About the project
The Integrated Water Resource Management and Ecosystem-based Adaptation in the Xe Bang Hieng River Basin and Luang Prabang City project (in short, the IWRM-EbA project) aims to support the government of Lao PDR to promote the integrated management of land and water resources at target sites in the Xe Bang Hieng River Basin and Luang Prabang City. The project aims to increase the climate resilience of communities to the impacts of floods and droughts — both of which are projected to become more intense and frequent under future climate change scenarios.
The project aims to strengthen the climate resilience of communities in two particularly vulnerable areas of Lao PDR – namely Savannakhet Province and Luang Prabang city – particularly focusing on the impacts of floods and droughts. This improved resilience will be achieved through three complementary project components, specifically: (1) Developing national and provincial capacities for Integrated Catchment Management (ICM) and integrated urban Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) for climate risk reduction; (2) Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) interventions, with supporting protective infrastructure and livelihood enhancement; and (3) Knowledge management and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E).
The project is funded by GEF with a co-financing from UNDP. The GEF Implementing Agency is UNDP and the lead Executing Agency is the Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE).
The organizational structure for the Integrated Water Resource Management and Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) project in Lao PDR involves multiple stakeholders and entities working collaboratively to achieve project goals. The primary implementing partner is the Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), which serves as the GEF Executing Entity. The project operates under a National Implementation Modality (NIM), ensuring alignment with national policies and frameworks.Key components of the organizational structure include:
- National Project Director: Responsible for overall project oversight and coordination.
- Project Management Unit (PMU): This unit manages day-to-day operations, including planning, execution, and monitoring of project activities.
- Technical Teams: Comprising experts from various fields such as hydrology, ecology, and community development, these teams provide specialized knowledge to support project implementation.
- Stakeholder Engagement Groups: These groups include local communities, government agencies, NGOs, and other stakeholders to ensure inclusive participation and input throughout the project lifecycle.
The structure emphasizes collaboration across different levels of government and civil society to enhance climate resilience in vulnerable communities affected by floods and droughts in the Xe Bang Hieng River Basin and Luang Prabang city.
The project’s mission is to build resilience against climate change-induced risks by promoting sustainable Integrated Catchment Management (ICM) and urban Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA). By adopting a holistic and inclusive approach, the project aims to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events, enhance the adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities, and protect critical ecosystems.
Our Team
The team for the Integrated Water Resource Management and Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) project consists of a diverse group of professionals responsible for various aspects of project implementation and management.
