Making decisions on water resources: IWRM and implementation in the Mekong basin.

Introduction

Governance sets the boundaries within which people operate

IWRM is context dependantDifference between and best

practice and political will

Why Decentralise?

Focus on empowermentOpening up to a diverse knowledge

baseIncreasing public awareness and

acceptanceLack of inclusion provokes

opposition movements slowing progress

No such thing as local any more

Local knowledge is necessary but not sufficient

Need for interscalar dialogue

(Arnstein, 1969)

Country-specific uses of water in the Mekong River BasinChina Hydro-electrical powerLaos Hydro-electrical powerThailand Urban water source

Agricultural irrigationCambodia Maintaining fisheries

Agricultural irrigationNavigation

Vietnam Agricultural irrigationPrevent sea water encroachment in deltaHydro-electrical power

(Korea Times, 2010)

Lack of empowerment No improvement in

water services No dialogue with

strategic planners

(Mekong River Commission, 2009)

w

(Stimson.org, 2015)

Rubber Stamping

Selling IWRM gets you supportCommunities are ignored in

strategic plansDoes not cost you anything to

mention IWRM.

Conclusions

Successful governance depends stakeholder involvement

Conflicting goals at all scales can damage partnerships

IWRM used as a rubber stamp.IWRM success is limited to the

extent to which it is allowed by state bodies.

References Arnstein, S. (1969) A Ladder Of Citizen Participation. Journal of the American Institute of

Planners, 35 (4): 216-224. Available from: Earth Observatory of Singapore, (2015) Mekong River Basin Initiative (MRBI): Case studies

of climate change adaptation projects and an assessment of transboundary issues in the Lower Mekong Basin [online].

Grumbine, R., Dore, J. and Xu, J. (2012) Mekong hydropower: drivers of change and governance challenges. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 10 (2): 91-98. Available from:

Korea Times, (2010) Mekong River Commission [online]. Available from: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2010/04/195_63648.html [Accessed 16 March 2015]

Kurlantzick,J (2011) In Southeast Asia, Big Dams Raise Big Concerns, The Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved 2011-07-06.

Lebel, L. and Daniel, R. (2007) M-power book series on water governance in the Mekong region. Mekong: Mekong Press

Mekong River Commission, (2009) STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION and MEKONG RIVER COMMISSION. Phnom Penh

Stimson.org, (2015) Dams and Food Security in the Mekong: Site Visits to the Xayaburi and Don Sahong Dam Projects | Spotlight | The Stimson Center | Pragmatic Steps for Global Security [online].

Trust Issues

“Laos' actions not only represent a breach of trust, but threaten to undermine already fledgling efforts at regional cooperation.”Kurlantzick (2011)

“The MRC member countries agree to cooperate in all fields of sustainable development… on the Mekong River Basin”Mekong River Commission (2009)

Why decentralise?

Central authority:Facilitates complacencyLocal communities distanced from

power structuresProvokes opposition movements

slowing progress