ACB Builder: A digital platform for scaling climate advisories in Vietnam

The ACB Builder is a digital platform that helps Vietnam's Technical Working Groups (TWGs) produce agro-climatic bulletins (ACBs) more efficiently and consistently. Since its introduction in 2020, ACBs co-developed by TWGs have been reaching an estimated 60,000 farmers directly via Zalo and around 320,000 through wider channels across the Mekong River Delta in 2025, with farmers reporting reduced pesticide and fertilizer use, fewer crop failures and higher yields. However, producing tailored, technically validated advisories remains time- and resource-intensive, and Vietnam's 2025 administrative reform has added pressure on local institutions. Rather than introducing a new bulletin format, the Builder digitizes the existing participatory workflow, structuring how bulletins are developed, reviewed, validated and generated, while keeping interpretation and final judgement with agricultural experts. Developed through iterative Human-Centered Design (HCD) with repeated usability testing, the platform is now in pre-deployment validation, with a first operational pilot planned in Dong Thap for the 2026–2027 Winter-Spring rice season and extension to Can Tho and An Giang in 2027. Later phases may add automated weather-data integration and AI-assisted decision support, always subject to TWG review. Backed by growing government commitment, including US$150,000 under Vietnam's First National Plan for Agroclimatic Advisory Services (2026–2028), the Builder offers a scalable model for strengthening climate advisory services nationally and beyond.