Assessment studies for the Mekong Delta Plan

During the Joint workshop for the Viet Nam-Netherlands Mekong Delta Masterplan project (Can Tho, March 29/30) it was proposed to start with Water Resources Assessment studies in preparation of the activities of the Mekong Delta Masterplan. The Assessment studies project was tendered by the Partners for Water programme. The project was awarded to the consortium Deltares (lead), Alterra Wageningen UR en Infram. The consortium agreed to execute the project under the umbrella of Delta Alliance.

The respective assessment studies will be carried out by (consortia of) Vietnamese institutions. Modest content-related support and coordination will be provided by Delta Alliance partners, among others to ensure that consistent and comprehensive reports are prepared (mid-term and final). The major objective of the Assessment Studies is to obtain good insight into the availability of data and information, as well as in the actual problems and constraints in the Vietnamese part of the Mekong Delta. Basic data and information with regard to the overall development policies of the Mekong Delta can be derived from the Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) 2011-2015. This will cover the middle- and long-term development goals, the market structure, urban development planning, land use etc., specified for all relevant economic sub-sectors. As the SEDP’s in general do not give much detail within the sub-sectors, for related issues in the water resources sub-sector more investigations (desk studies) are needed.

The scope of the Assessment Studies is on eight specific subjects (themes), identified during previous workshops and meetings. These subjects/themes are: