October 1, 2026
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Through the Technical Development Project on Irrigation Design for Flood Mitigation and Water Storage Based on Nature-based Solutions, Water Sensitive Cities Australia is helping Thailand’s Royal Irrigation Department (RID) move nature-based solutions (NbS) into institutional practice.
Building capability through training
When combined with conventional infrastructure, NbS can help respond to increasingly complex climate and water challenges. For example, a conventional weir or irrigation channel could be enhanced with constructed wetlands, riparian planting and sediment management areas that improve water quality, reduce erosion and provide community access, while still maintaining its core water management function.
A core feature of the project is the Training-of-Trainers approach. Support from the Australian Water Partnership (AWP) has established a cohort of RID trainers who can help embed NbS thinking across the organisation. The training uses a “training by design” method, where participants apply new concepts directly to RID-nominated challenges.
A 3-part workshop series earlier this year saw participants progress from learning about inclusive NbS and seeing examples in practice to applying concepts to increasingly complex real-world situations in Thailand.
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From training to wider uptake
The next phase of the project will shift from trainer development to wider institutional uptake. With continued AWP support to June 2027, WSCA will support RID’s plan to roll out applied NbS training to 60 officials from 20 offices.
Extending learning across agencies
The next phase is also extending the learning beyond RID. In September, the Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) brought together the Department of Water Resources (DWR), Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR), RID, Pollution Control Department (PCD) and Australian partners to explore how the training-by-design approach could be applied to wider water resource challenges. A key focus is improving water quality in public wetlands and reservoirs by addressing invasive aquatic species and nutrient pollution.
This cross-agency collaboration will now move from discussion to practical application. A 2-day workshop on a DWR-nominated wetland or public water resource challenge will bring together technical, policy, research and implementation perspectives to:
- Develop practical NbS concepts
- Consider the pathway from design to municipal action, community stewardship, monitoring and long-term maintenance.
Trained RID facilitators can share lessons from the ToT process, while expertise from DWR, TISTR, PCD and ONWR can strengthen the technical evidence and institutional pathways needed for wider uptake.
Turning learning into institutional change
A multi-agency learning workshop planned for mid-2027 aims to consolidate these lessons and explore common barriers around policy, planning, procurement, budgeting and financing.
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