Regional Technical Workshop on Water Scarcity

The Asia Pacific Water Scarcity Programme (WSP) has been implementing core activities in Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam over the past year. FAO is bringing together all technical stakeholders involved in the WSP for a Regional Technical Workshop on Water Scarcity to take stock of progress, review the WSP approach, and gain stakeholder insights on the best ‘way forward.’

The workshop was held in Bangkok from 25 and 26 March 2024 as this workshop is a critical component of the FAO's initiative to address the pressing challenge of water scarcity in the Asia-Pacific region. 

 

Key Areas for Review during the Workshop were:  

  1. Political Engagement and Multidisciplinary Collaboration 

  2. Capacity Building through National Water Accounting Training 

  3. Advancement of National Water Accounting Roadmaps 

  4. Effectiveness of National Water Scarcity Action Plans (WSAPs) 

  5. Water Governance and Tenure 

With objectives: 

  1. To foster a comprehensive understanding of water scarcity initiatives within participating countries. 

  2. To share best practices and lessons learned. 

  3. To Develop a collaborative strategy incorporating stakeholder feedback. 

  4. To Discuss the integration of water governance and tenure assessments within the water accounting framework. 

Represented by the Ministry of National Development Planning and GWP SEA for Indonesia implementation, Mr Ewin Sofian Winata and Mr. Fany Wedahuditama attended and presented the progress of WSP Indonesia implementation by reinforcing the foundation of water scarcity management in Indonesia (from water accounting to integrated water resources management). It contains a brief overview of Indonesia’s national strategy for water resources which is planned in the National Long-Term Development Plan (2025-2045) and Medium-Term Development Plan 2025-2029 Technocratic toward the 2045 Golden Indonesia Vision, then success and challenges in implementing water accounting and allocation which found in water management regulation framework, and challenges in the inclusion of groundwater, water allocation support and options, data and information, also with the cross-sector water accounting unit.

Then emphasises utilise the water resources platforms that have been existing in Indonesia such as the Water Resources Data Centre and the National Hydrometeorology Hydrogeology (SIH3) Hydrology Information System owned by the Ministry of Public Works and Housing. Lastly, it presented the areas that could benefit from further international technical support for each issue such as data information, technical guidance, cross-sector working groups and more.  

 

Overall, the workshop was expected to the outcomes of: 

  1. Enhanced alignment among stakeholders. 

  2. Recommendations for addressing capacity and governance gaps. 

  3. Refined strategies for National Water Accounting Roadmaps and Water Scarcity Action Plans (WSAPs). 

  4. Strengthened regional collaboration on water scarcity. 

Please contact Mr Fany Wedahuditama through e-mail for more information on Water Security Program (WSP).

 

This Regional Technical Workshop on Water Scarcity is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian Water Partnership and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.