Financing Viet Nam’s flood fighting efforts

In the spring of 2023, we taught a graduate level course titled “Agri-food Systems and Economic Development” at Georgetown University’s Global Human Development Program. As one of the assignments, we asked the students to write a policy brief on the impact of a major shock on food systems. This post by Vanessa is based on that assignment, and is a great example of the systems thinking with which future generations will tackle multiple global crises.—Devesh Roy, IFPRI Senior Research Fellow, and Ekin Birol, Associate Professor of the Practice, Georgetown University.

Viet Nam is one of the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Its long coastline and river deltas are dangerously exposed to sea level rise. An estimated 10 million people will be affected in the next 15 years just from flooding alone. Climate-related flooding presents a formidable long-term challenge to Viet Nam’s agricultural production, economic development, food security, and poverty reduction efforts.

The Vietnamese government is keenly aware of these vulnerabilities and has been proactive in devising responses. Its 2020-2030 National Adaptation Plan (NAP) includes strategies on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, upgrading flood control infrastructures, and mobilizing financial resources to pay for it all. The latter is crucial, as the government has limited funds for massive, multi-decade projects. How can Viet Nam pull financing levers from international organizations and regional governments to buttress its response to the climate crisis?