The GEF/UNDP/ASEAN IRBM Project Conducts the Regional Integrated River Basin Management Training of Trainers

Representatives from the six participating ASEAN Member States—Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam—including representatives from national and local government agencies, members of the  PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers, and other university partners from across the region attended the Regional IRBM TOT in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

 

 

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — The GEF/UNDP/ASEAN Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) Project convenes the Regional Integrated River Basin Management Training of Trainers (TOT) from 28 September to 2 October 2026 to pilot-test and validate the draft IRBM Training Manual.  The five-day training brings together representatives from national and local government agencies from the six participating ASEAN Member States(Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam), members of the PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers and PEMSEA Network of Local Governments and university partners from across the region, in-person in Kuala Lumpur and online via Zoom.

In his welcome remarks,  Dr. Chang Chun Kiat, Director of the River Engineering and Urban Drainage Research Centre, Universiti Sains Malaysia, highlighted the importance of regional learning and exchange in developing approaches that can be adapted to different river basin contexts.

“I believe the real value of this training will come not only from the presentations and technical sessions, but also from the exchange of experiences among ASEAN Member States. Each country has its own institutional arrangements, river basin characteristics, challenges and good practices. By sharing these experiences, we can learn from one another and develop approaches that are practical, relevant and adaptable to different river basin contexts,” said Dr. Chang Chun Kiat.

 

Dr. Chang Chun Kiat, Director of the River Engineering and Urban Drainage Research Centre, Universiti Sains Malaysia, delivering the welcome remarks during the IRBM Regional TOT.

 

Mr. Hanizan Deraman, Deputy Director-General of the Business Sector, Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, underscored the role of trainers in carrying knowledge forward and fostering learning across  their  organizations and countries.

“A successful trainer is not merely someone who can present information. A successful trainer is someone who can engage people, encourage critical thinking, facilitate meaningful discussion and ultimately empower others to take action,” emphasized Mr. Hanizan Deraman.
 

 

Mr. Hanizan Deraman, Deputy Director-General of Business Sector, Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation delivering the opening message.

 

The Regional IRBM TOT aims to strengthen participants’ knowledge and practical skills in Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM), Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), and Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) within a Source-to-Sea (S2S) framework. Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) principles are also incorporated throughout the training to support inclusive approaches to river basin governance.

 

 

Ms. Nancy Bermas, Regional Project Manager of the IRBM Project, delivers the background, workshop objectives, and the expected outputs of the regional training.

 

Technical experts Simon Tilleard, David Winfield, and Van Mixap from the Alluvium International facilitate the sessions.

 

Through a practice-oriented and participatory approach, participants are working through IRBM concepts, planning processes, practical tools, regional case studies, and peer-learning activities, while building the skills needed to facilitate IRBM training within their organizations and countries. The training provides opportunities for participants to exchange experiences and explore how IRBM approaches can be applied across different institutional and river basin contexts.

 

Participants from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam during the sessions.

 

The training also provides an opportunity to gather feedback, practical experiences and lessons learned, and recommendations on the draft IRBM Training Manual. These inputs will inform the refinement and finalization of a practical  IRBM Training Manual and related materials, ensuring their applicability across diverse country and river basin contexts to support capacity development and enhance understanding of IRBM and the Source-to-Sea concept and approach.

 

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About the Project

 

Supported by the Global Environment Facility, the Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) Project is working to establish functional management mechanisms in priority river basins across six ASEAN countries to reduce pollution, sustain freshwater environmental flows, and strengthen resilience to climate change. The regional Project is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme Bangkok Regional Hub and executed by Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia, in collaboration with ASEAN.

All photos by Orange Omengan/PEMSEA