18-12, Nishiochiai 2-chome,
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 161-8575, Japan
Phone: +81-3-5906-0211
FAX: +81-3-5906-0112

Urban & Regional Development

BACKGROUND & PURPOSE OF PROJECT

U Minh, a district in Cà Mau province, located in Mekong River Delta Region which has the largest number of people below the poverty line among the 8 provinces in Viet Nam. The livelihood of farmers working in this district is being threatened because of forest fires burning down forests during the dry season every year, stunting the growth of Melaleuca, a staple product of the forest, due to floods during the rainy season. In addition to this, the vulnerable income structure and the lack of infrastructure necessary for living such as insufficient development of the road network, a shortage/deterioration of facilities and equipment at primary medical institutions such as health centers and district hospitals and a shortage/deterioration of educational facilities has led to U Minh having a poverty rate that is significantly higher than the average for Cà Mau province and for the entire country.
In addition to these social and natural environmental conditions, in March 2002, a large forest fire occurred in this district, burning down over 6,000 ha of the local forest, causing grave damage to farmland and the dehydration of peat soil. This made a huge impact on the regional economy, and the local population experienced tough times.
Under these circumstances, the JICA implemented a technical cooperation project, namely, “the Forest Fire Rehabilitation Project” over a 3 year period from February 2004. After the project finished, Cà Mau Provincial People's Committee recognized both the importance of the further propagation of reforestation technology established through the Forest Fire Rehabilitation Project, and the need to not only focus on re-forestation technology but to also improve the living standard of the stricken community on a whole from the view point of the "Socio-economic 5 Year Development Plan in Cà Mau Province" (2006-2010). Therefore the Committee requested Japan to provide grant aid towards the overall development of the U Minh district in the form of "The Project for Empowerment to the Community Damaged by Forest Fire".

CHARACTERISTICS, CONCEPT, STANCE & SKILLS OF PROJECT

This project aims to increase the income of local residents who are engaged in forestry and farming in the U Minh district, which is the poorest district in Cà Mau province and to contribute to infrastructure development to secure basic living standards. As this project will be implemented based on the scheme of community development grant aid by Japan, procurement agencies designated by the Japanese government will commission facility construction works to general local construction companies, consultation work with regards to design specifications and construction management to local consultants while also adopting local specifications and standards relating to design, construction supervision, materials and construction as much as possible. Materials will also be procured from local trading firms, agencies and manufacturers. Where defects in terms of safety and/or functionality during operation are found in local design standards or equipment specifications, defect parts and/or materials will be reinforced.

EFFECT OF PROJECT

・Community development will be facilitated in the U Minh district in Cà Mau province.
・Development of basic infrastructure for the community of U Minh district in Cà Mau province.
・Development of the basis for sustainable reforestation.
・Development of community and provincial roads.
・Construction of a community health center.
・Improvements to the educational environment.