The Integrated Water Resource Management and Ecosystem-based Adaptation (IWRM-EbA) project addresses the escalating vulnerabilities posed by climate change in Lao PDR, focusing on two critical areas: the Xe Bang Hieng River Basin in Savannakhet Province and Luang Prabang City. These regions face increasing risks from floods and droughts, which are compounded by anthropogenic factors such as deforestation, ecosystem degradation, and rapid urbanization. The adverse effects of these issues include damage to infrastructure, reduced agricultural productivity, loss of livelihoods, and increased food and water insecurity.
The Xe Bang Hieng River Basin has supported extensive agricultural and forestry activities, which contribute significantly to the local economy. However, unsustainable practices have led to severe ecosystem degradation, reducing the basin's natural capacity to mitigate climate hazards. Similarly, Luang Prabang City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, faces threats from flash floods and landslides, jeopardizing its cultural heritage, tourism-driven economy, and urban infrastructure. Recognizing these challenges, the project emphasizes integrated, ecosystem-based solutions to enhance climate resilience for communities and ecosystems.
The project focuses on achieving three overarching objectives:
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Capacity Building: Strengthen institutional and technical capacities at national and provincial levels to implement Integrated Catchment Management (ICM) and urban Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA). This includes developing policies, frameworks, and strategies to address climate risks systematically.
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Implementation of Adaptation Measures: Deploy ecosystem-based interventions supported by protective infrastructure to mitigate flood and drought risks. This involves restoring degraded ecosystems, enhancing water management, and diversifying community livelihoods.
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Knowledge Management and Monitoring: Establish robust systems for knowledge sharing, capacity building, and Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) to facilitate adaptive learning and replication of successful practices.
How We Work
To effectively work on the Integrated Water Resource Management and Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) project, a structured approach is essential. The project execution begins with an inception workshop to be held within 60 days of GEF CEO endorsement, aimed at aligning stakeholders and finalizing plans. Following this, capacity building activities will be implemented, which include training sessions designed for local authorities and communities to enhance their understanding of Integrated Catchment Management (ICM) and EbA practices. The next step involves ecosystem interventions, where infrastructure projects that support EbA—such as reforestation and wetland restoration—will be developed. A crucial aspect of the project is the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) process, which will regularly assess progress through established protocols to ensure that objectives are met. Additionally, stakeholder engagement is vital; engaging local communities, government agencies, NGOs, and other stakeholders will be prioritized to ensure inclusive participation in project activities. This comprehensive approach aims to promote sustainable management of natural resources while enhancing community resilience against climate impacts in Lao PDR.
1. ກອງປະຊຸມສຳມະນາການເລີ່ມຕົ້ນ ແລະ ການສ້າງຂີດຄວາມສາມາດ: ຈັດຕັ້ງກອງປະຊຸມເລີ່ມຕົ້ນພາຍໃນ 60 ວັນຂອງການຮັບຮອງຈາກ CEO GEF ເພື່ອຈັດວາງບັນດາຜູ້ມີສ່ວນຮ່ວມໃຫ້ສຳເລັດຕາມແຜນການ. ຕິດຕາມກອງປະຊຸມຝຶກອົບຮົມສໍາລັບອໍານາດການປົກຄອງທ້ອງຖິ່ນແລະຊຸມຊົນກ່ຽວກັບການຄຸ້ມຄອງຊາຍຝັ່ງແບບປະສົມປະສານ (ICM) ແລະການປະຕິບັດການປັບຕົວໂດຍອີງໃສ່ລະບົບນິເວດ (EbA).
2. ການແຊກແຊງ ແລະ ການຕິດຕາມລະບົບນິເວດ: ພັດທະນາໂຄງການພື້ນຖານໂຄງລ່າງທີ່ຮອງຮັບ EbA ເຊັ່ນ: ການຟື້ນຟູປ່າ ແລະ ການຟື້ນຟູດິນທາມ. ປະເມີນຄວາມຄືບໜ້າຂອງໂຄງການຢ່າງເປັນປົກກະຕິໂດຍຜ່ານພິທີການ M&E ທີ່ໄດ້ສ້າງຕັ້ງຂຶ້ນເພື່ອຮັບປະກັນໃຫ້ບັນລຸເປົ້າໝາຍ.
3. ການມີສ່ວນຮ່ວມຂອງຜູ້ທີ່ມີສ່ວນກ່ຽວຂ້ອງ: ມີສ່ວນຮ່ວມກັບຊຸມຊົນທ້ອງຖິ່ນ, ອົງການລັດຖະບານ, ອົງການ NGO, ແລະ ພາກສ່ວນກ່ຽວຂ້ອງອື່ນໆເພື່ອຮັບປະກັນການຈັດຕັ້ງປະຕິບັດໂຄງການໃຫ້ປະສົບຜົນສໍາເລັດ. ແຜນການມີສ່ວນຮ່ວມຂອງຜູ້ມີສ່ວນກ່ຽວຂ້ອງຄວນເປັນທິດທາງໃນຂະບວນການເພື່ອເຊື່ອມໂຍງເຂົ້າໃນທຸກໆກິດຈະກໍາຂອງໂຄງການ.