NARBO

 

Roadmaps for River Basin Investments

 

 

1. Background

 

NARBO’s goal is to help achieve integrated water resources management (IWRM) in river basins throughout Asia. It aims to strengthen the capacity of river basin organizations (RBOs) in promoting IWRM and improving water governance.

 

Roadmaps for river basin investments can help to achieve IWRM.

 

Investments for IWRM
IWRM is a long-term process that seeks to realize investments in water resources development and management that have “triple bottom line” (i.e. economic, social, and environmental) benefits resulting from an integrated approach.

 

Such investments can be facilitated, encouraged and realized through the river basin roadmaps.

 

The roadmaps can serve as basis for future project preparatory technical assistance for subsequent implementation of one or several projects on IWRM. They can sort out gaps and overlaps in basin investments, and can provide guidance on implementation.

 

 

 

Modality to Prepare the Roadmaps
Under the ADB-supported regional technical assistance project on ‘Managing Water in Asia’s River Basins: Charting Progress and Facilitating Investments’, river basin investment roadmaps were prepared from 2009 to 2011 for the following strategic river basins:

 

(i) 4Ps in Cambodia,

(ii) Vu Gia – Thu Bon (VGTB) in Viet Nam,

(iii) Solo in Indonesia, and

(iv) Mananga-Kotkot-Combado Lusaran (MKCL) in Philippines.

 

The project, approved in 2008, aims to encourage further basin water investments under ADB’s Water Financing Program.  It is hosted by the Center for River Basin Organization and Management (CRBOM)＊1

 

which is one of the four organizations comprising the NARBO Secretariat, and which is based in the Solo river basin in Java island in Indonesia.

 

＊1The CRBOM is also the regional water knowledge hub on river basin organization and management under the Asia Pacific Water Forum.

 

2. What is a roadmap for river basin investments?

 

A basin development agenda for IWRM
A roadmap for river basin investments reflects a specific development agenda for the river basin. The agenda adopts the river basin as planning unit and applies an IWRM perspective that emphasizes holistic, integrated, cross-sectoral, coordinative, multi-disciplinary, and participatory approaches that are in accordance with national development policies, plans, and priorities.

 

An action plan
A roadmap for river basin investments is a concise action plan on proposed water-related investments and development initiatives. The action plan answers the questions ‘what to do’, ‘who will do’, and ‘when to do’. The basin investments may include short-term, medium-term, and long-term development projects. They can cover hard and soft measures including infrastructural development (both structural as well as non-structural), irrigation management, tourism development, water-dependent production, capacity-development and knowledge-building, institutional development, and others.

 

A direction or road A roadmap for river basin investments provides a clear and agreed sense of direction or ‘the road’ for the river basin to get from where it is now to where it wants to go. It is guided by a vision which reflects values and aspirations shared by basin stakeholders; the goals to achieve the vision; and specific development initiatives and investment projects to achieve the goals.
Who Prepares and Implements The roadmap is ideally prepared by the RBO in the river basin; or if there is no existing RBO, by a dedicated coordination body with a relevant government mandate. Under the ADB-supported project, the roadmaps were prepared by:
the Cambodia National Mekong Committee in collaboration with the provinces of Kratie and Mondulkiri (4Ps); the Solo Basin Council (Bengawan Solo); Metropolitan Cebu Water District (Mananga-Kotkot-Combado-Lusaran); and   Department of Natural Resources and Environment, in collaboration with Danang City and Quang Nam Province (Vu Gia – Thu Bon).
If there is no RBO, creating one may be considered as a component development initiative of the roadmap. Implementation of the roadmap can be facilitated by the RBO, but the development initiatives and investment projects may be implemented by sector or line agencies.

 

3. Preparing the roadmap for river basin investments＊2

 

Basin Stakeholder Consultation: A Critical Component in Preparing Roadmaps
IWRM is a long-term process that needs sustained commitment by all stakeholders. The active and informed participation of stakeholders in the planning and decision-making for integrated investment programs is central to IWRM’s success. In order to successfully prepare the roadmaps, the conduct of a series of basin stakeholder consultation workshops is necessary. These workshops provide guidance and elicit a sense of acceptance, ownership, and commitment from the stakeholders. The consultation process facilitates inter-agency dialogue as well as institutional coordination and synergies.

 

Roadmap Advisory Service: Sharing Lessons and Experience from Other River Basins
NARBO aims to strengthen the capacity of RBOs through the exchange of information and experience among RBOs and their associated water sector agencies. Along this line, a roadmap advisory service was offered under the project and was piloted in preparing the investment roadmaps for four river basins. The service allowed peer advisers from other river basins in the region to share lessons and experience on (i) keys for success in implementing IWRM, (ii) roadmap preparation, (iii) basin development scenarios, and (iii) project implementation modalities and technicalities. It allowed close dialogue with basin stakeholders to explore common solution strategies to IWRM challenges; and added value to the overall learning process.

 

Steps to Prepare the Roadmaps
Within the context of the project, the following steps were undertaken to prepare the roadmaps:

 

• Gathering data and information. This includes preparing or updating a ‘basin profile’ on the basin’s natural and socio-economic characteristics; identifying the basin stakeholders and strategizing on how to liaise with them; reviewing literature including an overview of existing documents and information sources, the national socio-economic planning framework, the role of the RBO (if any) in the river basin, and development opportunities and initiatives, among others.

 

 

 

 

 

A highlight of the whole exercise was the mutual sharing of experiences and lessons by both the basin stakeholders and the regional peer advisers that resulted to the successful preparation of the investment roadmaps in the four river basins.

 

 

＊2　Source:  ADB. CRBOM. Guideline for IWRM-based Investment Roadmaps. January 2012

 

 

4. Roadmaps for investments in four river basins

 

The following paragraphs briefly describe the river basin and summary of the investment roadmaps.

 

(i) 4Ps river basin

 

The 4Ps river basin is located in the northeastern part of Cambodia; and situated to the east of the Tonle Sap and the Mekong River. It is formed by the drainage basins of four preks (small rivers) that discharge into the Mekong River: Prek Preah, Prek Krieng, Prek Kampi and Prek Te. It covers the provinces of Kratie and Mondulkiri, with an area of around 12,470 km2 and an estimated population of only 163,000 as of 2010. The basin is among the least developed in Cambodia. Water-related infrastructure is limited, and the few existing ones were built during the Pol Pot regime. The poverty rate is among the highest in the country; and most of the population are subsistence farmers. The socio-economic conditions change with distance from the Mekong River. Near the Mekong, the population density is higher, and the economy is better developed and more diversified as compared with the inland parts of the river basin.

 

The 4Ps river basin investment roadmap＊3 was prepared by Cambodia National Mekong Committee in collaboration with the provinces of Kratie and Mondulkiri.

 

Vision
The vision for the 4Ps river basin is: ‘A healthy river basin with integrated sustainable development plans implemented jointly by the people and the government primarily for the benefit of the 4Ps people.’

 

Goals
The goals to achieve this vision are: (i) improved water security, (ii) economic development, livelihoods and social welfare, and (iii) a healthy river basin.

 

Development Initiatives
Some development initiatives to achieve these goals are: (i) water supplies and services, (ii) integrated agricultural development, and (iii) environment protection and management.

 

(ii) VGTB river basin

 

The VGTB river basin is located at the central part of Viet Nam.  It is formed by two main rivers: The Vu Gia and the Thu Bon. It covers parts of Danang City,  Quang Nam Province, and Kon Tum municipality with an area of around 10,350 km2 (the 9th largest in Viet Nam) and an estimated population of 1,900,000 as of 2011. Compared to 4Ps, it has a smaller area but has a larger population. Similar to many other river basins in Asia, it is also beset by problems in water resources management, including: floods and drought, deforestation, groundwater depletion, salinity intrusion, and biodiversity degradation. It is home to the historic old town of Hoi-An -- which is a prime tourist destination and a UNESCO World Heritage Site as an example of a well-preserved trading port since the 15th century.

 

The VGTB river basin investment roadmap＊4 was prepared by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, in collaboration with Danang City and Quang Nam Province.

 

Vision
The vision for the VGTB river basin is: ‘A healthy river basin, prospering from its rich resources, with access to water for those who need it for households, livelihoods and production, and protection against floods and drought.’

 

Goals
The goals to achieve this vision are: (i) basin-level management arrangements, (ii) water security, and (iii) a healthy river basin.

 

Development Initiatives
Some development initiatives to achieve these goals are: (i) creation of a Vu Gia-Thu Bon RBO, (ii) flood and drought management, and (iii) water quality,  aquatic habitats, and wastewater management.