Water security threats demand
new collaborations
Lessons from the
Mekong River Basin
Sponsored by
Water security threats demand new collaborations:
Lessons from the Mekong River Basin
Preface2
Executive summary3
Growing threats to water security in the Mekong River Basin 7
The policy environment: one step forward, one step back15
The status of collaborative efforts in the Mekong River Basin19
The promise of technology and innovation23
Conclusion: slow but steady progress towards water security29
Contents
Water security threats demand new collaborations:
Lessons from the Mekong River Basin
Water security threats demand new
collaborations: Lessons from the Mekong River
Basin
is an Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)
report, commissioned by DuPont as part of the
Global Food Security Index (GFSI) research
programme. This report discusses the key
fndings from the research on water security
challenges and solutions in the Mekong River
Basin.
Robert Smith, research analyst, was the
project manager. Katherine Stewart,
consulting analyst, provided research,
analytical and editorial support. Hilary Steiner,
North American director of public policy, and
Sumana Rajarethnam, principal of public
policy, served as senior advisers. Peter Ouvry
provided editorial support and Mike Kenny
was responsible for layout and design.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Jon Keesecker for
lending research and analytical support to this
project. We would also like to extend thanks
to the experts interviewed for this report,
including Dr Richard Cronin (The Stimson
Center), Maureen Harris (International Rivers),
Robyn Johnston (International Water
Management Institute), Dr Peter King (Institute
for Global Environmental Studies) and Dr
Bjoern Ole Sander (International Rice
Research Institute).
Preface
Note: The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed in this study are those of the author(s) and do
not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsor. The sponsor does not guarantee the accuracy of the data
included in this work. The boundaries, colours, denominations and other information shown on any map in
this work or related materials do not imply any judgment on the part of the sponsor concerning the legal
status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries.”
Water security threats demand new collaborations:
Lessons from the Mekong River Basin
Water security is often understood as the
capacity of a population to safeguard access
to water resources in suffcient quantity and
quality to sustain livelihoods and
socioeconomic development.1 In practice,
the concept embraces issues of health and
sanitation, food security, natural disasters, and
economic development. It is diffcult to
overstate the importance of water. Agriculture
accounts for 70% of water withdrawals
worldwide, and 1.5bn people work in water-
1 The UN Educational, Scientifc and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).(2012).
International Hydrological Programme, Strategic Plan of the Eighth Phase
.
related sectors (agriculture, energy and
environmental protection, among others).2 Yet
a large part of the world’s population lacks
adequate access to water resources.
Globally, more than 600m people do not
have access to clean drinking water and a
staggering 2.4bn lack adequate sanitation.
And the challenge of water provision will only
continue to grow: in 2025,1.8bn people will
live in countries with absolute water scarcity,
and by 2050 water withdrawals for agriculture
2 UNESCO.(2016).
United Nations World Water Day Development Report 2016: Water and Jobs
.
Executive
summary
Note: Baseline water stress measures total annual water withdrawals (municipal, industrial and agricultural) expressed as a percentage of the total annual available blue water. Higher values (values
are between 0 and 5) indicate more competition among users, and therefore higher water stress. Scores reflect average of countries by region as designated by the United Nations Statistics Division.
Sources: Gassert, F., P. Reig, T. Luo, and A. Maddocks.2013. Aqueduct country and river basin rankings: a weighted aggregation of spatially distinct hydrological indicators. Working paper. Washington, DC: World Resources Institute, December 2013. Available online at:
http://wri/publication/aqueduct-country-river-basin-rankings.
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
Regional water stress (baseline)
0–5(see note)
We
ster
n A
sia
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tral
Asia
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tern
Asi
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Sou
th A
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eric
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We
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clud
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MR
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itho
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)
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