Sustainable finance for communities participating in co-management for the conservation of aquatic resources

Nha Trang, December 7, 2023 - The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Binh Thuan Fisheries Association jointly organized a workshop on "Sustainable finance for communities participating in co-management for the conservation of aquatic resources."

Given current undertakings of co-management in the protection of aquatic resources for local fishing communities and local authorities in Binh Thuan, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, and Ha Tinh provinces, the workshop aims to facilitate exchanges on various challenges and opportunities regarding the maintenance of sufficient finance towards sustaining and developing co-management mechanisms, as well as discuss policy instrument-related issues. These exchanges would help improve the operation of existing co-management models and investigate avenues for further replication nationwide.

With the 2017 Fisheries Law established, it is stipulated that "Co-management is a state-endorsed management approach characterized by the government sharing powers and responsibilities in protecting aquatic resources with community organizations" and “Community organizations participating in co-management for the conservation of aquatic resources (hereinafter referred to as community organizations) are entities whose members willingly engage in shared governance, jointly oversee, share benefits, and safeguard aquatic resources within a specified geographical region. These entities may or may not possess legal statuses but are acknowledged by a competent state agency and granted the authority to partake in co-management.“

UNDP Viet Nam, through the Global Environment Facility’s Small Grant Program (UNDP/GEF-SGP), has supported the establishment of more than 10 co-management models, including that in Ham Thuan Nam district, Binh Thuan province. Particularly, in 2018, UNDP supported the establishment of three community organizations in 3 communes Thuan Quy, Tan Thanh, Tan Thuan, Ham Thuan Nam district, as permitted by the Fisheries Law. Over the past 5 years, these community organizations have successfully formulated operating regulations and coordination mechanisms for co-management, as well as established the Community Funds and operationalized Community’s Revolving Funds. The co-management model in Ham Thuan Nam continues to conduct meetings, delegate tasks among members, orchestrate patrols, develop livelihood activities such as raising clams, seaweed, and others.

However, in practice, addressing the challenges associated with securing consistent financial resources for community groups’ activities remains a significant obstacle to sustaining and enhancing the effectiveness of co-management models. Consequently, as part of the Biodiversity Financing Initiative (BIOFIN), UNDP seeks to evaluate the implementation of Binh Thuan co-management models, to provide recommendations toward establishing a long-term financing mechanism to sustain co-management efforts. BIOFIN has been an ardent advocate for public-private partnerships (PPP), reinforcing community planning and operational capacities, and fostering active participation and financial contributions from individuals and local organizations to maintain  co-management and conservation efforts. In fact, from 2022-2023, the communities in Ham Thuan Nam have successfully mobilized about 1.6 billion VND from local private organizations and the Commune People's Committee for the protection and restoration of marine resources, namely the installment of floating buoys and artificial reefs. In the picturesque coral archipelago of Hon Yen, Phu Yen province, BIOFIN is actively involved in facilitating the establishment of a novel fee collection mechanism derived from community-based eco-tourism activities. This initiative aims to allocate 15% of tourism revenue to support co-management activities organized by the Hon Yen Ecology and Services Cooperative. One of the primary foci of BIOFIN Viet Nam in the near future is to persist in studying and experimentation, aiming to design and implement sustainable financial mechanisms dedicated to the conservation of diverse marine ecosystems across Viet Nam.

“Despite many challenges in sustaining co-management models and developing livelihoods for the local people, the successes to date serve as tangible evidence that empowerment of local communities’ rights over the protection of aquatic resources, their active engagement, timely support from professional agencies and authorities, and PPP’s financial resource mobilization are the critical driving forces accelerating positive changes in safeguarding the quality of marine ecosystems in Viet Nam,” shared Mrs. Ramla Khalidi, Resident Representative of UNDP in Viet Nam, “Co-management is an important reality that requires further institutional and financial reinforcement, aligning with the broader national agenda aimed at the protection of Vietnam's globally significant marine ecosystems.”

Mr. Huynh Quang Huy, Chairman of Binh Thuan Fisheries Association, shared: "Fishermen must play an active role in co-management. Our support in recent times has been aimed at strengthening the organizational capacity of community organizations, especially in developing financial plans for activities. We have been encouraging communities to stay proactive in their pursuit of mobilizing resources, developing management plans and implementing livelihood models to generate additional income from the co-management area, bolstering the effectiveness of this great policy.”

With the aim of fostering mutual exchanges and understanding the needs and challenges confronted by community organizations regarding co-management, UNDP supports the organization of a dialogue between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the communities of fishermen. The event, titled "Promoting Co-management for a Sustainable and Responsible Fisheries Sector," is scheduled to take place in Nha Trang on December 8. This dialogue offers a platform for prominent sector leaders to engage directly with the local fishermen who make co-management a living reality, to listen to their thoughts and aspirations, to take stock of shared challenges, and to brainstorm actionable solutions for an integrated, sustainable, and responsible fishing industry in Viet Nam.

Building on these successes, in the upcoming period, UNDP is committed to ongoing support with a focus on enhancing resilience for coastal communities through the restoration of coastal ecosystems and promoting nature-based tourism to sustainably transform Viet Nam’s local economy and tourism industry.

For any media inquiries, please contact:
Phan Huong Giang
UNDP Media and Communication Analyst, Climate Change and Environment
Email: phan.huong.giang@undp.org

About BIOFIN:
BIOFIN is a UNDP’s global initiative that aims to develop and implement a new approach to biodiversity finance. In Viet Nam, the BIOFIN project is actively working towards innovative financial solutions for biodiversity conservation, with solutions entailing development of Hon Cau marine protected areas, Binh Thuan, strengthening financial mechanism for co-management in Ham Thuan Nam, Binh Thuan, and community-based ecotourism in Hon Yen, Phu Yen, among others.

About the Small Grants Program (UNDP/GEF- SGP):
The Small Grants Programme (SGP) is a corporate program of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) since 1992. SGP grantmaking in over 125 countries promotes community- based innovation, capacity development, and empowerment through sustainable development projects of local civil society organizations with special consideration for indigenous peoples, women, and youth. SGP has operated in Viet Nam since 1999. The program has provided technical and financial support to many community initiatives including the co-management in fisheries in many provinces.