Water

1. River basin organization

Build capacity in new or existing RBO, focusing on the four dimensions of performance (stakeholders, internal business processes, learning and growth, and finance) under the Network of Asian River Basin Organization’s (NARBO) benchmarking service

2. Stakeholder participation

Institutionalize stakeholder participation in the river basin planning and management process including active participation of local governments, civil society organizations (academe, NGOs, parliamentarians, media), and the private sector, and an enabling framework for meaningful stakeholder participation in project specific planning decisions

3. River basin planning

Prepare or update a comprehensive river basin plan or strategy, with participation and ownership of basin stakeholders, and application of IWRM principles in land use planning processes

4. Public awareness

Introduce or expand public awareness programs for IWRM in collaboration with civil society organizations and the media

5. Water allocation

Reduce water allocation conflicts among uses and geographical areas in the basin with participatory and negotiated approaches, incorporating indigenous knowledge and practices

6. Water rights

Introduce effective water rights or entitlements administration that respects traditional or customary water use rights of local communities and farmers and farmer organizations

7. Wastewater permits

Introduce or improve wastewater discharge permits and effluent charges to implement the polluter pays principle

8. IWRM financing

Institutionalize models whereby all levels of government contribute budget to IWRM in the basin

9. Economic instruments

Introduce raw water pricing and/or other economic instruments to share in IWRM costs, stimulate water demand management and conservation, protect the environment and pay for environmental services

10. Regulations

Support the development and implementation of a legal and regulatory framework to implement the principles of IWRM and its financing in the basin, including tariffs, charges, quality standards and delivery mechanisms for water services

11. Infrastructure for multiple benefits

Develop and/or manage water resources infrastructure to provide multiple benefits (such as hydropower, water supply, irrigation, flood management, salinity intrusion, and ecosystems maintenance)

12. Private sector contribution

Introduce or increase private sector participation in IWRM through corporate social responsibility (CSR)-type contributions

13. Water education

Introduce IWRM into school programs to increase water knowledge and develop leadership among the youth, including responsibility for water monitoring in local water bodies

14. Watershed management

Invest to protect and rehabilitate upper watersheds in collaboration with local communities and civil society organizations

15. Environmental flows

Introduce a policy and implementation framework for introducing environmental flows and demonstrate its application

16. Disaster management

Investments in combined structural and nonstructural interventions to reduce vulnerability against floods, droughts, chemical spills and other disasters in the basin

17. Flood forecasting

Introduce or strengthen effective flood forecasting and warning systems

18. Flood damage rehabilitation

Investments in the rehabilitation of infrastructure after floods

19. Water quality monitoring

Initiate or strengthen basin-wide water quality monitoring and application of standards

20. Water quality improvement

Invest in structural and nonstructural interventions that reduce point and non-point water pollution

21. Wetland conservation

Invest to conserve and improve wetlands as integral part of the river basin ecosystems

22. Fisheries

Introduce measures to protect and improve fisheries in the river

23. Groundwater management

Institutionalize and strengthen sustainable groundwater management as part of IWRM

24. Water conservation

Institutionalize a policy and implementation framework to promote efficiency of water use, conservation, and recycling

25. Decision support information

Improve on-line publicly available river basin information systems to support IWRM policy, planning, and decision-making, including dissemination of “tool boxes” and good practices