Mekong Forum on Water, Food and Energy. 2012. Presentation from Session 6: Hydropower Governance and its Implications on Negotiations and Resettlement

1. Livelihood Vulnerability and Sub-Government
Position Analysis on the Possible Impacts of
Mainstream Hydropower Development
(A case study of vulnerable livelihood in lowland area of
Takeo Province, Cambodia)
2nd Mekong Forum on Water, Food and Energy
13-14 November 2012
Research Fellow: Socheath SOU

3. Main Objectives
• To identify the livelihood dependency of the
communities living in the low-land area of
Takeo Province on the Mekong mainstream,
• To determine alternative livelihood options of
those communities,
• To examine sub-government’s position on
hydropower development, and
• To access the effectiveness of current water
governance practices within the province.

4. Key Questions (1)
• How do rural communities make use the
advantages of Mekong seasonal water’s regimes?
At what level?
• What are alternatives or livelihood options for
those rural communities?
• Do local governments are aware of the risks of
hydropower development in the country or along
the Mekong mainstream? How would they
describe the costs/benefits of such the
development?

5. Key Questions (2)
• What is the sub-national government position on
hydropower issues?
• What are the common practices of water
governance in the area?
• Would the current practices of water governance
equally share benefits and risks?
• Are there any challenges in local water
governance in the province?
• Are there any social inclusion and exclusion in
decision making in the governance of water
resources?

6. Approaches
• Engage in a wide-range of stakeholders, a so-
called participatory approach,
– sub-national government level and commune
level,
– local villagers who are living along the low-land
area in Takeo Province
– findings could be simply generalized into or
reflected to the context of the water governance
of the lower Mekong Basin in Cambodia

7. Coverage Area
• The research will focus in four difference
districts in Takeo Province residing in the low-
land area,
– Borei Chulsa,
– Angkor Borie,
– Koh Andeth and
– Kirivong.

8. Methods (1)
• The research uses qualitative and quantitative
approach
• Data will be derived from both secondary and
primary data,
– Household questionnaire based survey,
– Community meetings, and
– focus group discussions
– Key informants will be made with all the relevant
governments (sub-national government’s bodies) and
NGOs agencies

9. Methods (2)
• A study case of the local water governance
practices will be produced.
• Field observations are also included in the
data collection process.
• A provincial consultation workshop

10. Preliminary findings (1)
• The man-made infrastructure mostly comes
from a series of water canals and waterways
• The province consists of the typical plain wet
area for Cambodia, covering rice fields and
other agricultural plantations.
• Takeo’s economy consists basically of
agricultural farming and its related sub-sector,
including fishery, rice and fruit cropping.

11. Preliminary findings (2)
• The floods usually stay long period of times, from
July to November
• the increase of water level on the upper Mekong
mainstream and heavy rainfall in Takeo Province
• big dams in Mekong delta for agricultural
purposes.
• Flood frequency in these areas is very high and
“living with the flood” can almost be considered
a way of life for people living in the four districts.

12. Water levels (in meter), measured at Kampong Ampil Station in Borei Chulsa
district.
6
1998
5 1999
2000
4 2001
2002
2003
3
2004
2005
2
2006
2007
1 2008
2009
0
Nov
May
Aug
Apr
Dec
Jan
March
Sep
June
Jul
Oct
Feb
An average of rainfall levels started from 1,000mm to 1,200mm are regarded as
medium level and suitable for rice cropping in all areas within the province.

13. Preliminary findings (3)
• Even so, there still have victims of the flood
and trapped with poverty. Poor families have
tried to get addition incomes from off-village
jobs in cities.
• Water privatization in Cambodia has been
adopted through several legal frameworks.
• Groups of people have taken the opportunity
and have tried to dominate water resource
management.

15. Preliminary findings (4)
• It is found out that a good water management
policy and participation from local farmer give
large and sustainable use water resource.
• Farmer water user groups have been
established.

16. Observation/Conclusion
• Water management and governance are believed
to stay very critical.
• Government plays a very important role in water
governance and fairly use of water
• Water governance is generally a new concept for
local people.
• People has very poor knowledge on hydropower
• Livelihood is found to have huge dependency on
river basin.

17. Thank you for your attention!