Water

Pilot and Demonstration Activities
Pilot-test the Preparatory Process of Developing a New Subproject Management Model

The proposed pilot and demonstration activity (PDA) will help prepare a project component for the Loan (New): Central Region Water Resources Project (CRWRP), which is currently under processing. The activities of the PDA are based on the latest policy initiatives of the Government. Therefore, the same could not be included under the PPTA (TA 4001-VIE) of this project.

In December 2004, the Minister of MARD presented a new plan for irrigation management titled "Innovating and raising efficiency of irrigation works management." The Plan identifies four focus areas:

• completion of infrastructure and modernization of technology
• a shift to a more service-oriented and participatory management
• mechanisms for financing that reduce subsidy levels, and
• effective protection of infrastructure from encroachment

An integral part of this plan is the recently launched strategic framework for Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM). This framework was developed and finalized with the support of ADB, DANIDA, International Network for Participatory Irrigation Management and the World Bank in 2004.¹

One of the elements of this framework is a circular that MARD issued on the 20 December 2004, along with guidelines, for Water User Organization development and their role in subproject operation and management (O&M). MARD based this initiative on its work in Nghe An and Thanh Hoa Provinces, under the TA 1960-VIE (1995-97).

MARD's plan suggests that local governments (the provinces) should consider other types of organization than the hitherto standard model of a State-owned Irrigation Management Company (IMC) to be the custodian of the major scheme assets and be responsible for the assets' O&M and economic performance. MARD is keen to develop models for beneficiary involvement in O&M of irrigation infrastructure and equitization (privatization) of IMCs. Provincial authorities will look to MARD for guidance in this respect.

Anticipating this demand, MARD's plan envisages development and pilot-testing of five new management models, one in each of the following regions:

• Northern Mountains
• Red River Delta
• Central Coast
• Central Highlands
• Mekong Delta

Selection of pilot provinces/schemes and model development should be ready by 2005 and would be followed by three years of pilot testing.

CRWRP design was completed in October 2004, and preceded the above key development in the sector. Ensuring sustainable O&M of the newly developed infrastructure improvements is one of the key project objectives. Component A2 of CRWRP-Sustainable System Management-will provide support to the region's local governments in reviewing existing scheme management arrangements and deciding and introducing adjustments, where required. IMC performance objectives, development of performance indicators for service delivery and preparation of a supporting resource-based management plan will be focus points. The design of the component envisages a trial of new irrigation O&M model in one of the region's 6 project provinces, Quang Tri.

In view of MARD's recently issued plan for improved irrigation O&M, it is now possible to further elaborate the component design and at the same time remove the originally identified risk that the Government would not timely provide the institutional support to make piloting of a new model possible.

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The PDA aims to firm up and elaborate the design of CRWRP, particularly of Component A2, in order to accommodate the trial of a new subproject O&M model in all 6 project provinces, along the lines suggested by MARD in its plan for a national irrigation management overhaul.

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This PDA was completed on 11 April 2005.

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• Proposal (February 2005) [PDF]
• Country Water Action: Water for the Poor Partnership in Viet Nam (September 2004)

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