The Integrated Water Resources Management and Ecosystem-based Adaptation (IWRM–EbA) Project, implemented in the Xe Bang Hieng River Basin and Luang Prabang City, is a collaborative initiative led by the Department of Water Resources under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in partnership with UNDP Lao PDR. The project aims to improve the climate resilience of local communities by promoting sustainable management of water, forest, and land resources, while enhancing the adaptive capacity of communities to floods, droughts, and other climate-related hazards. Over the course of its implementation, the project has introduced innovative digital tools, including a centralized database and an online portal, to collect, store, and manage data related to water resources, ecosystem interventions, and climate risk assessments. These tools support decision-making at both provincial and district levels, facilitate reporting, and allow monitoring of project activities. The project has also strengthened financial management capacities at district offices to ensure transparency, accountability, and compliance with national regulations.

The training conducted in Savannakhet aimed to equip provincial and district personnel with the skills necessary to operate, maintain, and troubleshoot the project’s database and portal, ensuring accurate data management and reporting. At the same time, district-level staff received practical training in financial management, covering budgeting, record-keeping, reporting, and compliance with national rules and regulations. The integration of technical and financial training emphasized the connection between accurate data management and effective financial accountability, fostering local ownership and sustainability of project interventions beyond the scheduled project closure in November 2026. During the five-day training, participants engaged in hands-on exercises to learn data entry, validation, report generation, and basic system maintenance for the project database and portal. They also practiced applying financial procedures in their daily operations, ensuring that project resources are managed transparently and in compliance with national financial regulations. The training provided an opportunity for district personnel to understand how technical data management and financial accountability are interlinked and how they together contribute to the success of climate adaptation interventions.

By the conclusion of the training, provincial and district personnel were equipped to manage project databases, portals, and financial operations independently. Participants gained the ability to maintain accurate data records, apply financial rules effectively, and guide colleagues in sustaining project practices. Manuals and guidelines distributed during the training support continued operations and ensure adherence to financial procedures. Ultimately, the activity strengthened the capacity of district offices to manage climate adaptation interventions, ensuring the long-term sustainability and institutionalization of project tools and practices.

The training represents a critical step toward institutionalizing climate adaptation practices at the local level in Lao PDR. By equipping local personnel with both technical and financial skills, the IWRM–EbA Project ensures that district offices can independently manage water and ecosystem resources, sustain climate resilience initiatives, and continue delivering benefits to local communities in the face of climate risks.