M-POWER at USER

Purpose and Approach

The M-POWER program aims to improve livelihood security, human and ecosystem health in the Mekong Region through democratising water governance.

Research and activities by USER staff support an international program and network of the same name (see: www.mpowernet.org).

Action research and direct engagement is an important feature of activities in this program. We attend meetings and help run and contribute to dialogue activities at different levels and with different stakeholder groups. We contribute to efforts to build capacity for institutional, political and policy analysis of water governance issues in mainland Southeast Asia.

Our more theoretical work hopes to change the way people think about states, authority and governance. It is about going beyond governance by government and participation by stakeholders. In particular we have been looking closely at issues of scale, space and expertise in assessment, deliberation and decision-making. We are also interested in the politics of vulnerability and resilience around “risk management” and what its implications are for the pursuit of social justice.

Photo Gallery

Public Documents

Discussion paper about a sustainability measurement approach led by the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Forum. (4834) working paper uploaded by Tira Foran on 20 Oct 09

Dore J., Lebel L. 2010. Gaining Public Acceptance: a critical strategic priority of the World Commission on Dams. Water Alternatives 3(2): 124-141 (4978) publication uploaded by Louis Lebel on 12 Jun 10

Foran T (2009). Making Hydropower More Sustainable? A sustainability measurement approach led by the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Forum. Policy Brief. Draft July 2009. USER Working Paper WP-2009-14. Unit for Social and Environmental Research, Chiang Mai University. English version (4835) working paper uploaded by Tira Foran on 20 Oct 09 [9 Mar 10]

Websites

M-POWER: The Mekong Program on Water, Environment and Resilience The website summarizes the research, capacity building and policy exploring activities of the M-POWER network in mainland southeast Asia. Their work covers water governance issues in the major basins like the Irrawaddy, Salween, Chao Phraya - Ping, Mekong and Red as well as smaller ones. (1)

IDGEC - Institutional Dimensions of Global Environmental Change Coordinates and stimulates research on the roles of institutions as cause, and social responses, to large-scale environmental changnes. It is one of the IHDP core projects. The program closed at the end of 2006. (3)

ICRAF - World Agroforestry Centre Is one the international agricultural centres. Much of its work is about trees on farms, including both traditional (old) and modern complex agroforestry systems. Group has also been at forefront of international research on environmental services from landscapes. Website has many downloadable technical and policy-oriented research documents as well as a few guides and summaries for wider audiences. (17)

Events

13 Sep 11 - 15 Sep 11
Assessment, governance and management of water in a changing world: innovations and integration of science and technology from global to local scales Germany.( Global Water System Project ) (245)

17 May 11 - 20 May 11
Colorado Conference on Earth System Governance: Crossing boundaries and building bridges . Colorado State University, Fort Collins.( Earth System Governance Project ) (241)

17 Aug 10 - 18 Aug 10
Prepatory meeting for Twin2Go Synthesis Workshop Ghent, Belgium.( Soresma, Twin2Go ) (244)

Publications

Lebel, L., S. Rattanawilailak, P. Lebel, G. B. Bastakoti, R. C. Bastakoti, and P. Priyasak. 2010. Gender relations, ethnicity and water insecurities in the Upper Ping River basin, northern Thailand. USER Working Paper WP-2010-04. Unit for Social and Environmental Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai. (493) WP-2010-04

Lebel L, Neto S, Huntjens P, Camkin J, Critical reflections on multi-stakeholder dialogues on water: experiences in Asia and Europe. USER Working Paper WP-2010-03. Unit for Social and Environmental Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai. (488) WP-2010-03

Lebel L, Foran T, et al. 2010. Codes of conduct, affected communities and the accountability of hydropower developers in the Mekong Region. USER Working Paper WP-2010-02. Unit for Social and Environmental Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai. (487) WP-2010-02

Projects

Fish farming in the Ping Fish cage farming in the Upper Ping River basin is an important livelihood for households living on the river banks. This project examined practices of fish farmers, explored gender and access issues in the industry. A public roundtable to discuss findings was conducted. The project website is in Thai. (49)

Gender and water insecurities Women are often excluded from formal consultations and decision-making about water conflicts and resource management. This project endeavours to improve the meaningful involvement and engagement of women in stakeholder consultations in three locations in Thailand with long histories of complex conflict over water management. (48)

REWIND This project explores the opportunities for reducing water insecurity through stakeholder participation in river basin management. It is a comparative and synthetic study of research in Thailand, Australia, Russia, Vietnam and China. The project was funded by APN. (53)