VUSTA to organize the 2021 Mekong Delta Forum

Since 2019, the annual Forum on Cooperation and Sustainable Development in the Mekong Delta (Mekong Delta Forum) has been organized by the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA) in the Mekong Delta provinces. The common goal is to build an annual arena for local unions, member and affiliated organizations to VUSTA as well as experts and stakeholders to share, introduce and update strategies, planning schemes, programs, projects and policies on sustainable development in the region. The forum also seeks and connects initiatives, solutions, and models of application of science and technology in livelihood development, climate change response in order to contribute to the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta.

The 2021 Forum, themed as "Promoting local initiatives - Strengthening multilateral cooperation", jointly initiated by VUSTA and the Green Innovation Development Center (GreenID) shall seek for initiatives on adapting energy to climate change to contribute to the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta and mobilize international resources to support climate change adaptation energy initiatives proposed by local unions and social organizations in 13 Mekong Delta provinces. 13 initiatives/proposals are expected to be selected and supported with a maximum budget of 60,000,000 VND per each. Regarding this issue, VUSTA has sent the official document No. 641/LHHVN-HTQT dated September 14, 2021 to inform specific contents and procedures.

The activity of seeking for energy initiatives to adapt to climate change has received much attention and enthusiastic responses of local unions, professional associations and social organizations. At the VUSTA GreenID joint held seminar on September 28, 2021, the participants had chances to exchange and share a number of ideas, proposals such as the solar power system in Vinh Long, Bac Lieu; shrimp farming model using solar energy system in Kien Giang; developing communication publications on sustainable energy transition of Tien Giang or series of seminars to raise awareness about equitable energy transition with the coordination of many localities. The forum organizers also exchanged and answered questions related procedures and submitting proposals.

Delegates attending in the virtual workshop on seeking energy initiatives to adapt to climate change

The hybrid Mekong Delta Forum 2021 is scheduled to take place on November 4, 2021 virtually for participants from 13 Mekong Delta provinces and Ho Chi Minh City and physically in Ha Noi with the coordination of European Union to Viet Nam. The 2021 Forum shall comprise of two main sessions on overviewing of strategies, planning schemes and policies to sustain development of the Mekong Delta region and announcing selected proposals. The last part will be the awarding ceremony, granting funds to support the implementation of initiatives as well as launch calling and seeking initiatives for the Mekong Delta Sustainable Development and Cooperation Forum 2022.