February - April 2005
Issue 2005/1
Mekong News
T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E M E K O N G R I V E R C O M M I S S I O N
Development of water resources the
key to defeating poverty in the LMB
he only way to alleviate poverty in the
coordinated (based on cooperation among
and working through its programmes, the
TLower Mekong Basin and to meet the countries), sustainable and is acceptable in MRC would cooperate with donor and
UN Millenium Goals is through
terms of social and environmental
investment banks to seek development
investment and development and it is up to
impacts," he said.
opportunities in the areas of irrigation,
the MRC to play a key role, MRC CEO
He explained that the MRC was in an
navigation, hydropower, flood
Dr Olivier Cogels told international donors
ideal position to act as an investment
management, fisheries and tourism.
late last year.
facilitator.
At the same time it would adopt
Speaking at the 9th Consultative Donor
"Our vision is to promote and coordinate
procedures for water utilisation and
Meeting held in Vientiane, Lao PDR on 10
sustainable management and development
interbasin diversions aimed at further
December 2004, Dr Cogels outlined the
of water and related resources for the
developments, while protecting the people
new policy and orientation of the MRC.
countries'benefit and the people's well-
and the environment and mitigating any
More than 80 percent of people in the
being by implementing strategic
harmful effects.
LMB live a subsistence life relying on
programmes and activities and providing
"In 2005 MRC will become more pro-
water-related resources for food and more
scientific information and policy advice,"
active in joint development planning in
than 30 percent of the population live in
he said. "This is how we will help alleviate
each sector, it will increase programme
extreme poverty. Dr Cogels said these facts
poverty."
integration and coordination and improve
Chaleunxay
were not acceptable.
In order to achieve its goals the MRC
quality of outputs," Dr Cogels said.
"Investment and development will go on
would adopt an Integrated Water Resources
MRC's donors were enthusiastic about
with or without the MRC, so it is up to us
Development approach at basin level.
this practical strategy and were keen to
Dr Cogels explains the MRC's new
to ensure that such development is
Using its powerful decision support tools
support the MRC's new direction.
direction to the international donors.
Council moves on managing flows
In addition to providing benchmark flows
"The BDP is moving toward the
against which to assess future development
introduction of programme of Integrated
proposals, an important benefit of these
Water Resources Management
procedures will be that they will put in
Development in the Mekong Basin, and
place a framework for drought forecasting
we think this will lead to significant
and management for the MRC Secretariat
developmental progress being made within
and the member countries.
the region," explained MRC Chief
The procedures are considered as interim
Executive Officer Dr Olivier Cogels.
in nature since the flow assessments are
On other matters, the ministers discussed
based only on the existing Mekong flow
the full-scale implementation of the MRC's
regime and available data that are
new Flood Management and Mitigation
constantly being improved. At the
Programme (which has received multi-
beginning of 2005 the MRC commenced a
million dollar support from many
programme of flow assessments based on
international donors) and the introduction
Chaleunxay
MRC Council Chairman H.E. Mr Somphong Mongkhonvilay addresses the meeting.
evaluation of the environmental, social and
of a new phase for the Fisheries
economic beneficial uses of the river.
Programme.
he 11th meeting of the MRC Council
maintenance of acceptable minimum
Council members representing
The Council approved the 2005 budget
T was held in Vientiane in December monthly flows of the Mekong mainstream Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet and the MRC's 2005 Work Programme.
2004 and paved the way for agreement on
in the dry season, the acceptable natural
Nam also approved the adoption of a new
The meeting was chaired by H.E. Mr
procedures for the maintenance of flows on
reverse flow of the Tonle Sap (in
framework for the MRC's core programme
Somphong Mongkhonvilay, Minister to
the Mekong mainstream.
Cambodia) during the wet season, and the
the Basin Development Plan (BDP), which
Prime Minister's Office, Chairman of the
These procedures concern the
prevention of unnatural peak flows.
is now entering its second phase.
MRC Council for 2004/2005.
I N S I D E
MRC launches new gender mainstreaming programme
Donors pledge aid for floods, environmental governance
Training the basin planners of tomorrow
Mekong Day, The MRC's 10th Anniversary Celebration
to be held in Vientiane, Lao PDR on 5 April 2005
For information about the MRC please contact: Tel: 856 21 263 263 Email: mrcs@mrcmekong.org Website: www.mrcmekong.org
Mainstreaming project targets gender inequalities
f sustainable development is to become
of these inequalities and put the MRC's
I a reality in the Lower Mekong Basin Gender Policy into action.
gender mainstreaming is essential.
Funded by the New Zealand
Studies have shown that rural women in
Government, the project represents the
the riparian countries often work longer
second phase of a programme completed
hours then men. They are the agricultural
in 2001 that helped raise gender
producers, the principal users and
awareness within the National Mekong
caretakers of water resources and the ones
Committees through a series of training
who raise children and handle family
initiatives.
finances.
This second phase will expand on this
However their access to resources such
programme and institute training at both
as education, health and income-earning
national and regional levels to promote
opportunities is frequently much lower than
gender mainstreaming in all sectors of
that of men. They are also often left out of
water resource and related development
community decision-making bodies and
activities. It will also focus on working
have no say in the planning and
with local women's groups and gender
management of development processes.
advocacy organisations as well as
At the institutional level, water resource
collecting relevant data and producing
The working women of the Basin often do not get an equal voice in decision-making.
line agencies have also, suffered from a
suitable training tools and materials to
lack of awareness and capacity.
improve communications.
Secretariat will manage the programme.
prosperous, socially just and
MRC has just initiated a new, three-year
The goal of the project is that it will
Gender equality is a priority for the
environmentally sound Mekong River
project on Gender Mainstreaming in Water
develop equality in both policy and practice
MRC, as in order to promote and
Basin it is essential that everyone is
and Related Resources Development in the
within the participating countries. A
coordinate sustainable development and
represented in planning and shares in the
Lower Mekong Basin to help address some
regional coordinator based in the MRC
achieve its goal of an economically
social benefits.
Basin prepares to meet water challenge
Students
get help to
The CPWF, which was launched in
2003, aims to increase food production in
work on
agriculture, while at the same time
increasing water productivity so more food
can be grown with less water. The project
Tonle Sap
covers eight other river basins around the
world. MRC is the coordinator for the
The MRC Environment
programme in the Mekong Basin.
Programme has signed a
Since its establishment, CPWF has made
contract with Monash
regular evaluations of its progress and,
University to jointly fund a
following a meeting held in Sri Lanka in
Cambodian PhD student to
January 2004, has now reorganised its
study the ecology of Tonle Sap
management structure in order to maximise
Lake. Monash University will
its research funds.
provide a part scholarship for
"This management reshuffle aims to
the student and MRC will
reduce the programme's transaction costs,
provide the rest of the
releasing more funds for the research that it
The Challenge Programme aims to make better use of water to produce more food.
scholarship plus travel and
hopes to carry out. The CPWF's second
project expenses.
call for projects will probably occur in May
Tonle Sap lake is an
he Mekong River Commission's
critical water-related priorities - food
this year, and will partly be competitive, but
T
ecosystem with a critical role
involvement in the CGIAR Challenge
security, livelihoods, environment and
will also open up opportunities for research
maintaining the biodiversity
Programme on Water and Food (CPWF)
health - can be addressed in a more
and collaboration for the MRC and its
and hydrological functioning
has taken a significant step forward with
inclusive and sustainable way.
member states," explained the MRC's
of the region, as well as
the receipt of funding for two additional
According to the submission, the
Research Coordinator, Dr Kim Geheb,
providing a critical fishery,
projects in the Mekong Basin.
research team also expects to have a
who acts as the CPWF Basin Coordinator
supporting livelihoods and
These are the last of eight projects in the
significant influence on policy-making with
for the Mekong.
feeding millions of people in
Basin that were selected from the 50
respect to water in the Mekong region
"Much of the emphasis in the CPWF is
Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand
submissions short-listed for funding under
through disseminating a diverse set of
on the partnerships it has created between
and Viet Nam.
the CPWF last year.
Mekong Water Governance documents.
research institutions in the Mekong
"MRC is using Australian
The two Basin projects, which are
Dr Francois Bousquet from the
countries, and advanced research
expertise in freshwater
funded by the International Fund for
International Rice Research Institute's
institutions, such as those within the
ecology to assist us to build
Agricultural Development are both
offices in Bangkok will be leading the
CGIAR," he added.
the capacity of people in the
governance-related and will seek to meet
project entitled "Companion Modelling for
As an additional contribution to MRC's
region to manage critical
some of the bigger water resource issues
Resilient Water Management: stakeholder
involvement in the Challenge Programme,
freshwater ecosystems," said
facing the Mekong Basin in the coming
perceptions of water dynamics and
Dr Geheb has also produced a new
Senior Environment Specialist
years.
collective learning at the catchment scale".
publication called Mekong Research, which
Dr Ian Campbell.
"Multi-Scale Mekong Water
This project aims to understand the factors
will appear as both a periodical and online
"We hope to develop more
Governance: inter-disciplinary research to
influencing different stakeholder
facility, and is intended to summarise
links of this kind, and have
enhance participatory water governance
perceptions, how these perceptions are
research findings and outputs from the
had preliminary discussions
from local watershed to regional scales",
formed, and how they might be modified
region. The online version will be available
with Griffith University in
which will be led by Mr John Dore of
to allow greater coordination and
on the www.mekonginfo.org website.
New South Wales regarding a
Chiang Mai University, aims to improve
equitability of water use at the system level,
To obtain a hard copy or contribute contact
second Cambodian student."
governance in water related issues so that
leading to increased water productivity.
kim.geheb@mrcmekong.org.
M R C E v e n t s
Flood funding
components. Component 1: The
through the provision of a new, three-part
of the National Mekong Committees
establishment of a Regional Flood
assistance package that will operate over
(NMCs) and the MRC Secretariat in the
signed
Management and Mitigation Centre in
the next three years.
four member countries.
Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Component 2:
The support will focus on assisting
As well as targeting policies and practices
Structural and Flood Proofing Measures
development of MRC's next five-year
to strengthen regional EG in the Lower
The Government of the Netherlands
(complementing contributions of the Asian
strategic plan to guide management of the
Mekong Basin, the programme also aims
formally signed a US$12.74 million
Development Bank); and Component 3:
Mekong River Basin; the provision of
to contribute to vulnerability reduction and
agreement with the Mekong River
Mediation of Transboundary Flood Issues.
technical expertise in natural resource
livelihood enhancement.
Commission to fund its new Flood
In January 2005 the Asian Development
management research and policy
The programme has two components:
Management and Mitigation Programme
Bank also signed an agreement to provide
development; and further assistance from
1) Developing country-specific strategies
(FMMP) in December 2004.
US$1 million in funds for Component 2 of
the Murray Darling Basin Commission,
and activities for NMCs for improved EG
"With the FMMP we have taken another
the FMMP.
(MRC's current partner) and other relevant
within each national context and for
step toward the development of
Australian organisations and institutions.
transboundary issues; and
the Mekong Region and the Netherlands
Dr Peter Shergold, Secretary, Department
2) Enhancing MRCS capacity in EG
can be considered a partner in sustainable
of Prime Minister and Cabinet announced
development and coordination within the
development and poverty alleviation,"
Australians
the new package during an official
MRC framework and existing
said Ambassador of the Netherlands H.E.
government visit in late 2004. He was
programmes.
Mr Gerben de Jong at the signing.
increase aid
accompanied by Ms Gillian Bird, First
UNDP says the NMCs and MRCS are
The FMMP consists of five components
Assistant Secretary, International Division,
viable facilitators for promoting good
to be implemented over six years and the
The Australian Government has increased
Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet,
governance strategies among the countries
Dutch funding will support three of these
its support for the work of the MRC
and Mr Murray Proctor, Assistant Director
of the Lower Mekong Basin.
General, East Asia Branch AusAID and the
Good environmental governance means:
Australian delegation .
Giving citizens the ability to obtain
environmental information in the
possession of government authorities.
Green light for
Allowing them the opportunity to
provide informed, timely and meaningful
environmental
inputs to influence decision-making on
policies, plans and projects that may have
environmental impacts.
governance
Giving them access to impartial arbiters
or mediators to resolve disputes over
UNDP, in partnership with the Mekong
environmental issues.
River Commission, has launched a
Conversely, this principle requires
Mr Gerben de Jong and MRC CEO Dr
Thanongdeth Insisiengmay explains
US$1 million Environmental Governance
accountability of officials for environmental
Olivier Cogels shake on the agreement.
flood monitoring to the Australian group.
(EG) Programme to strengthen the capacity
decision-making.
L a t e s t i n f o r m a t i o n p r o d u c t s
Fisheries Information in the
Catch and Culture,
An Introduction to Cambodia's
Information Products
Lower Mekong Basin
Volume 10, No.2
Inland Fisheries
Catalogue 2005
The Fisheries Information
The newsletter of the
The fisheries of Cambodia
This updated version of the
in the Lower Mekong
Fisheries Programme
are the mainstay of the
MRC catalogue contains
Basin CD-ROM contains
contains news and
country, providing income
details of all publications,
nine databases related to
research on all aspects of
and food security for
CD-Roms, maps and
catch assessment and five
the Lower Mekong Basin
millions of people. This
datasets available from the
databases related to migration
fishery. This issue
report draws on varied
Mekong River
and spawning. Each database has its own
highlights the new
data to document the
Commission. Also available as a free
manual and/or data dictionary. It also offers
challenges facing the Mun and Songkram
current state of the fisheries, while
download on www.mrcmekong.org.
a vast range of information produced by
Rivers in Thailand and the important role
examining their significance and the
Free (postage applies).
the Mekong River Commission's Fisheries
played by Lao women fishers. Free
problems they face for future sustainability.
Programme and its counterparts including
(postage applies).
technical papers, features, photographs and
Mekong Development Series No 4,
Technical data maps are available
in-depth reports produced over the past 10
Catch and Culture -
November 2004. US$5.
from the Documentation Centre.
years. Users can also access and explore18
riparian edition
pre-made maps using the ArcReader, GIS
Mekong Research
software provided.
A compilation edition of selected stories
has now been translated into the four
All the latest research and outputs from
November 2004. US$5.00.
riparian languages. Available as a free
around the Mekong River Basin.
Postage costs Apply
download on www.mrcmekong.org.
www.mekonginfo.org/partners/
Free (postage applies)
mekongresearch/index.htm
How to order
Contact
All products can be ordered from the MRC Secretariat's Documentation Centre.
Documentation Centre
Postage costs apply. Mekong region government agencies may write to the
Mekong River Commission Secretariat
MRC to obtain free copies.
P.O. Box 6101, 184 Fa Ngoum Road, Unit 18, Ban Sithane Neua,
Sikhottabong District, Vientiane 01000, Lao PDR
Check the MRC website for a full list of products. Credit card sales are also
Phone: (856 21) 263 263 ext: 1122 Fax: (856 21) 263 264
available through the website.
Email: doc.centre@mrcmekong.org Website: www.mrcmekong.org
BDP trains basin planners of tomorrow
iver Basin planners of the future are
One of the first steps in this training
of a consultative meeting with senior
will then be sent to all academic and
R getting a helping hand from a new
programme, which is scheduled to start in
officials of concerned river basin
training institutions in the 10 Sub-Areas.
training curriculum developed by the
June, includes lesson-testing with the Junior
organisations and provinces in the Sub-
Each training package will also be
MRCS BDP team, with technical
Riparian Professionals working at the MRC
Area, such as provincial governors,
available as a CD-Rom containing all the
assistance from the Murray Darling River
Secretariat and integrating their feedback
directors general and chamber of
materials in the package, plus references
Basin Commission (MDBC) under the
into the curriculum and course contents.
commerce heads. The training manuals
and maps.
MDBC & MRC Strategic Liaison
Shortly after this, training of trainers in
Programme.
each member country at national and Sub-
The overall objective of the modular
Area levels will commence. The BDP is
Integrated River Basin Planning (IRBP)
working with 10 Sub-Areas.
programme is to increase IRBP knowledge
Five trainers from Sub-Area working
and skills of riparians who are involved in
groups in each country will be selected to
the Mekong River Basin Development
attend a two-week course. The first week
Plan, to ensure they are provided with the
will focus on acquiring the IRBP
competencies needed for formulating and
knowledge and skills, while the second
producing the various BDP outputs.
week will focus on the facilitation and
The training manual comprises of two
training capabilities of the trainers.
training packages: an executive package to
Following this training, the country team
be delivered to high-level audiences and the
will produce the IRBP training manual in
planner package for basin planners.
its own language and start field-testing the
The curriculum is drawn from the four
national training package.
training modules delivered in the past three
When it is ready each Sub-Area training
years to the National Mekong
team will conduct IRBP training courses for
Committee/BDP team, plus core contents
all members of their working groups.
Training courses developed specifically for basin planners will improve work quality in the region.
from real work experience in the BDP.
Training at senior level will take the form
MRC researchers get
Flood programme
to work in the field
all systems go
he work of the MRC takes
T
he Mekong River Commission's new
which will improve forecasting tools and
place in many areas: in the
T core programme, the Flood
provide flood management services.
office, in the laboratory and, very
Management and Mitigation Programme
Work on the German-funded
importantly, in the field.
(FMMP) is funded and ready to start
components of the FMM (Flood
In the top picture members of the
operations. Staff recruitment for the FMMP Emergency Management Strengthening
Agriculture, Forestry and
is now under way.
and Land Management) began in
Irrigation Programme's Water Use
The new Regional Flood Management
September 2004.
Efficiency Component gather data
and Mitigation Centre will initially be
As part of this year's programme activity
for anaysis on the multi-
functionality of paddy fields. This
operating from the former MRC Secretariat the FMMP will be holding the Third
data will be used to analyse the
building in Phnom Penh as a temporary
Annual Flood Forum in Vientiane, Lao
seasonal changes of water use for
location from March 2005.
PDR on 7-8 April.
rice farming.
The FMMP is presently working closely
More than 100 regional and international
with the Cambodia National Mekong
experts will gather to discuss Flood
In the bottom photo, Environment
Programme researchers take
Committee and the Ministry of Water
Management and Mitigation in the Lower
samples from the river bed as part
Resources and Meteorology by providing
Mekong Basin and will share information
of the programme's ongoing work
the technical requirements for the design
on their needs as well as the progress they
to measure the ecological health
and construction of the new Flood Centre
are making toward managing floods.
of the Mekong.
Workshops and events
The Celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the
8th International River Symposium
Signing of the MRC Agreement on Cooperation
6-9 September 2005 - Brisbane, Australia
5 April 2005 - Vientiane, Lao PDR
Water and Food Security - Rivers in a Global Context
Contact kim.geheb@mrcmekong.org
plus the International and National Thiess Riverprize.
Call for papers and nominations
The Third Annual Flood Forum
Website: www.riverfestival.com.au
7-8 April 2005 - Vientiane, Lao PDR
Contact: Thanongdeth@mrcmekong.org
19th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage
The 4th Mainland Montane South-East Asia Conference
10-18 September 2005 - Beijing, China
16-19 May 2005 - Sa Pa, Vietnam
Contact: cncid@iwhr.com. Website: http://www.icid2005.org.
Contact: Malita Allan & Ms Trinh Thi Khanh Chi email:
31st WEDC International Conference
MMSEA4_Vietnam@netnam.vn
Maximising the Benefits from Water and Environmental Sanitation
The 2005 Watershed Management Conference
31 October-4 November - Kampala, Uganda
July 19-22, 2005 - Williamsburg, US
Contact: wedc.conf@Lboro.ac.uk Website: http://wedc.Lboro.ac.uk
Contact: conf@asce.org Website:
www.asce.org/conferences/watershedmanagement2005
Mekong News is published quarterly by the Mekong River Commission
Second South-East Asian Water Forum
Secretariat in Vientiane, Lao PDR. Please send comments, queries and ideas to:
28 August- 3 September 2005 - Denpasar, Bali
Communications Officer, Office of the CEO, MRC Secretariat,
Second SEAWF Secretariat, Tel: 021. 7398604, 7396616 ext. 635
Vientiane, Lao PDR
Fax: 021. 7398604 Contact: sekretariat@inawater.com;
Phone: (856-21) 263 263 ext. 1122 Fax: (856-21) 263 264
Email: virginia@mrcmekong.org
s_sutardi@hotmail.com Website: www.inawater.com