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23 October 2008
International professional services company GHD will provide
support to the recently established Water Resources and Environment
Administration (WREA) in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to
develop a new strategy for managing the country’s water
resources.
The initiative, co-funded by the Asian Development Bank and
AusAID, will provide the foundations for national river basin
planning and management in the Lao PDR and will better equip the
country to participate equally and effectively in water planning
for the region.
GHD, which has an international reputation for innovative
solutions in sustainable water resource management, will assist in
conducting a comprehensive inventory of the country’s water
resources and in the development of a new National Water Resources
Policy and Strategy.
GHD will work with the WREA to review and analyse existing
water-related data, including hydrology and meteorology, water
quality and groundwater information for all major river basins in
Laos.
The assessment will identify opportunities to improve data,
information, systems and models, and will inform the development of
an interim water resources policy for the period 2008-2010.
The National Water Resources Policy and Strategy will guide
water sector development and management beyond 2010. Development of
the strategy will involve multi-agency participation to establish a
national Integrated Water Resources Management policy framework,
identify key result and priority areas within the policy, prepare
action plans and lay out performance targets.
The strategy will include a road map for investments in the
water sector in the lower Mekong Basin. GHD will provide technical
assistance in the development of the strategy, and oversee
reporting and implementation.
GHD spokesman Peter Robson said sustainable management of water
resources in Laos was extremely important, with water contributing
significantly to the country’s economy through irrigated
agriculture and the burgeoning hydropower industry.
"GHD recognises its responsibility to contribute to the goals of
sustainable development and we are proud to be assisting the Lao
PDR in such an important process," Mr Robson said.
The WREA was formed in May 2007. The initiative will also assist
in strengthening the WREA, helping it to provide effective
leadership in the implementation of the National Water Resources
Policy and Strategy.
For further information, contact:
Sonia Adams