Mr. Tim-McGrath receives commemorative medal ‘For the cause of agriculture and rural development’

Since Dr. Timothy Edward McGrath (Tim-McGrath) is undergoing medical treatment, the commemorative medal was presented at his residence.

Mr. Tran Quang Hoa, Director-General of the Vietnam Disaster Management Authority, and representatives of the Department of Personnel and Organization on behalf of MARD presented Dr. Timothy Edward McGrath with the Decision and commemorative medal.

Mr. Tran Quang Hoa stated that the commemorative medal is not only in recognition of Dr. Timothy Edward McGrath's outstanding contributions to irrigation, natural disaster prevention, climate adaptation, promoting institutions and policies that support rural areas and ethnic minorities, and poverty reduction policies but also demonstrates the MARD's profound affection and gratitude for Dr. Timothy Edward McGrath, who has devoted his life to the cause of agriculture and rural development in Vietnam over the past 25 years.

The outcomes and accomplishments of the projects involving Dr. Timothy Edward McGrath have either provided significant meaning throughout time or served as a critical premise for the development of subsequent phases, particularly in the Mekong Delta region.

"MARD leaders in general, and I, am deeply touched by Dr. Timothy Edward McGrath's commitment to sustainable development projects in Vietnam and the Mekong Delta region. Mr. Tran Quang Hoai said sincerely. He is not just a senior specialist, but also our soul mate."  shared Mr. Tran Quang Hoai emotionally.

Mr. Timothy Edward McGrath was born and grew up in Australia, but spent most of his life in Vietnam, where he lived and worked. He now serves as the Deputy Director of the Mekong Delta Climate Resilience Program (MCRP).

He has made numerous significant contributions and supported MARD and Vietnamese partners in a variety of activities, including developing, amending, supplementing, and renewing legal documents, policies, regulations, and guidelines on disaster prevention, climate change adaptation, drainage and anti-flooding, coastal protection, and the development of coordination mechanisms and linkages for the Mekong Delta region's development.

Between 2019 and 2021, as a Deputy Director of MCRP, he assisted the Government in establishing Decree No.50/2020 governing the receipt, management, and utilization of emergency international aid to rescue and recover from natural disasters in Vietnam. The Decree establishes a legal framework for disaster assistance and recovery actions.

Additionally, he supports modifying Decree No. 160/2018/ND-CP, which details the implementation of the Law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Natural Disaster Prevention, as well as the draft Decree establishing and managing the fund for natural disaster prevention and control.

Supporting the development of fisheries policies such as Vietnam's fisheries development strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2045; the project on sustainable aquaculture development in the Mekong Delta until 2030; Mr. Timothy Edward McGrath participated in the organization of the launch ceremony of the movement to plant mangroves to protect coastal beaches in several provinces of the Mekong Delta, intending to increase officials' and citizens' awareness and attitude toward mangroves.

He supports the development of a set of criteria for evaluating the integration of natural disaster prevention and control and climate change into socioeconomic development plans, to amend and replace the Ministry of Planning and Investment's Circular 05/2016/TT-BKHT, which guides the integration of natural disaster prevention and control content into sectoral and socioeconomic development plans.

Supporting and strengthening capacity for regional/provincial planning formulation, assessment, and approval, specifically: developing methods to increase regional coordinating capability, formulating and executing provincial, regional, and national planning. Assist in the formulation of provincial planning standards, including the process and substance of planning assessment, the criteria for evaluating the quality of planning, and the method for approving provincial planning.

He was also the Mekong Delta's consulting expert in establishing the province plan following the Planning Law. Mr. Tim-McGrath provided technical assistance for the establishment of a coordination board in the Mekong Delta area and promoted a series of inter-regional events.

He immediately recommended the GIZ join the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's catastrophe risk reduction collaboration.

Additionally, he oversaw several missions to share and learn from the experiences of Vietnam and Germany, as well as organized bilateral meetings between the leaders of the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development and Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and leaders of The German Agency for International Cooperation or (GIZ)...