The Challenge of Water Resources Management in Laos

CSIRO Land and Water Seminarby

Sengmanichanh Somchanmavong

International visit sponsored by the International Centre of Excellence in Water Resources Management

(ICE WaRM)

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Overview

1. Introduction to the international visit program

2. Sponsor the visiting program (ICE WaRM presentation)

3. Sharing – the challenges of Water Resources Management in Lao PDR

4. Learnings from Australia

5. Comments - Discussion

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1. IntroductionNam Ngum River Basin Development Sector ProjectADB Loan 1933-LAO AFD Grant CLA 1048 01H

Sengmanichanh SomchanmavongTraining Specialist

Water Resources Coordination Committee SecretariatOffice of the Prime MinisterVientiane, Lao PDR

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International Centre of Excellence in Water Resources Management

(ICE WaRM)

International Visit

Australian Research Centre for Water in Society (ARCWIS)

CSIRO Land and Water

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Satisfying the thirst of/for tomorrow’s leaders

Established late 2004

Launched Aug 2005

Supported by SA Govt

Consortium

Facilitator and broker

Education, Training & Research in Water

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ICE WaRMWhat does it do?

ICE WaRM provides a national focus and international gateway to Australia’s education, training and research expertise in water.

ICE WaRM facilitates collaboration in water-related research, education and training opportunities for international (and national) scholars wanting to advance their careers, and meeting the needs of their water management organisations.

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ICE WaRMProducts

• EducationAward programmes

• TrainingShort courses, study tours, vocational and in-service

• ResearchCollaborative research programmes

all in Water Management

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Founding Shareholders

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Supporters and Associates

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3. Sharing – the Challenges of Water Resources Management in Lao PDR

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Background of Laos

• Geography – surrounding 5 countries with a different political system

Land AreaPop 236,800 Sq Kms Density COUNTRYPopulation 68 per/Sq Kms

• Under international agreement – Mekong River Commission– 97 % of Lao territory lies in the Mekong River Basin, – and it contributes about 35 % of annual flow in Mekong

River.

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• Politics

– one legal party,

– 16 provincial administrations,

• Vientiane is the capital city

• An increasing number of population

– Population – 6 million

– Annual growth rate (2005) – 2,4%

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• The major river basins in Lao PDR are all tributaries of the Mekong River and were selected on the basis of size (most are over 4,500 km2). Among them, the Nam Ngum River Basin is by size the fifth largest river basin in Lao.

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Introduction for NNRBDP

The Nam Ngum River Basin:

• total area - 16,841 km2

• mostly hilly and mountainousi) the Vientiane Plains - floodplain

ii) the Plain of Jars - plateau area in the upper

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• Culture - various ethnic minorities live in mountainous areas, slash and burn agricultural practicing

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Water Demand:–Domestic and industrial water use,–agriculture – irrigated areas, crop

areas, –mining, –hydroelectricity, –fisheries, –tourism, –navigation

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Problems:• water shortage for the dry

season,

• flooding in lower plain,

• water quality risk at mining sites,

• river bank erosion and sediment

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Nam Ngum River Basin development project

• Component 1: Integrated Water Resources Management conducted by the Water Resources Coordinating Committee Secretariat (WRCCS) of Prime Minister’s Office

• Component 2: Reservoir Management and River Basin Modeling conducted by the Department of Electricity, Ministry of Energy and Mines

• Component 3: Watershed Management conducted by the National Agricultural and Forestry Extension Services (NAFES) and Integrated Watershed Management Unit (IWMU) of MAF

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The long-term goal - “optimal use of water resources, especially in the Nam Ngum River Basin” with immediate project objectives to:

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(i) foster and institutionalize IWRM in the mainstream planning process of the Government at the central and provincial levels, and

(ii) support investment interventions in relatively degraded parts of the NNRB to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for poor and ethnic communities

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Component 1

sub-component: building capacity IRBP&M.

One of the initial activities under this activity is the preparation a River Basin Profile for the Nam Ngum River Basin.

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The purpose of a River Basin Profile is to provide:

• A snapshot of the current conditions, issues and trends in the river basin

• A foundation for developing the River Basin Plan• A shared understanding between sectors of conditions in the

River Basin• An information source to support future planning and

government policy initiatives• A source of information on the River Basin for interested

stakeholders• Directions for strengthening knowledge and information

management.

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Update May 2007

• Trend to set up New Water and Environment Agency,

• Strengthening River Basin and Provincial Water Resource Management

• Draft Water Resources Profiles Available

• Draft Water Resources Data and Information Strategy

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1. Previous Strategic Activities

• Improved management of natural resources and environment is recognized as a national priority

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• Recognized a more coordinated approach “integrated water resources management” (IWRM), is needed. This approach

i) balances dev. socio & envir. consideration

ii) addresses inter-sector (inter-provincial and international) issues, and

iii) takes into consideration water quantity, water quality, surface and groundwater and other resource linkages.

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IWRM also emphasizes improved data and information and technical methods and also improved governance, including public awareness and participation.

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In accordance with this IWRM approach, the Government has taken a number of strategic initiatives in the past:

• Law on Water and Water Resources approved (1996)

• Water Resources Coordinating Committee (WRCC) established under the Prime Minister’s Office (1998)

• Water Sector Strategy and Action Plan prepared (1999)

• Prime Minister’s Decree to implement the Law on Water and Water Resources approved (2001)

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2. Challenges

• Approval of the 1999 Water Sector Strategy and Action Plan and the draft water resources policy was not at a high level

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• Water legislation was not elaborated in sufficient detail to be well implemented.

– there are gaps in the legislation and

– there is a need for a clearer organizational strategy for implementing key IWRM functions.

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• There is no leading agency in the water resources sector

– IWRM activities are fragmented between many agencies and gaps exist.

• Technical and financial resources for IWRM activities are limited

• There are no clear priorities or strategy on how to address theses limitations.

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3. Current IWRM Activities and Objectives

A number of activities are currently underway to address some of the priorities in the water sector

(a) Institutional reorganization

(b) National water resources profile and strategy

(c) Data and information management

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(d) IWRM financing

(e) River basin simulation and reservoir operational modeling

(f) River basin and watershed planning

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4. Future Priorities

A number of current activities are expected to be ongoing priorities over next 5 years or more.

• Institutional development and strengthening for improved IWRM implementation

• National water resources strategy

• Funding arrangements

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4. Future Priorities (cont.)

• Legislation

• Ongoing capacity building

• Data and information system upgrading

• Watershed management

• Awareness raising on water resources

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My Major Tasks

On-going building of capacity and awareness raising on water resources

– Conducting training need assessment and monitoring

– Organizing short training courses related to IWRM, IRBM, series of training courses: water quality, water policy and legislation, social-economic and environmental assessment, GIS,

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My Major Tasks cont.

– Assisting the project to conduct consultation workshops, seminars and meetings on National Water Resource profiles, River Basin Profiles and water related issues.

– Searching more possibilities to access international experiences

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Outcomes and Learning from Australia

• Working experiences with ARCWIS staff– Interaction with social scientists in water resources

management– Involvement into some parts of the two running

projects especially field visit and trial Q-Sort– Environment and team work management– Monitoring / management

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Outcomes and Learning from Australia

• Reviewing past public involvement programs– Various social methodologies– Many information related to water resources– Linkage in to other web-sites– Progress Reports

• Discussion with other experts on water related issues from other agencies

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Opportunity for Future

• Short-term Action– Sharing overall working experience with friends

and colleagues in the workplace as well as the same field in other agencies

– Bringing good examples from ARCWIS projects for upgrading the existing running project

– Keep in touch with ARCWIS staff and other experts water related issue in Australia

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Long-term Plan

• Attempt to propose a case study on Public Involvement especially social behaviour change, perception and acceptation for the challenging Water Resources Management in the country

• Engage my personnel experience into the international experience where would be possible

• Look forward to cooperate with an Australian agency which deals with water in society

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Thank You

• Thank you for ARCWIS team and CSIRO providing such a great environment to work with, good to know many of you as professionals on water in society.

• Thank you for ICE WaRM providing financial support for this trip

I hope to collaborate and work with you in the future.

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Comments

Your comments and questions are welcome.

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Thank you very much for your attention

Water Ed Australia Pty LtdABN 13 112 314 780

GO Box 860Adelaide SA 5001, AustraliaLevel 1, 77 Grenfell Street

Adelaide SA 5000

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