Pathways for effective groundwater governance in the least-developed-country context of the Lao PDR

Abstract

Instituting effective groundwater governance is highly challenging in a least developed country such as the Lao PDR where groundwater resources need to be developed for a variety of reasons but the levels of understanding, awareness and technical capacity are extremely limited. This paper discusses the current state of knowledge and management of groundwater and suggests some pathways forward. Whilst the level of governance remains very low, there is growing interest in tackling the entrenched technical and non-technical issues and constraints. Various initiatives have recently emerged, resulting in positive institutional change.

Keywords:

• least developed countries
• Laos
• water resources development
• groundwater management

Acknowledgements

The work presented herein was made possible through the ACIAR-supported project: Enhancing the Resilience and Productivity of Rainfed Dominated Systems in Lao PDR through Sustainable Groundwater Use (Ref. No. LWR/2010/081) and contributes to the CGIAR research programs on Water, Land and Ecosystems and Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security. The authors thank Mr Nicholas Lombardi (consultant for GHD) and Ms Anna (Snowy) Haiblen (IWMI) for many useful discussions. We are also appreciative of the invitation by Dr John Dore and Dr Lilao Bouapao to discuss the ideas for this paper in June 2013 as part of the 2nd Mekong Ganga Dialogue, hosted by the M-POWER network.