Within the framework of the project “Scientific Capacity Building in Climate Change Research Techniques for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Vietnam” funded by APN (Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research) from July 2014 to December 2015, a sharing workshop entitled “Climate change and policy advocacy: Case studies implemented by NGOs in Vietnam” was taken place in Hanoi on 31 July 2015. The workshop, which was co-organized by Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD) and Asian Management and Development Institute (AMDI), drew attention from more than 50 participants in various sectors including government agencies, NGOs, research institutes and universities who are implementing their work relating to climate change adaptation.

In the workshop, five case-studies that have been conducted by selected VNGOs were presented with the aim of sharing the results and lessons learned after undertaking research in several regions of the country. What is more, suitable recommendations were also given based on those results for policy advocacy related to climate change adaptation in Vietnam. Selected case-studies were presented including: Assessment of adaptive livelihood practices in Cat Ba archipelago (MCD); Dynamics of climate change understanding in Mekong community (AMDI); Policy review on replication of climate change adaptation models on inter-cropping agriculture in Bac Kan province (Agriculture & Forestry Research and Development Center for mountainous Region (ADC) – Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry; Impact of climate change on marine fish cage aquaculture in Cat Hai district, Hai Phong city, Vietnam (ICAFIS); Climate change adaptability of local community in Ha Tinh province (HACEF). These case-studies were also discussed with inputs from professors, scientists with critical points of views who were involved in the training program earlier and participants from other organizations/agencies, so that scientific techniques and skills in climate change research by NGOs could be improved and further strengthened.

During the workshop, a number of interesting issues were also raised and shared by national scientists and experts such as applying CBA (Cost and Benefit Analysis) and SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats) methodologies and tools in climate change studies, indigenous knowledge and gender equality in natural resources management in the context of climate change, impacts of climate risks to rice productivity in Can Tho province – Mekong delta.  The workshop was well conducted and received great interest from all participants for sharing and learning knowledge and experience.  It has significantly strengthened capacity and network of scientific research between NGOs, relevant research agencies and experts in Vietnam. Results of the case studies contributed to policy advocacy at different levels to address climate change adaptation in Vietnam.