1. Roles and Functions of Basin & sub-basin organizations
IWRM for River Basin Organisations

2. WRM functions Learning objectives
Learn the main basic functions for water resources management on the river basin scale
Discuss institutional arrangements and introduce a process-thinking to conduct the water resources management functions

3. WRM functions River basin management
The boundaries for a river basin, the catchment divides set by topography, provide a natural unit for water resources management.

4. WRM functions Basic functions for water resources management
IWRM on the river basin scale should be focussed on a set of basic water resources management functions.

5. WRM functions WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT Water Allocation
Pollution Control
Stakeholder participation
WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
Basin Planning
Monitoring
Information Management
Flood & Drought Management
Economical Management

6. In the MRC Context International River Basin Organization
Sub-basin (Sub area) Organization
National Organization
National River Basin Organization

7. Int’l River Basin Organizations
There are now over 260 international river basins.
Together they cover 45 percent of the earth’s land surface
Carry 80 percent of its fresh water.
They include parts of 145 nations, 21 of which lie entirely within a shared basin.

8. Birth of Mekong Cooperation
1957 Mekong Committee
1978 Interim Mekong Committee
1995 Mekong River Commission

9. Mekong Committee 1957
Committee for Coordination and Investigation of Mekong River
Goal: "formulation, investigation, coordination, supervision and control of water resources development plans for the LMB"

10. Interim Mekong Committee 1977
Joint Declaration of Principles for Utilization of the Waters of the LMB
Legal framework for cooperation
1975: Cambodia withdrew from Mekong Committee
Thailand, Lao PDR and Viet Nam formed Interim Mekong Committee

11. Mekong River Commission
1991 Cambodia asked to rejoin
1992 – search for new agreement framework
Rise of ASEAN as regional framework
Increased economic development of region
China launched construction of Manwan Dam
April signing of Mekong Agreement established Mekong River Commission
international organization (4 countries)
reports to Council of Ministers
Joint Committee and National Mekong Committees

12. MRC Organisational Structure
Government of Cambodia
Government of Laos
Government of Thailand
Government of Vietnam
COUNCIL (Members at Ministerial and Cabinet Level)
DONOR CONSUL-TATIVE GROUP (Donor countries and cooperating institutions)
NATIONAL MEKONG COMMITTEES (NMC) (Member Agencies)
JOINT COMMITTEE (Members at level of Head of Department or higher)
Mekong River Com-mission Secretariat
National Mekong Committee Secretariats

13. ROLES OF RIVER BASIN ORGANIZATIONS
Provision of common arena for member states to regularly meet and discuss issues related to their shared water resources.
Promoting information sharing among various countries and agencies
Developing a co-ordinated water resource development and management scheme

14. Securing assistance from donor countries and development aid agencies
ROLES OF RBOs CONT.
Securing assistance from donor countries and development aid agencies
Resolution of conflicts among member states
Sharing of costs and benefits in water resources development/management

15. Summary of key roles
Monitoring, investigating and co-ordinating and regulating,
Planning and management, and
Developing and regulating.

16. LMB Basin Development Plan – 10 Subareas

17. WRM functions at National Level
Institutional arrangements
Ministry of Water
Other ministries
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
River basin organisation
Other regional authorities
DECENTRALISED ORGANISATION
FUNCTIONS
Water resources management functions
Environmental, land and infrastructure management functions
OUTPUT
Status of water resources

19. WRM functions Institutional arrangements The RBO shall
act as a regulatory body for the functions they have been given responsibility for
act as a strong stakeholder for the other functions

20. WRM functions Lessons learnt Lack of clear role for the RBOs
Lack of autonomy for the RBOs
Lack of recognition of the RBO among stakeholders
Lack of human and financial resources of the RBOs
Lack of adaptive management in the RBOs
Lack of cross-sectoral coordination

21. WRM functions Lessons learnt
The development of an institutional arrangement for conducting all water resources management functions is a long and on-going process.

22. WRM functions Conclusions
Focus on water resources management functions
Different actors may have the responsibility for performing the WRM functions
The RBO must work as a regulatory body for functions it has been given responsibility for, but also act as an active stakeholder to promote actions in the areas outside of its jurisdiction