UNICEF joins Viet Nam in building a safer future for children

Amid increasingly complex disaster risks, the Government of Viet Nam has prioritized investment to strengthen response capacity. However, the core challenge remains ensuring that children and vulnerable communities are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to proactively protect themselves from risks.

Recognizing this priority, on February 10, UNICEF Viet Nam and the Government of Japan announced the renewal of their partnership for a new five-year initiative, entitled “Strengthening Resilience against Floods and Landslides in Vulnerable Regions”, in the presence of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

According to Ms. Silvia Danailov, Representative of UNICEF in Viet Nam, this partnership brings together the strengths of each party: Japan’s extensive experience and global leadership in disaster risk reduction; the national coordinating and implementing role of the Government of Viet Nam and the Viet Nam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority in preparedness and response; and UNICEF’s technical expertise in safeguarding the most vulnerable groups affected by disasters and climate change, especially children.

Assessing the previous phase of the project, Ms. Danailov noted that the five-year cooperation between Japan and Viet Nam had generated clear and measurable impacts. Through this partnership, the capacity of officials at both central and local levels was significantly enhanced. Children’s issues were more comprehensively integrated into legal frameworks, policy development, coordination mechanisms, and disaster preparedness and response plans.

“Numerous large-scale initiatives were implemented, notably behaviour change communication programmes that reached more than 27 million children across the country, including in disaster-prone provinces,” she said. “Beyond raising awareness, these programmes equipped children with practical knowledge and life-saving skills, enabling them to respond promptly, protect themselves, and support their families and communities in times of crisis.”

Over the next five years of cooperation, the partners will prioritize several strategic areas, including improving and modernizing risk information systems, strengthening multi-layered early warning mechanisms, and enhancing the capacity of government officials and local communities. These efforts are particularly critical as Viet Nam continues to face increasingly frequent, severe and unpredictable natural hazards driven by climate change.

Looking ahead to the challenges, Silvia Danailov underscored the importance of advancing risk-informed initiatives, developing effective early warning systems, and implementing anticipatory actions to minimize damage and safeguard the lives of the most vulnerable groups.

The UNICEF Representative in Viet Nam expressed strong confidence that the close and sustained collaboration among UNICEF, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and the Government of Japan would serve as a powerful catalyst. By leveraging each partner’s comparative advantages, technical expertise and financial resources, the initiative is expected to generate meaningful, long-term and sustainable impacts for children and communities across the country.

“With the close attention and strong commitment of the Embassy of Japan, together with UNICEF’s coordinating role in Viet Nam, Phase 2 of the project represents our sustained commitment to safeguarding the future of Viet Nam’s younger generation in the face of natural disasters,” Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep affirmed.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment leader expressed his expectation that the project would distill valuable skills and experience from Japan in educating and raising awareness among Japanese children, and adapt these lessons for application in Viet Nam. At the same time, he emphasized the importance of revising and localizing such approaches to ensure they are tailored to the specific disaster risks and geographical characteristics of each region across the country.

Mr. Ito Naoki, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Viet Nam, welcomed the strong collaboration among partners in advancing disaster risk reduction efforts. Through this initiative, Japan will support Viet Nam in mitigating the impacts of floods, inundation and landslides, while also contributing to the development of safer, more resilient communities for the future.