Projects

100 Volunteers Remove Trash from Do Son Beach, Vietnam as Part of World’s Largest Single-Day Beach Cleanup

Hai Phong, Viet Nam, 07-October 2017 – Today, 100 people in Do Son Beach participated in Ocean Conservancy’s 32nd International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), the world’s largest single-day volunteer effort to remove trash from local waterways, beaches, lakes and rivers. The event is part of the Red River Delta Adaptation and Youth (READY) implemented by Center […]

Hai Phong, Viet Nam, 07-October 2017 – Today, 100 people in Do Son Beach participated in Ocean Conservancy’s 32^nd International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), the world's largest single-day volunteer effort to remove trash from local waterways, beaches, lakes and rivers. The event is part of the Red River Delta Adaptation and Youth (READY) implemented by Center for Marinelife Conservation and Community development (MCD). The event attracted volunteers who are local youth from Hai Phong Environmental Agencies. Since the first ICC 32 years ago, over 12 million volunteers have removed more than 228 million pounds (more than 103 million kilograms) of trash! Every year, millions of tons of trash—including an estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic waste—flow into the ocean, entangling wildlife, polluting beaches, and costing coastal municipalities hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars. Items like cigarette butts, plastic bags, beverage bottles, food wrappers, plastic bottle caps and plastic straws are among the most-commonly collected items. They are also among the most deadly to wildlife like seabirds and sea turtles. Plastics—which never fully biodegrade but rather break up into smaller and smaller pieces called microplastics—are of particular concern. Scientists predict that without concerted global action, there could be one ton of plastic for every three tons of fin fish in the ocean by 2025. Keeping our ocean free from trash is one of the easiest ways to improve the health of our ocean. From participating in beach cleanups to creating less trash, we can all play a part in keeping our ocean clean and free of trash. “The International Coastal Cleanup is a great way for individuals and their communities to help protect and preserve the ocean, and contribute valuable data to scientists and policymakers working on this issue,” said Nicholas Mallos, Ocean Conservancy’s director of Trash Free Seas. “We are so grateful for the hard work of Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD) and all the volunteers from Hai Phong province in helping us achieve our shared vision for a cleaner, healthier ocean.” A few photos of activity:    

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• On-going projects
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    100 Volunteers Remove Trash from Do Son Beach, Vietnam as Part of World’s Largest Single-Day Beach Cleanup

    Hai Phong, Viet Nam, 07-October 2017 – Today, 100 people in Do Son Beach participated in Ocean Conservancy’s 32nd International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), the world’s largest single-day volunteer effort to remove trash from local waterways, beaches, lakes and rivers. The event is part of the Red River Delta Adaptation and Youth (READY) implemented by Center […]

    Hai Phong, Viet Nam, 07-October 2017 – Today, 100 people in Do Son Beach participated in Ocean Conservancy’s 32^nd International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), the world's largest single-day volunteer effort to remove trash from local waterways, beaches, lakes and rivers. The event is part of the Red River Delta Adaptation and Youth (READY) implemented by Center for Marinelife Conservation and Community development (MCD). The event attracted volunteers who are local youth from Hai Phong Environmental Agencies. Since the first ICC 32 years ago, over 12 million volunteers have removed more than 228 million pounds (more than 103 million kilograms) of trash! Every year, millions of tons of trash—including an estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic waste—flow into the ocean, entangling wildlife, polluting beaches, and costing coastal municipalities hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars. Items like cigarette butts, plastic bags, beverage bottles, food wrappers, plastic bottle caps and plastic straws are among the most-commonly collected items. They are also among the most deadly to wildlife like seabirds and sea turtles. Plastics—which never fully biodegrade but rather break up into smaller and smaller pieces called microplastics—are of particular concern. Scientists predict that without concerted global action, there could be one ton of plastic for every three tons of fin fish in the ocean by 2025. Keeping our ocean free from trash is one of the easiest ways to improve the health of our ocean. From participating in beach cleanups to creating less trash, we can all play a part in keeping our ocean clean and free of trash. “The International Coastal Cleanup is a great way for individuals and their communities to help protect and preserve the ocean, and contribute valuable data to scientists and policymakers working on this issue,” said Nicholas Mallos, Ocean Conservancy’s director of Trash Free Seas. “We are so grateful for the hard work of Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD) and all the volunteers from Hai Phong province in helping us achieve our shared vision for a cleaner, healthier ocean.” A few photos of activity:    

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    MCD66 – Enabling Boat: ICT training to empower coastal youth

    Microsoft Vietnam, the Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD), and other stakeholders are launching the “Enabling Boat” project, aiming to support disadvantaged youth in the coastal areas to get access to ICT, adapt to the digital era, improve livelihoods as well as increase awareness about marine conservation. Microsoft Vietnam and MCD partnered up […]

    Microsoft Vietnam, the Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD), and other stakeholders are launching the “Enabling Boat” project, aiming to support disadvantaged youth in the coastal areas to get access to ICT, adapt to the digital era, improve livelihoods as well as increase awareness about marine conservation.

    Microsoft Vietnam and MCD partnered up to give a fighting chance for the young people of coastal communities

    In 2017, the project will target the local youth of resettled fishing villages and others who live in remote coastal areas without much access to learning facilities. The project is jointly implemented by a group of diverse partners working toward the benefit of the coastal community. Key activities include ICT and computer science training, organising events to raise awareness about marine conservation, environmental protection, and climate change adaptation. It is expected that 150 local trainers and NGO staff will be engaged in TOT training, 200 youth will be trained, and at least 2000 people will benefited from training and awareness raising events. Moreover, 50,000 community members will be provided with access to information and learning opportunities via various communication campaigns. Nguyen Thu Hue, MCD’s director, emphasised: “Using the boat, a familiar part of the livelihoods of the coastal community, as a symbol of learning, we would like to promote a proactive approach tailored to the local youth. As a key implementing partner, MCD shall bring much added value to the partnership where each of us do what we are best at: Microsoft provides financial and technical support, necessary software, and services, ACER provides brand new laptops suitable for the youth, Vietnet-ICT coordinates training in ICT skills and computer science, and other local partners make their own contributions for the success of the project. We believe that by experiencing training courses and events with the enabling boat, the youth will be inspired to overcome challenges and strive for a brighter future.”

    With a sizeable coalition of partners, coastal youth will be able to learn on the laptops about the importance of IT

    Vu Minh Tri, general director of Microsoft Vietnam, shared: “Technology is a powerful force for improving people’s lives. Our mission is to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more. In cooperation with local partners, Microsoft has implemented the Enabling Boat project with the desire to help everyone, especially underserved communities, to seize opportunities and achieve their dreams.” “With this Project, Microsoft offers a new, need-based technology approach and locally driven activities adapting to the situation of disadvantaged youth from coastal fishing villages, who do not have sufficient access to basic ICT education. The Enabling Boat does not only bring ICT education to the underserved youth, but also connects them to the world,” he added. Source: https://www.vietnambreakingnews.com/2017/06/enabling-boat-ict-training-to-empower-coastal-youth/

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    Series of events in response to the World Day and Vietnam’s Sea and Island week 2016

    In the morning of June 4th ,2016, the Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD), the province of Quang Ninh, and the Ha Long Association for Environmental Education and Protection have collaborated and organized a series of events in response to the Sea and Island week of Vietnam as well as the 2016 World […]

    In the morning of June 4^th ,2016, the Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD), the province of Quang Ninh, and the Ha Long Association for Environmental Education and Protection have collaborated and organized a series of events in response to the Sea and Island week of Vietnam as well as the 2016 World Environment Day. At the launching ceremony, there were Ms. Nguyễn Thu Huệ – Director of Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD) and Mr. Christopher Wayne Adam – program director of environment and social development of USAID.  Also attending the launching ceremony was Mr. Đặng Huy Hậu – permanent Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, director of the ceremony; Ms. Nguyễn Thị Thu Hà – member of the Executive Committee of Central Union, Provincial Member and Secretary; Mr. Trịnh Minh Thái, member of the Executive Committee of Central Union, Deputy Chief of Office of Central Union; Mr. Lê Hùng Sơn – Provincial Vice Secretary and members of other provincial departments, boards, and divisions.

    

    Mr. Đặng Huy Hậu - Permanent Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee.

    Speaking at the launching ceremony, Mr. Đặng Huy Hậu – permanent Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee acknowledged the participation of departments and local people, including the youth in protecting the environment of Quang Ninh province and monitoring the environmental issues in Ha Long Bay. He also thanked the Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD), the United State Agency for International Development (USAID), the non-government organizations (NGOs) that involved in the project “Ha Long – Cat Ba Alliance”, and other departments for their collaborations. On behalf of the youth of Quang Ninh province, Ms. Nguyễn Thị Thu Hà – member of the Executive Committee of Central Union, Provincial Member and Secretary – showed determination and responsibility for organizing events in response to the Sea and Island week of Vietnam, the 2016 World Environment Day, and gave flags to the volunteering teams. After the launching ceremony, nearly 1000 Union members, students, military force, Ha Long Bay management board, and interns from the Blue Lighthouse of Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD) have participated in cleaning the coastal areas, including the 30/10 stadium, the 5^th coastal road, and the area behind Ha Long market.

    

    Director of Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD) and Mr. Christopher Wayne Adam cleaned the coastal area.

    The coastal cleaning event was not merely a normal environmental cleaning one because it conveyed a strong message from the people of Quang Ninh province, especially the youth. Data regarding litter collected from Ha Long would play an important role in cleaning the environment on an international level, creating a concreted scientific foundation for initiating the next steps. In the afternoon of the same day (June 4^th ,2016), the Classifying litter from travel boats workshop was held with the participations of Ms. Nguyễn Thu Huệ – Director of Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD); Assoc. Prof., Dr. Nguyễn Thị Hà – Dean of Environmental Science – University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam; Mr. Lê Hùng Sơn – Provincial Vice Secretary of Quang Ninh province, Chairman of the Association for Environmental Education and Protection; Mr. Phạm Quang Vinh – Deputy Manager of Environment Protection, Environment and Resource Department, Quang Ninh.

    

    Representatives solved the boat owners' struggles regarding litter processing on the bay.

    At the workshop, officials analyzed the impacts of litter on the environment, especially the ocean environment; provided information on how to classify litter on the sea as well as ways to process litter effectively from developed countries on the world. This information was conveyed to nearly 100 boat owners and sailors who had boats available on Ha Long Bay.

     

    Figure 4: Overview of the workshop

    The workshop helped enhance the awareness of the boat owners of the litter processing procedure, participating in protecting the environment as well as the World Natural Heritage Ha Long Bay. At the same time, it detected the difficulties regarding litter processing on the bay that the boat owners were struggle with. These difficulties would then be sent to the provincial board member and departments for further solutions.

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    Launching Ceremony and campaign of Community Coastal Cleanup and Ha Long Association for Environmental Education and Protection

    On 23th September, 2015 in Ha Long city, Quang Ninh province, MCD in cooperation with Quang Ninh Youth Union, Ha Long Bay Management Board held a Launching Ceremony and campaign of Community Coastal Cleanup and Ha Long Association for Environmental Education and Protection.

    On 23^th September, 2015 in Ha Long city, Quang Ninh province, MCD in cooperation with Quang Ninh Youth Union, Ha Long Bay Management Board held a Launching Ceremony and campaign of Community Coastal Cleanup and Ha Long Association for Environmental Education and Protection. This activity was organized within project of Ha Long Cat Ba Alliance: Local Engagement for Sustainable Development. The event engaged 3.000 youth, local people, and government staffs in Coastal Cleanup activity across Ha Long city, other district in Quang Ninh province and Cua Van area on Ha Long Bay, painting contest on environmental issues and other community outreach activities. Besides, the event had officially introduced the Ha Long Association for Environmental Education and Protection – a CSO working in environmental education and cooperation focusing on communication activities as well as monitoring environmental issues in Ha Long bay. Those two activities align with the Ha Long – Cat Ba Alliance project contribute in raising awareness and promoting behaviors change on environmental, coastal ecosystem protection for Youth and all stakeholders in Quang Ninh province and Ha Long Bay.

    Picture 1: Mr. Dang Huy Hau – Vice Chairman of Quang Ninh People’s Committee announced the formation of Ha Long Association for Environmental Education and Protection

    

    

    Picture 2-3: 3.000 youth, local people engaged in coastal cleanup and side event activities

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    MCD hands with youths of Nam Dinh, Thai Binh, Hai Phong and Khanh Hoa action for “Clean Ocean, Green Future”

    Hanoi, on September 29th, 2013, Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD) with the Communist Youth Unions of Nam Dinh, Thai Binh, Hai Phong and Khanh Hoa provinces, co – organized a chain of activities named Youth and Community Action for Coastal Cleanup (Youth&CCC). Youth&CCC aims at raising awareness of climate change and role […]

    Hanoi, on September 29th, 2013, Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD) with the Communist Youth Unions of Nam Dinh, Thai Binh, Hai Phong and Khanh Hoa provinces, co – organized a chain of activities named Youth and Community Action for Coastal Cleanup (Youth&CCC). Youth&CCC aims at raising awareness of climate change and role of youths in climate change adaptation in the coastal community in Vietnam with the slogan Clean Ocean, Green Future. Youth&CCC focuses on raising awareness and encouraging resilience to climate change in the coastal provinces of Vietnam, of which the youth plays an important part. The focal event is the Youth and Community Action for Coastal Cleanup day, happening in September 2013 in 4 provinces of Nam Dinh, Thai Binh, Hai Phong and Khanh Hoa. There are 100 representatives coming from central and local authorities, the Communist Youth Unions, the environmental clubs in Hanoi and other 1,600 volunteers from universities. The volunteers will be divided into small groups to collect and classify trash in chosen coastal areas, which makes preparation to fulfil the trash report of International Coastal Cleanup (ICC). The report will supply information for both Vietnam and international organizations to give solutions to reduce rubbish in Vietnamese coast. Mr. Nguyen Hoang Tung, Deputy Secretary of the Communist Youth Union of Nam Dinh, said: “The Youth and Community Action for Coastal Cleanup brings long – term and sustainable effectiveness for environment in coastal areas. We had specific plans to spread the messages of climate change and environment over a large number of youth”. “You are wrong if you think that the program just encourages people to pick up litters on beaches”, Tran Van Cuong, an intern of the Blue Light House program said. “Just when we know how trash impacts environment, we will know how to reduce them. The way of researching is more creative and efficient than other normal activities. That’s why we chose youth, the future owners of our country, to be the main force”, he added. In Vietnam, the movement of International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) was first held on September 23rd, 2000 in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa by the Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD). In the past 13 years, the program has attracted 10, 000 participants with over 3 tons of trash collected in 6 coastal provinces of Vietnam. The Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD) and the Communist Youth Unions hope that the program will bring fresh air for the pro-environment activities and deeply impact on public awareness.  

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• Completed projects
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    MCD 59 project

    The Project: "Scientific Capacity Building in Climate Change Research Techniques for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Vietnam" will build the scientific capacity of NGOs in Vietnam in climate change research techniques. This will be achieved by conducting a short course in climate change research techniques for 25 relevant staff of NGOs in Vietnam, followed by implementation of the course methodologies by the attendees, in the form of a course project.

    Project Title                                                       

    Scientific Capacity Building in Climate Change Research Techniques for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Vietnam

    Donor:

    The Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN)

    Description of the entire proposed project  

    The Project will build the scientific capacity of NGOs in Vietnam in climate change research techniques. This will be achieved by conducting a short course in climate change research techniques for 25 relevant staff of NGOs in Vietnam, followed by implementation of the course methodologies by the attendees, in the form of a course project. A workshop will then be held where lessons learned by the participants will be shared via presentation of course project findings and facilitated discussions. Five presentations will then be selected as the basis of a dissemination seminar for policy makers, decision makers and other stakeholders (representing the CC issues in geographical regions of Vietnam) and it will coordinated by VNGO-CC network under the project entitled “Strengthening the role of Vietnamese NGOs in CC communications and policy advocacy”  2014-2015

    Project Summary

    The Project will build scientific capacity of NGOs in Vietnam in climate change research techniques for 25 relevant staff of NGOs in Vietnam.

    Main Objectives:

    1. Supporting national cooperation in climate change research on issues particularly relevant to Vietnam. 2. Strengthening appropriate interactions among scientists and policy makers and providing scientific input to decision-making and scientific knowledge to the public. 3. Improving the climate change research scientific and technical capabilities of Vietnam, including the transfer of knowledge. 4. Cooperation within the VNGO & CC and between other like-minded organisations on climate change and sustainable development research issues.

    A summary of the project methodologies:

    Activity 1: Selection of 25 emerging climate change and sustainable development scientists and practitioners from the members of the VNGO & CC to attend a 5 day intensive training course in Climate Change Research Techniques.

    Activity 2: Conducting the training course which will cover subjects such as the latest CC scenarios; downscaling techniques; statistical data collection and analysis; writing a research paper and publication and dissemination of findings and recommendations. Course participants will be asked to develop a project based on the course content and implement this project over the next nine months.

    Activity 3: Holding an one day workshop at which course project findings, lessons learned and recommendations will be shared amongst the participants and discussions facilitated to strengthen the scientific links within the VNGO & CC. The workshop participants will chose 05 outstanding projects for presentation at the dissemination seminar.

    Activity 4: Holding dissemination seminar in collaboration with VNGO-CC network at which the 05 outstanding course projects will be presented to policy makers, decision makers and other stakeholders for their information and consideration as a part of future policy making and decision making in Vietnam.

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    MCD 46 project

    Partnership for equitable Resilience to the impacts of climate change of the Coastal communities in deltas of Vietnam - PRC Project (MCD 46). The donor is Australian agency for international development (AusAID). The overall objective of the project is to increase the resilience of the most vulnerable people, especially women, living in coastal communities affected by the impacts of climate variability, change and disasters. The working definition of resilience in this project is the ability of vulnerable communities and their ecosystems to resist, absorb, accommodate to and recover from the effects of climate variability, change and disasters.

      The specific objectives of the project: In Hai Phong province, the project aims to reduce risk and improve livelihoods of 1.600 vulnerable people (50% of population  of 03 target coastal communes: 850 women and 750 men) including poor, landless, disabled and women-headed households, in 03 targeted coastal communes in Cat Hai district to the unavoidable impacts of climate change. In Nam Dinh province, the project aims to reduce risk and improve livelihoods of 15.671 vulnerable people (30% of population  of 05 communes: 8.000 women and 7.671 men) including poor, landless, disabled and women-headed households, in 05 targeted coastal communes in Giao Thuy district to the unavoidable impacts of climate change. In Thai Binh province, the project aims to reduce risk and improve livelihoods of 6.716 vulnerable people (40% of population  of 03 communes: 3.516 women and 3.200 men) including poor, landless, disabled and women-headed households, in 03 targeted coastal communes in Tien Hai district to the unavoidable impacts of climate change. The mobilization phase of the MCD 46 project is implemented with development of partnerships with local province, district, commune level and various stakeholders. The main activities which was conducted including Participatory capacity and vulnerability assessment, baseline survey, selected livelihood models, target groups in 11 communes.

    The targeted areas	Cat Hai district, Hai Phong province (03 targeted communes including Phu Long, Xuan Dam, Hien Hao; it is possible to cordinate to communes at buffer zone of Cat Ba National Park - Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve Giao Thuy district, Nam Dinh province (05 targeted communes including Giao Xuan, Giao Thien, Giao An, Giao Lac and Giao Hai which in the buffer zone of Xuan Thuy National Park – The Red River Biosphere Reserve Tien Hai district, Thai Binh province (03 targeted communes including Nam Hung, Nam Phu and Nam Thinh in the buffer zone of the Tien Hai Nature Reserve – The Red River Biosphere Reserve In total, there are 11 communes in 03 districts in 03 provinces
    The project period	29 months (9/01/2012 – 12/31/2014)
    Project lead	Oxfam (Oxfam Australia for Contract Management, Oxfam in Vietnam for implementation in Vietnam). Oxfam Australia, Oxfam Great Britain and Oxfam Novib will be working with the following partners to implement the project: Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD), Hanoi, Vietnam which implements the project in Red River Delta area.
    Expected Results	Outcome 1: Awareness of local Climate Change impacts for poor vulnerable people (in particular women) raised and they work with local authorities to integrate adaptation and risk reduction into local management and development plansOutput 1.1: PCVA and baseline surveys conductedOutput 1.2: Capacities of local authorities and communities strengthened, regarding risk management and adaptation to the unavoidable impacts of climate changeOutput 1.3: Results of PCVAs integrated into local planning processesOutput 1.4: Community Climate Change and DRR Adaptation Fund established and managed by community and local government Outcome 2: Increased livelihood and eco-system resilience of the most vulnerable coastal communes to climate change Output 2.1: Co-management approach for managing critical coastal resources are applied by local government and communities Output 2.2: Community Livelihood Adaptation Fund established and managed by community and local government Output 2.3: Participatory CC livelihood adaptation activities implemented and supported by local authorities Outcome 3: Project learning contributes to improved community-based CCA, DRR and natural resource management practice and policy Output 3.1: Lessons learnt and good practices in CCA and CBDRM for vulnerable coastal communities documented Output 3.2: CCA/DRR/CC adaptive coastal livelihoods and resource management experiences and lessons shared and advocated in different targeted forum
    Main beneficiary groups	Women and poor fishermen households (990 households equivalent 3.960 people are directly supported by livelihood adaptation model, over 21.000 people directly benefit by  implementing plan for socio-economic development which have an element of climate change adaptation, risk reduction. Local community groups (Women Union, Youth Union, Board of Fisheries, sustainable Livelihood group, Red Cross; Committee for Flood and Storm Control) (180 reprentaitves of society organisations, local community group in 11 communes) Officers and local authorities at provincial, district and commune level concerned (150 officers in 03 provinces) The managers, policy makers at the national level on coastal management and response to climate change, disaster risk reduction (40 officers) Officers at society organisations,  researchers in the field of marine resources, climate change response and national level
    Documents related to the project	Project brief Project logic – frame Project progress report in 2011 Project progress report in 2012

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