USAID Announces New Vietnam Partnership to Address Ocean Plastic Pollution
In January 12, 2022, the Center for Environment and Community Assets Development (CECAD) participated in the workshop to announce a partnership between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Clean Cities, Blue Ocean (CCBO) program and the Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands (VASI) to stem the tide of ocean plastic pollution through improved local solid waste management. Through the partnership, USAID’s Clean Cities, Blue Ocean program will support national strategies to reduce ocean plastics, as well as pilot solutions directly in four “engagement” sites in Vietnam: Hue, Da Nang, Bien Hoa, and Phu Quoc. The program will deliver technical assistance from international and local experts and award approximately US $600,000 (13.6 billion VND) to local organizations to deliver locally-led sustainable solutions.
Mr. Nguyen Que Lam - Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands (VASI) gave the opening speech at the announcement ceremony
At the event, the Clean Cities, Blue Ocean program shared international best practices from its global network of partners and announced upcoming Vietnam grantee activities. The first wave of grantees in Vietnam include: Environment and Development in Action (Enda Vietnam) for its project in Bien Hoa; the Asian Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) for its project in Da Nang; International Development Enterprises (iDE) for its project in Hue; and The Center for Environment and Community Assets Development (CECAD) for its project in Phu Quoc.
Mr. Doan Van Tien - Vice Chairman of Phu Quoc City People's Committee gave a speech to welcome the CCBO program in Phu Quoc city
With the project “Promoting sustainable community-led solid waste management in Phu Quoc Island ” which is implemented in Phu Quoc city in 2 years, CECAD wishes to contribute its efforts in promoting sustainable solid waste management, 3R strategy and encouraging the participation of local communities in solid waste management models as well as actions and initiatives of local communities in Phu Quoc city to manage solid waste effectively. Ultimately, CECAD wishes to help Phu Quoc City become a Clean Tourist City with Blue Ocean and become more attractive to domestic and foreign tourists.
Participants
The USAID Clean Cities, Blue Ocean (CCBO) program was launched in August 2019 as the Agency’s flagship program to respond to the global crisis of ocean plastics pollution. The five-year, $48 million program works globally to target plastic pollution originating in and perpetuated by rapidly urbanizing areas throughout low- and middle-income countries. In Vietnam, CCBO is providing national-level support and is engaging with partners in four engagement sites to identify, test, and scale locally-driven solutions to promote the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) and enhance solid waste management systems. For more information, please visit www.urban-links.org/ccbo.
Lan Anh
