The MRC’s Basin Development Plan (BDP) Programme sees the Mekong River as part of a bigger picture. Complementing national planning processes, it aims to ensure that the use of the basin’s water and related resources contributes to sustainable economic development, with poverty alleviation as a primary goal.

Understanding basin development planning begins with the environmental, social and economic issues the river faces. It also requires understanding riparian countries’ interests and assisting with the mutual utilisation of the river for each MRC Member Country.

Valuing the spirit of cooperation – the BDP Strategy

As the Lower Mekong Basin is rapidly changing, Member Countries have prioritised the need to develop basin-wide environmental and social objectives, which move towards sustainable basin development.

Approved in 2011, the first Integrated Water Resources Management-based (IWRM) Basin Development Strategy sets out how Mekong Countries will share, utilise, manage and conserve the Mekong water and related resources. The Basin Development Strategy is implemented through the 2011-2015 MRC Strategic Plan, national planning cycles and governance processes. The integration of regional perspectives within national planning is a crux of the Strategy. Likewise, it is important that national perspectives be incorporated into future updates of the Strategy to increase its effectiveness and implementation. This “circle of ownership” of the Strategy between the MRC and its Member Countries provides the opportunity for strong networks, broad understanding, and ownership as the MRC moves towards core river basin management functions.

A basin-wide approach to development

With the future of the Mekong’s water resources in mind, the BDP Programme successfully develops basin-wide development scenario assessments.

Scenarios provide a structured method for comparing future water resource development and management options. They also provide information that governments and other stakeholders need in order to identify the most acceptable compromise between resource development and resource protection in various parts of the basin. As part of basin-wide planning, development scenarios have bolstered trust and cooperation among Mekong countries.

Recent assessments of basin-wide development scenarios covered a range of environmental, social, and economic criteria. The scenario assessments provided, for the first time, information the Member Countries need to address their concerns and develop a shared understanding of the opportunities and risks of further water resources development.

More information 

Main Report of the Assessment of Basin-wide Development Scenarios, April 2011

Technical Note 1: Scoping and Planning, March 2009

Technical Note 2: Assessment methodology, October 2009

Technical Note 3: Hydrological Assessment, February 2010

Technical Note 4: Impacts to River Morphology, June 2010

Technical Note 5: Impacts on Water Quality, June 2010

Technical Note 6: Power Benefits, June 2010

Technical Note 7: Agriculture Iimpacts, June 2010

Technical Note 8: Impacts of Changes in Salinity Intrusion, June 2010

Technical Note 9: Impacts on Wetlands and Biodiversity, June 2010

Technical Note 10: Impacts on the Tonle Sap Ecosystem, June 2010

Technical Note 11: Impacts on Fisheries , June 2010

Technical Note 12: Social Assessment, July 2010

Technical Note 13: Benefits, Risks and Impacts of Basin-wide Development Scenarios, June 2010

Working together towards a common goal

Fisher groups in Cambodia’s Tonle Sap, ship captains in Viet Nam’s Mekong Delta, farmers on the river banks of Lao PDR and river based organisations located in Thailand all have one common interest – the sustainable development of the Mekong River Basin’s water resources.

As part of the Basin’s development process, the BDP aims to promote participation and joint cooperation among stakeholder groups throughout the region. One way that the BDP includes stakeholders in the basin development process is through annual regional stakeholder forums.

With over 250 community representatives, BDP brought together researchers, development agencies, national and regional civil society organisations, government agencies and the private sector to discuss options available for sustainable use of the Basin’s water resources, in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

The Programme is extending its stakeholder engagement through participatory approaches, to ensure that the widest possible ranges of voices from communities impacted by potential basin development are heard by national authorities.