Research for Change Kim Geheb, Regional Coordinator CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems Greater Mekong Program

To improve the governance and management of water resources and associated land and ecosystems in the Greater Mekong Region by generating and sharing the knowledge and practice needed to do so. What we’re aiming for: goal

What we’re aiming for: outcomes Water Governance: Negotiations and decisions about water-related policies, institutions and practices are more inclusive, informed and accountable. River Health: River management decisions will be informed and strengthened by regionally-appropriate, equitable, river health frameworks, data collection and monitoring systems. River Food Systems: Decisions on locating, designing and operating water infrastructure are improved with evidence of the impacts and opportunities they create for river food systems, both now and in the future. Healthy Landscapes & Ecosystems: Large-scale land use management decisions and investments will employ landscape planning and management methods that take into account riverine ecosystem services with a focus on river health, water supply, aquatic ecosystems and impacts on local livelihoods and development. Capacity building & Professional Development: Organizations and individuals have knowledge and skills to more constructively engage in water-related governance, management, monitoring and research.

Gender Understanding how infrastructural development is experienced by men and women differently, and to help developers ensure their projects minimise harm, and potentially, how they can play a positive role in addressing gender inequality “

How is water governed in the four basins (actors, influence, formal and informal institutions, current results, and political-economy perspectives)? What does ‘river health’ mean in the Greater Mekong, and what are its indicators? In what ways will the development of the Greater Mekong’s water resources affect the ways in which food is produced, distributed and consumed amongst men, women and children? How do large-scale landscape interventions impact access to water for women and other indigenous groups? Sample research questions

Projects 7 Projects 3 Projects 2 Projects Water Governance: 3 River Health: 4 River Food Systems: 1 Healthy Landscapes & Ecosystems: 3 Capacity building & Professional Development: 4 77 Partners

Capacity Building and Professional Development I1 I2 I3 I4 Baseline + Indicators Water Gover- nance Healthy Rivers River Food Systems Healthy land- scapes & eco- systems O1 O2 O3 O4 Outcomes Cluster 5 Coordination & Change Communications Networking & Partnerships Direction Opportunity-seeking/seizing Fora Deliberation Reflection Intelligence gathering Adaptive management Knowledge brokering

Areas of value (1) Research for development Research which addresses discrete developmental challenges, and which are supported by programmatic strategies to deliver its outputs into change.

Areas of value (2) Partnerships & Networks By partnering with developing country agencies, we reduce overall research costs, reduce overheads, and increase the likelihood of impact.

Areas of value(3) Partnerships & Networks By partnering with developing country agencies, we improve our partnership profiles, and therefore increase the likelihood of future funding.

Funding OpportunityChallenge DFAT post 2018DFAT annoyance at WLE’s truncation and budget cuts. SIDARegional strategy keeps changing. NORADUnclear and exclusively Myanmar. SDCRegional water investments MRC-exclusive. NetherlandsVery Myanmar exclusive and biased in favour of Dutch agencies. DFIDMyanmar exclusive.

Programme integration Integration The degree to which projects contribute to programmatic outcomes

Working with Flagships Transboundary Water Management: Cooperation Triggers and Performance Benchmarks (IWMI). Four Basin Gender Profiles (IWMI). Optimizing water resource development for poverty alleviation: combining Green (natural) and Grey (built) infrastructure (IWMI). Harmonizing the water–energy–environment nexus though trade-off analysis and mitigation strategies for fisheries and aquatic resources (WorldFish). Informing the design of fish passes in the Mekong (WorldFish). Creating wetlands to improve reservoir fisheries (IWMI). A generic ABM framework for complex ecosystem service analyses in WLE focal regions (IFPRI). The irrigation-hydropower nexus in the Ganges headwaters.

Working with other initiatives  Mekong Partnership for the Environment (PACT/USAID).  Lower Mekong Public Policy Initiative (Fulbright School/USAID).  Mekong Inclusion Project (Oxfam/DFAT).

Brightspots  Increasing engagement with China.  The Forum.  Continuous engagement with stakeholders.  Funding opportunities.  Regional endorsements.  Continued promotion of CPWF product.

Hot spots  CGIAR fund reductions.  Roll over restrictions.  Staggered project timelines.

Thank you for listening