Pilot introducing the river basin management approach in Sittaung River Basin/Myanmar

Abstract

An important aim of the IWRM Institutional Building and Training project is to pilot test the river basin management approach in Myanmar. The purpose is to investigate how cooperation between different sectors on river basin level, including stakeholder participation can be implemented in Myanmar. The Sittaung River Basin is selected as the case study area as it is a relatively small river basin, and as there are few, if any, ethnic conflicts in the basin. The practical water management tasks are implemented in Bago sub-basin of the Sittaung River Basin Area (RBA). The paper first describes the administrative governance system in Myanmar as this is an important baseline for introducing the river basin management (RBM) approach. The testing approach is then presented, also including practical water management tasks. Implementing the RBM approach involves organising coordination platforms for developing a River Basin Management Plan; a River Basin Area Committee, and a Non-Governmental Stakeholder Group. A pragmatic solution oriented approach in a small sub-basin can permit experiences that provide for valuable insight related to the overall aim of holistic and sustainable water management. In the paper challenges related to implementing the River Basin Management Approach in Myanmar are discussed.