On September 23, 2022, in Da Nang, the Da Nang Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DONRE) in collaboration with the Center for Environment and Community Research (CECR) organized an international workshop on Enhancing environmental protection in Da Nang city with the theme "Localization and effective cooperation for Da Nang - an environmental city 2021 - 2030" within the framework of the project "Collective Actions for Water Conservation" funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The workshop was chaired by Mr. Vo Nguyen Chuong - Deputy Director of the DONRE, with the participation of the representative of USAID Vietnam - Ms. Ann Maxine Wallace, Director of the Department of Climate Change, Energy and Environment, and nearly 100 delegates from Da Nang's departments/sectors/socio-political organizations; international organizations; social science organizations and experts in the field of environment and international cooperation. The workshop focused on discussing and identifying partnership opportunities in contributing to diversifying capital sources and socializing resources to implement the Da Nang Environmental City project with a localization approach.

Da Nang is the only locality in Vietnam that pioneers in the development of an environmental city. With the "Building Da Nang - An Environmental City, period 2021 - 2030" Project issued by the People's Committee of Da Nang on April 2, 2021, Da Nang will give priority to solving key environmental issues, and well control environmental quality. By 2030, an environmental management system based on ecology should be established.  

The Local Works Program is one of the pioneering programs of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in strengthening cooperation with local partners and taking local partners as center to help address local challenges to reduce environmental pollution through collective actions.  

Speaking at the workshop, USAID Vietnam representative, Ms. Ann Maxine Wallace, Director of the Department of Climate Change, Energy and Environment shared: “Localization is USAID’s priority. I strongly believe that this particular event will bring a fresh view and approach for Da Nang to diversify resources to address its environmental issues. And this workshop will set a concrete milestone for continued cooperation among state organizations, international organizations, NGOs, and other stakeholders toward building an ecological Da Nang city in the future”.

This activity is within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding signed on June 4, 2021, between the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Da Nang city and the Center for Environment and Community Research on the implementation of the project “Collective Action for Water Conservation” (CAWACON) funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Projects receiving funding under the USAID Local Work Program in Vietnam include: Project “Collective Action for Water Conservation” - CAWACON (CECR); Project “Local Solutions for Plastic Pollution” - LSPP (Green Hub); Project "Vietnam Local Works for Environmental Health" (PHAD); Project “Collective Action for Clean Air” - CAfCA (Live&Learn).

The “Collective Action for Water Conservation” project implemented by CECR from 2020-2023 is funded by USAID in Vietnam to support a network of Vietnamese NGOs, businesses, research institutions, associations, and individuals interested in conserving and protecting Vietnam's surface water sources, focusing on promoting initiatives for water protection, water pollution control and community-based smart water use in Da Nang and Hanoi, supporting the completion and implementation of policies on environmental protection and effective water pollution control.

In Da Nang, the project is implemented with the goal of raising awareness and promoting initiatives to reduce water pollution, mobilize resources and engage stakeholders and communities in preventing pollution sources from wastewater and garbage, in order to protect the quality of surface water sources in Da Nang city. In particular, the project mainly aims to contribute to the effective implementation of the Project "Building Da Nang - An Environmental City in the 2021 - 2030 period".

Some pictures of the workshop: