The project "Promoting water security and environment for transboundary river basins of Ma River, Neun River, Ca River and related coastal areas" is in accordance with the orientation and vision of the Vietnamese Government in developing sustainable water resource development.

The Law on Water Resources was passed by the 15th National Assembly on November 27, 2023, effective from July 1, 2024, replacing the 2012 Law on Water Resources with many contents on ensuring water source security, promoting cross-border cooperation.

The project "Promoting water security and environment for transboundary river basins of Ma River, Neun River, Ca River and related coastal areas" is in accordance with the orientation and vision of the Vietnamese Government in developing sustainable water resource development.

The overall goal of the project is to help Vietnam and Laos manage freshwater resources and ecosystem health in the transboundary river basins of the Ma River and Neun-Ca River and coastal areas by creating a favorable environment for cross-border cooperation activities.

The governments of Vietnam and Laos strongly support this project and will work closely with the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and partners in the two countries to address impacts of climate change as well as improving natural resource management in the two river basins.

The project is implemented with 5 expected results including achieving consensus among countries on key cross-border issues; enhancing water security, ensuring environmental sustainability and predictability in basins and coastal areas; strengthening joint cooperative activities; reversing the trend of land degradation in the two basins; enhancing the capacity of relevant national agencies and sharing experiences.

The project's efforts to enhance water and environmental security in the Ma and Neun-Ca river basins are closely aligned with FAO's 2022-2031 Strategic Framework, promoting the "four better points" of production better, better nutrition, better environment and better life.

By facilitating cross-border cooperation on water resources, the project contributes to healthier ecosystems and is the foundation for sustainable food systems, improving livelihoods and a better future for communities in Vietnam and Laos.

The Ma and Neun-Ca are two adjacent transboundary rivers of similar size, similar characteristics and similar environmental and water management challenges.

Key challenges include water resource use and climate change, which have significantly altered flow characteristics on main rivers and tributaries in both basins; deforestation and changes in forest cover affect runoff and sediment loads; expanding agricultural land area; increased water withdrawals due to rapid population growth and economic development, impacts on environmental flows, and emergency releases from dams during extreme flood events cause flooding.

At the Project Kick-off Workshop, scientists, managers, and international partners exchanged content and information related to project activities. From there, the came up with ideas and contributed ideas for project implementation as well as future plans to promote cross-border cooperation, build a suitable river basin management framework, and enhance water resource security, environment and gender equality.