Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Approach in Water Governance in Lao PDR: Cases of Hydropower and Irrigation (original) (raw)

Water is a fundamental resource for human life, ecosystems, and the economy. Population growth and accelerating economic development in all water use sectors together with climate change impose huge demands on global water resources. The need for sustainable use of freshwater resources is globally recognised in the water field and literature which has led to developing and researching new approaches to water resources and river basin management. The transition towards more integrated management methods is accelerating in the field of water management. The concept of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), which includes elements of good water governance such as coordination, participation, equity, sustainable development, and inclusiveness, is a generally accepted approach to developing water resources management. The Mekong River and its tributaries form a source of living for over sixty million people. They constitute one of the richest freshwater fisheries in the world, but are increasingly under threat from accelerating economic development (hydropower, agriculture, tourism, and transport) and pollution. To meet future challenges and increasing complexity, the water sector needs to build resilience into the way water resources are managed at different scales and levels. Therefore it is important to implement integrated management methods in the Mekong region countries, including Lao PDR, to manage their water resources in a sustainable way. This research aims to contribute to the discussion about water management by looking beyond the much acclaimed integrated water resources management (IWRM) approach along with the main elements attached to it, namely integration, participation, and decentralisation. These elements have been derived from IWRM literature, most importantly the Dublin Principles (GWP, 2004; Rogers & Hall, 2003) and a paper from Xie (2006) which are relevant and core issues as regards the contents of the author's four research articles in the context of the Lao People's Democratic Republic's (Lao PDR's) water regime. Also the political and socioeconomic context of Lao PDR has impacted and led to the selection of these core IWRM themes to be studied. The Management and Transition Framework (MTF) approach and the IAD framework give a general and conceptual water management framework perspective for analysing IWRM. The author's published articles illuminate the implementation process of IWRM from different aspects in various water use sectors. The IWRM principles concerning the operational level of water management are studied in the contexts of hydropower and irrigation. Several Western and highly industrialised countries have already adapted IWRM approaches with success. In the case of Lao PDR, implementation of IWRM is special and challenging as the country is one of the last communist countries in the World. The country seeks to implement the IWRM approach and related principles in its context and it is interesting to analyse how successfully the elements of IWRM can be transferred and implemented in such a political environment. The singleparty socialist republic is built on a top-down government approach. On the other hand, the political context and decision-making environment provide a more 'plain' and simplified institutional environment compared to the complex and multistakeholder environments of the West where decision-making is multifaceted with many channels impacting decision-making and organisations are quite free to make and implement their own decisions. In a way, Lao PDR can be seen as a 'critical' case as the experience and lessons learned from Laotian IWRM implementation can increase understanding regarding the mechanisms and processes attached to IWRM processes. The aim is to produce contextualised knowledge on this specific case and to find out the logic behind the action of the IWRM processes. The articles reveal the importance of local level/bottom up participatory processes to successful IWRM implementation as well as a need for top-down policy implementation. It is crucial to create necessary conditions for the practical implementation of IWRM. IWRM literature widely emphasises the government's role to provide and develop an environment with legal and clear institutional base, public awareness, political will, conditions for all concerned parties, participation, and capacity building system at different levels from local and river basin levels up to national and regional levels. It is also crucial to take the differences in local contexts into account and to support solutions appropriate to a given context instead of universal 'blueprints' as discussed for example by Bach et al. (2011) and GWP (2000). The author hopes this research increases understanding and stimulates discussion on integrated water management approaches and practices. It aims to enhance knowledge on promoting the wise use, management, and development of water resources towards a more equal and sustainable path. The author is grateful to all who have provided valuable feedback at different stages of the research. First of all, the author wants to thank Professor Ilari Karppi from the University of Tampere School of Management who supervised the thesis, for his valuable guidance and encouragement throughout the process. The Author feels deep appreciation for the many Laotian authorities from Water Resources and Environment Administration (WREA), Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM), especially Director of Executive Planning Division of Department of Electricity, Khamso Kouphokham, who has greatly facilitated research by organising numerous high-level interviews, helping with data gathering and sharing his valuable insights during the FREPLA2020 project. Many thanks belong also to the many consultants and officials working in different development projects and NGOs in the country. The author also wants to thank the FREPLA2020 project director Jari Kaivo-oja and Professor Jyrki Luukkanen from Finland Futures Research Centre (FFRC) of University of Turku for their valuable comments on some of the research articles of the thesis. Many thanks also belong to many colleagues from FFRC and the University of Tampere School of Management who have provided feedback and comments during the research process. Sincere thanks also belong to author's family; her supporting husband Petri and children Emma and Lauri who have delighted some burdensome thesis-writing days. The author is grateful to her wonderful parents Riitta and Mauri Vilen, and parents-in-law Seija and Taisto Jusi who have provided support and made it possible to find the time necessary to complete the doctoral thesis.