On August 2, 2023, the Young Professionals for Sustainable Water Resources Forum 2023 (YP4W 2023) with the theme "Water Security and Climate Resilience in Vietnam" was held by the IWRP in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Mr. Thai Gia Khanh, Deputy Director General of the IWRP attended and opened the Forum together with Ms. Tran Lan Huong, Head of UNESCO's Department of Natural Sciences in Vietnam. The forum has the participation of more than 40 young Vietnamese professionals working in the field of water resources, environment, natural resources and related fields from government agencies, universities, and NGOs.

Mr. Thai Gia Khanh, Deputy Director General of the IWRP delivered the opening remarks

Speaking at the opening of the program, Mr. Thai Gia Khanh gave a brief introduction of the Institute as well as professional activities related to water security in Vietnam in the context of climate change. He also expressed that the forum would be a place for young scientists to share and update knowledge, as well as discuss water security challenges in Vietnam and related experiences in solving these challenges. This knowledge also promotes the formation of a network of young scientists for sustainable water resources in Vietnam.

On the UNESCO side, Mr. Michael Croft - Acting Chief Representative of UNESCO's Office in Vietnam hoped that the Forum would play a role in promoting a common understanding of the complexities of issues related to water security today, to help foster a common approach - to discuss how best we can all work together and promote young professionals to support Vietnam in its efforts of water management towards sustainable development. On behalf of UNESCO Vietnam, he also thanked the IWRP for co-organizing this Forum and believes that the results of this forum will start a national platform for young people to join hands to solve their problems and main challenges of the country.

Mr. Michael Croft - Acting Chief Representative of UNESCO's Office in Vietnam in his speech 

The forum consists of 3 sessions: Thematic session, discussion session and group discussion session in the form of World Café. The participants were updated with knowledge from international and Vietnamese speakers, specifically: “Water security in the context of climate change from the perspective of the Water-Food relationship- Energy: Mekong Regional Outlook” by Dr. Alex Alex Smajgl - Executive Director of the Mekong Regional Future Research Institute (MERFI) and "Water Security in Vietnam; Identifying Challenges and Orienting Solutions" by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Tuan, Head of Division for Hydraulic Work Planning for the Northern river basin (IWRP). This thematic session received great attention from the participants with questions that were later satisfactorily responded by the speakers.

Mr. Alex Smajgl - Executive Director of the Mekong Regional Future Research Institute (MERFI) presenting this topic

With the updated knowledge from the thematic sessions, at the discussion session with the questions posed by the Organizing Committee, many young scientists shared views and initiatives to solve the problems and issues related to water security and climate change. In the form of world cafe, all the participants worked actively to produce interesting discussion results.

Presenting the results of group discussion

At the panel discussion session with the panelists including Dr. Dao Trong Tu, Director of the Center for Sustainable Development of Water Resources and Climate Change Adaptation (CEWAREC); Assoc. Prof. Dr. Do Hoai Nam - Deputy Director of Center for Training and International Cooperation, Vietnam Academy for Water Resources; Dr. Nguyen Thuy Anh - Officer of the Department of Water Resources Management (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment); and Mr. Tran Lan Huong - Head of the Department of Natural Sciences, UNESCO in Vietnam, the delegates listened to their sharing and asked many questions about Vietnam's challenges in ensuring water security in the context of climate change, as well as solutions to address these challenges. The delegates' questions were all answered by the guests from multi-dimensional and comprehensive perspectives.

The panelists include Dr. Dao Trong Tu, Director of the Center for Sustainable Development of Water Resources and Climate Change Adaptation (CEWAREC), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Do Hoai Nam - Deputy Director of Center for Training and International Cooperation (Vietnam Academy for Water Resources), Dr. Nguyen Thuy Anh - Officer of the Department of Water Resources Management (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment); and Mr. Tran Lan Huong - Head of the Department of Natural Sciences (UNESCO in Vietnam) 

The Forum program was successfully organized with many positive feedbacks from the participants about the content as well as the organization of the program. They are looking forward to similar programs in the future.

Participants of the Forum

About the Forum:

This forum is one of the activities within the framework of the Intergovernmental Hydrology Program (IHP) cycle IX - Science for a water safe world in the context of a changing environment (period 2022-2029), the UNESCO in Vietnam focuses on supporting the strengthening of national capacity in addressing and responding to water security challenges in the context of climate change, contributing to supporting Vietnam in realizing its sustainable development goals. In particular, young scientists in the field of water resources play a very important role in creating changes, participating in related activities towards ensuring water security and responding to climate changes in Vietnam.

The objective of the YP4W 2023 Forum is to (i) strengthen the capacity, especially of young scientists and young experts, in addressing and responding to challenges of water security in the context of climate change in Viet Nam; (ii) share and update relevant knowledge through discussion and exchange on challenges of water security in Vietnam and experiences/solutions to solve these challenges; and (iii) support the formation of a Network of Young Scientists for Sustainable Water Resources in Vietnam.