Managing water in Asia's river basins: Charting progress and facilitating investment
The project aims to encourage further basin water investments under ADB's Water Financing Program and to demonstrate good IWRM practices in river basins across the region.
The project runs until end of 2010. It is executed by ADB in collaboration with Network of Asian River Basin Organizations (NARBO). It is financed with a grant from the Japan Special Fund, funded by the Government of Japan, and is hosted by Center for River Basin Organizations and Management (CRBOM) in Solo, Central Java.
Pilot activities are conducted in river basins in Cambodia (the 4-Ps area of Prek Preah, Prek Krieng, Prek Kampi, and Prek Te), Indonesia (Bengawan Solo), Orissa (Baitarani), the Philippines (Central Cebu), and Viet Nam (Vu Gia-Thu Bon).
Pilot basins
A project development facility
Roadmaps for long-term integrated river basin investment programs will be prepared for each pilot basin. A roadmap advisory service (RAS) will be developed to assist the RBOs with this work. A small RAS team of international and national specialists and NARBO peer experts will be mobilized for the purpose.
RBO knowledge service
Up-to-date information and knowledge will be compiled and shared to better equip RBOs in addressing the changing river basin management needs for IWRM, including urbanization, decentralization, stakeholder collaboration, water rights and allocation, adaptation to climate change, and integrating environmental management in infrastructure and water services development. Online access and dissemination of knowledge products and services will be provided via CRBOM.
Country performance assessments
Systematic country performance assessments will be conducted to chart the progress of introducing IWRM against operational indicators and to gather experience and lessons learnt. The results will be disseminated in a publication that will highlight the region’s overall performance, challenges, lessons learnt, and opportunities for basin water investments.
RBO performance improvement
Capacity development activities will be organized to improve RBO performance, expectedly including: (i) training workshops for RBOs and stakeholders on preparing investment roadmaps with the RAS; (ii) peer reviewer certification training for senior RBO staff to conduct NARBO’s performance benchmarking service; (iii) leadership training for RBO champions in implementing IWRM and organizational changes; and (iv) seminars on adapting to the changing needs in IWRM and on improving water governance.
