Water Resources Management Research Capacity Development Programme (WRMRCDP)

The 'Water Resources Management Research Capacity Development Programme' is a five year program being undertaken by the Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI) in conjunction with the University of Sydney and the Royal University of Phnom Penh. It began in July 2006 and is scheduled to be completed in 2011. The program is funded by the Australian aid agency, AusAID.

The goal of the program is to improve the use and governance of water resources in Cambodia to increase agricultural production and sustainable use of natural resources. The goals of the program will be achieved through:

• Developing high quality data and knowledge in water resource research and management in Cambodia
• Improving water resource research and management capacity in Cambodia
• Dissemination of reliable and high quality knowledge and information on water resource management

Approximately 85 percent of Cambodia’s population live and work in rural areas, and most depend on rice production as their primary source of livelihood. Many farm households, however, are entirely dependent on rainfall for food production. In terms of increasing agricultural productivity and improving rural livelihoods, therefore, one of the main challenges confronting Cambodian farmers concerns access to adequate water resources for irrigation and other household uses. Sound water management thus plays a fundamental role in underpinning rural development in Cambodia.

Although the concept and practice of irrigation has been used previously in Cambodia the concepts of watershed management such as Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), Participatory Irrigation Management and Development (PIMD) and Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT) are new to the country. As a result there is a marked need for improved knowledge on the dynamics, options and constraints of water resources management. This lack of experience also results in a similarly important need for increased capacity for improved governance and management of water resources at national as well as local level.

Funding body

AusAID

Project duration

July 2006-June 2011

Researchers

• University of Sydney: Professor Philip Hirsch, Dr Paulo Santos, Mr Nathan Wales, Ms Kate Griffiths
• Cambodia Development Resource Institute: Mr Kim Sour, Mr Chem Phalla, Mr Nang Phirun, Mr Ros Bansok

Publications

• Chem P. and Someth, P. (2011) Use of hydrological knowledge and community participation for improving decision-making on irrigation allocation CDRI Working Paper 49: Phnom Penh
• Chem, P., Someth, P., Hirsch, P. and Connell, J. (2011) Working with hydrological knowledge of catchments to improve irrigation management CDRI Policy Brief 01: Phnom Penh
• Cambodia Development Resource Institute (2008) Framing research on water resources management and governance in Cambodia: A literature review CDRI Working paper 37: Phnom Penh

Links

To visit the project website go to Water Project