Water management in times of scarcity in the Mekong Region

The document examines water scarcity in the Mekong Region, highlighting a governance structure often dominated by top-down authority and a lack of enforceable water allocation rights. It notes that urban and industrial needs are typically prioritized over agriculture, leaving vulnerable groups—particularly women and the rural poor—at higher risk. The briefing also discusses the influence of international financial institutions and political motivations on irrigation infrastructure and the projected impacts of climate change, including increased temperature and seasonal rainfall uncertainty, which threaten agricultural productivity and food security.

• Water governance in the Mekong Region is characterized by top-down authority from apex bodies and a lack of enforceable frameworks for water allocation. While Cambodia's 2007 Water Law provides a right to use water for vital human needs, most countries in the region lack binding contracts guaranteeing individual water volumes.
• Water allocation priorities favor high-density metropolitan areas and high-economic-value industries over agriculture during times of scarcity, which threatens food security and farmer livelihoods.
• Vulnerability to water scarcity is unevenly distributed; wealthier households and those near infrastructure are better positioned to manage risks, while women and the rural poor are often the last to benefit from water projects.
• International financial institutions, specifically the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, have significantly influenced national agendas by promoting irrigation infrastructure to manage agricultural water inefficiencies.
• Political motivations drive the promotion of large-scale water projects, such as the Thai water grid, Khong Chi Mun, and Green Isan, primarily as a means for politicians to gain votes from constituents.
• Climate change is projected to increase temperatures across the basin, with daily maximum and minimum increases between 1.5-4.5 ˚C. While annual precipitation may increase by 3-14%, high uncertainty remains, and dry-season precipitation is expected to decline in the Mekong Delta, Tonle Sap, and Cambodian floodplains.
• Climate hazards and adaptive capacities vary by country; Vietnam and Thailand face greater hazards, while Thailand and Vietnam possess better adaptive capacities than Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Cambodia.

APA

Aung, M. T. (n.d.). Water management in times of scarcity in the Mekong Region. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/sn-briefings-mta-8mar.pdf

Chicago

Aung, May Thazin. Water management in times of scarcity in the Mekong Region. Stockholm Environment Institute, n.d. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/sn-briefings-mta-8mar.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Aung |first1=May Thazin |title=Water management in times of scarcity in the Mekong Region |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/sn-briefings-mta-8mar.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{aungndwater, author = {Aung, May Thazin}, title = {{Water management in times of scarcity in the Mekong Region}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/sn-briefings-mta-8mar.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }