The impacts of climate change in the Xe Bang Hieng River Basin and urban centers like Luang Prabang city present significant challenges to communities, ecosystems, and infrastructure. Seasonal flooding in the Xe Bang Hieng River Basin destroys agricultural lands, displaces families, and damages critical infrastructure, while prolonged droughts threaten water availability, ecosystems, and food security. In Luang Prabang city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, urban flooding risks damaging essential infrastructure, disrupting tourism, and endangering cultural heritage. These challenges are exacerbated by deforestation and rapid urbanization, which increase vulnerabilities and undermine resilience.

To address these issues, UNDP, in partnership with the Government of Lao PDR and supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is implementing the Integrated Water Resource Management and Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (IWRM-EbA) program. This initiative aims to build resilience to climate-induced hazards through a combination of ecosystem restoration, community-based adaptation strategies, and improved water resource management. By rehabilitating forests and wetlands, the program seeks to create natural buffers against floods and droughts while promoting sustainable land use practices to combat deforestation and soil degradation. Simultaneously, it supports local communities in adopting climate-smart agriculture, developing resilient infrastructure, and implementing disaster risk reduction plans tailored to local needs.

The program also focuses on improving water governance and upgrading water storage, irrigation systems, and flood control infrastructure to better manage the impacts of extreme weather events. In Luang Prabang, targeted efforts include enhancing urban drainage systems and implementing flood prevention measures to protect critical infrastructure and safeguard cultural heritage. These integrated actions are designed to empower rural and urban populations, restore vital ecosystems, enhance water management practices, and preserve the unique cultural value of Luang Prabang.

Through collaborative efforts involving government agencies, local communities, and international partners, the IWRM-EbA program adopts a sustainable and inclusive approach to tackling climate change. By addressing the root causes of vulnerability and leveraging nature-based solutions, the initiative aims to build long-term resilience for communities and ecosystems in the Xe Bang Hieng River Basin and Luang Prabang city, contributing to the broader goals of climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable development in Lao PDR.