Cù Lao Dung district in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta is facing water scarcity and climate risks. GS4Infra, a project supported by the Mekong Thought Leadership Program (MTT) is pioneering gender-inclusive solutions to build community climate resilience.
For residents in Sóc Trăng province in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, freshwater is a scarce resource. Sóc Trăng province is at the forefront of the impacts of climate change, such as sea level rise, saline water intrusion, and land erosion.
During the drought season, sometimes I go entire days without a single drop of water. I must wash with salty water, then climb up the riverbank to rinse off with just one small mug of fresh water.
Mr. Lý Đăng, a local resident in Vĩnh Hải Commune, Vĩnh Châu Town, Sóc Trăng Province
Year after year, the riverbank disappears from soil erosion. My land collapsed and I fear for my family’s safety.
Mr. K, a resident from An Thạnh Đông commune, Cù Lao Dung district, Sóc Trăng province
GS4Infra project, a project pioneering gender-sensitive solutions to support communities in building climate resilience focusing on Cù Lao Dung district. Supported by the Mekong Thought Leadership and Think Tanks Network Program (MTT) in SEI Asia, GS4Infra tackles a critical gap: embedding inclusivity into Water-Energy-Climate (WEC) climate actions and infrastructure.
Located in the low-lying Mekong Delta, Cù Lao Dung district faces year-round climate extremes. Saltwater invasions cripple farms each October and May, while tidal surges and storms erode land and livelihoods.
“The severity is unpredictable now,” notes Phạm Tấn Đạo, Director of Sóc Trăng’s Irrigation Sub-Department.
In 2022 alone, 30 erosion sites ate up 2.4 km of the Hậu River’s banks, a tributary of the Mekong River, in An Thạnh Đông and Đại Ân 1 communes in Cù Lao Dung district. The severity of the situation forced the province to declare an emergency (Vietnam News Agency (VNA). With land sinking and seas rising, coupled with a lack of freshwater, resilience is not an option but a survival imperative for the commune’s residents.
Sandbags as the local defense against sea level rise. Photo: Variya Plungwatana / SEI Asia.
Dikes, sluice gates and seawalls are the first line of defense for the local communities against climate change impacts. Sóc Trăng has built 120 km of protective dikes (of 160 km planned) to control floods, block seawater and halt erosion from threatening local agriculture and livelihoods. Next in line is a strategic water reservoir with a planned capacity of 2.1 million cubic meters to use natural canal systems to store freshwater.
But infrastructure alone is not enough. As stressed by by GS4Infra Project Lead Ms. Nguyễn Thị Thu Thủy: “Cù Lao Dung has made significant progress in water infrastructure, but we need a gender-sensitive design to ensure no one is left behind.”
Disaster risk reduction is often seen as a male-dominated field, yet women and children are among the most affected groups.
Ms. Nguyễn Thị Diện, The Chairwoman of the Women’s Union of Sóc Trăng
Ms. Nguyễn Thị Diện, The Chairwoman of the Women’s Union of Sóc Trăng. Photo: Variya Plungwatana / SEI Asia.
GS4Infra is shifting this dynamic by ensuring women’s voices are included in disaster risk committees, and decisions on infrastructure policy.
Ms. Diễm, the head of the Cù Lao Dung Women Entrepreneurs Club is running Cô Hai Homestay to create job opportunities for vulnerable groups. With the support of GS4Infra, her homestay creates jobs for disabled and low-income residents, showing that when women lead, communities can build climate resilience.
In Cù Lao Dung district, women’s participation in disaster response committees has now increased, allowing them to contribute directly to decision-making. The Women’s Union is now involved in policy design and actively participates in awareness campaigns.
Cô Hai Homestay in Cù Lao Dung district. Photo: Variya Plungwatana / SEI Asia.
Cù Lao Dung’s local products led by women in the communities. Photo: Variya Plungwatana / SEI Asia.
Women with better economic security can engage more in community action. This is building resilience in action.
Ms. Vương Khả Tú, GS4Infra Project Assistant
The climate gender gap runs deep in Sóc Trăng province and the Mekong Delta rooted in cultural, economics and traditions. GS4Infra is pairing gender-inclusivity in climate solutions to empower all residents – men, women, and people with disabilities – to adapt and lead inclusive development in the Mekong Delta.
Our work in Cù Lao Dung - Sóc Trăng has reaffirmed a vital lesson: integrating gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI) into WEC Infrastructure development is not just about technical solutions- it’s about listening deeply. The wisdom of the local community and a genuine respect for their culture must be at the heart of any sustainable and inclusive project. Without this, even the best-designed infrastructure can fail to serve those who need it most.
Ms. Nguyễn Thị Thu Thủy, GS4Infra Project Lead
Ms. Nguyễn Thị Thu Thủy, GS4Infra Project Lead. Photo: Variya Plungwatana / SEI Asia.
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