In Community Development career, the Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD) aim at constructing, developing and implementing activities to promote community development through building capacity for community and local partners, organizing communities in the form of social enterprises and institutionalization, livelihood development (aquaculture and non-aquaculture) environmentally friendly adaptation, connecting, documenting and experience sharing between communities.

• Development of sustainable livelihoods, including sustainable fisheries and other livelihood:

1. Implement interventions to enhance and develop fisheries activities in the value chain, market access, promote branding for aquaculture products.

2.     Supporting communities to build and operate model Ecotourism Community (CBET) in the direction of local social enterprises. Promote the development of economic activities in the form of business groups and cooperatives.

3.     Engage in projects’ designation and host the implementation of project activities related to the development of communities and coastal livelihoods, monitor integration approaches to develop sustainable livelihood adapting to climate change (sustainable aquaculture, community based ecotourism and other livelihoods) in the project designation and implementation process.

•  Capacity building and promote business community:

1.     Offer courses, skills training, building capacity for the local communities on issues related to community development: livelihoods assessment on Climate change adaptation, household economic management, internet using, community ecotourism service providing skills, and sustainable aquaculture technics.

2.     Research, update information and experience for development of sustainable livelihoods in projects sites in order to identify and develop supplement livelihoods in accordance with local conditions.

3.     Support the development of community groups, established forms of cooperatives, promote community business, branding and market linkages.

4.     Building community regulations on sustainable fisheries, ecotourism, etc. Aim at supporting organization of community groups, as the basis for livelihood development activities.

5.     Enhance knowledge dissemination and capacity building in community and livelihoods development within project sites.

• Documenting and sharing:

1. Documenting implementation processes of interventions related to fisheries, community based eco-tourism, community business, etc. In order to share experiences with parties interested.
2. Building publications, advocacy, awareness raising, etc. for the other components of the MCD.
3. Coordinator documentation of project results related to community development, especially the development of sustainable livelihood adapt to climate change based on coastal communities

• Networking and connects:

1. Join the network of marine protected areas, fisheries organizations, community-based ecotourism, environment preservation associations, microfinance, etc. to enhance the impact of advocacy at local and national level and share projects’ best practices with related partners.
2. Cooperate with scientists and managers involved, creating affiliate networks with individuals, organizations and volunteers, to support community development activities and coastal livelihoods.
3. Chair in collecting, updating and managing the database for the development of coastal communities with priority for MCD project sites.

• Advocacy:

1. Participate in researches related to community development and coastal livelihoods as a basis for the supports of the MCD for the state and the community. Accordance with providing feedback to advocate policy development and coastal community livelihoods.

Achievements:

– 2012 established the Sustainable Aquaculture group in Hai Phong: technical training and publishing Sustainable Aquaculture regulations under authorization of Phu Long People’s Committee.

– 2011, Giao Xuan ecotourism cooperatives to be established in Nam Dinh with 21 members and Giao Xuan is known as a typical community based ecotourism (CBET) destination. CBET groups regularly operated with monitor of a management board and work under CBET regulation.

Participating in the cooperative, its members are equipped with knowledge, skills and raise awareness of natural resources preservation. Experience and best practices of Giao Xuan ecotourism model to be replicated to the community areas of MCD projects: Van Hung (Van Ninh, Khanh Hoa province) and Phu Long (Cat Hai, Hai Phong).

– In June, 2010, Ecolife Café – Tourist Information Center cum Community Learning center on Environment and Climate Change adaptation has been developed and formally offer service for tourists.

–  December, 2011: With much effort and the cooperation of governments, local communities, Ecolife Café Van Hung has officially been opened and operated. So far, Van Hung Ecolife Café serve the needs of the local entertainment and is the center for all ecotourism activities at Van Hung commune, Van Ninh district, Khanh Hoa province.

– November, 2012, MCD continue the replication of success and experiences from the 02 last models to built 3rd Ecolife Café in Phu Long. So far (March, 2012) Phu Long Ecolife Café has gradually become a center for eco-tourism activities to push the development and improve the lives of communities.