WLE Greater Mekong project:

Capacity building and professional development for inclusive governance and

water and ecosystem services managementof the Ayeyarwady River Basin

Launch of Inception Workshop Yangon, 16 March 2015

Why are we here together?

• Water is high on agenda in Myanmar• Integrated approaches are needed, but also a challenge• Capacity development efforts are starting up, still there

are large needs, like:– Awareness raising– Strengthening organisations and human capacities– Coordination and cooperation– Strengthening educational system

• How do we address these challenges in an adequate and sustainable manner? What can be the role of the WLE project in strengthening current efforts?

What is river basin management?

• Create awareness on river basin issues• Facilitate dialogue amongst key stakeholders• Provide advice to decision-makers, make basin

plans• Provide technical guidance, basin-wide

understanding of the natural system, development opportunities and impacts

• Monitor the river system • Etc ….

What is river basin management?

• Create awareness on river basin issues• Facilitate dialogue amongst key stakeholders• Provide advice to decision-makers, make basin

plans• Provide technical guidance, basin-wide

understanding of the natural system, development opportunities and impacts

• Monitor the river system • Etc ….

Requires capacity at all levels:

1. Civil society 2. Legal, institutional framework3. Organisations4. Individuals

The WLE capacity building and professional development project

• Modest (but powerful) contribution to address these capacity building needs.

• Focus at WLE management at basin scale, incl. inclusiveness and gender.

• Locally embed activities and seek linkage to ongoing / planned initiatives.

• Make capacity building part of professional development (pilot).

• Project duration: January 2015 - December 2017• Project budget: USD 390.000

4 inter-related project components Organizational capacity building (3)

Cooperate with partners

ToT and institutionalise Programme (1)

Pilot IWRM certification system

Develop Ayeyarwady research agenda

Ayeyarwady WLE Fellowship Programme (1)

Develop program and curriculum

Offer program for professionals

Policy Engagement at State level (2)

Develop training and curriculum

Offer trainings for professionals in Kachin, Magway and Ayeyawady

Networking and Communication (4)

Organise inception workshop, and participate in Ayeyarwady / Myanmar dialogues / fora

Communication incl. fellows project reports, blogs, movies, SoK paper, books

Water, Land and

Eco-system (WLE)

and other research projects

1. Ayeyarwady WLE fellowship programme

• Aim: Build a group of young experts to contribute to Ayeyarwady river basin management.

• Create common WLE understanding to support cooperation.

• Active learning including coached project work.• Start first batch October 2015 (15 part.)

1. Ayeyarwady WLE fellowship programme

2. WLE policy engagement at State level

• Aim: Strengthen State level stakeholders to actively participate in river basin management discussions.

• Training on listening, presenting, cooperation, debating skills for key WLE research-policy issues.

• Applying skills in coached project work and events.• First batch in 2016 (15 part.).

3. Strengthening Myanmar organisations

• Aim: Strengthen participating Myanmar organisations through joint implementation.

• Different approaches:– Training of staff (e.g. Fellowship programme)– Pilot to make training explicit part of staff’s professional

development– Institutional embedding of Fellowship programme, incl.

quality assurance.– Use of curriculum in University training and education– Etc..

4. Networking and communication

• Aim: Support communication and networking between Ayeyarwady key stakeholders.

• Active participation in Ayeyarwady river basin / national events.

• Facilitate cross-basin sharing and learning thru regional WLE events.

• Project communicatesto different audiences (reports, movies andwebstories, etc..)

4 inter-related project components Organizational capacity building (3)

Cooperate with partners

ToT and institutionalise Programme (1)

Pilot IWRM certification system

Develop Ayeyarwady research agenda

Ayeyarwady WLE Fellowship Programme (1)

Develop program and curriculum

Offer program for professionals

Policy Engagement at State level (2)

Develop training and curriculum

Offer trainings for professionals in Kachin, Magway and Ayeyawady

Networking and Communication (4)

Organise inception workshop, and participate in Ayeyarwady / Myanmar dialogues / fora

Communication incl. fellows project reports, blogs, movies, SoK paper, books

Water, Land and

Eco-system (WLE)

and other research projects

Anticipated outcomes in 3 years• Stronger contribution key stakeholders in

Ayeyarwady basin management and governance, in particular young staff and women.

• Stronger participation of State level stakeholders in basin management discussions.

• An institutionalized WLE fellowship programme.

• Improved communication and networking between Ayeyarwady key stakeholders.

Do you join?

Information and discussion in smaller groups

• Get to know the programme better• Meet other people interested in this subject• Meet contact persons who coordinate these efforts

• Think about how you or your organisation could benefit from the project, what would make the project more attractive, and how you want to be involved?

Information and discussion in smaller groups

Group 1. Ayeyarwady WLE fellowship programmeGroup 2. Ayeyarwady policy engagementGroup 3. Ayeyarwady networking and communication

45 minute discussionJoint lunch after the working groupsOutput of the groups is displayed during / after lunch

Kindly fill-out the Response card at end of morning

ThanksEnjoy the working groups