On July 19th 2022, the European Union Delegation to Vietnam (EUD) and the Conservation Fund Project Management Board (CFPMB) had a field trip to the Center for Community Research and Development (CCRD) in Hue city. CCRD is one of four organisations received financial support from the Conservation Fund project in the 1st funding package with the project “Strengthen partnership in promoting the development of ecological public space models in Hue City (including extended areas) in order to raise awareness and community engagement for biodiversity conservation and environmental protection”
In the morning of July 19, EUD and CFPMB had a short meeting with the CCRD management team to better understand the organisation, the projects and goals that CCRD is implementing as well as their aspirations in conducting environmental projects.
A Workshop was held in the afternoon, “How to operate, manage and maintain ecological public space at the Cultural House Hall of Huong Vinh Ward, Hue City” coordinated by CCRD and Organized by the Women’s Union.
Regarding the participants attending the workshop, there are: the EUD; GreenViet; Gustav-Stresemann Institut (GSI, Germany); Think Playgrounds Enterprise (TPG); Representatives Hue City Women’s Union; Representatives from 03 ecological public space models; 12 Representatives representing 12 “cultural green spots” and other guests.
The training session’s purpose is to facilitate participants better understand ecological public spaces as well as improve their capacity in the construction and management of public space models.
The content of workshop includes three main topics:
- Ecological public space ( Nguyen Hoang Hao Speaker- Ecological Expert);
- Sharing on how to operate and manage green public spaces in Hanoi (TPG representative Ms. Tran Thu Trang);
- Developing a plan to maintain public spaces (TPG & CCRD)
Mr. Cao Nguyen – Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee: Hopefully public space models will be deployed effectively to implement the city’s cultural green spots according to the proposed resolution. In addition, the models are going to receive further donations from sponsors.
Mr. Le Thanh (Representative of the EUD) said:: “As you may already know, the European Union (EU) is the leading international partner in Green Transition. In 2020, the EU adopted the EU Green Deal, which is a group of policy initiatives to turn the EU into the first climate-neutral continent in the world by 2050. With such spirit, the EU commits to help partner-governments in their green transition processes as well.
To complement this macro policy, the EU also has a number of specific strategies to materialize our Green objectives. Here, I would like to refer to the EU Biodiversity Strategy and the Farm to Fork Strategy. The first one aims to protect the environment and to restore the global ecosystems, while the second promotes a fair; safe; and environment-friendly food system.
One of the roles of EU Delegation around the world is to assist in the implementation of EU policies and strategies in agreement with partner countries, including Vietnam. Through ODA programs and projects, we have been helping non-State-actors, including social associations and community-based initiatives, so that they could contribute effectively to the implementation of government’s policies at grassroots level. At the same time, our programs and projects open the opportunities for people’s voices at different levels to be heard by relevant agencies.”
The training course was very lively with discussion by the delegates. Here, they also have the opportunity to present advantages and disadvantages during the implementation of the model. Therefore, the representative of the City Women’s Union shared: The model was born with the efforts of the whole community, but the facilities will be damaged and the question is how can the models always be beautiful over time. time. Moreover, the cooperation of sponsors is very necessary as a spiritual and material motivation for those who perform.
Mr. Phan Tu Hai- Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Huong Phong said: The model is still a place to entertain residents here. Currently, the most difficult thing is the operation of the model, which means that there has not been a consensus between the authorities and people on issues such as what to plant or what to raise. Besides, the problem of demand stimulation and reciprocity is limited. Huong Phong commune, which has a green spot of more than 1000m2, organizes cleaning once a month, asking for a replacement tree when the tree dies.
At the end of the training program, guests and delegates participated in planting trees around the cultural house of Huong Vinh ward.
Up to now, the Conservation Fund project has gone 2/3 of the way with many meaningful activities for the community. In addition to CCRD (Hue city), the EUD and the CFPMB also visited the C&E and DIM Club (Da Nang city). The trip has been considered as the close attention and survey of the actual situation from the EUD sponsor and the Project Management Board to the Sub-grantees receiving the fu
