Switzerland and Vietnam cooperate to modernize disaster response

According to Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep, the Government of Switzerland, the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) have consistently provided strong support to Vietnam in disaster risk management and sustainable development in recent years.

Since 2008, Vietnam has been a priority partner in SECO’s cooperation strategy, with various forms of support, including budget financing, technical and financial assistance programs and projects, institutional development, capacity building for organizations and individuals, and infrastructure investment. Immediately after Typhoon Yagi in 2024, the Government of Switzerland was among the first to support Vietnam, providing a relief package of 1 million Swiss francs (approximately USD 1.2 million) and dispatching six experts in water, sanitation, emergency shelter, and disaster risk reduction to assist Yen Bai Province.

"Cooperation programs between the two sides have played an important role in strengthening disaster resilience, enhancing climate change adaptation, and protecting the livelihoods of the Vietnamese people. Notably, SECO’s continued support for Vietnam in providing additional resources for the MCRP project to assess flood and landslide risks in Ha Giang. This is a clear demonstration of our strong partnership. The experience gained from the program will not only benefit Ha Giang but will also be widely shared with other northern provinces, contributing to the expansion of collaboration in developing early warning systems for flash floods and landslides,” Deputy Minister Hiep stated.

In the near future, Vietnam hopes that SECO will continue to support the application of new technologies such as early warning systems, real-time disaster risk maps, and digital data platforms to modernize disaster prevention and response efforts. At the same time, strengthening community capacity through training rapid response teams and raising awareness is also an important area of cooperation, contributing to building a proactive and sustainable disaster response system.

During the working session, Deputy Minister Hiep proposed signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority (VDDMA) and SECO to establish an official cooperation mechanism on disaster information sharing, post-disaster economic recovery support, and capacity building for response. The main contents include: sharing disaster data, assessing impacts on key economic sectors, and creating an information exchange forum; supporting the restoration of infrastructure and risk management systems after disasters; organizing workshops, training, and sharing experiences from Switzerland’s effective models tailored to Vietnam’s practical conditions.

Listening to Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep's sharing, the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) highly appreciates the cooperation directions proposed by Vietnam. SECO also agrees to continue promoting collaboration between the two sides and is committed to strengthening cooperation in disaster prevention and control. SECO is ready to share innovative initiatives and practical experiences to support Vietnam in effectively and sustainably enhancing its capacity for disaster response, recovery, and adaptation.

Regarding the proposed cooperation to implement two projects: “Supporting mountainous urban areas to strengthen safety capacities against flash floods and landslides” and "Establishing a disaster prevention and control experience center in vietnam”, SECO values the significance and importance of these projects in enhancing disaster management capacities in mountainous urban areas, which are highly vulnerable due to climate change and complex terrain conditions.

Not only do these two projects aim to reduce disaster risks by implementing policy, structural, and non-structural measures, but they also contribute to raising community awareness through educational and practical experiential activities. SECO representatives confirmed that they have received related documents and materials regarding these projects and will soon study and provide feedback in the near future.

The MCRP project focuses on enhancing climate resilience and disaster risk management in the Mekong Delta through investment planning and innovative technologies. The program has contributed to the development of Resolution 13, supported provincial planning for all 13 provinces in the region, and implemented five interprovincial platforms for water management and sustainable shrimp farming. Additionally, the project has installed 21 coastal monitoring stations, improved the legal framework for urban areas, and promoted flood prevention models.