Japan and UNICEF Renew their Partnership to Strengthen Preparedness and Resilience against Climate Disasters for Children in Viet Nam

Hà Nội, 10 February 2026 – The Government of Japan and UNICEF today announced the renewal of their partnership for a new five-year initiative, entitled “Strengthening Resilience against Floods and Landslides in Vulnerable Regions”, in the presence of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

The partnership is supported by the Government of Japan with a contribution of USD 6 million. It will be implemented by UNICEF in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) through the Viet Nam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority (VDDMA).

The renewed partnership aims to strengthen child-centred disaster risk reduction (DRR) systems in Viet Nam - by improving risk identification, monitoring, and analysis; strengthening risk-informed governance and investments; and enhancing preparedness and adaptive capacity among children, communities and local authorities in areas most exposed to floods and landslides. It builds on a successful five-year Japan-UNICEF partnership (completed in 2025) which helped Viet Nam to strengthen disaster risk management policies and coordination; increase resilience of essential social services for children; and reduce the risks of service disruption from climate disasters.

As a result of the new initiative, around 27 million children and their communities across Viet Nam will benefit from strengthened DRR planning, early warning, and preparedness. Targeted activities in Cao Bằng, Lào Cai, Nghệ An, and Hà Tĩnh provinces, will support an estimated 2.2 million children and 7 million people living in high-risk areas.

Typhoon Yagi in 2024 and severe floods and landslides in 2025 caused significant human and economic losses and highlighted persistent gaps in risk information, early warning, and local preparedness. The increasing frequency and intensity of climate disasters in Viet Nam have underscored the urgency of strengthening disaster risk reduction, preparedness, and early warning systems through sustained and targeted investments, particularly for children and vulnerable communities.

Thanks to the new partnership to be rolled out between 2026 and 2030, Viet Nam will:

• Enhance disaster risk information systems to support national and provincial planning, policy development, and early warning.
• Strengthen disaster risk governance and risk-informed investments, including support for safer, more inclusive and resilient infrastructure such as schools and community facilities.
• Improve community-level preparedness, adaptive capacity, and resilience through local early warning mechanisms, preparedness planning, drills, and disaster risk education.
• Strengthen disaster risk reduction and climate change education, as part of the national curriculum, so that children gain knowledge and skills to better understand risks and act safely.
• Ensure children and young people’s participation in disaster preparedness and response interventions, so that they can contribute to building safer and more resilient communities.

H.E. Mr. Ito Naoki, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Viet Nam, stated: “Japan is pleased to continue its close cooperation with Viet Nam and UNICEF in advancing disaster risk reduction. By strengthening risk identification and analysis, early warning systems, disaster risk governance, and preparedness, this project will help reduce the impacts of floods and landslides and support a safer and more resilient future for children, families, and communities across Viet Nam.”

“Children are least responsible for climate change, but most affected by climate shocks. A child-centred approach to disaster risk reduction ensures that disaster management systems and social sectors are inclusive and responsive to their needs and it strengthens preparedness and resilience of children, families and communities,” said Ms. Silvia Danailov, UNICEF Representative in Viet Nam. “With Japan’s continued partnership, we can better protect children and ensure that we leave no child behind.”

H.E. Mr. Nguyễn Hoàng Hiệp, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Environment, emphasised that the partnership will help to strengthen Viet Nam’s disaster risk reduction system with a strong focus on the most vulnerable population, especially children. He highlighted the value of the long-standing partnership with Japan and UNICEF and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to build resilience of children, families and communities in the regions that are most at risk to climate disasters.

The partnership is aligned with Viet Nam’s commitments under the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030), the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and the Sustainable Development Goals, and reflects Japan’s commitment to Human Security and Dignity. It builds on the long-standing partnership between the Government of Japan, UNICEF, and the Government of Viet Nam in advancing disaster risk reduction and resilience.

The Exchange of Notes for the project was signed on 10 February 2026 between H.E. Mr. Ito Naoki, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Viet Nam, and Ms. Silvia Danailov, UNICEF Representative in Viet Nam, with the participation of H.E. Mr. Nguyễn Hoàng Hiệp, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Environment.

For further information, please contact:

• Nguyễn Thị Thanh Hương, UNICEF Viet Nam 
Tel: +84-24-3850-0225 | Mobile: +84-904-154-678 
Email: [email protected]

• Ms Masako Kamoshida, Embassy of Japan in Viet Nam 
Email: [email protected]

• Ms Doan Tuyet Nga, Viet Nam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority (VDDMA) 
Ministry of Agriculture and Environment 
Email: [email protected]