Coastal Resources for Sustainable Development Project - Term Paper Example

University Sustainable Development Report Submitted to …………. In partial fulfillment Of the requirements for the completion of the course, By Name City, State Date Abstract The World Bank is one of the world leading financial institutions in the world. Its mandate is to oversee financial endeavors all over the world where it has vested concerns. In this view, the World Bank is involved in several sustainable development projects especially in developing countries where levels of poverty are high. The bank in collaboration with non governmental organizations and governments as well carries out development initiatives all over the world in vulnerable countries to enable affected populations to earn a living and at the same time create an environment that is conducive for future generations to utilize as well. One such development program is the coastal resources for sustainable development in Vietnam. Vietnam is one of the developing nations in the East Asia and pacific region. It has extensive coastal regions which are a source of livelihood for many people in the country. Over the last few years, the country has been facing massive shortages in terms of fish harvests compared to the past. Overfishing along the coast has seen fishing extended to deeper waters to sustain the ever growing demand coupled with falling supplies. Apart from fishing, there are many coastal provinces that are located along the coastlines of Vietnam. This accounts for over 50% of food production in the country through various agricultural ventures. Apart from providing foods to locals, some of it is exported hence earning the country the much needed foreign exchange. In this report, an evaluation of this this sustainable development project under the World Bank will be evaluated alongside its challenges and objectives. Contents Contents 3 Introduction 4 The Vietnam coastal resources for sustainable development project by World Bank 5 Legitimizing the project 6 Sustainability of the project 7 Analysis and data presentation 9 Discussion and conclusion 11 Appendices 15 Introduction The world population is growing at an alarming rate and at the same time resources to sustain humanity are dwindling. Apart from the global population influx, there are other environmental and climatic conditions that have made the situation even worse. Human activities over the years have seen massive destruction of the environment through pollution and degradation. This has led to extinction of certain animal and plant species over the years. As a result, the increasing human population is being forced to compete for the scarce resources which have been overstretched beyond limit. In a bid to solve this recurrent problem, authorities like governments all over the world are coming up with unsustainable development projects and programs that are meant to be self replenishing to allow utility now and in future. Protection of current environmental and natural wealth is necessary if future generations are to survive on the planet (Adams, , Sustainable Development 2004, 2). Sustainable development entails programs that are meant to benefit their current users while at the same time being allowed to replenish and rejuvenate to levels that will enable usage over a long period of time, putting into account the number of users and beneficiaries. It also entails protectionism and reservation where certain components of the protection program are considered endangered or nearing extinctions. Sustainable development therefore means taking care of the environment that is sustaining a population in a manner that benefits both the current and emerging generations (Adams 2006, 14). The Vietnam coastal resources for sustainable development project by World Bank As mentioned earlier, Vietnam is one of the developing nations in the East Asia region. The country has immense natural resources but they have been pushed to the limit by growing population. This has seen encroachment on forests to create agricultural land. This has also been characterized by overfishing a long the coasts to sustain demand for the commodities in the local and international market. Therefore, the problems faced along this coast are not necessarily from a local perspective but the international community has also played a role in this as well. The project is aimed at improving fisheries in the country through management and control and sustainability (World Bank 2012). Under the project, four major issues were identified to make the project a success. First, building institutional capacity towards managing fisheries in a sustainable manner would be the main strategy. Once the management practices in the region were improved, this would enable adequate planning in collaboration with sectors that relied on the industry. It would also see other interrelated industries improve their management and sustainability as well. The plan is was to be based on how to supplement the demand and at the same time maintain a healthy fish population. In order to keep records of the activities carried out in the fisheries. The plan also includes documentation of important aspects of the industry and placing the information on a database which would be updated regularly to serve as information archives for the industry. This would also enable research on selected policies that would e relevant for the industry. It would serve as a decision making platform for major polices to be implemented. The second phase of the project involves creating a sustainable aquaculture practice in the region. The management of the practice would see improved bio security sustainability, environmental management, monitoring and evaluation (World bank 2013). Looking at this project, it has many aspects to it that come into play in its implementation. First, the project is meant to improve the welfare of Vietnamese people who are dependent on the fishing industry. The project also intends to foster environmental protection and at the same time foster economic growth in the country. The stimulus package form World Bank and other stakeholders seek to make the region independent in its food production capacity and also export the surplus to other parts of the world (Kerr 2009, 12)There are several theoretical frameworks that can be used to evaluate the progress of the project and its impact on those involved. Legitimizing the project The project has the potential of making the Vietnam coast a sustainable source of fish and aquaculture products both locally and internationally. Using best management practices, the fisheries could be managed in a way that ensures maximum benefits are ripped without having detrimental implications on the environment and human beings as well. The role of sustainable development is to ensure that available resources are adequately utilized in a manner that does not deplete them in a way that would not guarantee availability in the future (Keen, Brown and Dybal 2005, 64). In this case, that management plan of the project would ensure that activities in the coast are carried out in a preplanned way. With growing demand for fish and other aquaculture products, it is only prudent for a country such as Vietnam to put itself in a global map where it would maintain a steady supply f the commodities to a readily available global market. Apart from environmental protection and proper management practices, the project has the aim of improving the economic statuses of thousands of fishermen and fishing communities living along the coastal region. Fish and fish products account for over 50% of protein source for the population in the country. As a result there is need to safeguard this important source of livelihood. The industry employs about 10% of all employees in the country and accounts for around 6% of GDP (World Bank 2012). Renewable resources offer perfect platforms for sustainable development when they are well managed. Marine and coastal resources are some of the most renewable resources if management and sustainability are to be upheld. In a country like Vietnam, the pressures on these resources are increasing at alarming rates and hence deterioration has been significantly rapid. Gladly, the government and other stakeholders in the country realized this and recognized the need to protect these natural resources and capital. The intervention and collaboration by World Bank was meant to secure the livelihoods of people along the coastlines and also ensure a long term competitive fishing industry that will be viable in the present and in the future. Sustainability of the project For a project to be termed as sustainable, it has to meet both present and future expectations (Massey 2005, 3). A sustainable development project should also solve specific problems or challenges faced in a specific region (Adams 2006, 3). For instance, the problem that the project in question sought to solve was related to coastal fisheries and meeting rising demand for the commodity in a viable manner. The World Bank is responsible for the funding of the project in collaboration with the Vietnamese government to oversee its implementation. Before commencement of the project, the current regime was unsustainable economically, environmentally and biologically. The situation was dire as fish products fro this region had seen rejections in the European region and due to food safety concerns and environmental risks that were associated with their production. This was despite the efforts of the government and other international corporations that sought to elevate the challenges facing the market at the time. The intervention of the World Bank was seen as a lasting solution to the problem and also as a way to safeguard the future of the industry in the coastal regions. It also offered solution that would see such problems avoided in the future through production of safe commodities that were acceptable in the international markets. Other opportunities that arose from the project were through environmental campaigns that would be ongoing throughout the project and thereafter to keep communities aware of important aspects of environmental significance. Though the plan by World Bank was seen as a solution, the major problem with the development project was in its implementation. The project sought to build an analytical process which would involve past experiences and current situations at the coast. It would also assist the government to build capacity and strengthen policies that would see the operational design strategically placed in the project. The project was in consistence with the government plan of creating sustainable opportunities in development and increasing attention to national resources in the coastal regions which accounted for immense wealth and potential for the country. The government plan also included enhancing resilience f the costal regions and ability to withstand climatic changes through infrastructural investments and enhancing competition to global and international standards. The country was also on track in creating a socio economic development strategy that would run for 10 years between 2011 and 2020. In this view, it is evident that there are several support programs by the government and other stakeholders that would see the development program become sustainable in the long run. The government recognizes the need to safeguards tis crucial resource in providing socio economic sustainability to its people (Keen, Brown and Dyball 2005, 5). For a development project to become viable and sustainable, adequate support infrastructure is necessary aspect. It should be a continuing aspect that is supposed to gauge monitor and evaluate the achievability of goals and make necessary recommendations of what should be adjusted to keep the plans on track. There have been concerns raised due to climate change and increasing environmental risks along coastal regions. Recently, the occurrence of extreme weather conditions in hurricanes, typhoons, and tsunamis have increased and become more unpredictable (Keen, Brown and Dybal 2005, 24). The plan also incorporates risk averment and management to minimize losses in case such occurrences happen Analysis and data presentation The main objective of the project is to improve the sustainability of fisheries in the coastal region of Vietnam through effective management. The project has four components that are supposed to run concurrently and facilitate the achievement of each other progressively. The first component is meant to create institutional capacity and the ability to mange the vast wealth using standards accepted internationally in the industry. The second component of the project is enhancing good practices in aquaculture that are sustainable. The third component is management of capture fisheries in the near shore in a sustainability oriented manner. The third and final component of the project is management of monitoring and evaluation procedures that are meant to keep all aspects in line with the overall plan and gauge them against achievements. All the four components have their estimated budgetary allocations from different financiers coordinated by the World Bank. It is crucial to separate different aspects of a development project to ensure that all aspects are put into consideration and that experts are engaged in different aspects to enable maximum achievement of the main objective. The project was initiated in 8 provinces which were regarded as the most vulnerable in Vietnam. The project was meant to involve local communities in identifying spawning areas and fisheries that had endangered species in order to initiate protection programs under the four components. The area of the project is a vast area and would use massive resources and budgetary allocations (World bank 2013). The project identified social and environmental safeguards personalities who would be engaged throughout the project. The aim was to have these individuals provide adequate information on he impact that the project would have on the local communities who depended on the fisheries. They were also expected to evaluate the environmental situation and prioritize according to urgency of the situations. The environmental and social safeguard specialists comprised a group of 6 individuals who had vast experience and knowledge in such developmental projects. The social aspects of the project revolved around cultural, heritage practices and natural habitat at that have meaning and high value in the communities around (World Bank 2012). The key safeguard issues of the project were placed around the impact it would have. They were identified, evaluated and described in terms of significance and scale. Generally, the environmental impact was evaluated to be positive. Further the impact on local communities and minorities in the region were identified as increased economic welfare, aces to information, training, support services, sustainable technology and availability of opportunities. Negative impacts that were identified include use of chemical in aquaculture, improper management of solid waste and pollution from civil works. However, these impacts were seen as manageable and short term, hence, they did not pose a huge threat to the success of the project. The project is also expected to resettle a few people through land acquisition to upgrade the small scale facilities in the regions to meet larger capacities. This is all in line as adequate compensation is guaranteed for resettled families. The whole project was estimated to cost over $120 million which was financed by several stakeholders. The International Development Association through the World Bank was to finance most of the projects to a tune of $100 million. The budgetary allocations were based on the components of the project. The first component was expected to cost the$5.6 million, $49.3 million for the second component, $56.8 million for the third and $13.2 million for the fourth .Other funders of the remaining amount are the Vietnamese government and borrowed investments. The Ministry Of Agriculture and Rural Development in Vietnam is charged with the overall responsibility of overseeing implementation of the project. The ministry was expected to provide policy guidance and necessary support to those working on the project. In this view, the ministry established several committees that were charged with different responsibilities in the overall project (World Bank 2012). Discussion and conclusion The implementation plan for the project is all inclusive and most of the relevant aspects were put into consideration. For a sustainable project to be relevant and workable, all major factors and impacts should be put into consideration at the planning stage. Possible scenarios should be evaluated and impacts assessed based on the views of those affected by the projects. The project is also divided in phases where different people are charged with different responsibilities based on their expertise and knowledge. This ensures that all personnel involved work optimally towards realizing the overall goal of the project. The project also evaluates the impact on the environment. The project itself is supposed to foster environmental protection and rehabilitation. In this process, there are environmental concerns that arise during implementation. According to this project, the impacts were evaluated during the planning stages and appropriate measures suggested. When carrying out a sustainability project, it is crucial that those affected benefit from it from the start (Robottom and Andrew 2005, 3). The employment opportunities that emerge both in the short term and in the long term should put the local communities and minorities as first priorities. This creates a sense of belonging and acceptability to the overall project. The financial aspect of any project is the core determiner of its success and implementation. The initial plan puts into consideration the financial requirements and the necessary support required to achieve the overall objective. Financial management in such developmental efforts is critical in ensuring that wastage and embezzlement do not happen. Therefore, responsible and accountable institutions should be charged with the responsibility of managing the finances and expenditure of the sustainability project. A sustainable development project entails a lot of planning and contemplation before implementation begins. Many projects have failed due to inadequate planning and management practices. They also lack sustainability and long term goals, hence the failure in strategies. Sustainability seeks to invest currently or in the present to safeguard the interests of the future. Humanity has seen current resources stretched to the limit and hence the dire need to have sustainable development. Statistics show alarming rates of depletion pollution and degradation. Sustainable development is the only way that humanity as a race and species can be safeguarded in the coming decades. References Adams, , W M. Sustainable Development. Carlton, Victoria: Blackwell Publishing, 2004. Adams, W M. The Future of Sustainability: Re-thinking Environment and Development in the Twenty-first Century. 2006. Adams,, W M. The Future of Sustainability: Re-thinking Environment and Development in the Twenty-first Century. London: T. W. C. Union., 2006. Keen, M, V A Brown , and R Dybal. Social Learning in Environmental Mangament: Towards a Sustainable Future. London: Earthscan., 2005. Keen, M. , V A Brown , and R Dyball . Social Learning in Environmental Management: Towards a Sustainable Future. London: Earthscan., 2005. Kerr, T. Negotiating green built environment at the margins Creative Margins Humanities Graduate Research Conference held inCurtin University Retrieved from . 2009. http://hgsoconference.curtin.edu.au/previous/2009_proceedings_list.cfm (accessed November 15, 2013). Massey, D B. For space. London: SAGE., 2005. Robottom, ,I, and J Andrew. Communities' Self-determination: Whose Interests Count? London, 2005. World Bank. Coastal Resources for Sustainable Development Project. January 2012. http://www.worldbank.org/projects/P118979/coastal-resources-sustainable-development-project?lang=en (accessed November 15, 2013). World bank. Vietnam - Coastal Resources for Sustainable Development Project : P118979 - Implementation Status Results Report : Sequence 02 . November 2013. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2013/03/17428498/vietnam-additional-financing-coastal-resources-sustainable-development-project (accessed November 15, 2013). World Bank. 2013. Vietnam - Additional Financing for the Coastal Resources for Sustainable Development Project. Washington DC : World Bank. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2013/03/17428498/vietnam-additional-financing-coastal-resources-sustainable-development-project Appendices Appendix 1:(source: World Bank) Date ISDS Prepared/Updated:03-Jan-2012 I. BASIC INFORMATION 1. Basic Project Data Country: Vietnam Project ID: P118979 Project Name: Coastal Resources for Sustainable Development Project (P118979) Task Team Leader: Binh Thang Cao Estimated Appraisal Date: 11-Jan-2012 Estimated Board Date: 22-Mar-2012 Managing Unit: EASVS Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan Sector: General agriculture, fishing and forestry sector (90%), General public administration sector (10%) Theme: Other environment and natural resources management (50%), Infrastructure services for private sector Development (30%), Environmental l policies and institutions (20%) Financing (In USD Million) Financing Source Amount BORROWER/RECIPIENT 12.29 International Development Association (IDA) 100.00 Global Environment Facility (GEF) 6.50 Local Sources of Borrowing Country 6.21 Total 125.00 Environmental Category: B - Partial Assessment Is this a Repeater project? No Appendix 2: (Source: World Bank) Project Name Coastal Resources for Sustainable Development Project (P118979) Region EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC Country Vietnam Sector(s) General agriculture, fishing and forestry sector (90%), and General public administration sector (10%) Lending Instrument Specific Investment Loan Project ID P118979 Borrower(s) Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Implementing Agency Agricultural Projects Management Board Environmental Category B-Partial Assessment Date PID Prepared 14-Feb-2012 Estimated Date of Appraisal Completion 18-Jan-2012 Estimated Date of Board Approval 26-Apr-2012 Decision Read More