers Network
The University of Potsdam team has worked to improve the resilience of societal groups especially vulnerable to pluvial, river and coastal flooding in the Thua Thien Hue Province of Vietnam through coastal and urban projects, both with potential for upscaling. These activities have helped coastal and urban communities improve resistance against chronic stress and shocks posed by flooding; improved their ability to bounce back in case the capacity to resist is exceeded; and have generated learning, awareness raising and knowledge to achieve a system shift towards more inclusive approaches of disaster risk management and climate change adaptation.
Watch the in-depth documentary, Building Flood Resilience in Central Vietnam, about the project to build flood resilience in Central Vietnam. The documentary follows the story of three women that have taken part in Potsdam’s ecosystem-based approach to protecting communities from extreme weather.
Key Achievements:
- 4,800 coastal residents directly benefit from the planting of mangroves.
- Jointly with local communities and the women’s union, about five ha of mangroves were planted in Hai Duong and Loc Vinh communes.
- Following capacity building activities by the Disaster Management Centre, the Women’s Union organized lively communication events on flood resilience and EbA for almost 700 women. These events included theatre performances, an EbA quiz and karaoke of flood-related songs.
- To overcome the barrier towards more inclusive approaches of DRM and CCA, a comprehensive analysis of tangible costs and benefits over a 30 year period was conducted, revealing a positive benefit-cost ratio of 2.3 (i.e. each dollar invested returns 2.3 dollars in benefits).
- Women and poor people were willing to pay more for eco-system services provided by restored mangroves, suggesting that EbA helps the most vulnerable.