Adaptation to climate change in the countries of - Mekong River ...

8.15 Australian National University (ANU)
Regional climate change activities
A key strength of the Australian National University (ANU) is in climate change research
and education. The ANU established the ANU Climate Change Initiative to draw upon the
wealth of expertise in human, biophysical and integrated systems within the university. Skills
within the Initiative range from fundamental climate science to economics, governance and
law — providing quality and depth of expertise in these areas, as well as skills in integration.
The staff at the ANU Integrated Catchment Assessment and Management Centre (iCAM)
a is a team of researchers that specialise in integrated environmental modelling, integrated
assessment theory and practice, and development of tools for policy and decision-makers.
iCAM have conducted range of studies, including those focussed on climate change. Previous
activities in the SE Asian region include the Integrated Water Resource Assessment and
Management project in Thailand (ACIAR) and a capacity building training programme in risk
assessment and management (MRC).
8.16 Oxfam
Oxfam has been implementing disaster risk management projects in Viet Nam and in a process
of integrating disaster relief and climate adaptation activities in the livelihood programmes.
Some of Oxfam’s priority activities are reported below.
• Supporting community coping mechanisms and community managed disaster risk
reduction and climate change adaptation: Oxfam is providing Training of Facilitator
(ToF) courses for provincial, district and commune leaders and implementing a
monitoring mechanism for supporting communities.
Commune leaders are now organizing training courses for women and men on disaster
risk mitigation and preparedness. Communities develop and distribute information
through home visits, group discussions and announcements over loudspeakers.
Communes set up early warning mechanisms; collect information from different sources
and announce early warning messages through loudspeakers. They identify evacuation
centres and prepare rescue efforts. Oxfam has provided rescue equipment. Communities
construct small-scale infrastructure like community roads to the evacuation centre.
People maintain their own houses and toilets and relocate livestock and poultry and assets
to safe areas before a disaster strikes. The poorest families also receive flexible funds to
restore their livelihood according to their need.
• Integrating risk reduction and development: Community leaders in Oxfam’s working
areas conduct participatory assessments, identify risks and develop livelihood-related
risk reduction plans. Action has been taken to raise awareness about seed preservation,
the safety of livestock and poultry, fish farms, nets, boats, handicrafts, and tools. Based
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