{"id":2868,"date":"2026-08-11T05:51:07","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T04:51:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/southeast-asia\/?page_id=2868"},"modified":"2026-08-12T15:30:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T14:30:12","slug":"advancing-water-governance-multi-stakeholder-action-for-water-tenure-reform-in-southeast-asia","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/southeast-asia\/work-areas\/advancing-water-governance-multi-stakeholder-action-for-water-tenure-reform-in-southeast-asia\/","title":{"rendered":"Advancing Water Governance: Multi-Stakeholder Action for Water Tenure Reform in Southeast Asia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Under the FAO ScaleWat Project<\/a>, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in collaboration with Global Water Partnership Southeast Asia (GWP SEA) has implemented this initiative to provide dedicated support for water tenure efforts across Southeast Asia. The initiative forms part of a broader regional strategy aimed at strengthening climate-resilient agricultural systems and promoting sustainable water governance in the\u00a0Southeast Asia\u00a0context.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Background<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Agriculture remains the principal user of water in Southeast Asia and plays a critical role in sustaining regional food security. However, increasing pressure from climate change, population growth, and economic expansion is placing growing strain on water resources across the region. At the same time, water tenure arrangements in many countries continue to face challenges related to fragmented governance, limited legal recognition, and inconsistent implementation. 

Water tenure refers to the systems and arrangements through which individuals, communities, and institutions access, manage, and exercise rights over water resources. In many rural areas, smallholder farmers and local communities depend largely on customary practices that are not formally recognized within legal and policy frameworks, often resulting in unequal access and heightened vulnerability to environmental and socio-economic change. 

This initiative builds on the Food and Agriculture Organization\u2019s regional efforts to strengthen responsible water governance, including water tenure assessments conducted in Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Viet Nam, Sri Lanka, and other countries in Asia and the Pacific. The work aims to support more inclusive, equitable, and climate-resilient approaches to water governance while contributing to water security, sustainable agriculture, and broader development priorities across the region. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Objectives<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The purpose of this collaboration is to strengthen knowledge sharing, engagement, and capacity development on water tenure initiatives, laying the groundwork for a Regional dialogue and ensuring multi-stakeholder approach to promote inclusive discussions and a shared understanding of water tenure systems and principle of responsible governance of water tenure. The project\u2019s primary goals include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n