Enhancing the resilience of urban communities in Lao PDR
Benjakitti Park
Training seminar
IUCN National Forum
We are working with the Global Green Growth Initiative on their NATURA project, which is supporting flood adaptation using nature-based solutions (NbS).
This project is supported by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Background
The Nature-based Solutions for Urban Adaptation (NATURA) Project is working to enhance the resilience of Lao urban communities to climate risks, especially flooding, through integrated catchment management and ecosystem-based adaptation.
The Nature-based Solutions for Urban Adaptation (NATURA) Project is working to enhance the resilience of Lao urban communities to climate risks, especially flooding, through integrated catchment management and ecosystem-based adaptation.
World Bank and Asian Development Bank, 2021. Climate Risk Country Profile: Lao. Washington DC: World Bank.
What we’re doing
Working together, GGGI and WSCA will undertake 3 activities:
- Design and deliver training for Lao PDR Government officials on best practice approaches for building the climate resilience of urban communities using NbS.
This training will be delivered in country and in Lao language by Lao experts from the National University of Laos (NUOL), with assistance from Thai experts.
Delivered over 1 week, this training will combine lectures and workshop/interactive sessions. Training materials will use real examples as case studies.
The training will cover a range of topics including:
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- Climate variability and change – understanding climate change models and projections, and incorporating climate change into urban adaptation strategies and design
- Hazards and climate change risk assessment – assessing and mapping flood risks and urban heat effects
- Ecosystem services – what they are, how they can be valued, economic evaluations of NbS
- NbS and infrastructure solutions for building climate resilience in urban landscapes and communities
- NbS finance and operations – financing, operations and maintenance
- Linkages between NbS and conventional urban flood risk management infrastructure, alignment, complementarity, retrofitting NbS
- Gender equality, disability and social inclusion – inclusive design that benefits everyone including women, people with disabilities, low-income households and other marginalised groups
- Environmental monitoring – monitoring air, water and temperature to evaluate the effects of NbS.
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2. Design and deliver a study tour to Bangkok for a delegation of Lao PDR Government officials, to visit key sites incorporating NbS for urban flood management.
The tour will take place over 1 week. A series of site visits will see tour delegates will meet with key Thai stakeholders who have been involved in designing, implementing and maintaining NbS.
3. Review the current knowledge base on NbS in Lao PDR, identifying knowledge gaps, research needs and opportunities for knowledge exchange and learning opportunities.
WSCA will provide a brief report on knowledge and research priorities and opportunities.
How it will help
The project has the following objectives for Lao PDR Government officials:
- Deepen understanding of the benefits and function of NbS such as urban flood risk reduction, community cooling and biodiversity support
- Learn from successful approaches in Thailand to implement urban climate resilience
- Strengthen policy awareness on planning, governance, and stakeholder partnerships needed for NbS uptake
- Encourage peer learning among Lao and Thai officials through knowledge exchange.
The CRCWSC has produced research, guidelines and
tools related to the following topics:
Integrated Urban Flood
Management
Climate change
mitigation
Community
engagement
Economics and
business case