FutureWater, in collaboration with FAO, has been implementing a two-phase, hands-on training program on Water Accounting under the Water Scarcity Program for Asia and the Pacific. The second phase, held on 25–26 June in Ha Long, Vietnam, marked the successful completion of the capacity-building initiative.

The second in-country session took place from 25-26 June in Halong where 23 participants from the Department of Water Resources as well as several academic institutions across Vietnam successfully completed the training program. In this phase, participants were introduced to the UN SEEA Water Framework –  a key instrument for aligning with Vietnam’s Law on Water Resources (No. 28/2023/QH15) which calls for water accounting as part of a broader shift from administrative to economic instruments in water management. The law also emphasizes user responsibility, sustainability, and the efficient use of water resources.

The training provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of SEEA Water implementation – from strengthening conceptual foundations to identifying and using key data sources such as EarthMap, WaPOR, and AQUASTAT. Guided by Dr. Amar Doshi from Alluvium International, participants also learned practical techniques for economic valuation and explored global best practices. Together, these components equipped them with the knowledge and tools needed to apply SEEA Water effectively in their respective contexts.

This training marked the completion of the two-phase training series FutureWater has been delivering since August 2023 across four Southeast Asian countries (Thailand, Lao PDR, Indonesia, and Vietnam) under FAO’s Water Scarcity Program. The program has laid a strong foundation for countries to leverage Water Accounting as a powerful tool to address the growing challenges of water resource management, especially under climate change.