GWP Southeast Asia recently organized country workshops to conduct a ten year (2000-2010) evaluation of IWRM implementation in Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia and Vietnam. The evaluations have provided platforms for Southeast Asian countries and stakeholders to exchange knowledge and experiences of the IWRM process and to promote international cooperation for better water resources management. A report with all the Southeast Asian countries will be available shortly at www.gwpsea.org.

Involving small water service providers (SWSPs) as partners in sustainable water service provision has undergone a major change. Prior to the efforts of GWP Philippines and its Partners, SWSPs were not formally recognised as government partners in achieving the MDG target on water service provision.

In May, GWP Cambodia launched a report on river basin management in Asia together with the Asia Development Bank (ADB) and the Cambodia National Mekong Committee, outlining results from a 4-year programme, including an investment roadmap for water and related development. The report, which will serve as a case study for the application of IWRM in Cambodia, is available in Khmer or English and can be ordered on the GWP Cambodia website.

GWP Laos, established in 2003, passed an important milestone in 2010 when it became an accredited Country Water Partnership.

The Vietnam Water Partnership brought together trainers from the Vietnam Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, UNESCAP and Cap-Net for the first time.

In 2010 GWP Malaysia organised the second pilot national workshop on integrated flood management. This brought together staff from the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, the National Safety Council, Town and Country Planning Department, the Malaysian Remote Sensing Agency and town councils.

In 2010, for the first time, GWP Southeast Asia and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) jointly organised the Expert Group Meeting, Monitoring Investment and Results in the Water Sector in Asia and Pacific, strengthening ties between the two organisations.

In 2010 the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and GWP Southeast Asia held their first joint workshop, Risks and Impacts from Extreme Events of Floods in ASEAN Countries, setting a clear precedent for future cooperation.

At a GWP Myanmar-organized dialogue on 19-20 August 2010 participants concluded that government institutions responsible for water must provide national legislation and policies to foster an integrated approach to managing the country’s water resources. The dialogue, “Formulation of Coordination Mechanism to Engage Institutional Reforms to Foster IWRM among Government Institutions,” was a follow-up to last year’s dialogue. Capacity building training workshops on IWRM were also organized by GWP Myanmar in September.

In July 2010 GWP South Asia conducted a 3-day dialogue and training workshop with the Water Integrity Network (WIN) during which they explored areas of possible strategic cooperation and were also exposed to water integrity methods, tools and materials.