CLIMATE-PROOFING RURAL ROADS IN VIETNAM
Vietnam’s central and northern provinces exhibit econom- ic challenges for the local populations. Moreover, residents in these areas are increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, such as more intense floods and droughts,
was to be implemented in 41 of the 501 communities across the three provinces. In 2012, the OPEC Fund approved a US$34.2 million loan, disbursed between 2014 and 2020, to support this government program.
which affect their livelihoods predomi- nantly derived from small-scale farming. The inadequate road network, often im- passable or damaged due to flooding, imposed significant constraints on peo- ple’s ability to access social services and markets.
The project constructed 98 kilometers of all-weather roads with shoulders and cul- verts, as well as several concrete bridges. Works included the new construction of concrete or asphalt roads, the upgrade and repair of existing concrete roads, as well as the conversion of existing dirt roads and trails to concrete roads. As a re- sult of the project, an estimated 532,000
In this context, the government developed a program to upgrade the
rural road network in the central and northern provinces of Ninh Binh, Quang Tri and Quang Nam. At the time of project inception, the three provinces had a total population of 2.93 million and, with more than half the population gen- erating their livelihoods from farming, exhibited some of the lowest incomes per capita within Vietnam. The program
people now have reliable access to all-weather roads, which has not only improved their ability to access health services, education facilities and employment opportunities, but also enhanced income generation possibilities by connecting farmers to markets. The improved roads furthermore serve as emergency exit routes during floods.
532,000 people now have reliable access to all-weather roads.
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