This document provides information about the Global Water Partnership Southeast Asia (GWP-SEA) and its cooperation with the ASEAN Working Group on Water Resources Management (AWGWRM). GWP-SEA has evolved from an earlier initiative called SEATAC and works with Country Water Partnerships in 8 Southeast Asian countries. It aims to promote integrated water resources management. In 2002, GWP-SEA played a key role in establishing AWGWRM within ASEAN to facilitate regional cooperation on water issues. While communication lapsed between 2005-2009, the document proposes initial steps for GWP-SEA and AWGWRM to strengthen coordination and exchange information to better achieve their shared goal of promoting integrated water resources

1. PART 1 ABOUT GWP AND GWP-SEA 1

2. 2 A growing international network since 1996 13 Regional Water Partnerships 73 Country Water Partnerships 2,069 Partners in 149 countries

3. 3 GWP VISION is a water secure world, which means focus is on: Sufficient clean water for all life – human society and ecosystems Security for all the economic sectors which consume or harness water - agriculture, energy, industry, domestic water supply, tourism . . . Security from droughts, floods, landslides, water-borne diseases – all the negative aspects of water Improved quality of life, health and well-being for the most vulnerable groups in society,

4. HISTORY GWP SEA has evolved from SEATAC (Southeast Asia Technical Advisory Committee) 1997 – 2003 : SEATAC operated in the region 2004 - now : GWP-SEA as Regional Water Partnership Operating in coordination with CWPs (8 Country Water Partnerships) 4

5. GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE The Steering Committee ( SC ) serves as the highest policy and decision- making body Regional Secretariat assists the SC in managing and coordinating regional programs and activities CWP implement programs and activities at national and sub national levels 5

6. 6 GWP –SEA COUNTRIES Southeast Asia

7. GWP PARTNERS AND CWPs More than 300 GWP partners in SEA countries CWP Cambodia Indonesia Malaysia Myanmar Philippine Thailand Vietnam (Lao PDR and Singapore in preparation) 7

8. PART 2 GWP –SEA COOPERATION WITH ASEAN - AWGWRM 8

9. INITIAL EFFORT FOR REGIONAL WRM In December 1997 during 2nd Informal Summit in Kuala Lumpur of the ASEAN Heads of State, Philippine Government forwarded SEATAC initiative for the passage of a resolution to heighten the scale of ASOEN (ASEAN Senior Officials on Environment) Plan, from just an item on scientific aspects of water quality standard and criteria to broader subjects on water resources management to establish within ASOEN a separate working group on WRM. 9

10. DIFFICULT FOLLOW UP 1997 -2001 : Initiative approved in 1997, but follow up was prevented by formalities within the ASEAN, particularly reservations on protocols and the form of the agreements members of SEATAC worked with their ASEAN representatives succeeded in having the same discussed in several ASEAN meetings including the ASEAN Senior Officials on Environment (ASOEN) and the ASEAN Standing Committee. 10

11. BREAKTHROUGH IN EARLY 2002 Thailand became the Chairman of ASOEN – in 2002 Dr. Apichart Anukularmphai, then SEATAC Chairman and Thai representative, saw this golden opportunity and seized it. As a senior advisor to the Thai Government, Dr. Apichart convinced ASOEN’s Chairman from Thailand, Mr. Sunthad Somchevita, to call for a Consultative Meeting for the Establishment of ANWRA (ASEAN Network of Water Resources Agencies) immediately after ASOEN’s meeting in Bangkok, Thailand on February 2002. 11

12. THE BASIC IDEA Southeast Asian region was one of the fastest growing regions in the world in terms of economic and industrial development , and human population This has resulted in increased demands for water and has contributed to water use conflicts at the local, national and international levels within the region. the establishment of ANWRA is seen as a catalytic move to address emergent water-related issues and forward relevant international agenda that affects the region ANWRA was perceived as a forum for the exchange of experiences, expertise and information amongst member countries the proposed agreement layed down the foundation for government-partnerships on water resource management. 12

13. AWGWRM FORMATION In 13th Meeting in Cambodia in July 2002, ASOEN formed the ASEAN Working Group on Water Resources Management (AWGWRM) based on the Terms of Reference of the ANWRA drafted during the ASOEN Consultative Meeting organized by GWP SEATAC in February 2002. AWGWRM’s objective was to establish a formal regional cooperation on water resources management. 13

14. GWP SEA In 2004, SEATAC was transformed into the GWP Southeast Asia (GWP SEA) a formal Regional Water Partnership with a constituency of GWP Partners at the Country level With a broader stakeholder platform at the country level composed of a bigger community of persons and GWP Partners working together to influence water management actions 14

15. ASEAN WRM PUBLICATIONS Publications known by GWP-SEA : The State of Water Resources Management in ASEAN – (2005), provides a snapshot of baseline information of water resources in ASEAN countries The ASEAN Strategic Plan for Action on Water Resources Management – (2005), provides a strategic plan to address the issues confronting water resources in the region Both were prepared by Australian Consultancy Team under AIDAB support Directed and coordinated by the Environment Unit of ASEAN Secretariat With inputs from GWP-SEA through Dr.SalmahZakaria. 15

16. 2006 -2009 Almost no communication after 2005 until 2009 GWP-SEA do not have sufficient information regarding AWGWRM related to : Work program , progress & achievement Working mechanism Available resources Publications and other products Question : What kind of cooperation can be or need to be developed ? 16

17. PROPOSAL FOR FIRST STEPS Possible First step of cooperation between GWP-SEA and AWGWRM includes: Exchange of views at regional level for mutual understanding and exchange of information on work program, working mechanism, & cooperation on programmatic areas as we have done by cooperating on this event here. Since AWGWRM and GWP-SEA have the same objectives of promoting IWRM in the same region, but their representatives may come from different country agencies, the two regional committees may find it useful in setting-up and promoting coordination between their representatives/agencies at both country & regional level. I would like to propose that this region tapes into a joint service between GWP and WMOon the Associated Programme for Flood Managenent (APFM).through ....THE HELP DESK.. 17

18. is “a facility that will provide guidance on flood-related issues to countries that want to adopt the IFM concept” HelpDesk Provides quick access to relevant flood management information; Provide guidance and momentum for reform activities towards IFM in the countries or river basins; Provide a continuous and sustainable capacity development mechanism in support of IFM implementation. Serve as a link between flood management practitioners or decision makers and required experts in various fields; Serve as link between various technical and financial partners. No Disaster Assistance or Flood Emergency Response Functions !!!

19. Target audience Government officials involved in decision making at various levels of Government, charged with a role in flood management River Basin Organizations Bi- and Multilateral Organizations involved in Technical and Financial Cooperation UN System organizations with a role in flood management Reputed Non-Governmental Organizations in particular those working with flood affected communities, Voluntary and Community-based Organizations Universities

22. Beneficiaries: Government agencies on various levels, CBOs, RBOs, Voluntary Organizations, Bi- and Multilateral Organizations, Universities Request for assistance, preparation of project proposal, supervision of technical implementation IFM HelpDesk Technical inputs as required based on the special field of expertise of the responsible institution HelpDesk Support Base (decentralized): Specialized institutes in various disciplines relevant for Integrated Flood Management Mechanismand Actors

23. Thank you 23