Viet Nam: Apply forecast-based financing on heat waves in Ha Noi

By Nho Quế, translated by Nguyen Vinh Hoa

On November 28th in Hanoi, Vietnam Red Cross and German Red Cross held a workshop to implement the project, "Minimizing the impact of heat wave on vulnerable groups in Hanoi through capacity building for Viet Nam Red Cross on forecast-based financing (FBF)" for early action on the basis of forecasts.

Attending the workshop were Mr. Tran Quoc Hung, Vice President of Vietnam Red Cross; Mr. Jerome Faucet, Representative of German Red Cross in Vietnam; Mr. Nguyen Sy Truong, Chairman of Hanoi Red Cross; The Red Cross branches in 12 districts in Hanoi, and other related national and international organizations.

At the workshop, Mr. Tran Quoc Hung emphasized the serious impacts of climate change and the process of urbanization affecting disasters in recent years. He confirmed that the field of warnings and forecasts is one of the top priorities in overcoming and mitigating the damages of natural disasters.

Besides sharing the difficulties and challenges that the project faces in terms of forecast accuracy - a key component for determining whether to act before a heat wave - Mr. Hung said he hoped that representatives of participating agencies would contribute their ideas so that the project can properly implement the activities to expand the model for FbF to other types of natural disasters.

In Vietnam, as well as in other countries around the world, humanitarian activities in natural disasters often focus on emergency relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and livelihoods following disasters. However, over the past 20 years, VNRC has focused on disaster response to natural disasters, such as using mangroves for dyke protection and implementing training courses on prevention. However, the effectiveness of disaster mitigation has yet to be optimized. "The use of FbF in Vietnam can be seen as a new step in humanitarian efforts," said Mr. Tran Quoc Hung.

The project uses the FbF method and will be implemented until October 2020. It aims to develop early actions that help to reduce the negative impact of heat wave on the health of vulnerable groups (elderly people, people with disabilities, chronically ill people and street vendors).

With funding of €325,000, the project is supported by the German Red Cross, in collaboration with the Institute for Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change (IMHEN). The VNRC in applying coping strategies to other types of natural disasters, such as storms and floods.

The project will be implemented in a seven step process: risk assessment; identification of hydro-meteorological forecasting information; identification of levels that affect the local community; early action options; development of a standard action plan; evaluation of standard action procedures; tracking of forecasting information.

Sharing the report on the results of the heat wave in Hanoi, Mr. Nguyen Quang Trung, Representative of the Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change, said: In Hanoi, in recent years, temperatures have been increasing both in level and duration. Alerts can be made within three months, one month and three days, providing the best forecasting information.

Mr. Jerome Faucet said: "This is the first of 22 FbF projects to be implemented in urban areas, namely in response to heat wave. Meteorological hydrographic forecasting information is the basis for triggering early response actions to enhance the effectiveness of disaster response activities."

The implementation of this project in Vietnam not only helps vulnerable people against heat waves but also helps VNRC to adopt a new, effective humanitarian approach. A better response to various types of natural disasters enhances the role of VNRC in humanitarian relief activities in the country and internationally.