What did you accomplish with your host organization? What was the impact of your work? My primary responsibility while working for the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) Viet Nam was on a Global Environment Facility (GEF) 8 proposal implementing nature-based solutions (NbS) in the Mekong River Delta (MRD). For this proposal I accomplished an extensive literature review on NbS, paying particular attention to ecosystems similar to those found in the MRD as well as NbS that incorporate community-based management and focused on human well-being co-benefits. In addition to the literature review, I compiled best practices and frameworks for NbS implementation and synthesized them to create a usable document for practitioners. In addition to the scoping review, I made recommendations of NbS based on regional climate projections, threats, and understanding the various sensitivities of proposed NbS. While my summer at the Hanoi UN country office is over, the work is ongoing and I am continuing to assist remotely. The GEF8 proposal will be submitted mid-October and I’ll continue working with UNDP on other projects, such as the Just Energy Transition and Youth4Climate working group, until the end of the year. The impact of my work on GEF8 contributes to a larger ongoing effort of meeting Viet Nam’s national commitments, not only to biodiversity, but meeting global targets of greenhouse gas reductions as a large co-benefit of NbS, particularly the ones suitable to the southern coast of Viet Nam (i.e., mangroves) sequester large amounts of carbon.
Describe the benefits of this experience for you professionally and personally?
This was an incredible experience both professionally and personally. Professionally, I gained valuable insights on how a large international organization operates as well as firsthand experience in helping on environmental projects that center community development and wellbeing. I had the privilege of working under a supportive supervisor who nurtured my professional growth. Had I remained in Viet Nam until the end of the year, I would have gone on site visits and seen how the UNDP collaborates with stakeholders and communities. This experience not only helped hone skills but gave me clarity regarding career paths that align with my interests. It also emphasized the areas I should focus on with my time left at MIIS, and think about how I can apply this knowledge in the future. Personally, while the hours were long, I still found time for a bit of exploring on the weekends and saw some of the beauty of Viet Nam.
Did your experience provide any unexpected discovery, self-reflection, or epiphany?
While not an epiphany or that unexpected, this summer reinforced my interest and motivation in conservation. Viet Nam is projected to be one of the countries most impacted by climate change. I felt and saw its impact. Most days were in the high nineties and often reached one hundred degrees and, because it is Hanoi, the heat island effect increases temperature further. Not everyone has access to air conditioning or a pool to cool down and heat-related morbidity and mortality will increase. Traveling in the north, I saw heavy rains that had caused landslides damaging towns and roads. While heat and rain are not new to Viet Nam their intensity and frequency is. Many solutions are needed to work against the ever-increasing effects of climate change. Conservation is one of the ways to contribute to work against those negative impacts. I’m deeply grateful that I was able to contribute to a project that supports a global effort working to mitigate climate change’s consequences.
