A MEETING BETWEEN DUTCH WATER AUTHORITY AND CAN THO UNIVERSITY

On 31 July 2018, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Tran Trung Tinh, Vice Rector of Can Tho University (CTU) and representatives from the College of Environment and Natural Resources, the Institute of Climate Change Research and the International Cooperation Department had a meeting to welcome and work with the Dutch Water Authority, represented by Mr. Jan van der Molen International Cooperation Strategist and Mr. Tjeerd Dijkstra Project Coordinator, to discuss the implementation of Blue Dragon Program, the program aiming is long-term assistance of Dutch Water Authority at the Mekong Delta region.

Blue Dragon Program with the goal of improving capacity on water resource management for provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta. Can Tho city will be first pilot and serve as the basis for development at remaining provinces. The program will be implemented from 2018 to 2030. Blue Dragon Program is part of the Blue Deal, an agreement between the Dutch Water Authority and Dutch ministries with the ambition of contributing to solving the worldwide water challenge. The implementation of the Blue Deal is an opportunity to develop a more effective and long-term cooperative relationship between the Dutch Water Authority and water managers in Vietnam.

At the meeting, the representatives of the Dutch Water Authority proposed the start-up phase (from June 2018 to March 2019) of the Blue Dragon Program to build a long-term program in Vietnam. This phase includes specific tasks:

• identifying, attracting and mobilizing partners to participate in the program; determining the feasibility of the program;
• identifying the scope and the need-based knowledge exchange and capacity development;
• identifying innovative solutions that provide opportunities to enhance the exchange of expertise and contributing to address water challenges in the Mekong Delta;
• identifying the actual need for support and advice to participate in professional exchanges between Vietnamese and Dutch water managers;
• preparing plans to 2030 and directions for the first 4 years;
• developing methods of monitoring and assessing the impact on program objectives;
• preparing funding proposals under the Blue Deal framework;
• participating in preliminary activities of professional exchange to kick-off the program and creating a smooth transition between the current good cooperation of the Dutch Water Authority in Vietnam and the professional exchange program in Blue Deal framework.

After a meeting with the leaders of the University to introduce the Program and have an initial discussion about the Blue Dragon start-up phase, with a large amount of work in this phase, experts from the Dutch Water Authority will continue to discuss the with CTU experts for professional work that will be coordinated in the near future.

Source: www.ctu.edu.vn