Adaptation pathways for the Mekong delta

We are helping Mekong communities adapt to more frequent extreme events and transform to resilient and sustainable livelihoods.

In recent years, extreme drought events have become a climate ‘new normal’ in the Mekong basin. The extreme droughts in 2016 and 2020 caused widespread damage to the regional economy and disruptions to the livelihoods of millions of people, particularly in the coastal areas of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta due to severe saline intrusion.

Using the CSIRO adaptation pathways approach, practical use of the Theory of Change for development and the Value-Rule-Knowledge decision context, a team of CSIRO and Can Tho University researchers investigated the local culture, drivers and decision-making context for changes. Based on the understanding gained, the team and local communities co-developed adaptation pathways, including adaptive production models and practical platforms for adaptive management of land and water.

Together with stakeholders, the team also co-developed a set of communication and decision-making support tools, including a mobile phone app. These tools help farmers, local regulators and businesses get access to timely information and explore evidence-based options for adaptation.

To find out more, contact: minh.nguyen@csiro.au