The Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF) launched its network of regional water knowledge hubs in 2008 to improve water security in the Asia-Pacific region by generating and sharing knowledge in more than a dozen water knowledge domains. Called KnowledgeHubs, the network has 13 confirmed regional hubs to date, among them Indonesia’s Center for River Basin Organizations and Management (CRBOM).

CRBOM is a newly created alliance of agencies belongs to the Government of Indonesia, composed of the Ministry of Public Works’ Directorate General of Water Resources (DGWR), the Ministry’s Research and Development Agency, and two corporate-type river basin organizations - Jasa Tirta Ⅰ and Ⅱ Public Corporations in collaboration with NARBO Secretariat partners - Japan Water Agency (JWA), Asian Development Bank (ADB), and ADB Institute. The entities of the Government of Indonesia within CRBOM have decades of experience establishing and operating public utility-type and corporate-type river basin organizations; planning and developing water resource use and conservation; managing technical, financial, and management issues associated with river basin organizations and management; operating and maintaining water resource infrastructure; managing watersheds and river environments; and conducting research and development in hydrology, hydraulic structures and geotechnical engineering, river engineering, and sediment management. CRBOM aims to provide local, regional, and national-level government agencies; river basin organizations; water service providers; and others with the most reliable, effective, and practical information; analysis; advice; and capacity-development services in the field of river basin organizations and management. More specifically, the regional water knowledge hub will:

• Assist clients in establishing river basin organizations and river basin management systems that integrate up-to-date quality management systems;
• Conduct applied research and development on river environments, hydrology, hydraulic structures and geotechnical engineering, river engineering, sediment management (sabo technology), coastal areas and swamps, and irrigation;
• Prepare norms, standards, procedures, guidelines, and manuals for optimal river basin organization and management;
• Train personnel from universities and other institutions in river basin organization and management, and create educational materials for wider distribution;
• Instruct water sector personnel in the use of ISO 9001 standards for the design, operation, and maintenance of water resources and infrastructure;
• Educate clients in dam safety and the use of remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) in water resources management;
• Advise clients on the provision of permits for the preparation, allocation, use, and exploitation of water resources in river basins;
• Act as an information clearinghouse by conducting seminars and workshops, publishing a journal on river basin organizations and management, and facilitating the face-to-face and electronic exchange of river basin-related information; and
• Provide consulting services to river basin organizations in the areas of technology, policies, and management.

NARBO meeting was held on 17th March 2009, at the 5th World Water Forum venue. Dr. Mochammad Amron, NARBO chairperson participated in the meeting. Participants from member organization were Mekong River Commission, K-water and World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) International. Mr. Masaru Kubota, Secretary General of NARBO, Mr. Wouter Lincklaen Arriens, Vice Secretary General also attended the meeting. So did NARBO Secretariat staffs from ADB and JWA.

Mr. Kubota made a speech on his assumption of the Secretary General in the meeting. Dr. Mochammad Amron made a comment regarding coming NARBO General Meeting. He mentioned that venue of the General Meeting may be discussed unless it is held in the Chairperson’s country in principle in the NARBO charter. Other topics discussed in the meeting were the latest activities such as 5th NARBO IWRM training and so on.