The overall objective of the Flood Management and Mitigation Program (FMMP) is enabling the four Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) countries to better manage flood risk and so reduce the socio-economic costs of flooding whilst preserving and enhancing (where possible) the socio-economic and environmental benefits of flooding. The immediate objectives of Component 2 of the FMMP are twofold:
- To reduce the vulnerability of people living in the LMB to the negative impacts of floods, and;
- Establish sustainable flood risk management capacity in the MRC, the MRCS, NMCs and national line agencies (a) to effectively and appropriately address flood-related considerations in the BDP, other MRC programs and in national FMM programs; and (b) to develop and refine the ProDIP list of FMM projects in the LMB.
Flood Risk Management is an essential element of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). The IWRM in the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) is in the MRC context reflected in the so-called Basin Development Plan (BDP) that serves as an umbrella for joint strategy formulation and policy recommendations, as well as promotion of priority projects and programmes.
On the other hand, a joint IWRM strategy at (sub)-basin level provides the boundary conditions for a sustainable Flood Risk Management Strategy. In this interface between BDP and the FMMP lies the key for a successful implementation of the FMMP-C2.
The leading principle in the set up of the project is that after the completion of the assignment, the MRC and the national line agencies are better equipped for dealing with flood hazards and risks, having in place a plan for the development and implementation of Flood (Risk) Management and Mitigation Projects that fits in the BDP. Moreover, MRC and line agencies should be in a better position to refine the IWRM strategy and plan considering the flood risk management as an integrated component.
Besides this function of the FMMP-C2 regarding the enhancement of the BDP, we also see other components of the FMMP converge in this Component 2. A substantial synergy will be achieved when the different components are linked together. Component 2 integrates and coordinates the different flood risk management measures, both structural and non-structural. As such, the Component 2 will contribute to MRC’s overall role in knowledge base development, capacity building and regional cooperation.
These two functions of the Component 2, i.e. enhancement of the IWRM planning process and the integration of the different FMMP components, make that this project needs the holistic, integrated and balanced approach. Such approach involves a considerable degree of process management, rather than a straight forward production of project deliverables. This process also involves consultation and cooperation with regional organisations, academic institutions and civil society organisations that have extensive experience in flood management. Yet, the establishment of sustainable flood risk management capacity in the MRC and the national line agencies remains the guiding principle in ”thinking the way” through the project.
Capacity building (CB) is a major objective of the FMMP-C2. We realise that CB is a complex long-term process dependant on many internal and external factors with many uncertainties (e.g. brain-drain, local cultural context, etc). In our understanding, CB comprises of: institutional development, institutional environment creation, human resources development, development of networks for information and knowledge exchange (Alaerts, 1995). During the inception we should define what, realistically, can be achieved in the 18 months of the implementation phase. |
