UNDP, Norway launch $1.2 million initiative to promote blue economy

15:18 15/05/2026

Marine spatial planning and sustainable ocean management are among priorities under the Norway - Viet Nam Green Strategic Partnership.

On May 14, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Embassy of Norway in Hanoi signed a new cooperation agreement to support the next phase of Viet Nam’s transition toward an inclusive blue economy by promoting the implementation of marine spatial planning and strengthening multi-stakeholder cooperation.

The initiative, titled "Promoting Viet Nam’s blue economy through marine spatial planning Implementation and a Multi-stakeholder Approach," will be implemented in period 2026-2029 with financial support of 12 million NOK (over 1.2 million USD) from the Government of Norway.

The signing ceremony was attended by representatives of the Embassy of Norway, the Viet Nam Administration of Seas and Islands, the Viet Nam Meteorology and Hydrology Authority, the Directorate of Fisheries and Surveillance, as well as academic partners, the private sector, and development organizations. Photo: UNDP. 

Speaking at the ceremony, UNDP Reprentative in Viet Nam Ramla Khalidi, emphasized the importance of shifting from planning to practical implementation in order to advance Viet Nam’s marine economic development ambitions.

"On the occasion of today’s signing of the Agreement, let us reaffirm our commitment to transforming Viet Nam’s maritime space into drivers of sustainable and resilient economic development, meeting both high double-digit growth objectives as well as goals related to conservation and sustainable development," Ramla Khalidi said.

Over the next three years, the initiative will focus on supporting the updating and implementation of marine spatial planning at both national and provincial levels, particularly in the context of administrative restructuring and changes in governance models in coastal provinces.

Ambassador of Norway to Viet Nam Hilde Solbakken and Ramla Khalidi, UNDP Resident Representative in Viet Nam. Photo: UNDP.

Key priorities include strengthening the zoning of marine areas, implementing a Provincial Marine Economy Index across all 21 coastal provinces, and piloting a coordination platform to help address conflicts among different marine space users.

The initiative will also promote public-private partnership (PPP) models and blue finance mechanisms to mobilize investment for marine economic development, while enhancing coordination among government agencies, research institutes, local authorities, communities, and the private sector in the process of updating and adaptively implementing the National Marine Spatial Planning framework.

According to Hilde Solbakken, this marks a new milestone in cooperation on marine spatial planning between the Embassy, UNDP, and partners in Viet Nam.

The partnership between Norway and UNDP aims to promote a more integrated approach to the management of marine and coastal resources. Photo: UNDP.

Marine spatial planning and sustainable ocean management are among the priorities under the Norway - Viet Nam Green Strategic Partnership signed on April 17 between the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Viet Nam.

Building on the success of Phase 1 of the project and the Green Strategic Partnership, Norway remains committed to continuing cooperation with UNDP and partners at both national and provincial levels to move from planning to practical implementation, and to make marine spatial planning an effective operational tool for Viet Nam’s marine economic development, the Ambassador affirmed.

The new phase will strengthen institutional capacity, improve marine data and planning systems, and support marine economic sectors and the private sector in contributing to adaptive marine spatial planning management.