The Living Deltas Hub Report and Network launch was held on September 5, 2024, at the British Ambassador’s Residence in Hanoi. The event was co-organized by the Vietnam National University Central Institute of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (VNU-CRES) at Hanoi, the UKRI GCRF Living Deltas Hub and the British Embassy in Hanoi. The event drew the attention of more than 40 governmental officials from different ministries such as the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST); experts and researchers from universities and research institutions, and representatives from Vietnamese Women’s Museum and non-governmental organizations. The purpose of the event was to present the Living Deltas Hub UKRI-GCRF Report 2019-2024 and Future Plans – An International Living Deltas Research Network.
The Living Deltas Hub Report and Network launch participants
Photo by: Hue Ha
The event started with the welcoming speech from Mr. Marcus Winsley, Deputy Ambassador to Vietnam, who emphasized the significance of international development research, and the Living Deltas Hubs are among the most ambitious investment the UK has to date made in international development research. He also highlighted the importance of collaborative research in addressing the significant challenges currently confronting the delta SESs in a transdisciplinary manner that responds to the interlinked agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He was very pleased to know that the Living Deltas Hub has provided MARD with the evidence base to support the policy formulation to promote sustainable coastal zone management as well as SDGs in the Red River Delta.
Mr. Marcus Winsley, Deputy Ambassador had a short welcome speech to participants
Photo by: Ly Bui
The event was followed by the presentation on the Living Deltas Hub UKRI-GCRF Report 2019-2024 and Future Plans – An International Living Deltas Research Network by Prof. Dr. Andy Large – PI and Director, UKRI GCRF Living Deltas Hub. This five-year report outlined many of the outcomes that the Living Delta Hub has delivered through its work on three major Asian mega-deltas – the Red River and the Mekong River deltas in Vietnam and the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) delta in Bangladesh and India. Prof. Large described the approach to natural-cultural heritage-sensitive knowledge co-creation through equitable partnerships to arrive at shared goals. It was important to note that the Living Deltas Hub has produced over 220 academic papers, held over 300 substantive engagement events of which two-thirds were international, received almost 80 awards and been associated with over £32 million of further funding.
Finally, Dr. Hue Le from VNU-CRES presented Policy Brief “How to sustainably Manage the Red River Coastline”. The policy brief provided an overview of the current state of the Red River coastline, key issues, influencing factors, and proposed recommendations on sustainable protection and restoration of the mangrove ecosystems along the coast in the Red River Delta, which in turn sustains local people’s livelihoods and well-being.
Dr. Hue Le presented the Policy Brief of WP4
Photo by: Ly Bui
The event also served as an opportunity for all participants to exchange knowledge and experiences and develop research networks for future collaboration. The event was a success in that it created an important forum for participants to discuss relevant issues that the Red River Delta is facing as well as solutions to promote sustainable development in the region.
Dr. Andy Large the Living Deltas Hub Director presented at event
Photo by: Ly Bui
At the end of the event, Mr. Marcus Winsley, Deputy Ambassador to Vietnam, stated that he was very impressed with what the Living Deltas Hub has achieved and called on all stakeholders to continue working together to ensure that the Red River Delta is not only well protected, but also a place worth living for generations to come.