Expecting GIZ’s experience-sharing in forest quality improvement and agricultural emission reduction

The commemorative medal “For the Cause of Agriculture and Rural Development of Viet Nam” acknowledging his contributions to Vietnam's agriculture sector was awarded to Mr. Christoph Eric Wilhelm Klinnert, Director of the Mekong Delta Climate Resilience Programme, Deutsche Gesellschaft.

Christoph Klinnert has over 30 years of experience in development cooperation in many countries worldwide. In Vietnam, since 2019, he has been the Director of the Climate Change Adaptation Project in the Mekong Delta (MCRP) Phase 1 and 2 under the auspice of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. He also directly manages projects such as “Improved Water Cycle Systems for Sustainable. Fisheries Production in Aquaculture” Viet Nam (i4Ag); The project Reduce, Reuse, Recycle to Protect the Marine Environment and Coral Reefs (3RproMar); ASEAN Municipal Solid Waste Management (AMUSE) among others.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep expressed his expectation for GIZ to continue supporting Vietnam not only in disaster prevention but also in other areas.

Christoph Klinnert has also promoted initiatives and pilot activities on water resource management, waste management, coastal protection, shrimp-rice farming models, water drainage, flood control, among others, in the Mekong Delta and other provinces.

With the projects he oversees, 30 conferences and seminars have been organized on water drainage, flood control, urban and rural planning, regional linkages, integrating disaster prevention, flood control, and climate change adaptation in socio-economic development plans, planning, and urban development in the region.

He participates in meetings to propose suggestions to the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to propose technical cooperation activities within the framework of the Vietnam - Germany cooperation. He directly advises the German Development Cooperation organization (GIZ) to participate as a member of the Natural Disaster Risk Reduction Partner led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. In addition, he also leads the organization of many delegations for experience exchanges between Vietnam and Germany, Switzerland, etc. organizing bilateral meetings between the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the leadership of the German Development Cooperation organization (GIZ).

"We believe that GIZ's activities in Vietnam are very effective and beneficial. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development hopes that GIZ's projects will continue to be maintained positively and in the future will focus on areas of Vietnam's agriculture sector such as improving forest quality, reducing emissions in agricultural production, activities related to climate change, disasters, etc. which are areas where GIZ has a lot of experience," Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep stated.

Acknowledging support and proper guidance from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development during his tenure as the Director of GIZ's projects in Vietnam, Christoph Erich Wilhelm Klinnert expressed his desire for GIZ to continue being a reliable partner of Vietnam in ensuring livelihoods, resilience against disasters and climate change.

For institutional contribution, Mr. Christoph Erich Wilhelm Klinnert conduced specialized research to offer opinions and suggestions on regional development and climate change for Party and Government resolutions related to the Mekong Delta region.

It includes addressing resolutions like Resolution No. 13-NQ/TW from April 2, 2022, focusing on the economic, social development, defense, and security of the Mekong Delta region until 2030 with a vision towards 2045, and Resolution No. 57/NQ-CP from April 21, 2022, which outlines tasks and solutions to enhance economic-social regional connections.

Additionally, support is provided to the Mekong Delta Region Coordination Council Office in defining criteria for cross-regional project selection and proposing initial measures for the region's development. Coordination of cross-regional activities within the Mekong Delta region includes emphasis on urban-rural development links and collaboration with provinces such as Ca Mau Peninsula and four eastern coastal provinces.

Furthermore, there is assistance extended to the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology, and Environment to assess climate change adaptation strategies within Vietnam and global best practices in climate change response.