Understanding Water Tenure: Key Findings from FAO’s Regional Webinar Series

FAO’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and the ScaleWat project, in cooperation with the inter-Regional Technical Platform on Water Scarcity (iRTP-WS), hosted a new edition of the Water Tenure Mondays webinar series.

Originally launched in 2021 as a global initiative under the KnoWat project, the series has since evolved into a regionally focused platform. The latest sessions were held every Monday from 17 November to 15 December 2025, bringing together more than 200 participants from government institutions, non-governmental organisations, academia and research bodies across the world.

The webinars highlighted water tenure assessments carried out in Sri Lanka, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand under projects funded by the Governments of Germany and Australia. Experts presented their approaches to identifying pilot areas, analysing national legal frameworks, and integrating quantitative water user data into qualitative field research.

Dr Chatubhoom Bhoomiboonchoo, legal expert for Thailand’s water tenure assessments, emphasised the multidisciplinary nature of the process. He noted that clarity among team members regarding different types of water tenure and opportunities for peer learning were key factors for success.

Engaging discussions also explored informal water tenure systems and arrangements not directly derived from statutory law. In Indonesia, Dr Mohamad Mova Al’Afghani described cases where influential actors manipulate water distribution upstream and midstream. In Sri Lanka, Dr Anandal Nanayakkara explained that despite an evolving legal heritage, customary concepts of water as a communal resource continue to conflict with formalised water rights and pricing systems.

Across all case studies, a common theme emerged: fragmented responsibilities, overlapping institutional mandates and complex water resource management structures often create governance challenges that hinder both users and decision-makers. In Cambodia, Dr Solieng Mak observed low awareness of legal provisions and inconsistent enforcement, contributing to the perception of water as a common public good. In Viet Nam, Dr Lê Văn Chính highlighted gaps between irrigation and water resource planning as well as insufficient maintenance of measurement equipment.

In Thailand, Dr Karika Kunta identified significant differences in government support for water user groups in irrigated versus non‑irrigated areas, with the latter receiving less formal assistance. Climate change and water scarcity further strain water tenure systems. Studies from Thailand showed frequent disputes between the agricultural and industrial sectors during the dry season, particularly in the Pa Sak River Basin. Dr Thanapon Piman added that water quality challenges also affect the stability of tenure arrangements.

While the content of the webinars focused on cases from Southeast and South Asia, participants joined from every region, including the Near East and North Africa, North America, South America and Europe. This global participation underscores the wide relevance of water tenure and its importance for practitioners across sectors.

The Water Tenure Mondays webinar series will return for a second edition in January 2026, focusing on tools and case studies from FAO and its partners, as well as contributions from regional Water Tenure Champions. You can register for the next series, beginning on 12 January 2026, here.