Stakeholder Meeting on “the Decision Support Tools for Delta Management (DeLTAS Toolkit)”

On September 7th, 2024, a stakeholder meeting on the "Decision Support Tool for Delta Management (DeLTAS Toolkit)" was held at the RLC Auditorium. The event was co-organized by the Research Institute for Climate Change (DRAGON-Mekong) and the School of Social Sciences and Humanities, Can Tho University (CTU), as part of the "Living Deltas" project. This project, funded by the UK Research and Innovation's Global Challenges Research Fund, is a collaboration between Can Tho University and Newcastle University, UK.

The event was honored by the presence of Her Excellency Alexandra Elizabeth Smith, British Consul-General in Ho Chi Minh City, along with a delegation from the Consulate. Representing the Living Deltas Project were Prof. Andy Large, Project Director, and Prof. Andrew Henderson, Deputy Project Director, from Newcastle University, UK. On behalf of Can Tho University (CTU), the stakeholder meeting was attended by Dr. Le Van Lam, Vice Rector; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Van Pham Dang Tri, Director of the Research Institute for Climate Change (DRAGON-Mekong), and over 90 experts, scientists, representatives from government agencies, businesses, lecturers, and researchers from institutes and universities in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta, as well as more than 40 CTU students.

The overview of the stakeholder meeting on the  Decision Support Tool (DeLTAS Toolkit)

In opening remarks, Dr. Le Van Lam emphasized Can Tho University's crucial role in training, research, and technology transfer to support the sustainable development of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta. Dr. Lam expressed his hope that the meeting would serve as a platform for stakeholders to discuss and exchange ideas on addressing the emerging challenges posed by climate change and socio-economic development, while also strengthening global partnerships with organizations and research universities from the United Kingdom.

Dr. Le Van Lam delivered the opening speech

Ms. Alexandra Smith highlighted the Living Deltas project as a vivid example of the successful collaboration between Can Tho University and the United Kingdom, and more broadly, a global partnership among numerous countries, organizations, and stakeholders aimed at addressing climate change challenges, particularly in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta. Furthermore, she reaffirmed the UK government's commitment to strengthening cooperation with Vietnam in addressing social and environmental issues, with a view to fostering Vietnam's and the Vietnamese Mekong Delta's prosperity.

Ms. Alexandra Smith had a speech at the stakeholder meeting

In the stakeholder meeting, the presentations delved into the core outcomes of the Living Deltas project, fostering discussions on the feasibility and approaches for disseminating project results and products, informing policy decisions, and facilitating real-world applications.

Prof. Dr. Andy Large and Prof. Dr. Andrew Henderson reported on the results of the Living Deltas Hub project for the period 2019-2024 and future planning directions – International Delta Research Network

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Van Pham Dang Tri presented the outputs of building a data management platform on water quality in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta.

Dr. Hua Hong Hieu, Head of Sociology Department, School of Social Sciences and Humanities presented the output of risk assessment for coastal livelihoods in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta.

Dr. Nguyen Van Kien, Lecturer at An Giang University, presented results on purely natural models in adapting to the impacts of climate change.

Dr. Le Van Lam presented a gift to Ms. Alexandra Smith

In the plenary discussion, stakeholders emphasized the need for strong collaboration among government agencies and communities to effectively respond to climate change in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta. Youth were identified as a key force in adaptation efforts, while the development of circular agriculture and organic products was seen as a sustainable solution to optimize natural resource utilization. Moreover, it was highlighted that fostering linkages between universities, government, and sustainable development forums is essential for developing and implementing appropriate policies. The establishment of data systems and support tools was also recognized as a crucial factor in ensuring the region's sustainable development.

Some photos in the plenary discussion

At the event, Prof. Andy Large, representing the Living Deltas project team, introduced and guided the use of the DeLTAS Toolkit, a decision support tool for managing and monitoring the sustainability of delta regions. The DeLTAS Toolkit integrates various tools to provide the necessary data and information for assessing sustainable development goals. With its high applicability, the DeLTAS Toolkit can be implemented in education and community research to raise awareness and understanding of delta ecosystems.

Some photos in the event:

The group photo in the stakeholder meeting