Nature-Based Solutions for Adaptation in Agriculture

The Viet Nam Nature-based Solutions for Adaptation in Agriculture through Private Sector Transformation (VN-ADAPT) project is implemented from 2023 to 2029 in Viet Nam’s Mekong Delta and Central Highlands. Funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Government and led by SNV in partnership with IUCN, ICEM, and UNEP, the project aims to improve the capacity of public and private sector actors to implement Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and strengthen partnerships that mobilise private sector innovation and investment for the wide-scale adoption of NbS in the agriculture sector. 

Viet Nam is highly vulnerable to climate change, with large rural populations depending on agriculture and natural resources for their livelihoods. While Nature-based Solutions and Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) offer cost-effective approaches that can deliver climate adaptation, mitigation, and biodiversity benefits, significant barriers remain to scaling these approaches. These include limited climate risk information for decision-making, challenges in building consensus around climate-resilient land use, insufficient enabling frameworks, limited private sector finance for adaptation, and constrained capacity across stakeholders. 

VN-ADAPT works through three complementary areas. First, it strengthens multi-stakeholder partnerships for sustainable agriculture and Nature-based Solutions by improving climate and biodiversity information management and facilitating dialogue among public and private actors. 

Second, it supports the integration of NbS and EbA into national and provincial planning frameworks and promotes incentives for conservation and ecosystem restoration in production landscapes.  

Third, it mobilises private innovation and investment through financing mechanisms, engagement with agribusinesses, and investment facilitation for Nature-based Solutions in agriculture.

VN-ADAPT aims to strengthen institutional capacity and partnerships that enable the large-scale adoption of Nature-based Solutions in agriculture. The project seeks to contribute to enhanced resilience to climate risks in key agricultural sectors, reduced emissions and increased carbon sequestration in food production systems, conservation and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems across production landscapes, reduced climate vulnerability for smallholder farmers through diversified livelihoods and improved incomes, increased mobilisation of public and private finance for climate-smart nature-based agriculture and land use, and strengthened gender equality and women’s economic empowerment in agricultural value chains. 

By 2029, the project aims to support more than 21,000 smallholder farmers, improve the sustainable management of 17,500 hectares of agricultural landscapes, mobilise over EUR 5.7 million in public and private investment, and engage more than 15,000 stakeholders across the public and private sectors. These outcomes will contribute to Viet Nam’s climate adaptation ambitions while promoting more resilient, sustainable, and nature-positive agricultural development.