Capacity Development Programme (CDP) on Cooperation Management for climate-sensitive Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) and EbA

Thailand’s Water Resources Act that came into effect in 2019 enhanced the roles of the River Basin Committees (RBCs) in Thailand’s 22 river basins. The RBCs – consisting of representatives from different agencies and sectors, water user organizations representing civil society and the private sector – are now the key actors in the multi-stakeholder development of the River Basin Master Plans (RBMPs).

 

Subsequently, ONWR and GIZ developed a comprehensive Capacity Development Programme (CDP) aiming to strengthen the technical and institutional capacity of the RBCs to develop “climate-sensitive River Basin Master Plans”, that include adaptation to climate change and EbA as guiding principles.

 

The CDP focuses on two main aspects: capacity building on (1) Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessments and integrating the EbA planning cycle in the RBMP development and (2) “Management and Planning Process Facilitation” which aims to strengthen the management and communication know-how and skills for key stakeholders in the RBMP process based on a participatory approach.

 

To maintain and extend this know-how, the CDP also supports the development of a trainer/facilitator pool and Training-of-Trainer activities that strengthen key skill sets in the RBMP development.

  • Support from the National Water Resources Committee (NWRC) encouraging water-related agencies to ensure participation in the CDP.
     
  • Building on previous international cooperation that took first steps to introduce EbA, government officials and local stakeholders voiced interest to attain further information and know-how.
     
  • Calls to complement large infrastructure water management with nature-based and small-scale solutions as well as increasingly manifesting impacts of climate change led the national water agency to consider new solutions more actively.

It is expected that after the complete implementation of this solution, the overall technical knowledge and skills as well as enhanced processes for EbA selection, design and implementation will have been strengthened for relevant personnel and organizations. This will significantly help equip the RBCs, the key planning body in multi-stakeholder river basin processes, with required knowledges and skills to develop climates-sensitive RBMP which will lead to enhanced sustainable management of water in Thailand.