News and Events

1^st Southeast Asia Water Forum
Strengthening Regional Capacity Through Best Practices in Integrated Water Resources Management

17-21 November 2003
Chiang Mai, Thailand

Post Workshop Statement

Background

The Global Water Partnership Southeast Asia Technical Advisory Committee, in collaboration with various development agencies, organized the 1^st Southeast Asia (SEA) Water Forum. Taking off from the discussions and lessons generated during global fora such as the 3^rd World Water Forum and the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the SEA Forum brought the discussions and problem solving down to the regional level.

The Forum adopted the theme "strengthening regional capacity through best practices in integrated water resources management (IWRM)." This recognized the value of IWRM approaches in addressing water management issues at various levels, and the need for sharing IWRM insights and skills among key regional actors.

ADB's participation in the Forum falls under the Regional Events and Initiatives category of its Cooperation Fund for the Water Sector.

ADB's Role

ADB served as convener for one of the six sessions of the Forum-- Water and Sanitation Services for Health. This session was designed to

• Increase the awareness of water and sanitation issues within the context of IWRM
• Provide decision-makers with some concrete proposals for future actions, specifically those involving stakeholder participation

At the end of the session, the participants formulated a set of recommendations that were considered by policy makers at the Ministerial Meeting on 21 November 2003.

• Highlights of ADB's session on Water and Sanitation Services for Health

The discussion focused on the key issues in bringing sustainable, clean water and sanitation services to Asia's poor. Among the practical recommendations made by the participants at the end of the session are

• Increase tariffs on the better-off to help service expansion for the poor
• Vary management approaches of utility companies to suit different situations; forget the "one size fits all" approach
• Establish more awareness and education programs

Read the news release [ PDF ].

• Highlights of the Chiang Mai Ministerial Declaration on Managing Water Resources in Southeast Asia

The ministers and policy makers who participated in the Ministerial Meeting on 21 November 2003 committed themselves to strengthening and enhancing regional cooperation on water resources management. Among the guidelines they adopted are

• Implement IWRM using the river basin approach
• Encourage legal frameworks/guidelines for water allocation
• Enhance efficiency, equity and productivity of water uses

Read the Ministerial Declaration.

• Highlights of the 1st Southeast Asia Water Forum: Forum Declaration

The forum recognized the strength of the ASEAN framework as a driver for development in the region. As such, participants to the forum recommended that ASEAN representatives undertake the following:

• Ensure participation of all stakeholders
• Develop and strengthen legal and policy frameworks that promote regional collaboration
• Apply economic, social and cultural valuation and implement appropriate financial incentives
• Build and strengthen capacity

Read the Forum Declaration

• Launching of the Network of Asian River Basin Organizations (NARBO)

The NARBO, initiated at the 3rd World Water Forum in March 2003, was formally launched during the 1st Southeast Asia Forum. The network will focus on exchanging information and experience among river basin organizations (RBOs) in Asia, and strengthening RBOs' capacity and effectiveness in promoting IWRM and improving water governance.

Read the news release [ PDF ].

News Releases & Related Documents

• Asian River Basin Network Launched at Chiang Mai Water Forum [ PDF ] (November 2003)
• ADB Encourages Sharing of Best Practices in Bringing Sustainable, Clean Water and Sanitation Services to Asia's Poor [ PDF ] (November 2003)
• First Southeast Asia Water Forum: Forum Declaration (November 2003)
• Ministerial Declaration on Managing Water Resources in Southeast Asia (November 2003)

Links

For more information on the SEA Forum, visit http://www.gwpseatac.org/.

Contact

Graham Jackson
Senior Project Engineer
Asian Development Bank
Tel No: +632 6325939
E-Mail: gjackson@adb.org