The University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) actively engages in domestic and international collaborative programmes aimed at fostering water security and sustainable development. Notably, UEH is a committed member of the Blue Resources for Development (BlueRforD) programme, an interdisciplinary global research network dedicated to the sustainable management and utilisation of water resources. Furthermore, in 2024, UEH has executed several applied research projects focusing on water infrastructure, water-use efficiency, and sustainable agriculture, thereby strengthening the objective of water security at the local, regional, and national levels.
1. UEH Membership in BlueRforD
Blue Resources for Development (BlueRforD) is an interdisciplinary global collaboration dedicated to promoting the sustainable utilisation of natural resources in low and middle-income countries. Our focus is on the management and development of sustainable capture fisheries and aquaculture, while simultaneously researching resource-related issues such as agriculture and land use in coastal areas. This network is a result of the Environment for Development (EfD) programme and involves researchers from Chile, China, Colombia, Central America, Ghana, India, Nigeria, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania, the United States, and Vietnam. The network is co-coordinated by the EfD Vietnam Centre at the Faculty of Economics, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, and EfD in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Key Research Themes include:
+ Fisheries management from an ecological, economic and community perspective (three core objectives).
+ Developing sustainable aquaculture with a three-benefit core approach.
+ Marine spatial planning and its impact from the perspectives of poverty and gender.
2. Research Project: “Gender Integration into Water Conservancy Works and Disaster Prevention in the Context of Climate Change in Cu Lao Dung District, Soc Trang (GS4Infra)”
Local-Level Cooperation and Impact:
UEH implemented the “GS4Infra – Gender‑sensitizing for Design and Operation of Water‑Energy‑Climate Change Infrastructures” project in Cu Lao Dung district, Soc Trang province. The project involves close cooperation with local government authorities, including the District People’s Committee, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Women’s Union, and An Thanh Nam and An Thanh Dong Communes. This collaboration aims to survey, design, and operate irrigation works, canals, and saline intrusion prevention dykes with gender and community sensitivity. This model supports capacity building for local water management, enhances adaptation to saltwater intrusion and climate change, and contributes directly to local water security targets.
Kick-off session overview
Local officials’ survey results.
Regional-Level Cooperation:
Through the GS4Infra project and participation in regional forums such as Mekong Environment Week 2024 (Bangkok), UEH shared its experience and connected with the research and government networks across the Mekong River region (Vietnam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand). At these events, UEH and its regional partners exchanged knowledge on water, energy, and climate change management, and developed policy recommendations for irrigation infrastructure and salinity intrusion control within the Mekong Delta.
National and Global Cooperation:
UEH is engaged in international research collaborations such as the Mekong Thought Leadership and Think Tanks Network (MTT), supported by international organisations like the Mekong Think Tank programme. This participation aims to promote the sustainable design and operation of water-energy-climate infrastructure. Through these partnerships, UEH not only improves domestic water management but also contributes to the international network on water security, sharing data, policies, and best practices with other low and middle-income nations.
3. Policy Dialogue and Research Series: ‘Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture: From Policy to Practice in the Context of Climate Change’
In 2024, UEH’s Agricultural and Health Policy Research Institute (HAPRI) hosted a series of research activities and scientific seminars focusing on water security, food security, and sustainable agriculture in the Mekong Delta. The programme successfully convened many leading UEH experts, including Dr. Tran Anh Thong, Dr. Tran Duc Dung, and M.A. Vo Van Oc, alongside representatives from local government authorities of Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, and Ben Tre provinces, international organisations, and policymakers. This highlights a robust commitment to multi-stakeholder cooperation.
At the event, Dr. Tran Anh Thong presented the study “When water management policies derail livelihood aspirations: farmers’ agency in everyday politics in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta“. The analysis focused on the conflict between current irrigation policies and the practical needs of coastal communities, proposing a multi-stakeholder governance model where government, enterprises, research institutions, and the community jointly participate in water allocation and utilisation decisions. Dr. Tran Duc Dung introduced the paper “Evolving pathways towards water security in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta: An adaptive management perspective” emphasising the crucial role of inter-provincial cooperation and integrated river basin management in responding to droughts and saline intrusion. Additionally, M.A. Vo Van Oc shared research results on the impact of crop diversification on water use and farm livelihoods, providing crucial empirical data for sustainable agricultural policy planning.
The programme activities fostered enhanced cooperation between UEH and local government authorities, regional research institutes, and national government agencies, establishing a strong network for policy and academic dialogue concerning water management, agriculture, and livelihoods. Through this, UEH solidifies its role as a key knowledge centre contributing to water security and sustainable development in the Mekong Delta, aligning directly with SDG 6.5.5 – Cooperation on water security.
4. UEH Podcast
UEH developed a series of research-based social communication content focusing on the nexus between water resource management, climate change, and sustainable development in the Mekong Delta (MD). Specifically, the “Sustainable Tourism Development in the MD: Climate Change Adaptation and Practical Solutions“, which was executed by UEH Vinh Long. In this podcast, the author, Dr. Phan Thi Ha, analyzed the reality of climate change, erosion, and its impacts on water resources, land, and agro-aquaculture livelihoods.
This initiative aims to provide publicly accessible data to the community, encourage consultation, raise awareness, and promote cooperation between UEH and local government authorities, civil society organizations, and the public regarding solutions such as investing in water infrastructure, planning for drought/salinity-resilient cropping/farming areas, and developing economic sectors linked to efficient water use.
Through this communication and research outreach, UEH not only creates a local impact but also expands its regional engagement, contributing to the formulation of comprehensive water-land-livelihood management solutions across the MD, thereby fulfilling the objective of SDG 6.5.5 – “Cooperation on water security”.
Open related link:
1. October 18, 2023. About Blue Resources for Development (BlueRforD). https://www.efdinitiative.org/programs/blue-resources-development-bluerford/about/about-blue-resources-delepment
2. (n.d.). MTT Media Call Rapid Response Projects Descriptions. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/mtt–media-call-rapid-response-projects-descriptions-final-for-posting-ck-rd.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com
3. May 13, 2024. When water management policies derail livelihood aspirations: farmers’ agency in everyday politics. https://www.hapri.org/post/when-water-management-policies-derail-livelihood-aspirations-farmers-agency-in-everyday-politics
4. May 13, 2024. Evolving pathways towards water security in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta: An adaptive management perspective. https://www.hapri.org/post/evolving-pathways-towards-water-security-in-the-vietnamese-mekong-delta-an-adaptive-management-pers
5. December 19, 2024. Podcast: Phát triển du lịch bền vững ở Đồng bằng sông Cửu Long: Thích ứng với biến đổi khí hậu & Giải pháp thực tiễn. https://future.ueh.edu.vn/nam/2024/podcast-phat-trien-du-lich-ben-vung-o-dong-bang-song-cuu-long-thich-ung-voi-bien-doi-khi-hau-giai-phap-thuc-tien/
6. January 14, 2025. Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture: From Policy to Practice in the Context of Climate Change. https://gogreen.ueh.edu.vn/en/breaking-news/food-security-and-sustainable-agriculture-from-policy-to-practice-in-the-context-of-climate-change
7. October 3, 2024. UEH Introduces the Research Project: Gender‑sensitizing for Design and Operation of Water‑Energy‑Climate Change Infrastructures in Soc Trang Province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam (GS4Infra). https://www.ueh.edu.vn/en/news/ueh-introduces-the-research-project-gender-sensitizing-for-design-and-operation-of-water-energy-climate-change-infrastructures-in-soc-trang-province-mekong-delta-vietnam-gs4infra-72586
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