UNESCO and the Government of Japan Strengthen Disaster Prevention Capacity and School Safety in Vietnam

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The project will be implemented from March 2026 to March 2027 in Nghe An Province, with a total budget of USD 533,333 (approximately VND 13.8 billion).

In recent years, Vietnam has been successively affected by several severe natural disasters, including Typhoons Wipha, Bualoi, and Matmo, causing significant losses in human lives, infrastructure, and livelihoods, while disrupting teaching and learning activities in many localities. This reality underscores the urgent need to shift from an emergency response mindset to strengthening prevention, early warning, and resilience at multiple levels, from communities and public services to the school system.

Nghe An was selected as the project site due to its frequent exposure to natural disasters and its strategic importance. The province is home to the UNESCO-recognized Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve and Vinh City, a member of UNESCO’s Global Network of Learning Cities. These provide a favorable foundation for implementing integrated, community-based solutions to enhance resilience to disaster risks.

Representatives of UNESCO and the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam sign the agreement to implement the project “Strengthening Viet Nam’s Capacity on Early Warning, Disaster Risk Reduction and Safe Learning Environment.” (Photo: Embassy of Japan in Vietnam)

Under the signed agreement, the project will support the improvement of near real-time early warning systems for flash floods and landslides in selected high-risk areas, while strengthening coordination capacity and preparedness among local authorities and communities, in alignment with national priorities and international standards.

Another key component of the project is enhancing the resilience of schools in disaster-prone areas. Education authorities, school administrators, and teachers will be supported through activities such as participatory community risk mapping, the development of school-level preparedness plans, and capacity-building in risk management, thereby ensuring the continuity of teaching and learning activities.

Jonathan Wallace Baker, Chief Representative of UNESCO in Vietnam, emphasized: “Recent events have demonstrated that we must shift from emergency response to investing in prevention, preparedness, and early warning. This is a critical condition for sustainable development. UNESCO will work alongside central agencies and local authorities in Nghe An to translate global knowledge into context-appropriate solutions, ensuring that no one is left behind.”

The project also marks a new milestone in Japan–Vietnam cooperation in disaster risk reduction. Ito Naoki, Ambassador of Japan to Vietnam, stated: “We believe that the project will further strengthen disaster risk reduction capacity in Vietnam. By leveraging UNESCO’s experience and expertise, we expect the project to be implemented effectively, delivering concrete results and tangible benefits to the authorities and people of Nghe An Province.”

Ngo Le Van, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, affirmed: “Climate change adaptation is one of the top priorities in Vietnam’s development strategy and national security agenda toward 2050. Today’s signing ceremony reflects political determination translated into concrete actions aimed at delivering direct benefits to communities. Vietnam will continue to work closely with Japan, UNESCO, and relevant partners to ensure the effective implementation of the project.”

It is estimated that approximately 15,000 people, including local community members, students, teachers, and school administrators, will directly benefit from the project, while many other groups will benefit indirectly. The experiences and lessons learned from the project will serve as valuable references for other localities and at the national level.

This initiative aligns with Vietnam’s national priorities on disaster prevention and control and education reform, while contributing to the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Sustainable Development Goals.

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