UK pledges over $24mn to boost Vietnam’s coastal resilience

The COAST program was announced shortly after Vietnam and the UK elevated their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in late October this year.

With a total budget of nearly £18.2 million (US$24.3 million), the initiative reflects a major step forward in bilateral cooperation on climate adaptation and sustainable development.

Under the funding package, £17.5 million ($23.4 million) will be provided by the UK government’s Blue Planet Fund and £0.69 million ($0.9 million) will be backed by counterpart funding from the Vietnamese government.

The launch event was attended by senior representatives from Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Public Security, the British Embassy in Hanoi, representatives from the COAST Facility team in the UK, Vietnamese COAST partners, delegates from participating provinces, international organizations, academic institutions and other stakeholders.

COAST Vietnam comes at a time when the country’s coastal and marine environment is increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, unsustainable fishing practices, and biodiversity loss.

With a coastline stretching more than 3,260 kilometers and an exclusive economic zone exceeding 417,000 square kilometers, the country’s coastal and marine environment is critical to its food security and the livelihoods of millions of coastal residents.

Phung Duc Tien, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment, underscored the program’s significance, saying the initiative “demonstrates a shared commitment to protecting our coastlines, enhancing resilience and promoting sustainable marine economic development.”

The COAST Facility is led by a coalition of international partners coordinated by DAI Global UK, in collaboration with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

In Vietnam, the program will be implemented with support from the Agricultural Project Management Board under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and the British Embassy in Hanoi.

The program aims to protect and restore coastal habitats and fishery resources; strengthen coastal aquaculture resilience; promote sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities, especially vulnerable groups; and enhance management capacity and policy implementation at national and local levels.

COAST Vietnam will deliver technical assistance, flexible grants and long-term partnership building in eight provinces and cities, including Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Gia Lai, Khanh Hoa, Can Tho, An Giang and Ca Mau.

“COAST connects national leadership, local action and global expertise to support Vietnam in adapting to climate change in an effective and sustainable way,” said British Ambassador to Vietnam Iain Frew.