1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Book project: Making sense of research for sustainable land management (GLUES)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

University of Applied Science, TH Köln (TH Köln) - Germany

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Vietnam Academy for Water Resources (VAWR) - Viet Nam

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

27/07/2015

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Reference(s) to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Technologies

2.1 Short description of the Approach

The VGTB River Basin Information Centre (RBIC) offers decision support tools for stakeholders and aims at providing comprehensive information and consulting services to the water and land users according to their demands.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Aims / objectives: Sufficient and sustainable water resource management at river basin scale can only be achieved if it is based on dialogue between all relevant stakeholders, and supported by adequate data. It follows then, that a robust system of monitoring, evaluation, reporting and communication is needed. The lack of appropriate management strategies which would bring these tools together has been underlined by stakeholders, and observed by researchers, involved in the research project LUCCi - Land Use and Climate Change Interactions in the VGTB River Basin. In order to offer a comprehensive decision-making support system, based on scientific knowledge and research results, the Institute for Technology and Resources Management (ITT, TH Köln, Germany) in cooperation with the Vietnam Academy for Water Resources (VAWR, Hanoi, Vietnam) established the VGTB River Basin Information Centre in Da Nang. The overall objective of RBIC is to support efficient and sustainable water and land use. The support provided for the implementation of the water saving technology for paddy systems is one of the services offered by the centre.

Methods: The VGTB RBIC is an independent, local institution administrated by the German and Vietnamese coordinators of LUCCi, financed by project sources and located at the Central Department of the Vietnam Academy of Water Resources in Da Nang. As a scientific organization, the VGTB RBIC provides the advantages of impartiality, a detailed knowledge base and a broad interdisciplinary perspective. Through different dissemination activities, such as visits to relevant institutions, information material (brochures, flyers in Vietnamese) as well as training courses and capacity building measures, the relevant stakeholders are well-informed about the activities of the Information Centre. On demand, the following products and services are provided in the VGTB-RBIC: (a) Thematic maps on land use, hydrology and river basin development; (b) A comprehensive database of the VGTB river basin (VGTB RBIS - River Basin Information System, open source) (c) VGTB State of the Basin Report as a decision-support instrument: the report was prepared by the LUCCi research team and provides relevant information on climatic, environmental and socioeconomic data and trends; (d) Hydro-meteorological, hydrograph and salinity data; (e) Flood and drought risk assessment; (f) Scenarios and modelling (reservoir operation, salinity intrusion, irrigation management scenarios); (g) Organization of meetings and discussions on key issues of the development of the VGTB; (f) Training and capacity building services related to the demands of stakeholders.

Role of stakeholders: Thus a heterogeneous stakeholder platform has been established in the case study region that includes scientific institutions, policy makers, public administration representatives as well as private sector companies. It is clear that the major problems of the VGTB River Basin can be only addressed, and adequate solutions identified, if based on active cross-sectoral stakeholder participation. Therefore, the interaction among stakeholders and RBIC plays a key role: the services are offered for the stakeholders, and stakeholder feedback is the basis for providing adequate information services and conducting applied based research.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• project/ programme based

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

The Approach focused mainly on other activities than SLM (Water management, agriculture, irrigation, water availability: support the local water users in the implementation of adequate water management strategies)

1. Establish a communication platform to discuss water and land use related problems, and create transparency among water users.
2. Support and foster the science-policy-society dialogue offering a cross-sectoral neutral space for discussion, consulting and capacity building for all stakeholders and water users (farmers, decision-makers, public institutions, private sector companies).
3. Provide a comprehensive information service and decision support system to stakeholders according to their demands. The following specific products and services are provided by the VGTB-RBIC: Thematic maps on land uses, hydrology and river basin development • Comprehensive database of the VGTB river basin (VGTB RBIS - River Basin Information System, open source) • VGTB State of the Basin Report as a decision support instrument: the report was prepared by the LUCCi research team and provides relevant information on climatic, environmental and socioeconomic data and trends • Hydro-meteorological, hydrograph and salinity data • Flood and drought risk assessment • Scenarios and modelling (reservoir operation, salinity intrusion, irrigation management scenarios) • Organization of meetings and discussions on key issues of the development of the VGTB • Training and capacity building services related to the demands of stakeholders.


The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: The lack of communication between the relevant institutions and water users, the demand for comprehensive decision-support instruments, difficulties with data availability - typically distributed and available at different institutions, as well as conflicts over resource use, were the main problems addressed by the approach. The conflicts caused by the rapid expansion of hydropower since 2008 in the VGTB river basin have especially demonstrated the inadequate participation of local stakeholders in planning processes. Hydropower development has adverse effects on downstream water availability, especially during the dry season, affecting drinking water supply and irrigation.

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	passive	Stakeholder analysis (including of all ineterested groups)
planning	passive	Local and regional decision makers are involved: workshops, discussions and surveys in order to collect relevant socio-economic and land use data, identify research demand and challenges
implementation	external support	Land user decide on whether and which technologies they want to implement.
monitoring/ evaluation	none
Research	interactive	Land users provide relevant information and data on their farms (size, yields) for research purposes. 'Aims/Objectives” elaborated and prepared for the stakeholders by Vietnamese and international researchers based on scientific results and data from land users.

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

• mainly SLM specialists, following consultation with land users

Explain:

Decisions on the method of implementing the SLM Technology were made by mainly by SLM specialists with consultation of land users

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

• decision makers/ experts/ local scientists

Form of training:

• demonstration areas

Subjects covered:

key aspects of an integrated river basin management (monitoring, data management and hydrological modelling); current situation, development and challenges in the VGTB river basin; training on adequate tools and technologies (alternative irrigation strategies for paddy fields: reuse of return flow)

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Specify whether advisory service is provided:

• at permanent centres

Describe/ comments:

Name of method used for advisory service: River Basin Information Center - RBIC; Key elements: Stakeholder Workshops, Trainings on alternative irrigation strategies for paddy fields: reuse of return flow

Advisory service is very adequate to ensure the continuation of land conservation activities; Researchers (VAWR): can offer trainings and conduct dissemination activities; Local institutions (e.g. People's Committee of Quang Nam Province): training, dissemination activities, financial support

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, greatly

Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:

• local

Specify type of support:

• capacity building/ training

• research

Give further details:

Training for decision makers and professionals; Research: hydrological modeling

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

management of Approach aspects were ad hoc monitored by project staff through observations

management of Approach aspects were ad hoc monitored by project staff through measurements

There were several changes in the Approach as a result of monitoring and evaluation: The approach was based on the stakeholder-research interactions. The approach objectives and methodology was adapted to the local conditions and challenges.

There were no changes in the Technology as a result of monitoring and evaluation

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

Yes

Specify topics:

• sociology
• technology

• hydrological modeling

Give further details and indicate who did the research:

The implementation of return flow from paddy fields as alternative irrigation technology under local conditions was performed under the framework of LUCCi project (ITT).

Research was carried out both on station and on-farm

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• < 2,000

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

Approach costs were met by the following donors: international (International (German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, BMBF)): 70.0%; government (National (Vietnam Academy for Water Resources, VAWR) ): 30.0%

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• yes

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The approach is managed by researchers. This has the advantages of impartiality, a detailed knowledge base and a broad interdisciplinary perspective.
Adaptability to stakeholders needs. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Strong interaction between the management of the VGTB RBIC and regional stakeholders is necessary: organize regular meetings and workshops; Stakeholders regularly inform the centre about their information requirements.)
Monitoring, evaluation, reporting and communication are integrated, summarized and carried out by one institution.

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
It needs long-term commitment from research, from extension, and from the government to support such a service for the benefit of all people and the environment.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
The VGTB RBIC is a new institution, unknown to the local stakeholders.	Provide dissemination activities and trainings in order to explain the decision making process and the role of VGTB RBIC as support instrument.
The approach was developed as part of a research project. There is the risk, that the scale of activities and services will be reduced after the end of the project duration.	Try to obtain financial resources by the local and public institutions in order to develop and manage the center after the end of the project.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Ribbe, L., Viet, Quoc Trinh, ABM Firoz, Anh Thu Nguyen, Uyen Nguyen, Alexandra Nauditt (2016) Integrated River Basin Management in the Vu Gia Thu Bon Basin

Available from where? Costs?

Nauditt, Ribbe (editors) Land Use and Climate Change Interaction in Central Vietnam, Springer Book Series Water Resources Management and Development