Funded by the Government of Japan and led by UN Women in collaboration with the Women’s Unions of Ca Mau and Ninh Thuan, ‘Water is Life’ is a year-long project running from 2024 to 2025.
By providing water storage tanks, filtration systems, efficient water-saving equipment, and targeted communication programs, this project aims to help residents living in areas affected by drought and saltwater intrusion get sustainable access to clean water and improve their economic resilience.
Within 1 year, the project provided essential water equipment to over 1,500 households, 10 schools, and health stations, benefiting over 10,000 people.
The initiative also strengthened the capacity of 60 local communities, enabling them to better respond to the impacts of drought and salt intrusion.
Additionally, it promoted sustainable practices to protect livelihoods and well-being through training on the prevention and control of gender-based violence.
On February 19, a delegation from the Embassy of Japan, the Vietnam Women's Union, and UN Women visited Phuoc Chien Commune, Thuan Bac District, Ninh Thuan, to meet the women beneficiaries of the “Water is Life” project.
The delegates listened to beneficiaries’ stories—the struggles of living without clean water and the changes after receiving support.
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| Under the project, students in local schools now have access to clean water, improving hygiene conditions and their overall well-being.(Photo: UN Women) |
Under the project, students in local schools now have access to clean water, improving hygiene conditions and their overall well-being.
Many families received water storage tanks, allowing them to store more clean water for the dry season or supply cuts, reducing health risks from contaminated sources.
Women farmers were supported with water-efficient irrigation systems, enabling them to continue farming during droughts, improve crop yields, and secure a more stable income.
Nguyen Thi Yen, of Tran Van Thoi District, Ca Mau, shared that her family struggled with water shortages so hard that they had to buy extra water or use unsafe sources. “This support has been life-changing, providing us with clean water and a stable livelihood,” she stated.
Meanwhile, To Thi Nhu Nga from Thuan Nam District, Ninh Thuan, said that the initiative helped locals install additional water pipes and a drip irrigation system, ensuring reliable water access for their crops.
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Delegates visit women beneficiaries of the “Water is Life” project. (Photo: UN Women) |
Speaking at the event, Sasaki Shohei, First Secretary of the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam, hailed “Water is Life” as a very meaningful project in empowering women economically.
For her part, Caroline Nyamayemombe, UN Women Country Representative in Vietnam, noted that the solutions developed through this initiative provide a strong foundation for scaling up similar interventions in other vulnerable regions.
She also called for continued action as water scarcity, drought, and salt intrusion will persist.
According to UN Women, 80% of households without piped water rely on women and girls for water collection. This is a global issue that can have serious consequences for women, girls, and their families.
In Vietnam, climate change-induced national disasters have intensified, causing 40% of the Mekong Delta to experience saltwater intrusion and over 1.5 million people to face annual water shortages.
Prolonged droughts are damaging agriculture and impacting the health and livelihoods of residents, particularly women and children responsible for household water supplies.
Ca Mau and Ninh Thuan are among Vietnam’s most climate-vulnerable regions. In Ca Mau, saltwater intrusion in 2020 affected over 29,644 hectares of farmland, drastically reducing rice and vegetable yields and costing an estimated 107 billion VND. Rising water scarcity has forced over 20,000 households to buy water at high prices, affecting their ability to afford other essentials.
In Ninh Thuan, prolonged droughts led to over 7,873 hectares of farmland being abandoned between 2019 and 2020. Here, the shortage of fresh water has placed 72,000 people at risk of food insecurity, while more than 12,000 households, encompassing nearly 50,000 people, lack access to drinking water.
