Outline of the Project

Project Name

The Project on Riverbank Protection Works Phase II

Country

Laos

Date R/D signed

July 30, 2010

Term of Cooperation

From October 1, 2010 to September 30, 2014

End of Extension at Completion

October 14, 2014

Implementing Organization

Department of Waterways, Ministry of Public Works and Transport

1. Background of the Project

Lao People's Democratic Republic (hereinafter referred to as "Lao P.D.R.") is located on the Mekong River Basin which belongs to the Circum-Himalayan River Systems, and has been flourished on inland water transport with neighboring countries such as China and Thailand. On the other hand, collapse and washout of the riverine land caused by riverbank erosion has been occurred along the Mekong River, about twenty meters per year of setback of riverbank has been occurred at the most serious section of riverbank erosion. For its countermeasures, riverbank protection by Gabion Work^[1] has been mainly adopted in Lao P.D.R., however, development section of riverbank protection is not enough due to high cost of gabion container and difficulty in procurement of materials (thick steel wire) and equipments in domestic market.

Under this situation, the first JICA expert dispatched to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (then Ministry of Communications, Transport, Post and Construction) in 1990s proposed technology transfer of Japanese traditional river works which is low cost and easy to maintain, and conducted the pilot construction of Riprap Groyne Work^[2] at Tonpheung Village, Bokeo Province. After that the Infrastructure Development Institute - Japan (hereinafter referred to as "IDI") had also studied local applicability of Japanese traditional river works such as Soda Mattress Work^[3] and others, and conducted these works on a pilot basis at Wat Sibounheuang in Vientiane Capital. As the result of these pilot implementations, the Government of Lao P.D.R. (hereinafter referred to as "GOL") requested to the Government of Japan (hereinafter referred to as "GOJ") to establish a master plan (M/P) of riverbank erosion protection using Japanese traditional river works which can be conducted using Lao P.D.R.'s domestic resources available at low cost in Lao P.D.R. According to the request, JICA had conducted "The Study on Mekong Riverbank Protection around Vientiane Municipality" (hereinafter referred to as "Development Study") for approximately three (3) years from November 2001.

In Development Study, low cost work methods were studied through pilot constructions in three (3) sites using Japanese traditional river works, and M/P of riverbank erosion protection in Vientiane Capital aiming to complete the plan in 2020 was established. Based on M/P, GOL requested to GOJ a technical cooperation project to improve ability to conduct and maintain riverbank protection works using traditional river works when the Development Study ended, and "The Project on Riverbank Protection Works" (hereinafter referred to as "Phase I") was carried out for approximately two (2) years from January 2005.

In Phase I, riverbank protection works had been conducted using Japanese traditional river works and reached good steady results with cooperation of local residents of Vientiane Capital and its surrounding areas. However as the protection work carried out at Phase I was based on the work technology and design suggested at Development Study, it seems difficult for the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (hereinafter referred to as "MPWT") which also act as the Central Government to deploy independently the new project on riverbank protection works. Through the efforts of Development Study and Phase I, the Department of Waterways (hereinafter referred to as "DoW") was newly established under MPWT and currently six (6) officials are allocated for Bank Protection and Flood Control Division under DoW. However it is not necessary means that officials allocated for the Bank Protection and Flood Control Division have enough capacities to supervise local governments appropriately and lead the dissemination of traditional riverbank protection measures. On the other hand, although the effectiveness of the riverbank protection works using traditional river works such as Soda Mattress Work is recognized by local governments, officials do not carry sufficient level of knowledge and technology on traditional river works and there is an issue of mastering professional techniques.

Considering above-mentioned situations, in 2009 GOL requested to GOJ a technical cooperation project aiming mainly to enhance ability of officials of DoW, MPWT and Public Works and Transport Departments of local governments to be able to disseminate and deploy the riverbank protection works using traditional river works nationwide. After GOJ adopted the request by GOL, JICA dispatched the Detailed Planning Survey Team from February to March 2010 to conduct the preliminary study for "The Project on Riverbank Protection Works Phase II" (hereinafter referred to as "Phase II"). According to the study, implementation of Phase II was evaluated as appropriate and agreed to be conducted based on the Record of Discussion (R/D) signed in July 2010.

2. Objective of the Project

The purpose of this project is to enhance ability of the target group officials to conduct and maintain low-cost and environmentally-friendly riverbank protection work projects according to request from GOL. The target group consists of DoW, MPWT and Public Works and Transport Departments of local governments such as Vientiane Capital, Bokeo Province, Luangprabang Province, and Bolikhamxay Province. Officials assigned to this project among the target group officials are referred to as "Counterpart (C/P) officials" for the sake of convenience.

3. Target Area of the Project

This project covers river basin along main stream and tributaries of the Mekong River running through the land of Lao P.D.R., specifically from upstream in Bokeo Province to Luangprabang Province, Vientiane Capital, and Bolikhamxay Province. The pilot projects will be conducted in Bokeo Province, Luangprabang Province, and Bolikhamxay Province. The monitoring of project sites which has been implemented in Development Study and Phase I will be conducted in Vientiane Capital.

Target Area of the Project

4. Framework of Cooperation

This project is conducted based on R/D and Minutes of Meeting (M/M) signed on July 30, 2010 as shown below:

(1) Outcomes

- Overall Goal

The other provincial Department of Public Works and Transport (hereinafter referred to as "DPWT") staff, besides the target group^[4], will be able to implement low cost and environmentally friendly protection measures against riverbank erosion.

- Project Purpose

The staff of the target group (hereinafter referred to as "the Staff") will be able to implement low cost and environmentally friendly protection measures against riverbank erosion.

(2) Outputs

1. Capacity of the Staff on survey and planning for riverbank protection works is improved.
2. Capacity of the Staff on design and construction for riverbank protection works is improved.
3. Capacity of the Staff on monitoring, maintenance, and evaluation for riverbank protection works is improved.
4. The Staff acquire the wider knowledge on river engineering that contributes to more effective and efficient riverbank protection measures.

(3) Activities

(4) Inputs

- Japan Side

1. Dispatch short-term experts and project coordinator from Japan (about 70 man-months for four (4) years)
2. Provision of machinery and equipment (approximately three (3) million yen)
3. Training of Lao personnel in Japan (about five (5) persons per year for three (3) years)
4. Budget for construction at pilot sites (total cost at three (3) sites for Japan side to be approximately 30 million yen, and grand total cost to be shared between Lao and Japan)

- Lao Side

1. Assignment of Counterpart Personnel, their salary and travel expenses etc.
   1. MPMT
   2. DPWT
2. Facility
   1. Permanent office space
   2. Space for accommodating the construction material, vehicle, and equipment
   3. Other facilities mutually agreed as necessary
3. Budget for construction at pilot sites (to be shared between Japan and Lao)

(5) Important Assumptions

1. The counterpart personnel of the Target Group will not resign.
2. The materials and equipments needed for the Riverbank Protection Works can be prepared stably in Lao P.D.R.

5. Implementation Systems of the Project

The implementation system of Lao side consists of DoW and Division of Budget and Planning, MPWT from central government, and DPWT Vientiane Capital, DPWT Bokeo Province, DPWT Luangprabang Province and DPWT Bolikhamxay Province from local governments. Also the Water Resources & Environment Administration (hereinafter referred to as "WREA"), Prime Minister's Office is the organization for negotiating issues on riverine emvironment and river management.

Regarding the implementation system of Japan side, private consultant engineers dispatched by JICA, are assigned as short-term experts and project coordinator and carry out technical guidance to C/P officials with the support of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

C/P officials and JICA experts assigned for this project are shown below.

6. Related Aid Activities by Donors

In Vientiane capital, South Korean company is carrying out flood protection works with riverbank protection (total length of 12.4km) on a loan of the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) from February 2009. Also, at the border of Thailand and Myanmar (Golden Triangle) in Bokeo Province, the Government of China is constructing revetment for riverbank protection. Both projects employ the modern construction method mainly using concrete. Although World Bank (WB) does not currently assist on riverbank erosion protection, in collaboration with Asian Development Bank (ADB), has been considering the project of capacity development in a field of river and water resource engineering.