In February 2026, FutureWater supported the Climate Risk and Adaptation Assessment validation mission for Lao PDR under the Asian Development Bank’s Climate Adaptation Investment Planning Technical Assistance. As part of this mission, Brecht D’Haeyer and Tijmen Schults delivered and facilitated technical sessions during a validation workshop in Vientiane, focused on the Climate Risk and Adaptation Assessments for the Nam Xedon and Nam Neun river basins.
The workshop brought together relevant national stakeholders and external partners to review and validate the draft assessment results. Participants included representatives from the Department of Water Resources, Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, Department of Environment, Department of Irrigation, Department of Watershed Management, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health, academic institutions, and several development partners. In total, 49 participants joined the workshop.
The validation focused on three core components of the Climate Risk and Adaptation Assessment: climate risk mapping, WEAP-based climate impact modelling, and Nature-based Solutions opportunity mapping. These components provide the technical basis for understanding climate-related risks, assessing water allocation and demand sensitivities, and identifying spatial opportunities for adaptation measures in both basins.
During the workshop, FutureWater presented key findings on climate hazards, exposure, vulnerability, water availability and potential Nature-based Solutions. The sessions were designed to test the plausibility of the results, discuss uncertainties and limitations, and capture feedback from national experts and development partners. This validation step was important to ensure that the assessment reflects local knowledge and can support practical decision-making in the next phase of the CAIP process.
The workshop concluded with an initial discussion on adaptation recommendations for Nam Xedon and Nam Neun. These recommendations will help guide the development of the Climate Adaptation Investment Plan, with a focus on evidence-based, basin-level adaptation planning and investments that strengthen climate resilience in Lao PDR.
