MULTISOURCE Stakeholder Engagement Workshop in Vietnam: Advancing Sustainable Urban Water Management
The MULTISOURCE Stakeholder Engagement Workshop, hosted by Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), took place from February 18-20, 2025. It brought together experts, policymakers, researchers, and key stakeholders to explore cutting-edge solutions for urban water resilience. The workshop featured keynote speeches, panel discussions, interactive workshops, and field visits to “Rừng Sác” Ecotourism Area in Cần Giờ District, one of Vietnam’s largest mangrove forests recognized by UNESCO. The three-day event engaged participants in knowledge exchange on NbS applications, the role of cities in water resilience, and innovative tools like the Nat4Wat platform.
Organised as part of the MULTISOURCE project, the workshop aimed to:
- Share project results with local stakeholders, focusing on innovative water treatment technologies and sustainable urban solutions.
- Highlight best practices from European and Vietnamese case studies, demonstrating successful NbS applications.
- Facilitate technical discussions on innovative water management solutions with local experts.
- Identify potential collaborations and partnerships to enhance urban water resilience.
The workshop kicked off with a comprehensive MULTISOURCE project presentation led by Jaime Nivala, MULTISOURCE coordinator from the INRAE, outlining project objectives and expected results, including the Nat4Wat tool. Dr. Frederic Cazenave, CARE’s deputy scientific director, set the stage by detailing Ho Chi Minh City’s water challenges—from coastal erosion to declining water quality, and showcased CARE’s pioneering efforts, such as green roofs for wastewater treatment and bamboo crops as unsaturated constructed wetlands.
  
A panel discussion on water treatment with Engineered Natural Treatment Systems (ENTS) featured Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Minh Phu, who highlighted HCMC’s urban green space strategies and policy frameworks, including Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) guidelines. Prof. Phuoc-Dan Nguyen further enriched the discussion by exploring urban greening approaches, multi-edge treatment methods, and successful NbS applications such as Tan Binh Riverside and vibrant public spaces like Sen Pond.
Innovative technologies took center stage as Fabio Masi from IRIDRA presented an intensified aerated wetland using Forced Bed Aeration™ for treating combined sewer overflows, while Esther Mendoza (ICRA) discussed multifunctional green walls for greywater recycling, drawing on examples from Europe.
  
Pedro Carvalho presented seven MULTISOURCE pilots and local experts sharing experiences with constructed wetlands and green roofs for pollutant removal. Elena Petsani stressed the importance of multisectoral collaboration and introduced a stakeholder engagement framework vital for driving water resilience in urban settings.
The marketplace segment fostered dynamic exchanges on urban forests, bamboo plantations, biotechnology for sustainable sludge treatment, and circular economy applications, emphasizing the need for integrated, community-driven solutions.
  
Day 2 of the MULTISOURCE workshop explored innovative stakeholder engagement approaches for water management. Discussions covered supporting new water regulations with nature-based solutions (NBS), saving canals with floating treatment wetlands, and decentralized wastewater treatment. The Nat4WAT tool was introduced for decision-making, and insights were exchanged on adapting MULTISOURCE technologies in Vietnam, addressing local barriers and opportunities for NBS integration. To explore the MULTISOURCE Nat4Wat tool, please click here.
