Mekong Integrated Water Resources Management

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The development objective of the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Project is to establish key examples of integrated water resource management practices in the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) at the regional, national, and sub-national levels, thus contributing to more sustainable river basin development in the Lower Mekong. There are three components to the project. The first component of the project is regional water resources management, which aims to increase dialogue, cooperation and understanding on IWRM principles among the LMB countries and will support: (i) trans-boundary dialogue; (ii) establishment of an approach for environment impact risk and disaster risk assessment in the LMB countries; (iii) communications outreach; and (iv) project monitoring, administrative support and oversight. The second component of the project is national water resources management, which aims to strengthen legal, institutional, and human resources to implement IWRM and improve water resources planning in Lao PDR and will support: (i) development of a new Water Resources Law; and (ii) installing essential institutional capacity regarding water quality monitoring, hydro meteorological modeling, and collection and analysis of the hydro meteorological information. The third component of the project is improved floodplain and aquatic resources management in regionally significant areas, which aims to help achieve: (i) sustainable floodplain management (balancing livelihood support for the local communities with enhancing regional ecological and biodiversity values in wetlands which are of basin-wise significance; and (ii) sustainable community fisheries co-management in key spawning and feeding habitats of regional significance. This component will support: (i) river basin and floodplain management in the Xebangfai and Xebanghieng river basins; and (ii) aquatic resources and fisheries management for Lao PDR.