This Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) has been prepared to support the implementation of the project “Viet Nam Climate Smart Coastal Communities” (VN-CSCC), funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Its purpose is to assist in the assessment of potential environmental and social impacts and propose mitigation measures during the project implementation. This document helps to ensure full compliance with the requirements of UNDP’s Social and Environmental Standards (SES), Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP) and GAC environmental requirements.

This ESMP adopts a risk-based approach, identifying a comprehensive overall set of potential environmental and social risks and associated mitigations related to the interventions deems as “Moderate risk” in SESP and involve “hard” interventions (installation, plantation and rehabilitation) including: 

1. Installation of automatic hydro-meteorological monitoring and early warning systems (HMEWS) – Activity 1111.1;
2. Operation of plastic waste collection points implemented by women-led Informal Waste Workers (IWW) cooperatives/groups – Activity 1212.4;
3. Establishment and management of Marine Protected Areas (MPA) – Activities 1311.1; 1311.2; 1311.4; 1311.6; and
4. Mangrove forests plantation/rehabilitation and coral reefs restoration – Activities 1312.3; 1321.4; 1322.3; 1322.4.

In addition, under output 1222, the project plans to have technical support and interventions on eco-tourism based on the request of provincial government. While scale and locations of activities under output 1222 is subject to further consultation with stakeholders, this ESMP will provide an overview of identified risks, mitigation measures and monitoring mechanism for these activities. Social and environmental risks of other activities comprising only capacity building, trainings, events and policy analysis will be covered under the scope of project’s ESMF. As VN-CSCC will conduct a series of assessments and develop plans prior to the implementation of interventions, risk identification and mitigation will be incorporated into these assessments and management plans to inform project implementation.