International Workshop on Institutional Capacity Development in Transboundary Basins November 2008, Bonn, Germany Le Duc Trung Acting Secretary General Viet Nam National Mekong Committee

International Workshop on Institutional Capacity Development in Transboundary Basins November 2008, Bonn, Germany Mekong Basin & Cooperation Mekong River Basin covers Chiana, Myanmar, Lao, Thailand, Cambodian and Viet Nam Mekong River Basin covers Chiana, Myanmar, Lao, Thailand, Cambodian and Viet Nam The river ranked 12 th in length & 8 th in flow The river ranked 12 th in length & 8 th in flow Viet Nam contributes 8% in area and 11% in flow Viet Nam contributes 8% in area and 11% in flow Mekong cooperation was started in 1957 focusing on planning of water resource development Mekong cooperation was started in 1957 focusing on planning of water resource development After a brief break (2 years), IMC was formed After a brief break (2 years), IMC was formed With the Cambodia came back, the Agreement on the Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Basin was signed in 1995 With the Cambodia came back, the Agreement on the Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Basin was signed in 1995 Mekong River Commission was established to cooperate in all fields of sustainable development, utilisation, management and conservation of the water and related resources of the Mekong River Basin Mekong River Commission was established to cooperate in all fields of sustainable development, utilisation, management and conservation of the water and related resources of the Mekong River Basin

International Workshop on Institutional Capacity Development in Transboundary Basins November 2008, Bonn, Germany MRC Institutional Set-up Members are Governments of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand Members are Governments of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam China and Myanmar, are dialogue partners to the MRC China and Myanmar, are dialogue partners to the MRC MRC consists of three permanent bodies: MRC consists of three permanent bodies: The Council with member of ministerial level The Joint Committee with member at no less than Department Director General level ;and The Secretariat located in Vientiane, Lao PDR, and headed by a CEO to provide technical and administrative services to the JC and the Council The MRC is funded by contributions from the four member countries and from aid donors. The MRC is funded by contributions from the four member countries and from aid donors. Donor Consultative Group meeting are organized annually to ensure effective consultation with donor community Donor Consultative Group meeting are organized annually to ensure effective consultation with donor community

International Workshop on Institutional Capacity Development in Transboundary Basins November 2008, Bonn, Germany Institutional Arrangements Governed by the 1995 Mekong Agreement, a number of legislative documents have been prepared, widely known as the set of Water Utilization Rules: Procedures for Data and Information Exchange and Sharing (approved 2001); Procedures for Data and Information Exchange and Sharing (approved 2001); Procedures for Notification, Prior Consultation and Agreement (approved 2003); Procedures for Notification, Prior Consultation and Agreement (approved 2003); Procedures for Water Use Monitoring (approved 2003); Procedures for Water Use Monitoring (approved 2003); Procedures for Maintenence of Flows on the Mainstream (approved 2006); Procedures for Maintenence of Flows on the Mainstream (approved 2006); Procedures for Water Quality (pending for approval); Procedures for Water Quality (pending for approval); Guidelines for Transboundary Environmental Impact Assessment (under preparation) Guidelines for Transboundary Environmental Impact Assessment (under preparation) And other Techncial Guidelines to implement approved docs And other Techncial Guidelines to implement approved docs Establishment of permanent or ad-hoc bodies (sub-committees, working groups, task forces …) And set-up of bilateral channels

International Workshop on Institutional Capacity Development in Transboundary Basins November 2008, Bonn, Germany Ialy Hydropower Dam incident Sesan river is a main tributary of the Mekong river system Sesan river is a main tributary of the Mekong river system Ialy is a key hydropower project in the cascade Viet Nam planned to build in the sub-basin, 70 km from border with Cambodia Ialy is a key hydropower project in the cascade Viet Nam planned to build in the sub-basin, 70 km from border with Cambodia Feb/2000 a careless release from Ialy dam caused serious lost and damages to Cambodian people downstream Feb/2000 a careless release from Ialy dam caused serious lost and damages to Cambodian people downstream The regional cooepration has come to its first alert and real challenge The regional cooepration has come to its first alert and real challenge The response was quick in bilateral channel of all levels, with assistance from MRCS The response was quick in bilateral channel of all levels, with assistance from MRCS Mitigation measures were taken Mitigation measures were taken Immediate measures relating to the dam operation were agreed Immediate measures relating to the dam operation were agreed

International Workshop on Institutional Capacity Development in Transboundary Basins November 2008, Bonn, Germany Institutional Arrangements Appropriate dam operation and flow regulation on the Sesan river; Appropriate dam operation and flow regulation on the Sesan river; Maintenance of an effective notification mechanism on the flow regulation Maintenance of an effective notification mechanism on the flow regulation Jointly conduction required transboundary environment impact assessment studies; Jointly conduction required transboundary environment impact assessment studies; Strengthening the trust and cooperation spirit between the two sides in water resources management of the sub-basin Strengthening the trust and cooperation spirit between the two sides in water resources management of the sub-basin Notifications of new projects in the Central Highlands to the MRC Notifications of new projects in the Central Highlands to the MRC Exchange of related EIA studies of those projects Exchange of related EIA studies of those projects Maintenance of all level of contacts of bilateral channel Maintenance of all level of contacts of bilateral channel Prime Minister’s Instruction on transboundary impact concerns Prime Minister’s Instruction on transboundary impact concerns Re-regulatory reservoir downstream Ialy and suggesting joint ventures for hydropower development on Cambodia side Re-regulatory reservoir downstream Ialy and suggesting joint ventures for hydropower development on Cambodia side Target of increase awareness, trust and cooperation spirit between the two sides in water resources management of the sub-basin Target of increase awareness, trust and cooperation spirit between the two sides in water resources management of the sub-basin

International Workshop on Institutional Capacity Development in Transboundary Basins November 2008, Bonn, Germany Needed Capacities MRC (complete set of rules/procedures/techncial guideleines relating to transboundary impacts) MRC (complete set of rules/procedures/techncial guideleines relating to transboundary impacts) Regional sub-committee for transboundary impacts assessment Regional sub-committee for transboundary impacts assessment Adequate and timely information to Joint Commission and annual border cooperation meetings at Government level Adequate and timely information to Joint Commission and annual border cooperation meetings at Government level Frequent meetings at working level (Joing Working Group on Sesan Flow Regulation) Frequent meetings at working level (Joing Working Group on Sesan Flow Regulation) Ad-hoc joint team, group (investagation, modeling etc…) and workshops, consultations, meetings etc… Ad-hoc joint team, group (investagation, modeling etc…) and workshops, consultations, meetings etc… Techncial cooepration: Joint monitoring, studies and shared database/analytical tools Techncial cooepration: Joint monitoring, studies and shared database/analytical tools Awareness increase efforts, dissemination to the root level Awareness increase efforts, dissemination to the root level

International Workshop on Institutional Capacity Development in Transboundary Basins November 2008, Bonn, Germany Lessons Learnt Awareness and trust for border people and local authorities Awareness and trust for border people and local authorities Awareness and commitment of involved line agencies Awareness and commitment of involved line agencies Combination of regional mechanism and bilateral channels with proper public involvement Combination of regional mechanism and bilateral channels with proper public involvement Commitments and cooperation spirit affirmed at top level Commitments and cooperation spirit affirmed at top level Improved monitoring and analytical tools Improved monitoring and analytical tools Data and information sharing and exchange, and notification requirements Data and information sharing and exchange, and notification requirements Mitigation plan Mitigation plan Sub-basin water resources management planning according to IWRM principles Sub-basin water resources management planning according to IWRM principles Joint investment for mutual benefit Joint investment for mutual benefit …

International Workshop on Institutional Capacity Development in Transboundary Basins November 2008, Bonn, Germany ApplicabilityApplicability Basin-wide set-up (rules/procedures) Basin-wide set-up (rules/procedures) Bilateral channel (Guidelines and relevant agreements) Bilateral channel (Guidelines and relevant agreements) Regulation for system operation Regulation for system operation Techncial support (monitoring and tools) Techncial support (monitoring and tools) Capacity (technical and legal) Capacity (technical and legal) Awareness increase and trust building Awareness increase and trust building

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