Introduction
The UN-Habitat Vietnam office is engaged in several projects in collaboration with national and sub-national institutions to assist Vietnam in achieving Sustainable Development Goals and implementing the New Urban Agenda. One of these projects is the Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building for Sustainable Urban Development in Vietnam (ISCB), funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The project comprises four interconnected components, with the fourth component focusing on supporting three pilot projects in different cities, including Ben Tre. The project has recognized the significance of improving connectivity by extending connecting streets to the urban spine and leveraging various urban activities. In this context, the primary project objective is developing a City Profile and identify a pilot project, implementing some actions defined in the Ben Tre Spatial Strategy. Additionally, it aims to empower IUDM to co-facilitate this process, thereby promoting capacity building, active local engagement, and participation.
Context and background
Located in the Mekong Delta, Ben Tre holds a strategic position for facilitating inter-regional and inter-provincial connections. Over the years, the city has played a pivotal role in propelling the socio-economic development of Ben Tre province, achieving remarkable economic progress with an annual growth rate of approximately 16%. Significantly, the city's enterprises have consistently contributed over 50% of the province's total revenue. In a strategic partnership with UN-Habitat through the City Development Strategy project, and with Ben Tre province's ongoing implementation of Project, the city has showcased its unwavering commitment to growth and development, led by the dedicated local government.
Plan and process details
- Mission to the city
- City profile development
- Pilot Project TOR completion
- Validation workshop on CP and TOR
- Pilot project implementation
Aligned with the efforts of Component 1, which focuses on enhancing local capacity in urban development planning and the various themes of pilot projects such as urban regeneration, ICT in governance, community resilience, and creative public spaces, local leaders and officials actively participate in a range of project activities, including partnership engagement, study tours, training sessions, and collaborative workshops. This collaborative approach extends to the implementation of the pilot projects, fostering a comprehensive strategy for successful execution.
Use of Our City Plans
"Our City Plans" has played a pivotal role in enhancing the comprehension of urban planning procedures among diverse urban stakeholders. It assists them in determining when and how to actively engage to ensure that their perspectives are taken into account and their interests are fully integrated into the city's overarching vision, policies, strategies, programs, plans, and projects. The planning process was customised to the Vietnamese context by considering available resources and capacities, all achieved through a participatory and capacity-building approach. This includes conducting participatory mapping exercises, city reconnaissance, and consultative workshops, promoting a shared commitment through a jointly visioning to collaboratively identify the city's long-term goals for the next years. Importantly, based on the city profile, the ISCB Project will also implement a pilot project, promoting an innovative and inclusive urban development solution in Ben Tre. 
Results
The overall objective of the ISCB project is to strengthen capacities of national and local institutions to promote, plan and implement innovative and participatory solutions for sustainable urban development in Vietnamese cities. The pilot project plays a pivotal role in introducing innovative methodologies, encouraging cross-sectoral strategic planning, and fostering community engagement in urban development.
