Photo credit: Madelyn Rawlyk
By Madelyn Rawlyk, MAGG
The root tasted like I thought it would: earthy but fresh, somewhat herbal (?), and reminiscent of rhubarb or raspberries maybe. I wasn’t quite sure what it was, but I had full confidence in the Dao woman who had handed it to me and motioned to eat.
The Climate Change and Environment (CCE) Unit from UNDP Viet Nam was tree-planting in Lau Bai Resettlement Hamlet, Vay Nua Commune, Hòa Bình province, just off the coast of the Da River. We were led on a short hike up a mountain and through a bamboo forest by members of the local Indigenous (or ethnic minority, as they are referred to in Viet Nam) population, Dao women. I was quickly humbled by the nimble aunties who casually ascended the muddy slopes in rubber slides as I struggled to stay upright in my seasoned hikers. I was so grateful for the Dao hospitality when they paused to patiently carve footholds in the clay for us tourists or share occasional edible plants. The CCE team was there to plant Indochina dragon plum trees as a team bonding activity on our unit retreat, and I couldn’t be more happy to be immersed in the nature and communities I spend so much time learning about in my role.
Working on nature-based solutions (NbS) projects over the last six months, I have learned a lot about how restoring and protecting ecosystems, through community-led sustainable management models, is a key solution to climate adaptation and mitigation challenges. While the forest in Hoa Binh is a different ecosystem from the coastal resilience projects I’m on, such as the GAC-funded Viet Nam Climate Smart Coastal Communities project, tree-planting contributes to Lau Bai livelihood recovery from a historic storm six years ago, and advances climate adaptation and mitigation. Through capacity-building and policy enhancing efforts, many of UNDP’s NbS projects are working toward creating scalable models for sustainable livelihoods and, eventually, robust carbon markets so communities can benefit economically from sustainable ecosystem management and conservation.
Engaging with research on the many flaws of carbon markets in course work and other research throughout the MAGG program, I was admittedly skeptical of any market-based climate solution before starting this internship. Contributing to project implementation, however, and observing the many safeguards in place to ensure communities are prioritized and supported to lead and develop their own interventions, and the attention paid to vigorous monitoring, verification, and reporting of mangrove or other ecosystem carbon stocks, has raised my confidence in the efficacy of market-based solutions. While they can be cast as corporate short-cuts to carbon offsets in political economy literature, working on NbS projects that have the goal of attracting private sector investment for sustainable livelihoods has made me hopeful that there are “market-based” pathways to a more resilient, sustainable future, that empowers communities and centers nature. This is just one of the ways that experiential learning – being immersed in the nuances of sustainable development project implementation at an organization like UNDP – has shifted my thinking in a way I did not anticipate, and why I would encourage any prospective or current students reading this to apply for a UNAC internship. Beyond the significant ways it could inform your research on global governance, the cultural experiences are also invaluable.
The CCE retreat included many sessions on our team’s challenges and priorities, enhancing cross-unit collaboration, and strategies for increasing private sector engagement in a changing global landscape. Being in my role for just a few months, I felt lucky to lead a few team bonding activities and take part in such important dialogues on the unit’s strategy and upcoming projects. On the same trip, the team visited a fish farm owned by one of the team leads in the unit to learn about sustainable fishing practices, explored a temple built in honour of a mountain goddess, and enjoyed some of the best fresh seafood I’ve ever had. Far and away, experiences like these have been some of the most enriching in my internship. Experiencing Viet Nam’s nature, food, and traditions, while being embraced by the Vietnamese culture of community – where every dish is shared and every moment is inclusive – has been nothing short of transformative. I am overwhelmingly grateful for this internship and excited for what’s to come.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the BSIA, its students, faculty, staff, or Board of Directors.