The MRC supports an ongoing Integrated Capacity-Building
Programme. This programme has provided support to the Secretariat
and National Mekong Committees in each country for improved
systems of administration, management and communications through
a regional training programme involving a network of leading
education and training institutions in the region and worldwide.
This training is also expected to increase regional cooperation
and integration.
The ICBP comprises several components:
- Training in Project Management
- Training in Information Management and Communication
- Training in Environmental Governance
- Junior Riparian Professional Programme
- Strengthening Core Activities of MRC
- Research Coordination
- Gender Mainstreaming
One of its most exciting initiatives is the Junior Riparian
Professional Programme, which started operating in 2002. JRPs
are young professionals who work at the Mekong River Commission
Secretariat rotating among the Basin Development Plan programme,
Water Utilisation Programme, Environment Programme and Flood
Management and Mitigation Programme, gaining first-hand experience
of the day-to-day planning and administration needed for effective
river basin management.
They attend training sessions on key aspects of basin management,
including project planning and evaluation and legal, social,
economic and environmental issues. They engage in research,
report-writing, making presentations and attending workshops
and meetings with government officers, donors and civil society
representatives and learn hands-on project management by taking
on appropriate responsibility within a team of regional and
international staff. To date nine JRPs have been through or
are participating in the scheme in the MRC Secretariat.
MRC programmes also play an active role in increasing knowledge
within the basin.
- The Fisheries Programme has completed a three year capacity
building programme in fisheries co-management. This programme
has now trained around 120 mid-to senior level management
staff from line agencies and more than 500 users from community
groups across the four countries. 1,600 Government staff and
about 4,000 users have also participated in Management of
River and Reservoir Fisheries led training activities.
- The Watershed Component of the Agriculture Forestry and
Irrigation Programme has conducted regular training workshops
in watershed management.
- The AHNIP project has trained hydrologists to interpret
and monitor data from the MRC’s 23 hydrometeorological
stations throughout the basin.
- The Environment Programme has involved many riparian professionals
in its water quality monitoring programme and has introduced
them to data analysis through local workshops.
- The MRCS BDP team has developed a new training curriculum
(with technical assistance from the Murray Darling River Basin
Commission) to increase the knowledge of river basin planners
of the future. It has also conducted study tours of the basin
to learn how to deal with issues such as decision making proceeds
stakeholder involvement and dealing with conflict.
- In the past year the new flood management and mitigation
programme has conducted three technical workshops on satellite
rainfall estimates, radio internet use in flood forecasting
and flash flooding.