Progress Report 2006

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Integrated Capacity Building Programme

In order to ensure sustainable development, utilisation, conservation and management of the Mekong River Basin water and related resources there is a need to ensure availability of expertise at regional and national levels as well as the capability of the MRC to carry out activities in advocacy and communication with stakeholders.

The overall objective of the Integrated Capacity Building Programme is to improve the capacity of the MRC to implement its Mission, and play a leading role in coordinating the development and use of the basin's water resources. It aims to develop the technical, institutional and legal water resources management capacity and expertise at local, national, and regional levels. It also aims to promote gender awareness and ensure there is capacity to implement gender responsive organisational structures.

It will achieve this through a systematic, modular training programme. The future pool of expertise available within the region is being broadened through on-the-job training of young professionals to work at the MRC Secretariat.

There are three components in the ICB:

• Integrated Training Component.
• Junior Riparian Professional Project (Phase 2)
• Gender Mainstreaming in Water and Related Resources Development in the Lower Mekong Basin.

Integrated Training Component

The objectives of this component are (i) to raise the level of competence among MRC staff and staff in the riparian Governments in integrated river basin planning (IRBP), and (ii) to consolidate MRC's training activities and allow for both specific and cross programme training in issues of identified priority for integrated river basin management in the Mekong Region.

In 2006 the programme completed its training programme for MRCS staff funded by OEB under the MRC staff training project.

Junior Riparian Professional Project (Phase 2)

The Junior Riparian Professional (JRP) Project phase 1 (2002- 2006) completed its activities in June 2006 while the agreement officially ended in December 2006. The objective of this component is to provide training and hands-on experience to young riparian professionals in the areas of Integrated Water Resources Management.

The final three JRPs completed two years of training in June 2006. This training included programme planning and implementation, data collection and analysis, and resultsoriented monitoring, as well as other training activities outlined in the individual training plan. They also attended short courses offered by the MRC Secretariat which were adapted to individual and programme needs and had the opportunity to participate in different technical fieldwork training, mainly at the four riparian countries and in the region.

Two former JRPs are now working with MRCS in consultancy roles and one is working at the Regional Flood Management and Mitigation Centre as an assistant hydrologist, while the others have taken up new assignments with their respective governments or Line Agencies.

The JRP project was funded by the Government of Sweden and the United Nations Development Programme.

A new project document for the JRP Project Phase 2 was formulated in early 2006 and sent to the donor community to seek funding. This project will involve the training of 48 promising young professionals.

Gender Mainstreaming in Water and Related Resources Development in the Lower Mekong Basin Project

The project facilitates the institutionalisation and effective implementation of MRC Gender Policy and Strategy. It is specifically implementing all six components of the MRC Gender Strategy:

1. Application of gender sensitive policies
2. Obtaining commitment and support of top level MRC officials and managers
3. Creation of gender awareness in organisational culture
4. Capacity building in gender and development
5. Institutionalisation of gender responsive organisational structures and procedures and
6. Provision of necessary tools for implementing gender responsive development practices.

The Gender Mainstreaming Project Phase II, which is funded by NZAID for a three year period (2004-2007)has been extended to December 2008.

Activities of the Gender Mainstreaming Project included the establishment of the MRCS Gender In-house Network, reactivation of the gender network in four riparian countries, and revision of the project work plan. In 2006, the project carried out national workshops in four MRC member countries on Gender Mainstreaming in Water and Related Resources Development in the Lower Mekong Basin and conducted several in-house talks on gender issues and the MRC Secretariat.

In 2007 the project will continue to conduct gender awareness and sensitivity and gender mainstreaming in project cycle management training and will provide data and information to personnel of NMCs, Line Agencies and the MRC Secretariat. It will improve MRC capacity in planning, executing, monitoring and evaluating gender responsive water and related resources development programmes and it will provide necessary tools for implementing gender responsive development practices. The project will also conduct basinwide workshops on gender mainstreaming in water resources development in the Lower Mekong Basin.