Dr. Sangam Shrestha Asst. Professor, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) / Research Fellow, Institute for Global Environ

1. International Conference on Sustainability Science in Asia (ICSS-Asia) For Better Information andKnowledge Sharing System – Lessons learned from WEPA experience – Dr. Sangam Shrestha Asst. Professor, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) / Research Fellow, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)

2. Today’s topics • Background and objective of WEPA project • Outline of the WEPA database • Data collection methodology for the WEPA database • Information contained in the WEPA database • Findings and conclusion

3. Water in Asia • Water quality degradation is serious concern in the Asia-Monsoon region and set to worsen due to other influences such as climate change. Improvement of water quality is a key for water security in the region. • In order to maintain clean water that is both fit for human life and environment, we need to improve its management – which requires improvement of governance. • The importance of “good water governance” was emphasized in 3rd World Water Forum in 2003 and re-emphasized at the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit held in 2008.

4. Water Environment Partnership in Asia (WEPA) • An initiative that Ministry of the Environment, Japan proposed at WWF3 in March 2003. • WEPA was registered in the “Portfolio of Water Actions” (PWA), an outcome of the ministerial conference of WWF3. The initiative is registered as a regional action in CSD- WAND (CSD Water Action Network Database). • Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) is the secretariat of WEPA. • The objective of WEPA is to strengthen governance and management capabilities on the water environment.

5. WEPA Partner Countries WEPA project is implemented based on the partnership of 11 Countries in Asia • Cambodia • China • Indonesia • Japan • Lao PDR • Malaysia • Myanmar • Philippines • Republic of Korea • Thailand • Viet Nam

6. WEPA Database • WEPA database was established as an information platform to promote good water environmental governance. • Primary target user of WEPA database: Government officials in each country and aid-agency staff • Effective utilization of existing databases was well considered when the database was developed.

7. Structure of the WEPA Database

8. Expected functions of WEPA database • Prompt re-evaluation of policy responses • Promotion of exchange of information with other countries, which will be useful for policy making • Development of networks among domestic institutions and overseas organisations, which will be promoted further to acquire more useful information • Enhancement of staff capacity building through collaborative work on database construction

9. Methodology of data collection • Data and information collection based on the partnership of partner countries:The focal point person of each WEPA country (governmental official) collected information based on questionnaires prepared by WEPA secretariat. • Information collection through meetings:- bilateral meetings between Japan and WEPA countries (presentations from various stakeholders in each country)- international symposium/forums organized by WEPA (papers collected from wide range of stakeholders in the region)

10. Information in the Policy Database • State of Water How is the state of the water environment?  Is there any issue to be concerned regarding the water environment? • Organizational arrangement Organizational structures and the related information such as the number of staff and local branches • Legislative framework Laws, regulations and water environmental standards in each country • Background How have water environmental policies responded to the emerging environmental changes and underlying causes? • Law enforcement Monitoring systems, Budget and Expense, Capacity Development • Cases Experiences of water environmental problems at a local level 10

11. Information in the Policy Database (2) Situation of storage of information based on mid-term evaluation as of 2007 ◎: data is complete in all items, ○: data is almost complete, △: data is missing in more than half of items ▲,×: data is missing in all items

12. Information in Technology Database Details of Information of existing wastewater treatment facilities presented in the WEPA technology database

13. Information in Technology Database (2) General Information Cost Treatment Process Process Performance Percentage of information collected for each item

14. Information in NGOs & CBOs activity database • NGOs’ and CBOs’ Activities Summaries of NGOs’ and CBOs’ activities regarding water environment • Governments’ Activities Summaries of governments’ activities regarding education and awareness raising in relation to the water environment

15. Information in NGOs & CBOs activity database (2) Number of collected NGOs & CBOs activities

16. Evaluation of WEPA database • The database contains a lot of data and information on water environment and its management in WEPA partner countries. (e.g. laws and regulations; environmental standards; current status of water environment; general description of wastewater treatment technologies). • Information that may be necessary for policy makers and water experts in policy/project planning and implementation is not sufficient. (e.g. Background information of policies/laws/standards; cost of wastewater treatment technologies, success factor analysis of NGO/CBO activities)

17. Constraints in WEPA database development • Lack of data/information: No data/information • Insufficiency in systems to accumulate data/information: Scattered data/information • Insufficient finance and human resources : Capacity issues • Request to partner countries to collect various data and information all at once in limited time: WEPA partners had difficulties to collect data in limited time. • Piles of information, but difficult to get necessary information: It is difficult for database users to transform information in the database to knowledge of them.

18. Conclusion WEPA experiences for better information andknowledge sharing system • Capacity development of data and information collection and storage in developing countries in Asia is necessary. (Support for knowledge management) • Clear target setting and schedule for data/information collection. (Importance of clear strategies) • Need of good retrieval system of necessary information for effective use of information provided by database. (Support of transformation of information to knowledge)

19. Thank you very much !