1. Linking SEA and City Development Strategy (CDS) in Vietnam Maria Rosário Partidário, Michael Paddon, Markus Eggenberger, Minh Chau, and Nguyen Van Duyen IAIA’07 - Seoul, Korea, June 2007

2. Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA):  A strategic decision support process with the capacity to enable the inclusion and integration of environmental and sustainability issues right from the beginning of decision making processes  Facilitates decision-making by involving key actors and ensuring a long-term and large scale perspective by means of considering development options SEA concept

3. Options POLITICAL CULTURAL SEA context – critical factors - Strategic reference framework Environmental factors Strategic factors Participation Analysis of Trends Analysis of context Scenarios Follow-up Monitoring actual changes Objectives achievement Performance evaluation Conformance with strategic intentions Implementation and review ANALYTIC ANALYTICAL Assessment of options based on strategic impacts Specific criteria and indicators, per critical factor View points, Participation Reporting and Quality control Choice Criteria and indicators for strategic assessment for each critical factor Identification and analysis of strategic impacts Based on Partidário SEA methodology to Spatial Planning Portugal, 2003

4. An approach to strategic planning at a city level.  Aims at creating a collective city vision and an action plan to improve governance and management; increase investment to expand employment and services; and promote systematic and sustained programmes to reduce poverty  Successful CDSs should enhance: oUrban performance as measured by economic growth (linked to improved livelihood opportunities), oPoverty prevention and alleviation and oImprovement in environmental and public health (including poor and informal urban communities CDS concept

5. The CDS Process and Building Blocks Cities Alliance / M. Paddon

6.  How to improve integration of environmental and sustainability issues in CDS?  Is SEA the right instrument in support of integration? We asked the question: Is SEA the right tool for CDS?

7.  Flexibility  Adaptation (to specific cases - no standard way of doing)  Transparency (fully engaging participation)  Subsidiarity (ownership through community / stakeholders engagement)  Sustainability-driven  Process-driven SEA + CDS shared principles

8.  What are the opportunities and risks for each CDS strategy/option/actions in terms of environmental and sustainability consequences?  What CDS approaches or measures need to be put in place to meet intended environmental and sustainable policies?  Have the public’s environmental and sustainability concerns been taken fully into account?  Have cumulative processes with potential negative impacts been analysed and considered?  Have major environmental and sustainability policies been acknowledged in the CDS? Questions SEA helps answer

9. Making SEA fit the CDS process

10. CDS + SEA broad building blocks

11. SEA benefits to CDS process  Focus on key environmental issues  Assess and discuss options re sustainability object and targets  Trade-offs and synergies between CDS strategy options and environmental/sustainability concerns  Consideration of cumulative impacts of CDS strategies  Guidelines for planning, management and operation based on risks and opportunities  Avoid costly mistakes by late consideration of environmental and sustainability issues  Improve the credibility of CDS, leading to better commitment

12. Process of CDS in Nam Dinh Vision for Nam Dinh city Current situation assessment Identify strategies for Nam Dinh city to 2020 Design the action plan for Strategy’s implementation Identify Strategies in Priority to 2010 for Nam Dinh Criteria for Choosing Priority Strategies Criteria for Choosing Priority Actions Identify the Actions in Priority for Nam Dinh for 2006-2007 Implementation and Monitoring Enterprises Women, Youth Unions Ward civil servant Father land Citizens in rich area Citizens in pour area Police, veterans Civil servant in different depts. Business Association Participants from Culture, Education, Sports, Healthcare sectors Pupils from Primary and Secondary Schools Active participation of all staff of 12 departments and leaders Consultations with Stakeholders

13. Extensive Consultation and Participation Developing Nam Dinh CDS  CDS Task Force workshops  CDS Task Force Executive Team work sessions  12 stakeholder workshops on City Vision  12 SWOT workshops with stakeholders  Economic analysis by CIEM consultant  ~ 25 direct interviews with leaders of province, city, municipal and provincial party committees and some provincial departments  24 workshops with 12 municipal departments on CDS methodology  Workshops on to set criteria for selection of priority action plans  24 workshops on mobilizing civil servants for developing action plans  Workshops with city leaders on action plans  6 Presentation workshops for City leaders and Province and Party leaders