For decades, residents of Nga Truong commune in Thanh Hoa province have relied on untreated well water or rainwater. In 2018, the provincial government approved an investment plan to build a water distribution network in the commune. However, project implementation was delayed and was at risk of cancellation due to several challenges, including lack of support and resources.

To address this, USAID’s Vietnam Local Works for Environmental Health project, implemented by the Institute of Population, Health and Development, collaborated with Thanh Hoa authorities to engage local actors to advocate for and mobilize resources through a multi-stakeholder partnership and carried out a communication campaign to encourage community support for the project. As a result, local authorities at different levels committed their support to the project and over $161,000 was mobilized from local governmental organizations, the private sector, and the local community. The Nga Truong water distribution network was completed and officially inaugurated on May 27.

So What? Due to the Nga Truong water distribution network, 4,310 residents (including 757 students and teachers of the three schools in the commune) will now have daily access to safe water, which will help improve their health and quality of life. This strategy of leveraging resources and capacities will continue to be scaled up to address critical environmental health issues in Vietnam.