Japan, UNICEF join hands in strengthening resilience against climate disasters for children in Viet Nam

The partnership is supported by the Government of Japan with a contribution of US$6 million. It will be implemented by UNICEF in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) through the Viet Nam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority (VDDMA).

The renewed partnership aims to strengthen child-centered disaster risk reduction (DRR) systems in Viet Nam - by improving risk identification, monitoring, and analysis; strengthening risk-informed governance and investments; and enhancing preparedness and adaptive capacity among children, communities and local authorities in areas most exposed to floods and landslides.

It builds on a successful five-year Japan-UNICEF partnership (completed in 2025) which helped Viet Nam to strengthen disaster risk management policies and coordination; increase resilience of essential social services for children; and reduce the risks of service disruption from climate disasters.

As a result of the new initiative, around 27 million children and their communities across Viet Nam will benefit from strengthened DRR planning, early warning, and preparedness.

Targeted activities in Cao Bang, Lao Cai, Nghe An, and Ha Tinh provinces, will support an estimated 2.2 million children and 7 million people living in high-risk areas.

Typhoon Yagi in 2024 and severe floods and landslides in 2025 caused significant human and economic losses and highlighted persistent gaps in risk information, early warning, and local preparedness.

The increasing frequency and intensity of climate disasters in Viet Nam have underscored the urgency of strengthening disaster risk reduction, preparedness, and early warning systems through sustained and targeted investments, particularly for children and vulnerable communities.

Addressing the event, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Viet Nam Ito Naoki said, Japan is pleased to continue its close cooperation with Viet Nam and UNICEF in advancing disaster risk reduction.

By strengthening risk identification and analysis, early warning systems, disaster risk governance, and preparedness, this project will help reduce the impacts of floods and landslides and support a safer and more resilient future for children, families, and communities across Viet Nam, he shared./.