Regional : Strengthening Integrated Water Resources Management in Mountainous River Basins

Agriculture, natural resources and rural development /

Recent population growth, economic development, and urbanization are increasing water, food, and energy demand in Asia and the Pacific region. With more than 75% of the countries in the region lacking water security, the gaps in water governance are expanding, and strengthening water resources management is becoming a pressing issue. Climate change will affect temperature, rainfall, and cultivation patterns, which may add to the complexity and urgency of managing water resources. It will also increase the frequency and severity of water-related disasters. These concerns require improved water resources management that considers all water users within a river basin.

The impact of climate change and competing demands for finite water resources require improved water resources management that considers all water users within a river basin. In Asia, the Hindu-Kush Himalaya (HKH) region is one of the areas that are most vulnerable and exposed to the impacts of climate change. As the source of major rivers, including Amu Darya, Ganges, Indus, Mekong, and Yangtze, the HKH area contains the world''s third-largest freshwater reserve and provides water to almost 20% of the global population.

IWRM could be a suitable tool to achieve good water governance. It can be responsive to stakeholders'' needs, future water demands, and the likely impacts of climate change. Many countries in the region have already adopted national water policies that advocate IWRM in river basins. River basin organizations (RBOs) are crucial for IWRM implementation, which involves planning and monitoring water use, tracking regulatory changes with stakeholder involvement, and preparing investments. ADB projects in the HKH area have supported initiatives to establish RBOs. Faced with basin water challenges, countries in the HKH area require immediate support for institutional strengthening and capacity building to form new RBOs and to strengthen the performance of existing RBOs in managing pressing water security challenges.

The proposed TA will focus on HKH areas that rely on vulnerable water resources (glacial snow melt and precipitation). The target countries of the proposed TA (Afghanistan, Bhutan, and Nepal) were identified based on the following: (i) geographical location and vulnerability to climate change; (ii) needs of counterpart agencies in supporting river basin planning and institutional strengthening of RBOs; and (iii) strong linkage with ongoing or pipeline ADB projects supporting river basin management. Target river basins are Panj-Amu (Afghanistan), where a project preparatory TA for the Panj-Amu River Basin Project is undertaken; Wangchhu (Bhutan), where the proposed TA will supplement efforts undertaken by the Adapting to Climate Change through IWRM TA; and Bagmati (Nepal), where the proposed TA will be implemented in conjunction with the Bagmati River Basin Improvement Project. The proposed TA is expected to benefit 8 million people in the three basins.

By 2020, accelerated and expanded implementation of IWRM, delivering improved water security and enhanced efficiency and productivity

By 2030, implement IWRM at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate

IWRM in target river basins sustainably implemented

Water resources institutions strengthened

Technical capacity of staff of water resources institutions in target river basins enhanced

Knowledge of and good practices for IWRM broadly disseminated in Asia and the Pacific region