Gia Nghia, Dak Nong province, July 12, 2024 – A Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony on the Public-Private landscape coordination platforms (PPI program compact) in two districts of Dak R'lap and Dak Glong district was organized and co-chaired by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Dak Nong province, Dak R'lap district People's Committee and Dak Glong district People's Committee with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Initiative for Sustainable Trade (IDH). This signing ceremony marked an important milestone in opening a strategic and long-term cooperative relationship between the public sector, private sector, and social organizations to build and develop sustainable agricultural areas, combining production, conservation of natural resources, and improvement of local livelihood in Dak R'lap and Dak Glong districts.

Participating in the ceremony were representatives of the People's Committee of Dak R'lap district and Dak Glong district People's Committee, the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) and five private sectors: Jacobs Douwe Egberts Group (JDE), Company Intimex My Phuoc, Nedspice Viet Nam Spice Processing Company Limited (Nedspice), Olam Company Limited - Pleiku Branch (Olam), Louis Dreyfus Viet Nam Company (LDC). The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Dak Nong province was the state agency that witnessed the participation of all parties.

Mr. Le Quang Dan - Deputy Director of the Department - Director of the iLandscape project in Dak Nong province, said: "The production link between partners in the supply chain, from farmers and farmer organizations to suppliers Input supply, agents and businesses purchasing, processing for export and the market have been promoted but are still on a small scale and have not brought a large, positive impact to the entire industry. The new export market regulations for products that do not cause deforestation in the EUDR and requirements for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in production... require manufacturing industries to cooperate and cooperate. Public-private partnership is the foundation throughout the research process - design - intervention organization - monitoring and evaluation - operation of the commodity value chain; ensuring the participation and sharing of responsibilities and benefits of all stakeholders."

Mr. Patrick Haverman, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Viet Nam, said: "Public-private landscape coordination forums play an important role in promoting sustainable production and protecting forest landscapes - agriculture and social inclusion. The signing of this MoU is not only a first step but also a commitment by all parties to work closely to achieve sustainable development goals in the project area."

Mr. Haverman emphasized that the PPI Program Compact is a powerful tool to coordinate the efforts of stakeholders in addressing outstanding issues in agricultural production and environmental protection. "We believe that the PPI Program Compact will serve as a powerful tool to coordinate the efforts of stakeholders in addressing recently emerged issues in agricultural production and environmental protection, such as the European Union's deforestation regulations (EUDR)."

He also shared, "UNDP is committed to providing the necessary support through technical assistance, capacity building, and continuous monitoring. We aim to implement these initiatives effectively and bring the expected benefits."

With the signing of the PPI Compact Program, the parties aimed for goals such as improving income and market access for coffee and pepper for farmers, promoting sustainable economic growth, creating sustainable agricultural jobs, and protecting forests and natural ecosystems.

It was an activity within the framework of the project "Comprehensive sustainable landscape management through the approach of sustainable development without causing deforestation in Lam Dong and Dak Nong, Viet Nam" (referred to as iLandscape Project) funded by the European Union through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The project aimed to enhance environmental sustainability, social security, resilience, and adaptability of agricultural production systems and supply chains in the Central Highlands region, Viet Nam.

For more information, please kindly contact:
Phan Huong Giang 
Media and Communications Analyst, Climate Change and Environment
UNDP Viet Nam
Mobile phone: 0948466688
Email: phan.huong.giang@undp.org