Stakeholder Engagement Practice: An Experience in IWRM-Based Mekong River Basin Development Plan Forum

Abstract

Extensive population growth and usage have led to increasing unplanned development pressures within the basin and these have caused many direct threats to valuable ecosystems in the region. This poses a significant threat to biodiversity and environmental sustainability, and thereby to the livelihoods of the Mekong communities. Stakeholder participation is an integral part of integrated approach on water resources management, which the Mekong River Commission (MRC) adopted in its Strategic Plan 2006-2010. Likewise, stakeholder participation is particularly important for the Basin Development Plan (BDP), the umbrella programme of the MRC to promote the joint planning function as an inter-governmental river basin organisation for sustainable development of the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB). This paper aims to provide overview of lesson learned for the BDP practice which was held during 15-16 October 2009 in Chiang Rai, Thailand. Mekong River Basin is international trans-boundary basin and has spanned up to six countries. The development issues have international implications and can only be resolved through the effective regional coordination and cooperation framework. MRC has demonstrated a series of stakeholder engagement activities for the region such as forum, special meeting and online forum. Nevertheless, it should not become the symbolic activities to fulfill the engagement and participation process.