ESSA - Selected Projects

Viet Nam - Canada Environment Project (VCEP) Phase I & II

Canadian International Development Agency

The Viet Nam-Canada Environment Project (VCEP) is a highly successful 10-year, $20 million CIDA-funded project with the objective of building capacity for environmental protection and management in seven provinces and the National Environment Agency of Viet Nam. Specific project objectives are to strengthen the capacities of key national and provincial institutions in three areas:

1.	environmental monitoring;
2.	industrial and urban pollution management; and
3.	environmental impact assessment and planning.

The project is also addressing the cross-cutting themes of coastal zone management, information management, and gender equality.

ESSA, in consortium with SNC-Lavalin of Montreal, is engaged in designing and delivering training and demonstration projects which are the main approaches being used to build institutional capacity. The Project supports:

1.	the National Environment Agency in developing a national system for environmental management;
2.	four Departments of Science, Technology, and Environment (DOSTEs) in becoming operational and effective at designing and conducting systematic and integrated programs of environmental management; and
3.	three additional DOSTEs in improving facilities and strengthening human resource capacity with new technical skills and knowledge of environmental management.

Tasks Performed:

	development of administrative and operational frameworks for Industrial Pollution Management (IPM);
	design and implementation of technical training that focuses on achieving results in the workplace, including on-the-job training and mentoring;
	training on management of environmental management programs;
	preparation of policies, regulations, guidelines, and operational documentation for IPM; and
	long-term technical support to the Government of Viet Nam on industrial pollution management.