UNICEF strengthens engagement in clean water and climate crisis response

On the morning of July 9, Deputy Minister of MARD Nguyen Hoang Hiep received and presented a commemorative medal for agricultural and rural development to Ms. Rana Flowers, the Chief Representative of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in Vietnam, in recognition of her significant contributions to Vietnam's agriculture and rural development sector.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep shared that Ms. Rana Flowers' five-year tenure in Vietnam has been a meaningful and impressive period. As the Chief Representative, she has made important contributions and has become a bridge between UNICEF and MARD, particularly in the areas of new rural development (NRD) and disaster prevention and control.

In the field of NRD, over the past half-decade, Ms. Rana and her colleagues have supported institutional building efforts. The leadership of MARD recalled UNICEF's involvement in activities related to decrees, circulars, and several laws supporting agriculture, farmers, and rural areas, especially in the field of clean water and environmental sanitation, leaving a significant mark.

One of the biggest challenges in the NRD program is how farmers can access clean water. Currently, the rate of access to hygienic water is 98%, but the rate of access to clean water in rural areas is only 52%, up from 45% five years ago.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep stated, “With the clean water decree supported by UNICEF, including the transfer of clean water assets and increased participation from the business community, and with the upcoming general water supply law, the rural clean water rate will rapidly increase and make significant progress in this field.”

In the field of disaster prevention, the image of UNICEF and Ms. Rana Flowers has been very active during major disasters such as those in the Central region in 2022 and the Mekong Delta in 2019, 2021, and 2022, providing essential relief supplies like clean water for schools, health stations, and families, as well as essential environmental sanitation equipment for the people.

Recently, UNICEF, through Ms. Rana Flowers and in collaboration with the Government of Japan, effectively implemented phase 1 of the disaster risk reduction project in Vietnam. According to Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep, this is one of the very successful ODA projects, and phase 2 is expected to commence with the agreement of the Japanese government.

On behalf of UNICEF, Ms. Rana Flowers, Chief Representative in Vietnam, shared that UNICEF has closely collaborated with MARD to implement many programs and projects, achieving many positive results over the past five years.

In the areas of cooperation such as clean water, environmental sanitation, irrigation, and disaster prevention, Ms. Rana and UNICEF highly appreciate all the efforts and contributions of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) to the rural population. Through conferences, seminars, and discussions that UNICEF has participated in, Ms. Rana Flowers has also observed the strong commitment of the Vietnamese Government and MARD to bringing positive changes to vulnerable groups such as children, women, and farmers.

Ms. Rana Flowers expressed pride in UNICEF's contributions to disaster prevention efforts, such as collaborating in responding to floods in the Central region or droughts in the Mekong Delta, and hopes that UNICEF will continue to be MARD's top partner in coordinating disaster response in the future.

With many activities related to clean water and environmental sanitation in Vietnam, UNICEF hopes that MARD will continue to implement long-term solutions proposed by UNICEF to ensure the sustainability of these activities.

UNICEF also hopes that MARD will continue to pay attention to the field of climate crisis response. In this regard, UNICEF has several collaborative activities with MARD, such as constructing zero-emission toilets with pilot models in Soc Trang and utilizing new energy sources. With the successor of UNICEF’s chief representative, Ms. Rana Flowers hopes that both sides will continue to apply new science and technology in the dry conditions of the Mekong Delta to achieve their goals and ensure clean water and sanitation for rural areas.

“In the field of disaster prevention, despite some institutional changes, we can confidently declare that when disasters occur, within 72 hours, UNICEF is fully capable of coordinating the assessment of needs and damages,” stated the UNICEF representative.

With the forecast of floods occurring in Vietnam this year, UNICEF proposes signing a Memorandum of Understanding with MARD and the Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority to establish a basis for implementing emergency support activities to localities in the event of a disaster.