Prime Minister Hun Manet Proposes Strategic Enhancements for Cambodian Water Resource Management

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet delivered a comprehensive outline for the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology to advance its strategic oversight and development of water resources and meteorology sectors, backed by responsive governance and technological advancement.

On April 10, at the conclusion of the 2023 annual meeting of the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology at Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel, the prime minister presented a nine-point guide to augment the management and safeguarding of water resources and natural ecosystems more efficiently.

The nine recommendations are outlined as below:

1. Institutional reinforcement is key. The Ministry, along with its affiliates, is encouraged to strengthen institutional capacity through the development of human resources, the integration of cutting-edge technologies, incentive provision, and bolstered cooperation with pertinent partners. The aim is to better manage water bodies informed by an integrated water resources management philosophy.
2. The Prime Minister emphasized hastening the drafting and acceptance of crucial regulatory frameworks, such as Sub-decrees on Water Licenses and Water Quality, to equip the Ministry with the necessary tools for jurisdictional oversight.
3. A collaborative effort across the board is called for to tackle issues such as deforestation in critical areas like Zone 3 of Tonle Sap Lake, the demarcation of flood forest territories, and the prevention of illegal land infringements in and around water sources throughout Cambodia.
4. Embracing a holistic “Dynamics of Stakeholder System” approach, the Ministry and allied bodies must strengthen their roles and duties to prevent and mitigate calamities such as floods and droughts, and improve upon high-quality hydraulic infrastructure as well as upgrade flood and weather forecasting systems.
5. Augmenting the capability of water supplies is vital, with initiatives like constructing dams and reliable distribution systems, underpinned by scientific research, to ensure adequate and clean water supply and to counteract potential flood and drought effects.
6. The Cambodia National Mekong Committee is urged to intensify its collaborative endeavors with regional and international partners within the framework of the Mekong River Commission, ensuring the sustainable evolution of water resource management.
7. Robust partnerships between the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology and the Ministry of Economy and Finance are pivotal in securing the finances for hydraulic infrastructure management while seeking extraneous funding assistance from global development entities.
8. Beyond infrastructural achievements, a focus on the enhancement of soft skills, particularly in weather prediction and data accuracy, is essential for supporting diverse sectors’ planning and response.
9. With disturbing forecasts from the United Nations predicting record high global temperatures due to climate phenomena including greenhouse gases and El Niño, the Ministry is urged to preemptively explore new mechanisms for water reservoir management to brace for impending weather irregularities, ensuring water availability for agriculture and citizenry.

The Prime Minister galvanized leaders to up their commitment, innovation, and execution of duties with professionalism to foster new accomplishments. Further, he appealed for continuous cooperation between various sectors, nonprofits, and private enterprises to advance and refine the Ministry’s operations, promoting a system of merit and substantial nationwide development for the future generation.