USAID's Vietnam Local Works for Environmental Health activity is increasing local capacity and building partnerships between local organizations to practically and sustainably address environmental health challenges. The activity addresses water pollution issues in Thanh Hoa and Ha Nam provinces, with best practices to be replicated and scaled up in other locations. Last week, USAID, the Institute of Population, Health and Development, Management and Sustainable Development Institute (PHAD), and local authorities launched four water supply systems for schools in Ha Lam commune in Thanh Hoa province. With the availability of the four small-scale water supply systems, nearly 700 students and teachers of kindergarten, primary, and secondary schools of Ha Lam commune, Ha Trung district will have daily access to clean water. In the next couple of months, about 2,200 more Ha Lam commune residents will have access to clean water.

So What? By engaging multiple stakeholders, including four local private sector companies, three governmental agencies, and local communities, local financial resources were mobilized to bring clean water to Thanh Hoa. This strategy of leveraging resources and capacities will continue to be scaled up to address critical environmental health issues in Vietnam.