River Basin OrganizationsStudy case from Brazil

Vitor Vieira Vasconcelos, Ph.D.Ayeyarwady Futures Team

Stockholm Environment Institute

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Stakeholder Consultation Meeting on Chindwin Futures AssessmentMonywa, 4th May 2015

CONTENT1. Water management regulation in Brazil

2. Case studies of RBOs in Brazil

3. History of the RBOs

4. Structure and Members

5. Government levels responsibility for RBOs

6. Institutional scheme

7. Roles of the RBO

8. Funding scheme

9. Some lessons learnt

Water Management Regulation in Brazil

Water Law approved in 1997Structure of River Basin Organizations

Challenges in 1997:Little financial and human resourcesPopulation and institutions were not used to participatory governance, such as the water councils and RBO committees proposed in the new water lawStarting a cycle of fast development from 2001 to 2010, increasing pressure on water resources

Myanmar may face similar challenges and experiences that Brazil faced in the development cycle

0.00

5,000.00

10,000.00

15,000.00

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

2009

2011

2013

Per Capita GDP - BrazilUSD

Source: World Bank Database

Case studies of RBOs in Brazil

ParacatuRBO

Verde Grande RBO

Water Commission of Minas GeraisState Parliament from 2013-2014

Assessment of achievements and challenges of the 36 RBO in the state

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History of the RBOs

Paracatu RBO Verde Grande RBO

Establishment 1998 2003

Master Plans approved in 2006 2010

Water Quality StandardsProposed in 2006

(awaitingapproval of Water Council)

Proposed in 2010(awaiting approval of

Water Council)

Charge for Water Use Implementing In discussion

Water Agencies under RBOs

Articulated with So Francisco Basin

Articulated with So Francisco Basin

Sources:ANA. EnquadramentoBases Legais. Available at: http://portalpnqa.ana.gov.br/enquadramento-bases-legais.aspx, accessed on 16 Apr 2015ANA (2014). Cobranapelousode recursoshdricosno Brasil. Informe2013. Available at: http://arquivos.ana.gov.br/institucional/sag/CobrancaUso/Estudos/Informativo2013_CobrancapeloUsodeRecursosHidricosnoBrasil.pdfALMG (2014). RelatrioFinal da Comissodas guas. Available at: http://www.cbhdoce.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Veja-aqui-o-relat%C3%B3rio.pdfCBH Paracatuwebsite. Available at: http://agbpeixevivo.org.br/index.php/comites/cbhs-estaduais/cbh-rio-paracatu.html, accessed on 16 Apr 2015 CBH Verde Grande websites . Available at: http://www.verdegrande.cbh.gov.br/, accessed on 16 Apr 2015IGAM (2015) 2o relatriode gestoe situaodos recursoshdricosem Minas Gerais. Available at: portalinfohidro.igam.mg.gov.br/publicacoes-tecnicas/relatorios-de-gestao/8837-/downloadINFOHIDRO website. Availabeat: http://portalinfohidro.igam.mg.gov.br/publicacoes-tecnicas/enquadramento/, accessed on 16 Apr 2015

http://portalpnqa.ana.gov.br/enquadramento-bases-legais.aspxhttp://arquivos.ana.gov.br/institucional/sag/CobrancaUso/Estudos/Informativo2013_CobrancapeloUsodeRecursosHidricosnoBrasil.pdfhttp://www.cbhdoce.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Veja-aqui-o-relat%C3%B3rio.pdfhttp://agbpeixevivo.org.br/index.php/comites/cbhs-estaduais/cbh-rio-paracatu.htmlhttp://www.verdegrande.cbh.gov.br/http://portalinfohidro.igam.mg.gov.br/publicacoes-tecnicas/enquadramento/

Underlying Principle of Parity in member composition

Example:

Structure and Members

Members of Verde Grande RBO

Water Users

Civil society

Government InstitutionsNational governmentStateMunicipality

Equally divided among

Then equally divided among

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Internal elections for members and direction rolesEnables rotation and renovation

Internal structure with sub-committees and working groups

Ex: Water management institutionsAgriculture development institutionsEnvironmental institutions

Ex: Irrigated farmers associationsHydropower companiesWater supply institutions

Ex: Local NGOSCommunity associations

State A

State B

Ocean

Responsibility of State B

Responsibility of National Government

Inter-state sub-basin:National government can establish RBO

Intra-state sub-basin:State A can assume responsibility

Government levels responsibilityfor RBOs

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National Level

Water Use PermitsNational Information SystemSurveillance

RegulationsApproves propositions from RBOs

Propositions to Water Council

Non-government natureA member of each RBO

Experience sharingConsultative role

National Water Council

RBO RBO RBO

NationalWater Agency

RBO Forum

WaterAgency

WaterAgency

WaterAgency

Technical body to be implemented afterWater Use Charge starts in the basin

Gradually assume the roles of the National Water Agency

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Institutional Scheme

National Level State Level

RBO Forum

WaterAgency

WaterAgency

WaterAgency

National Water Council

RBO RBO RBO

NationalWater Agency

RBO

Forum

WaterAgency

WaterAgency

WaterAgency

State Water Council

RBO RBO RBO

StateWater Agency

Roles of the RBO

Progressive roles of an RBO

1st - Water Basin Plan

2nd - Water Quality Standards

3rd - Rules for charging water use

4th - Establishment of Water Agency in the basin

On demand roles

1st instance for water conflict resolution

Water use permit for big users

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(in Minas GeraisState)

Funding SchemeTax on hydropower profit

Rationale: compensation for impacts of hydropower reservoirs

Main fund source for water management policy in the country

Part of the tax is source for the Water Fund in Minas GeraisStateEnvironmental projects in river basins

Administrative costs of RBOs, mainlyTransportation for meetings

Administrative staff

Charge for Water Use

Gradually implemented in some basins

All money collected must be invested in the same basinProjects, studies and infrastructure according to criteria proposed by RBO and approved by the Water Council

Technical and administrative maintenance of RBO and Water Agency

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Some lessons learntThe RBO always need to have some important task to be done

People need to see that their participation is useful

Government reliability with public budget is crucial to maintain the credibility of people in the RBOs

Misuse of money to be invested in basins

Delay or cancellation of promised investments

RBO role is not only for water policy planning:

supervise investments by government institutions

mobilize society

Industries pressure on Water Council made it difficult to approve Water Quality Standards proposed by RBOs

It is difficult to recover credibility

after it is lost

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Contact:

Chayanis KRITTASUDTHACHEEWA, Ph.D.(Ms)chayanis.k@sei-international.org

Louis LEBEL, Ph.D.louis@sea-user.org

Eric KEMP-BENEDICT, Ph.D.eric.kemp-benedict@sei-international.org

Bernadette (Babette) RESURRECCIN, Ph.D.bernadette.resurreccion@sei-international.org

Chusit APIRUMANEKUL, Ph.D.chusit.apirumanekul@sei-international.org

Vitor Vieira VASCONCELOS, Ph.D.vitor.vasconcelos@sei-international.org

Website: http://sei-international.org/

Thanks to the Blue Moon Fund, DWIR, MEI and

all stakeholders and partners in Myanmar

Contact in Myanmar

Program Coordinator:

Ms. Cho Cho Win, MB: 95-9428128900,chochowin47@gmail.com

http://sei-international.org/mailto:chochowin47@gmail.com