Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Labour, War Invalids, and Social Affairs (MoLISA)held a consultation workshop in Hanoi on August 27 to look into risk-informed andshock-responsive social protection in Vietnam.

A study on risk-informed and shock-responsivesocial protection in Vietnam has been conducted under the management of theInternational Labour Organisation (ILO). It was run under a project chaired bythe UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and implemented in fourSoutheast Asian countries, namely the Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar, andVietnam.

InVietnam, the study was carried out from March 31 to April 15, 2018 at theMoLISA; the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; and the provinces ofLao Cai in the north, Nghe An in the central region, and Ca Mau in the south.It surveyed local residents and government workers whose jobs are relating todisaster risk reduction, social protection, and humanitarian activities.

Vietnam is among those countries seriouslyaffected by climate change, especially considering that 71 percent of itspopulation and 59 percent of its land mass are vulnerable to natural disasters.The country also loses about 1-1.5 percent of its GDP due to natural disastersevery year.

Low-income and vulnerable groups are affectedmore as their incomes largely depend on weather and housing conditions, whilethey also lack access to saving accounts and credit in times of need.

Comprehensive and effective social assistance isa strong tool to boost resilience to disasters, which must come with helping thoseaffected create and diversify their means of livelihood and deal with long-termclimate change impacts, participants said at the workshop.

The study pointed out some of the advantages anddifficulties in completing policies on risk-informed and shock-responsivesocial protection in Vietnam. The policy system was stipulated in theGovernment’s Decree No.136/2013/ND-CP. The country’s socio-economic developmentplan for 2016-2020 has also stressed the need to improve and better coordinatepolicies and actions pertaining to climate change, disaster risk, naturalresources, environmental protection, and land use.

However, coverage in the decree remains limited.Resources for policy implementation still mainly rely on the state budget andare not enough for handling disaster consequences. While emergency social assistance is assessed as nottimely, suitable, nor sufficient, cumbersome administrative procedures havealso hampered aid provision, according to the study.

The study recommended policies and legalregulations on social protection be fine-tuned regularly, with their focusswitched from response to prevention; a social assistance system for emergenciesbe completed; and financial strategies be developed.

Some participants at the event said that asnatural disasters remain complicated and unpredictable, the communication staffneeds to be further consolidated, and appropriate resources should be investedin infrastructure and equipment for disaster prevention. They also called forstronger coordination among all-level authorities, sectors, and domestic andinternational organisations in this work.–VNA