Prolonged drought, recurrent floods and landslides hit hard in some areas of Thailand while other parts are affected to varying degrees. The main causes of these natural disasters include but are not limited to deforestation, water resources management, infrastructure for water reservoirs and drainage and increasing evidence of climate change. Scientists have high confidence that global temperatures will continue to rise and cause even greater impacts.

To reduce losses and damages from these droughts and floods, Thailand has taken important steps in enhancing and expanding its integrated and sustainable water resource management practices. The Department of Water Resources and the Thai-German Climate Programme – Water component under Thai-German Climate Programme (TGCP) of GIZ Thailand recently held their first Operational Planning Workshop.  The participating water-related agencies  defined roles, responsibilities and main tasks. Capacity development strategies, pilot areas, risks and success factors were amongst the topics discussed and brainstormed. As a result, the two-day workshop saw the establishment of working groups and an activity plan. To move forward, a workshop on measuring reporting and verification and monitoring & evaluation workshops for improvement in water information and data management for adaptation was also held, followed by a pre-assessment site selection in Uthai Thani, Chachoengsao and Petchaburi provinces as part of climate resilient water resources management at the sub-national level.

Mr. Suwat Piampajjai, Director General of the Department of Water Resources said: “I believe TGCP Water can help strengthen the collaboration of all parties involved in implementing ecosystems-based approach adaptation in pilot areas. In addition, this project can support the development of monitoring, reporting and verification mechanisms to evaluate efficiency of climate adaptation in the water sector and capacity building development for staff through knowledge transfer by foreign experts. The operational planning workshop today is of tremendous importance.  It offers an opportunity for all parties involved to discuss and plan activities of the project for future coordination.”

Thai-German Climate Programme – Water component is a part of the Thai-German Climate Programme of GIZ Thailand and financed by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). It aims to support Thailand in improving national regulatory framework conditions for sustainable water resource management with ecosystem-based solutions for preventing and reducing climate and disaster risks. Its key partners include Office of National Water Resources, Department of Water Resources, Royal Irrigation Department and Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning. In its effort to maximise finance for the implementation, there is also engagement of the private sector. TGCP-Water’s alignment of work also contributes to Sustainable Development Goals. (SDG 6-Water, SDG 11-Habitation, 13-Climate and SDG 15-Ecosystem.)