2005 Progress Report
Integrated Capacity Building Programme
The Integrated Capacity Building Programme (ICBP) provides
support to the Secretariat and National Mekong Committees in
each country by improving the systems and expertise of administration,
management and communications. The programme is built around
a regional training programme involving a network of leading
education and training institutions in the Mekong riparian countries,
the region and worldwide.
The ICBP comprises several components:
- Training in Project Management
- Training in Information Management and Communication
- Training in Environmental Governance
- Junior Riparian Professional Project
- Strengthening Core Activities of MRC
- Research Coordination
- Gender Mainstreaming
The ICBP's Junior Riparian Professional (JRP) Project provides
ongoing training of young riparian professionals, both on-the-job
and through external training courses. The JRPs rotate through
MRC's programmes gaining hands-on experience of the day-to-day
planning and administration needed for effective river basin
management. This training is also aimed at increasing regional
cooperation and integration. Many MRC programmes are also involved
in capacity building activities within their own spheres of
expertise involving employees from the MRC Secretariat, NMCs
and line agencies.
The following are some ICBP achievements of the past year.
- The first batch of JRPs completed the three-year programme
and on-the-job training at the Secretariat in June 2005. One
has returned to his home country to take up a professional
position in a water-related field and two have obtained positions
within the MRC Secretariat. The second batch will complete
their three-year programme in March 2006 and the third batch
will complete a two-year programme in June 2006 when Phase
1 of the project will come to an end.
- All three batches of JRPs have undertaken regional study
tours, paying visits to National Mekong Committees, development
projects, institutions, the Mekong Delta, the Tonle Sap Great
Lake where they met local people to discuss development topics.
They have also undertaken training courses in Integrated Water
Resources Management as well as specific courses related to
their programme work.
- The programme initiated a new Gender Mainstreaming Project
which will run through 2007. Funded by NZAID, the project
has now built up a communication network between national
focal points and finalised preparation for implementing the
project activities.
- A training programme for Lao support staff, funded by the
UNDP, continued throughout 2005 and has now been extended
until March 2006. All Lao support staff members were attached
to programmes and activities in their related fields, and
job transfer from their Cambodian counterparts was completed
at the end of June 2005. The support staff have undertaken
many training courses including office skills and administration,
English language and technical skills related to their assignments.
- An evaluation of the current JRP project was held including
input from all participants, programme mangers and national
Mekong Committees. Work is now underway to plan phase 2 of
the JRP project which will run from 2006-2010.
In 2006 a proposal to extend the JRP project will be completed
and funds will be sought for its implementation.
The Gender Mainstreaming Project commenced operation in late
2005 and in 2006 plans to conduct a basin-wide gender workshop
at the MRC Secretariat and gender sensitivity training in each
riparian country, in addition to implementing various projects
aimed at improving gender responsive water and related resources
development programmes.
During 2005 the communications function worked to raise awareness
and document MRC activities to member countries and the general
public through information products and media relations.
Achievements this year included:
- The production of newsletters, annual reports, documents
to support fundraising missions and several technical publications.
The communications team undertook regular releases of press
bulletins and maintained continual liaison with the media,
researchers and tertiary institutions.
- The launch of a redesigned, more userfriendly MRC website
(www.mrcmekong.org).
- Support for events. In 2005 the communications function
was heavily involved in organising events to celebrate the
10th anniversary of the Mekong River Commission, including
a formal celebration held at the MRC Secretariat in Vientiane
and the International Forum on Integrated Water Resources
Management of the Mekong River Basin held in Chiang Rai, Thailand.
It also supported the MRC's presence at the South East Asia
Water Forum in Bali, Indonesia and World Water Week in Stockholm,
Sweden and provided media and supporting activities for the
3rd Annual Flood Forum in Vientiane.
During 2006 the communications team plans to increase public
awareness of the MRC and its work through improved media contact.
It also plans to expand the website's educational section.