Participants included representatives from provincial departments, agencies, specialized units, and local authorities of Lao Cai and Cao Bang — the two provinces selected to pilot the integration of GBV-related interventions into provincial disaster prevention and control plans.

The training aimed to strengthen the capacity of local disaster risk management officers in identifying, preventing, and responding to gender-based violence in the context of natural disasters, while also piloting the integration of these contents into provincial disaster prevention and control planning.

In her opening remarks, Ms. Ha Thi Quynh Anh, UNFPA’s Specialist on Gender-Based Violence and Human Rights, emphasized the importance of institutionalizing gender-responsive disaster planning, especially in light of Viet Nam’s increasing climate and disaster risks.

During the three-day program, participants will review foundational knowledge on gender, GBV, and the current situation in Viet Nam; explore the impacts of GBV in emergencies and key principles for survivor support; practice integrating GBV-related content into disaster risk analysis, planning, resource mobilization, and monitoring and evaluation processes; and visit the Sunshine House model in Quang Ninh, a one-stop support center for GBV survivors supported by UNFPA.

The workshop also served as an opportunity for the technical team to collect feedback, revise, and improve the training materials in preparation for broader rollout. In addition, it supported the identification of practical content to be proposed for integration into upcoming provincial disaster prevention and control planning cycles.