”FbF READY” Reducing heat waves’ impacts on the vulnerable populations of Hanoi through VNRC capacity building in forecast-based financing for anticipatory humanitarian actions

Since 2017 the Viet Nam Red Cross and the German Red Cross have been partnered to develop an EAP for urban heatwaves. This process has included an extensive survey of target populations in twelve districts of Hanoi and close collaboration with Vietnam Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology, and Climate Change (IMHEN) on developing a new heat index forecast.

This project seeks to reduce the health and economic impacts of heatwaves on vulnerable urban populations in Hanoi and Da Nang.

Anticipation in practice: Project description

In Viet Nam, floods and landslides, typhoons, earthquakes, and droughts have serious impacts. However, in addition to these more visible hazards, the urban population—and the elderly, street vendors, and those working outside or living in informal settlements in particular—are vulnerable to the health effects of heatwaves and extreme heat. These “silent emergencies” have increased in frequency and duration in the last 30 years, a trend which is likely to continue in the face of climate change and increased urbanization. Urban centers trap heat and create sweltering conditions that can have dire consequences for vulnerable populations, including exacerbating respiratory illnesses and other underlying conditions, dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and ultimately death. During heatwaves, many people are forced to choose between exposing themselves to the heat and their outdoor, income-generating activities. The Viet Nam Red Cross seeks to provide relief to vulnerable populations in Hanoi, Da Nang and Hai Phong by implementing the following early actions for a total of 5 days, one before the heatwave, and 4 days during the event:

• Opening community cooling centers (in existing facilities or mobile tents as well as in traveling buses) to offer a cool place for people to escape the heat, hydrate, and receive first aid and heat-related health information.
• Awareness campaigning about potential adjustments in behavior, and prevention through slums visits, megaphone messaging, Facebook campaigning, etc.

These actions are triggered when a 6-day heat index forecast developed specifically for this project indicates that the heat index will exceed the 99th percentile in Danang (~47,13°C) or the 97th percentile in Hanoi and Hai Phong (~48,16°C) for 2 consecutive days . A stop mechanism can halt activities if the forecast changes 3 days before the event was forecast. The trigger was made possible because the project worked closely with the Viet Nam Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change (IMHEN) to develop a new heat index forecast product for all three cities. While the product is currently only available to the Red Cross, it may eventually be published more widely. This collaboration demonstrates how partnerships around anticipatory action can lead to capacity building and beneficial innovation.

VNRC coordinates closely with key government institutions in this processs, such as the Vietnam Disaster Management Agency (VNDMA), the Disaster Management Working Group (DMWG) as well as with the Disaster Management Policy and Technology Centre (DMPTC) to avoid creating parallel systems.  

German Red Cross: Forecast based Financing - Vietnam

First year of implemention