During his visit to COP 26, Vietnamese Prime Minister H.E. Phạm Minh Chính reiterated Vietnam's commitments to green and sustainable growth. On the occasion of his visit to France and to support the country in facing this major challenge, the Agence Française de Développement Group signed a new convention and two cooperation agreements.

With more than 3,200 km of coastline, Vietnam is one of the countries most vulnerable to the consequences of climate change. Rising temperatures, leading to increased droughts, more frequent typhoons and the more complex phenomena of river and coastal erosion and subsidence are also of great concern. At the same time, the country faces the challenge of green and sustainable growth. 

AFD has made support for the national climate change and green growth policy a major part of its operations in Vietnam and has been supporting the country for many years in the formulation of its strategy and the implementation of projects to combat climate change.

The signing of a new project and two agreements between AFD Group and the Vietnamese Government during the Vietnamese Prime Minister's visit to France reaffirms France's commitment to supporting the country in the implementation of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). 

Strengthening adaptation to climate change

Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, including heavy rainfall and associated flooding - as in the historic and tourist town of Dien Bien Phu in northwestern Vietnam.

This project, signed on the occasion of the visit of the Vietnamese Prime Minister H.E. Phạm Minh Chính to France, will contribute to improving the capacity of Dien Bien province to adapt to climate change, in particular to cope with the changes in the hydrological regime of the Nam Rom River - the main watercourse passing through the city of Dien Bien Phu - and the increase in the frequency and severity of floods. It will include the construction and operation of hydraulic structures along the river to reduce bank erosion and urban flooding.

It is financed with a 24.65 million euro loan from AFD for infrastructure development and a 1.5 million euro grant from the European Union through the Water and Natural Resources Management Facility (WARM) for technical assistance.

An extended partnership between France and Vietnam

In parallel to this funding, two cooperation agreements were signed, illustrating the strong desire of Vietnam and France to work together on the subject of combating climate change. The first agreement confirms a strengthened cooperation on the subject of agriculture and rural development, in a context where rural areas are increasingly exposed to the consequences of climate change. 

Another agreement was also signed between HD Bank and Proparco, AFD Group's private sector subsidiary, to extend the partnership between the two institutions for the financing of climate projects by the private sector in Vietnam. 

Understanding the impact of climate change with GEMMES Vietnam

In parallel to these signatures, AFD also submitted a report to the Vietnamese Minister of the Environment during COP 26, aiming to analyze the different socio-economic impacts of climate change and the adaptation strategies that could be implemented.

The report outlines responses to global temperature rises of 1.5°C, 2°C and 3°C.