Transboundary projects aid the development of effective water resource management (WRM) by helping to limit competition over resources and in creating a dialogue for the transferral of beneficial lessons between the countries. This project takes an integrated approach to support the development of a water resource management plan for a transboundary rural region in Northwestern Cambodia / Thailand. The project involves extensive data collection and analysis related to agriculture, floods and droughts, and socio-economics, as well as scenario simulations using the Water Evaluation And Planning (WEAP) tool. These simulations serve to evaluate water resources availability and unmet demands (water shortages), under different water management strategies and climate change scenarios.

Cambodia is currently improving in economic standing, however the benefits of this are largely contained to urban areas. As a major contributor to GDP, ensuring the sustainability of Cambodia’s agricultural sector is highly important, especially when coupled with the increasing awareness of the dangers of climate change. Access to water for agriculture, fisheries and domestic supply is an issue, with many rural communities competing for resources. Coupled with the effects of flood and drought activity in recent years, the need for adequate and reliable water resource management in rural, agricultural areas is prominent. This project focuses on the North- Western Cambodian provinces of Oddar Meanchey (OMC) and Banteay Meanchey (BMC) and the neighbouring North-Eastern Thai provinces of Surin and Sisaket.

In order to protect rural livelihoods and maintain agricultural production, communities must be supplied with permanent and regulated water year-round. Analysis of recent flood and drought histories and their effects in the provinces are first necessary to determine the most vulnerable areas both in terms of agriculture and households. In addition, water resource assessments of supplies and demand will identify the most crucial areas to ensure supplies are increased and sustained both for crops and domestic use. Socio-economic studies will also ensure ‘cross- cutting’ issues are considered in WR planning, such as: gender, economic vulnerability and cultural factors related to WRM. Furthermore, meetings with stakeholders at multiple levels can address issues in water infrastructure, alongside assessment of the capacities of those managing monitoring systems for example. From this, future recommendations for improvements in infrastructure can be made with an awareness of the necessary knowledge capacities to ensure proper maintenance and sustainability.

Initially, an analysis of the current water resource situation in the study area will be conducted through collection of available data on water resources, flood and drought histories and socioeconomic issues in the area. Following this, areas for more detailed analysis will be established and strategies to improve WRM supporting agricultural livelihoods can be developed. FutureWater is involved in the implementation of the WEAP model, for evaluation of various water resources management strategies in the catchments under baseline and projected future conditions.

Related publications

  • 2021 - JBA Consulting ReportJBA Consulting, Mekong Modelling Associates, FutureWater, Stockholm Environmental Insitute. 2021. Transboundary Water Management between Thailand and Cambodia as part of the adaptation of the agricultural sector in North-Western Cambodia to Climate Change. JBA Consulting Report.X

    Transboundary Water Management between Thailand and Cambodia as part of the adaptation of the agricultural sector in North-Western Cambodia to Climate Change

    JBA Consulting, Mekong Modelling Associates, FutureWater, Stockholm Environmental Insitute

  • 2020 - FutureWater Report 216Simons, G.W.H., P. Droogers, 2020. The impact of enhancing storage capacity on water shortages in North-western Cambodia under a changing climate. FutureWater Report 216X

    The impact of enhancing storage capacity on water shortages in North-western Cambodia under a changing climate

    Simons, G.W.H., P. Droogers