Presently, the program comprises provincial cities of Bac Ninh and Hai Duong in the north, Vinh in central Vietnam and Can Tho, Tra Vinh and Soc Trang in the south (Mekong delta). The involvement of additional cities is under preparation.
Objective of the program: The provincial service providers manage existing and newly constructed facilities cost-effectively and according to agreed plans and standard procedures (direct benefit). Better management and operation of the facilities have a positive impact on environmental conditions, reduce waste induced health risks and, therefore, contribute to poverty alleviation in the urban areas and surroundings (indirect benefit).
Background: Continuing high economic growth and rapidly increasing population pose a significant challenge for the development of the urban infrastructure in all provincial cities in Vietnam. In particular the upgrading of municipal wastewater and solid waste disposal did not keep up with the ongoing economic growth. At present only 60% of the urban population is connected to central water supply schemes while the coverage for wastewater collection is significantly lower. However, treatment of collected wastewater is still limited. The discharge of untreated domestic and industrial wastewaters into channels and rivers, as well as inappropriate disposal of partially toxic wastes, lead to potential risks for public health and the environment at large.
Fragmented legislation, uncoordinated town planning, limited investments, institutional obstacles, inadequate cost recovery for the operation and maintenance of the facilities as well as insufficient environmental consciousness are the causes for the existing sector deficits.
The Target Groups of the project are the urban population in the supported provincial cities and the down-stream population, which is dependent on the use of surface water.
The Mediators are the managers responsible for solid waste and wastewater management of the service providers, the staff of the related local government departments as well as specialized employees of the Ministry of Construction (MoC) and the managers of the regional Departments of Natural Resources and Environment (DoNRE).
The program contributions of the German development cooperation include in the current phase the following main activities:
1. Financial Cooperation (KfW): The investments include the construction of wastewater treatment plants and the extension and rehabilitation of the sewer system for wastewater in the following medium sized provincial cities: Can Tho, Soc Trang and Tra Vinh in the Mekong Delta; Vinh in Central Vietnam; and Bac Ninh and Hai Duong as well as two more cities that are currently being selected in Northern Vietnam. In addition, the introduction of modern solid waste management systems (sanitary landfills) is included in the program in Vinh and another city in the North. A new project of a wastewater treatment plant in an industrial zone in Can Tho is also currently under preparation.
Construction is ongoing in six cities and should be completed by 2010/2011. The implementation of the additional projects should start in 2010 and take some 2 to 3 years to completion. The total investment costs amount to approximately EURO 150 million, of which approximately 70% or EURO 102 million are allocated as soft ODA-loans via KfW and 30% are covered by the Vietnamese partners.
2. Technical Cooperation (GTZ in cooperation with the DED): Improvement of the efficiency (organization, management and operation) of the local service providers; gradual introduction of a wastewater tariff; community participation as well as promotion of cooperation and use of experience at the national and local level.
The DED supports the program with one expert in the south, with the responsibility for the cities Can Tho, Soc Trang and Tra Vinh, as well as one expert in the north, responsible for the cities Bac Ninh and Hai Duong. A 3rd DED expert is based in Vinh. The DED specialists act primarily as consultants for the partner organizations. Furthermore, they support the coordination of the program activities on site and are responsible for the realization of selected project related activities.
The costs of the first GTZ funded TC component (from February 2005 to August 2008) amount to € 3.2 million, of which the German share amounts to € 2.8 million and the Vietnamese share to appr. € 0.4 million.
The budget for the second phase (from August 2008 to July 2011) of the Programme (all TC modules) amounts to € 6.5 million, the Vietnamese share is appr. € 800,000.
In the following the TC component is also referred to as "The Project". |
