USAID/Vietnam Mission Director Ann Marie Yastishock and KOICA Country Director Cho Han Deog both signed the MoU.
USAID and KOICA aim to strengthen the impact and increase the efficiency of their programmes whileachieving better measurable outcomes for the people of Vietnam.
Through cooperation, the two agencies will pursue shared development goals including, but not limited to,reducing plastic and other types of pollution and improving solid waste management; enhancing biodiversity; mitigating emissions from the agricultural sector; increasing adaptation strategies of vulnerable populations in the Mekong Delta; and accelerating renewable energy development and deployment at the central and urban levels.
USAID has several initiatives focusing on combating climate change and strengthening environmental security and protection in Vietnam. This includes developing clean energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting the natural environment including forests and threatened species, and engaging with local communities on environmental pollution issues, such as air pollution, waste management, and water conservation. Since 2010, USAID has provided assistance to Vietnam’s environment and energy sector. USAID currently implements 11 environment and energy projects in Vietnam, with a combined value totalling over $160 million.
KOICA is committed to tackling climate change and promoting green growth. It is in the process of increasing its portfolio of related cooperation projects. In Vietnam, particular attention is paid to waste-to-energy, marine plastic pollution, pollution monitoring, and forest conservation and its sustainable management. KOICA is trying to solve these problems through cooperation with various partners including academia, startups and private businesses where possible.
