Launching project of over 31 million euros to build sea dykes in Ca Mau

The Ministry of Finance and the French Development Agency (AFD) have just signed the Project Agreement for “Construction of the Western Sea Dike from Cai Doi Vam to Channel Five and coastal erosion protection embankments for vulnerable sections from Ong Doc River Mouth to Bay Hap River Mouth, Ca Mau Province” with a total budget of nearly 32 million euros.

The project will be funded by a loan from AFD amounting to 19.17 million euros for the infrastructure construction component; a non-refundable grant of 3.76 million euros from the European Union for technical assistance through the Water and Natural Resource Management Fund (WARM Fund). Additionally, the counterpart funding from Ca Mau Province will contribute approximately 9 million euros to the project.

Ca Mau Province, located at the southern tip of the Mekong Delta, is strategically positioned and directly affected by coastal erosion and climate change phenomena such as rising sea levels, flooding and salt intrusion. A notable feature of the Ca Mau coastal area is its exposure to wave action, tides and monsoon winds from both the East and the West.

Therefore, the goal of the project is to implement both structural and non-structural solutions based on scientific research and analysis to prevent coastal erosion and restore mangrove ecosystems using nature - based methods. Additionally, it aims to enhance the capacity of local authorities in coastal management and implement adaptation and response measures to climate change for the local population.

According to the announcement, the project will be carried out from 2024 to 2028 with three main components. 

First, the project involves constructing a 19 km Western Sea Dike from Cai Doi Vam to Channel Five in Phu Tan District, creating a coastal transportation route connecting Cai Doi Vam to Channel Five. This will facilitate economic, social, tourism and service development in the area.

Second, build an 11 km wave - breaking embankment along the coast from Ong Doc River Mouth to Bay Hap River Mouth, in Tran Van Thoi District and Phu Tan District.

Third, plan to develop 2.000 ha of new protective forest along the Western coastline from Ong Doc River Mouth to Bay Hap River Mouth, contributing to the safety of the sea dike and 15.000 ha of land in Phu Tan and Tran Van Thoi Districts against the impacts of waves, storms and rising sea levels.

Additionally, the project includes non - structural solutions, such as providing technical research support to enhance disaster response capabilities and promoting an Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) approach.

Specifically, the project aims to develop an integrated coastal management strategy for both the Eastern and Western coasts of Ca Mau Province and an action plan to protect the coastal communes in Phu Tan and Tran Van Thoi Districts. It also seeks to diversify livelihood activities to improve community income; reduce reliance on nearshore fishing, contribute to the protection and restoration of coastal mangrove ecosystems, safeguard and restore fishery resources, protect the environment.

Since 1994, AFD has funded more than 90 projects in Vietnam with a total amount of nearly 2.1 billion euros across various sectors, including transportation, infrastructure, energy and agriculture. Currently, AFD is carrying out its activities to support the implementation of the Paris Agreement in line with France's priority cooperation orientations in Vietnam.

Among these efforts, the Water and Natural Resource Management Fund (WARM Facility) is a 20 million euro grant from the EU, entrusted to AFD to support the preparation and implementation of strategic investment projects in water and natural resource management. This funding aims to address key local challenges related to climate change.