Regional: Greater Mekong Subregion Flood and Drought Risk Management and Mitigation Project (CAM)

Agriculture, natural resources and rural development / Irrigation - Rural flood protection

The Mekong River is a major influence on the lives of the people in Cambodia. Annual floods are a source of livelihood and sustenance, but extreme flood events and droughts cause widespread hardship. The costs to the countries of the Lower Mekong basin (LMB), in terms of loss of life and damage to infrastructure by floods and economic losses from both flood and drought events are significant. In Cambodia, between 1987 and 2007, 15 flood events resulted in over 1,150 deaths, disrupted the lives of over nine million persons, and when combined with losses from five drought events, caused over $465 million in damage to structures and crops. Although the annual average losses are relatively low, floods and drought events cause episodic losses as illustrated by Typhoon Ketsana in September 2009 which resulted in $132 million losses in Cambodia. Flood damage and associated losses were estimated to range from 0.30 to 0.45% of gross domestic product in 2009 in the lower Mekong basin countries.

There is a growing need for improved community preparedness to manage increasingly frequent and severe climatic extremes. Climate change is predicted to increase the frequency of extreme flood events. While drought events do not result directly in deaths or structural damage, the disruption to lives and livelihoods, and the economic loss of agricultural production is substantial and limits the ability of rural communities to avoid poverty. These weather extremes illustrate the growing need for improving community preparedness to manage increasingly frequent disaster risks. Updating of infrastructure design standards will contribute to reducing the risks in Cambodia.

While many of the nonstructural problems of data, warning systems and coordination of agencies are generic to LMB countries, problems related to physical structures, including canals, drains, control structures, are site specific. Flood and drought risk management as well as building communities' resilience are identified as priorities in the national strategic development plans, sector strategies and national climate change adaptation plans.

The proposed investment is one of the flagship programs of the 2002 Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Economic Cooperation Program Strategic Framework. Country agriculture and natural resources (ANR) sector assessments have confirmed drought and flood (extreme weather) events as key constraints to economies of the project countries and as contributing factors to persistent poverty in areas affected. Consequently, the proposed Project has two foci: (i) subregional activities to strengthen regional cooperation and integration (RCI) with regard to water resources management in general and flood/drought management in particular, and (ii) in country investments which combine structural and non-structural investments. Together, these will address the key subsector constraint of insufficient disaster preparedness of countries and communities to manage and mitigate the potential impacts of climate extremes.

Enhanced regional data, information, and knowledge base for the management of flood and drought

Upgraded water management infrastructure

Enhanced capacity for community-based disaster risk management

Effective project implementation

Risk profile (One of the two parts of the plan) of 50 target villages have been prepared. 50 Village Safer Plans were

prepared.

CBDRM Training Manual

Prepared, 10 Master Trainers, 3 CPMU Staffs, and 1 PIU staffs were trained. On

CBDRM, 50 villages were trained by Master Trainers on CBDRM, 385 out of 736 (53%)

community participants are women.

Training Need Assessment

workshop on 26 May 2016-13 female (19% out of 69) participated.

Training of Trainer, 4 out of 14 participants are female.

CBDRM Training for Communities, 385 (52%) of 750 community participants are female.

During Step 1 Information on

FWUC formation was disseminated in 5 communes, 50 villages, 2,159 (46% out of

4701 participants) were female.

Training to FWUC will be provided in Q1/Q2 2018 after the election of FWUC is completed.

Modelling Team has developed hydrologic and hydrodynamic schemes and the hydrological models for the mainstream Mekong and Pursat basin have been completed and tested. Additional cross-sectional survey information was used to refine the Pursat Hydraulic model, and field trips have been conducted to verify structural features on the landscape to refine the mainstream Mekong hydraulic model. The regression model for the mainstream Mekong has been updated. Training on the use of the regression, HEC-HMS, and HEC-RAS models have been completed. The requirements definition for the integration of the models in to a seamless modelling framework has been completed.

A discussion report on Flood Protection and Drought Mitigation Measures was prepared. As well, work on assessing flood and drought hazards for various flood and drought frequencies based on rainfall has progressed. Design guidelines for flood and drought structural control measures were prepared and circulated for review.

Contact with the GMS FDRMMP Viet Nam was initiated in Q2 2017. Viet Nam has responded that their project is delayed. Hence, they have suggested that discussion on a strategy with respect to further collaboration is not feasible at this time. CPMU is considering next steps as the deliverable requires government to government discussions.

Training has been provided to DHRW, CPMU, and DOM on setup and use of the regression, hydrological, and hydrodynamic models and improved weather forecasting using global and regional modelled and satellite products. Training has been provided to DOM and DHRW on the use of radar products. Under the contract extension covering 2018 hands-on support will be provided.

The O&M plans are being prepared.

The 30% of work days for women will be ensured in the civil works contracts and during implementation.

The Mission and Government agree that the Project can be completed, with a pro-active and efficient approach, within the project closing date (despite a delay of 1.5 years due to declaration of effectiveness).

Consultation and participatory design of interventions and processes will commence starting from the preparation and implementation of land acquisition and resettlement plans towards the technical design and implementation of subprojects, in collaboration with displaced persons and stakeholders. Consultation will also be conducted during the process of updating the resettlement planning documents and participatory monitoring tools will be used throughout the project period.

Community based disaster risk management actions will be supported in parallel to each infrastrucuture investment to ensure maximum ownership and understanding of the investments in each community. Careful communications and participatory approaches will be used extensively to facilitate the develop of the capacity of each community to prepare for and recover from flood and drought events, and to manage the sustainable operation and maintenance of the infrastruture developed through the proiect.