Director General of the Department of Water Resources, Mr​ Oudomsack Philavong​, and Country Director of WWF-Laos, Heron Holloway, shake hands after signing the agreement.

Govt, WWF-Laos launch climate adaptive river basins project in Xayabouly

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, together with WWF-Laos, on Tuesday officially launched the Climate Adaptive River Basins of Xayabouly province (CARBS) project.
The six-year project, running from 2026-2031 and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), has a total budget of US$6.77 million and will enhance climate resilience, improve water security, and support sustainable livelihoods through integrated water resource management, nature-based solutions, and community-led climate adaptation.

Officials attend an MOU signing ceremony to launch the Climate Adaptive River Basins of Xayabouly province project.

The project launch was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in Xayabouly province on August 11 by the Director General of the Department of Water Resources at the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Mr​ Oudomsack Philavong,​ and the Country Director of WWF-Laos, Heron Holloway.
The agreement formalises the partnership to implement the project in collaboration with provincial authorities, local communities, and development partners.
Mr Oudomsack said​ “Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing water resources in Laos. Water security is fundamental to the well-being of our people, our economy and our environment.”
This project reflects the Government’s commitment to integrated water resource management and sustainable development.
“We look forward to delivering lasting benefits for the people of Xayabouly province while contributing to Laos’ long-term climate resilience,” he added.
The project will be implemented in 18 villages of six districts in Xayabouly province, covering the Nam Houng, Nam Poui, Nam Poun and Nam Lay river basins. More than 19,000 people, approximately half of whom are women, are expected to benefit from the project.
As climate change brings more frequent floods, prolonged droughts and increasingly unpredictable rainfall, the project will help communities improve water security and build resilience while protecting the river basins, forests, wetlands and freshwater ecosystems that support livelihoods, agriculture and biodiversity across Xayabouly province.
The project area includes the Nam Poui National Protected Area and the Nam Houng Protection Forest, two of Laos’s most important conservation landscapes.
Strengthening the management of these river basins will therefore benefit both people and nature.
Country Director of WWF-Laos,​ Hero​n​ Holloway, said “Healthy rivers mean healthy communities. They represent food on the table and water families can count on, even as the weather grows harder to predict.”
This project brings together government leadership, science and the knowledge of local communities to help people adapt now, while protecting the rivers and forests they’ll depend on for generations.
“WWF-Laos is proud to work alongside the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and our partners to turn that shared commitment into real, lasting change,” Ms Holloway said.
To achieve these outcomes, the project will focus on four priorities​ by​ integrating climate change adaptation into provincial water resource management and river basin planning.
It will also improve water security through nature-based solutions, community-led water management, and appropriate small-scale infrastructure.
In addition, it will promote climate-resilient livelihoods through climate-smart agriculture, livelihood diversification, and community-based natural resource management.
Another top priority is to build knowledge and capacity by documenting and sharing lessons and good practices that support climate adaptation and integrated water resource management across Laos.
Together, these actions will strengthen climate adaptation planning and integrated water resource management across six districts and four river basins in Xayabouly province.
The project will improve water security, protect freshwater ecosystems, support climate-smart livelihoods, and generate lessons and good practices to inform future climate adaptation efforts across Laos.
GEF Agency Coordinator at WWF-US, Jacquelyn Beattie, said “Building resilience to climate change requires long-term investment, strong partnerships and locally led action. With support from the GEF, the Department of Water Resources in Laos will work in partnership with WWF to advance integrated river basin management, ultimately helping communities adapt to an increasingly changing climate.”
Community participation will be central to project implementation. Target villages were identified through a consultative process involving communities, district and provincial authorities, and technical agencies to ensure activities respond to local priorities, climate risks and development needs.
This collaborative approach will help translate national climate and water policies into practical action.
National Project Coordinator for WWF-Laos, Phayvieng Vongkhamheng, said climate change is affecting rivers and the people and wildlife that depend on them.
“Over the next six years, we will work closely with the Department of Water Resources, local government partners and communities to understand the different challenges facing each river basin and put practical solutions into action.”
The launch of the CARBS project marks an important milestone in the partnership between the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, WWF-Laos, GEF and local communities.
Together, the partners are committed to working with communities across Xayabouly province to strengthen climate resilience, improve water security, and build a more sustainable future for both people and nature.

By Advertorial Desk
 (Latest Update August 13, 2026)