Towards mainstreaming the Ecosystem-based Adaptations for Sustainable Groundwater Resources Management in the Transboundary Cambodia-Viet Nam Mekong Delta Aquifer, Lower Mekong Region

In essence, project GEBA targets the transformative changes in planning and decision making processes in the management of TCVA, one of the most important Transboundary Aquifer ( TBAs) in Asia. We do so by leveraging and mainstreaming EbA into plans, policies and management practices in groundwater management at local, sub-national and transnational levels. The project team, henceforth, adopts a two-dimensional-scaling approach simultaneously targeting horizontal and vertical scaling. The horizontal scaling will be realized via objectives 1 and 2, in which we seek to (i) showcase the duo-benefits of EbA in rendering the vulnerability of the TCVA dependent communities in Cambodia and Vietnam with respect to groundwater depletion and (ii) develop and analyze mechanisms for integrating EbA with groundwater management, focusing on capacities of the marginalized group including women, poor households, youth and ethnic minorities. The vertical scaling, on the other hand, will be materialized via objective 3 where we contribute policy recommendations to integrate EbA into regulations and policies across different sectors in Cambodia and Vietnam that are issue-specific, science-based, gender-inclusive and human rights-based. From the overall project approach, three work packages (WP) are developed, including WP1 Integrated assessment of EbA and groundwater resources; WP2 Development and analysis of mechanisms for integrating EbA and groundwater management with target stakeholders; and WP3 Capacity building and advocacy based on impactful engagement and communication.

The GEBA project seeks to contribute to the ongoing planning and decision-making processes both at the sub-national and transnational levels. Firstly, the project team seeks to contribute to building local community awareness and understanding of the critical role of natural capitals in mitigating the existing stressors on groundwater insecurities, supporting community resilience, while expanding their knowledge to help make the case for working with nature. In addition, the project will enhance the capacities of relevant stakeholders to contribute to mainstreaming EbA into specific plans and policies related to groundwater management in Cambodia and Vietnam. The project outputs, as such, are expected to result in catalytic impacts that can lead to potential structural changes in awareness, behaviors and actions with respect to the conservation of groundwater-dependent ecosystems to achieve co-benefits. Moreover, at the transnational level, the focus will be on the contribution of baseline scientific evidence to facilitate the potential formulation of an operational cooperation mechanism between Cambodia and Vietnam to promote the sustainable use of shared aquifer resources. This is of particular importance given the significant role of TCVA in linking hydrological, social, and economic sectors between the two countries, hence any issues relating to the shared groundwater resources should be dealt with by institutional and legal frameworks, based on the mutual agreement. Unfortunately, such issues have only been scarcely discussed in international water policy, legislation, and institutional instruments (Puri and Aureli, 2005). Similar to many other countries in ASEAN, up to date, neither Cambodia nor Vietnam has adopted any legal and institutional instruments to regulate the use of TCVA groundwater resources even though each country has institutions specializing in groundwater resources management, but the extent of the transboundary mandate and capacity is uncertain.

Lead contact

Dr. Ho Huu Loc,

Asian Institute of Technology,

hohuuloc@ait.ac.th