Ha Noi, 17 June 2021 - The Norwegian Embassy and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed the agreement for a new project, entitled ‘Scaling-up Integrated and Inclusive Waste Management Models through Empowering the Informal Sector and Fostering the Circular Economy’. This 3-year project is to deploy and test interventions, including direct support for the informal waste workers, a management model in the fishery sector, and an ecosystem-level approach of value chains through the establishment of a Material Recovery Facility, which will be piloted in Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh province.

Financed by the Government of Norway with a grant of 1.3 million USD, this project illustrates the strong commitment and extensive collaboration between Norway and UNDP to tackle the growing issue of waste management in Viet Nam and accelerate the transition to an inclusive circular economy. It is the continuation of the first phase of the succefull Norway funded project ‘Scaling Up a Socialised Model of Domestic Waste and Plastic Management’, aiming to develop integrated, green and fair models to improve domestic waste and plastic management in five Vietnamese sites (Quang Ninh, Binh Duong, Binh Thuan, Binh Dinh, and Da Nang).

“We are very happy with the success of Phase 1 of the Project and to see the Project being expanded. It is great that more local communities particularly women will take part in the common efforts to tackle plastic wastes and build a circular economy. This is very important in the context of post-pandemic green recovery. Norway takes pride in our partnership with UNDP Vietnam and the Government of Vietnam to take actions to combat plastic wastes, build back greener and leave no one behind”, said Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam, Ms Grete Lochen.

The 3-year project or ‘Phase 2 Project’ responds to the need of scaling up local waste and recycling collection centres that respect environmental and social standards; while engaging the informal sector in waste collection and segregation. Through the project, community capacity for waste management will be enhanced when supported by an effective enabling environment and the adoption by municipalities and businesses of the circular economy principles.

“UNDP is proud of our strong partnership with the Government of Viet Nam and the Government of Norway for accelerating circular economy. This new phase of the project will strengthen waste and plastic value chains in Quy Nhon by establishing a Material Recovery Facility, a waste management model in the fishery sector, and piloting a portfolio of interventions to boost the livelihoods and inclusion of waste workers, particularly women. Building on the project’s establishment of the Viet Nam Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform, Phase 2 will continue to convene stakeholders, curate knowledge of the circular economy, foster exchanges and partnerships in line with the revised Law on Environmental Protection 2020 and the National Action Plan for Management of Marine Plastic Litter. We believe that by bringing together sustainable and inclusive waste management models, innovation and policy advice, the new phase of the project will further accelerate the achievement of a low-carbon and circular Viet Nam ”, said Caitlin Wiesen, UNDP Resident Representative in Viet Nam.

The project comprises two mains outcomes: the first aim to implement sustainable models of waste management that increase livelihoods of waste workers (with a focus on women informal workers), while the second intends to scale up sustainable and inclusive waste management models and interventions through replication support, capacity development and knowledge-sharing.

Overall the project will contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as the prevention of marine plastic pollution, through increased engagement of the fishery, contributing to Life Below Water (SDG14); Poverty Reduction (SDG1), through increased income and livelihood opportunities of women waste workers; promotion of women empowerment, through training and access to revolving funds contributing to Gender Equality (SDG5), contribution to environmental protection, through the implementation of sustainable value chains that reduce the amount of waste burned or landfilled, fostering the collecting and reuse of recyclable materials contributing to Sustainable Consumption and Production (SDG12) and Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG11).

More information, please kindly contact:

Phan Huong Giang | CCE Media & Communications Analyst, UNDP Viet Nam
Ph. 0948466688 | phan.huong.giang@undp.org

Additional Notes to Editors

• Between 2015 and 2020 the average annual rate of municipal waste in Viet Nam increased from 21 million tons to some 35 million tons (ISPONRE, 2017) and is projected to further increase to 52 million tons by 2025) – in other words, a 2.5-fold increase within a decade.
• Some 70% of waste is disposed of in landfills, while the remaining 30% is burned or illegally dumped. In urban areas, more than 85% of waste is collected, but in rural areas the collection rate drops to approximately half of the urban collection rate, ranging between 40% and 45% (ISPONRE, 2018).
• Plastic waste, in particular, accounts for between 10% and 12% of the total amount of solid waste generated in Viet Nam, amounting to approximately 1.8 million tons every year.  
• The informal sector plays a pivotal role in the solid waste management system in Viet Nam as over 30% of the waste is estimated to be collected through this channel. The majority of IWWs are women, who buy or collect waste from households to resell to larger recyclers, which supply craft villages. Between 10,000 and 16,000 waste pickers work every day in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City respectively.

Link to the Project: Scaling Up a Socialised Model of Domestic Waste and Plastic Management

Link to the Project: Ending Plastic Pollution Innovation Challenge; http://plasticchallenge.undp.org.vn/