Academic Seminar: Urban Poverty and Inclusion in HCMC: An Examination and Review of Urban Risks

ABOUT THE EVENT:

Vietnam is quickly urbanizing, and this means new challenges for policy makers to simultaneously address last mile challenges and manage increasingly dense and crowded urban areas. Prosperity in urban areas will only become more important for supporting upwards economic mobility, Vietnam’s transition to high income, and achieving its Next Mile aspirations.
The presentation will discuss risks and challenges in HCMC from a household and livability perspective, by discussing impacts from two types of shocks or risks: flooding and COVID-19. Flooding is a well-studied natural disaster risk in HCMC, but less has been said about the profile and characteristics of the population that are in HCMC’s flood plains. The presentation uses unique geospatial data for HCMC to inform this aspect. Second, the COVID-19 pandemic has raised new awareness to issues of livability and economic security in urban areas. Urban areas were by far more affected by lockdown policies and mitigation measures than rural areas. Urban residents were at a disadvantage due to crowded, small, and low-quality housing. Another issue was that many urban workers were economically vulnerable with low savings. Using the World Bank’s COVID-19 surveys conducted in 2022, social risks and lessons are examined.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

  • Dr. Judy Yang currently works for the Poverty & Equity Global Practice. Prior to this position, she has worked for the MENA Chief Economist Office, teams in the Africa region, and the Enterprise Surveys team. Before joining the World Bank, she has worked at the U.S. Department of Labor.  Judy holds a PhD in Economics from Georgetown University. Her research interests include migration, the business environment, household welfare, and access to finance.
  • Mr. Wuttiboon Faamnuaypol is the General Director of ESRI Vietnam and Director of ESRI Myanmar. With over 25 years of experience in the GIS industry, he has played a key role in supporting  ESRI customers in Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia. With 12 years in a business management role for ESRI Vietnam and 4 years for ESRI Myanmar, Mr. Faamnuaypol has demonstrated expertise in driving growth and building strong customer relationships. His leadership continues to contribute to ESRI's reputation as a leading provider of GIS technology in the region.

MORE INFORMATION:

  • Time and Date: 10AM - June 19, 2023
  • Venue: B1.205 - 279 Nguyen Tri Phuong St., D10, HCMC (Campus B)

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For more information, please contact Ms. Phuong (Lisa) Thai at [email protected]