Final Workshop: Lessons from gender equality and participation research in wetland management of MKD

By Nguyen Thi Cam Thieu and Thai Huynh Phuong Lan

Image 1. Delegates from a range of institutions listen to an introduction to the project

After two years of implementation, the BRIMOFOT management team organized a final workshop with the title, “Learning some lessons from gender equality and participation research in transboundary wetlands management of the upper Mekong Delta The workshop was held on 28 October, 2022 in Long Xuyen city, An Giang province, the home of An Giang University.

Image 2. Dr. Duong Van Nha – Dean of The Faculty of Agriculture and Rural Development, Kien Giang University, Project Leader presents an overview of project results.

The Conference attracted more than 60 delegates and participants such as experts from domestic and foreign research institutes and universities; representatives of departments and agencies of Kien Giang and An Giang provinces; officials of farmer unions and farmers in Nhon Hung and An Phu communes, Tinh Bien district, An Giang province, and lecturers and students from Kien Giang and An Giang universities.

Image 3. Dr. David Blake – the project mentor, shared about the significance of participatory research in development research.

Image 4. Dr. Thuon Try – Royal University of Phnom Penh (Cambodia) shared his research results from the focal sites in Takeo province, Cambodia.

Image 5. Dr. Pham Huynh Thanh Van - Deputy of Rural Development & Management, An Giang University presented on some changes of water resources in the Mekong Delta.

Image 6. Dr. Thai Huynh Phuong Lan – Head of Rural Development & Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, An Giang University presented the results of research conducted in the Tinh Bien district focal villages, An Giang province.

Opening the Conference, Dr. Duong Van Nha (Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Rural Development, Kien Giang University), project leader, shared that BRIMOFOT project was conducted in villages located along the border area between Vietnam and Cambodia. Specifically, the study area included Nhon Hung and An Phu communes of Tinh Bien district, An Giang province and Kampong Krasaing and Sangkom Mean Chey communes of Borei Chulsar district, Takeo province (Cambodia). Among other goals, the project studied the participation of women and other marginalized groups in wetland resource management institutions It was hoped that eventually the research might help to increase their participation in institutional decision-making to improve levels of social equity in wetlands and water management in the transboundary Mekong Delta, (Image 2).

Image 7. Ms. Thao, a local official at the Department of Natural Resources and Environment in An Giang province, shared about gender mainstreaming policies and practices in water resource management.

Image 8. Other key speakers contribute to the workshop

In the seminar, the speakers focused on presenting and sharing some observations, lessons and experiences regarding participation and gender equality in the management of wetland resources at the local, district and provincial levels on both sides of the international border. Additionally, there was discussion about the gaps between present national policy in both gender promotion and water resources management and practices at a more local level. Recommendations were offered for ways to close the gaps and better mainstream gender in water resources management.

Image 9. Some representatives of Khmer women's group from Tinh Bien district, An Giang share their viewpoints.

Image 10. University lecturers, state officials and representatives from local groups gave their opinions and comments at the workshop on the research findings and conclusions.

Through this workshop, it is hoped that the BRIMOFOT project has contributed to raising awareness of gender and social equality issues in water and wetland resource management, creating more spaces for marginalized groups to have their voices heard, thereby adding to more sustainable management of wetlands resources in the Mekong Delta. It is recognized though that this is a work in progress and much more needs to be done to improve participation of women, poorer households and ethnic minorities in management institutions and fora.