final technical report / rapport technique final … · the urban climate resilience in southeast...

FINAL TECHNICAL REPORT / RAPPORT TECHNIQUE FINAL

URBAN CLIMATE RESILIENCE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

PARTNERSHIP Thinphanga, Pakamas;

Inmuong, Yanyong;Promphakping, Buapun;Nguyen, Ly;Thuon, Try;

© 2019, THAILAND ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTE

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction, provided the original work is properly credited.

Cette œuvre est mise à disposition selon les termes de la licence Creative Commons Attribution

(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode), qui permet l’utilisation, la distribution et la

reproduction sans restriction, pourvu que le mérite de la création originale soit adéquatement reconnu.

IDRC Grant / Subvention du CRDI: 107776-001-Urban Climate Resilience in Southeast Asia Partnership

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

UrbanClimateResilienceinSoutheastAsiaPartnership

(UCRSEA)

IDRCGrantNumber:107776-001Partnerorganisationsinvolvedintheproject• CentreforEnvironmentandCommunityResearch,Vietnam• CentreforNaturalResourcesandEnvironmentalStudies,VietnamNationalUniversity,Vietnam

• CentreforPeaceandConflictStudies,ChulalongkornUniversity,Thailand• DepartmentofUrbanEnvironment,NationalUniversityofLaos,LaoPeople’sDemocraticRepublic

• FacultyofEnvironmentandResourcesStudies,MahasarakhamUniversity,Thailand

• GeographyDepartment,UniversityofYangon,Myanmar• GraduatePrograminDevelopmentStudies,RoyalUniversityofPhnomPenh,Cambodia

• MercyCorpsMyanmar• MinistryoftheEnvironment,GeneralDepartmentofAdministrationforNatureConservationandProtection,Cambodia

• RajamangalaUniversityofTechnologyLanna,Thailand• RegionalCentreforSocialScienceandSustainableDevelopment,FacultyofSocialSciences,ChiangMaiUniversity,Thailand

• RenewableEnergyAssociationMyanmar• ResearchGrouponWellbeingandSustainableDevelopment,KhonKaenUniversity,Thailand

Leadorganisations• ThailandEnvironmentInstituteFoundation(TEI)• AsianInstitute,MunkSchoolofGlobalAffairs,UniversityofTorontoLocationofstudy:Cambodia(BattambangandKohKong),Myanmar(BagoandDawei),Thailand(KhonKaenandMukdahan),Vietnam(NinhBinhandLaoCai)AuthoredandSubmittedby:Dr.PakamasThinphanga–ThailandEnvironmentInstituteFoundationFinalTechnicalReport4October2019

“©2019,UCRSEA/ThailandEnvironmentInstitute”“DisseminatedunderCreativeCommonsAttributionLicense

(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)”

TableofContentI. Executivesummary 1

II. Theresearchproblem 2

III. Progresstowardsmilestones 8

IV. Synthesisofresearchresultsanddevelopmentoutcomes 13

V. Methodology 23

VI. Projectoutputs 26

VII. Problemsandchallenges 28

VIII. Administrativereflectionsandrecommendations 32

IX. References 32

X. Annexes 37

1

I.ExecutiveSummaryTheUrbanClimateResilienceinSoutheastAsiaPartnership(UCRSEA),afive-yearproject,ledbytheThailandEnvironmentInstituteandtheAsianInstitute,MunkSchoolofGlobalAffairs,UniversityofToronto,wasdesignedtofillacriticalknowledgegapinunderstandingtheimplicationsofurbanisationandthegrowingrisksposedbyclimatechangeinsecondarycitiesofSoutheastAsia.WithanobjectivetostrengthenresearchcapacityofmultipleactorsintheMekongregionandCanada,UCRSEAresearchfocusedonthecoreissuesaroundpeople-centredvulnerabilityandbuildingurbanclimateresilience.Incollaborationwithpartnersfrommulti-disciplinaryacademia,non-governmentalorganisations,andgovernment,UCRSEAbuiltandexpandedastrong,regionalnetworktodevelopandtestinnovativeconceptualandmethodologicalframeworksinurbanclimateresilienceandvulnerabilityassessment.SoutheastAsiaisoneofthemostrapidlyurbanisingregions.Withamuchfastergrowthrate,urbanisationinsmall-andmedium-sizedcitiesisincreasingtheexposureandsusceptibilityofurbanresidentstodisastersandclimate-relatedshocks.UCRSEArecognisedtheurgentneedtobetterunderstandtherangeofvulnerabilitiesfacedbyurbandwellersandforsecondarycitiestofullyengageinresiliencebuildingactivities.EightsecondarycitiesinCambodia,Myanmar,ThailandandVietnamwereselectedforevidence-basedresearchconductedbyresearchersandgraduatestudentsfromSoutheastAsiaandCanada.Researchfindingsproviderepresentationsofcontemporaryurbanisationandpatternsdrivenbyeconomicdevelopmentthroughsettingupofspecialeconomiczone,suchasDaweiandMukdahan,andpovertyreductionthroughthetourismsector,suchasTrangAnheritagesiteinVietnam.Italsoprovidescriticalcasestudiesdrawingoncomplexsocial-ecological-technologicalsystemsthinkingandapproachestobetterunderstandfailuresandsuccessesininstitutionalarrangementsandgovernance,contributingtovulnerabilitiesandresilience,suchasinBattambang,KhonKaen,andPhuHaocommuneinNinhBinhprovince.UCRSEAfocusedontheinteractionsbetweenurbanisationandclimatechangeandobservedhownewrisksandpatternsofvulnerabilitywerecreated.Addressingtherisksanduncertaintiesofclimatechangeandchallengesofurbanisationwillrequiremoreadaptiveapproachesandnewformsofgovernancethathighlighttheimportanceofcitizenrightsandaccountableinstitutions,andashifttowardsmorelearningoriented,flexibleandadaptivepolicyprocesses.Withthisrecognition,UCRSEAprovidedspacefordialoguesanddiscussionstogeneratenewknowledge,informingpolicyplanningandcontributedtostrengtheningurbanclimateresiliencethroughlocalmulti-stakeholdersengagement,particularlystateactorsanddecision-makers.Inaddition,thepartners,juniorresearchersandgraduatestudentsfromtheMekongcountriesgainedandsharednewknowledgeandunderstandingsthroughparticipatinginarangeofregionalworkshopsandcapacity-buildingtrainings,developednewresearchskillstoaddressemergingissuesofurbanisationandclimatechange,andproducedasubstantialnumberofresearchoutputs,includingpeerreviewedjournalarticles,bookchapters,vulnerabilityassessmentreports,researchandpolicybriefsandmediareleases.

2

II.TheResearchProblemRationaleThedesignofUCRSEAwasbasedonpreviousexperiencesoftheleadorganisationsworkinginSoutheastAsiaonanumberofmultidisciplinaryresearchandactionprojects.Theissuesofurbanisationandclimatechangeareimportantchallengesforcitiestoachievesustainabledevelopmentgoals.SoutheastAsiaisgoingthroughrapidurbanisation.Aspartoftheurbanisationprocess,urbanpopulationwillincreasedramatically.By2030,it’sprojectedthattheurbanpopulationinSoutheastAsiawillrisefrom280millionpeopleto373millionpeople.Althoughurbanisationisacomplexprocessdrivenbyarangeoffactors,itisrecognisedthateconomicdevelopmentisdrivingrapidurbanisationacrosstheregion.SoutheastAsiahasexperiencedremarkableeconomicgrowthinthelastdecades,shiftingfrompredominatelyagriculture-basedtoindustrialisedeconomies.Whileurbanisationisdominatedbylargeprimatecities,secondarycitiesaregrowingatamuchfasterrate.Thesetrendshaveimportantimplicationsforclimatechangeandsustainabledevelopment.Mosturbancentresaregeographicallylocatedinlow-lying,floodplain,riverine,deltaorcoastalareasandasurbanareascontinuetoexpandtheyaregrowingintohigh-risklocations.Drastictransformationofecologicallandscapes,waterways,wetlandsandagriculturalareasleadstochanginghydrologicalpatternsandregimes.Littleconsiderationofweather-relatedandclimatechangechallengesistakenintourbandesignanddevelopment,andinmanyinstancesurbanlanduseplansarenotenforcedeffectively.Issuesofunregulatedlandusechange,inadequateinfrastructure,pollutionandcontamination,inequality,andpovertyarecharacteristicsofcitiesindevelopingcountriesofSoutheastAsia.Thefastpaceofurbanisationmeansthatcitiesareunabletokeepupwithprovisionandmaintenanceofcriticalurbansystemsandinfrastructure;thusloweringcopingthresholdstochangingweatherpatterns.Beingoneofthemostrapidlyurbanisingregionsintheworld,SoutheastAsiaisalsohighlyvulnerabletoclimatechangeanddisasters.Ineffectiveinstitutionalcapacityandweakgovernancecharacteriselocalgovernmentsinthisregion.ButanumberofreasonsalsoexplainwhylocalgovernmentsincitiesacrossSoutheastAsiaareoftenunsuccessfulataddressingcriticalurbanissues,disasterriskreductionandclimateactions.Theseincludepoorcoordination,lackofmonitoringandevaluation,rigidity,lackoftransparency,corruption,andprocessesthroughwhichwell-connectedindividualscandominatecommunity-levelplanning.Astheregionbecomesmorephysically,socially,andeconomicallyconnected,thevulnerabilitiesandimpactsofclimateshocksarenotonlydeterminedbylocation,butcascadethroughtheseinter-linkedandinter-lockedsystemsthattranscendadministrativeandpoliticalboundaries.Climatevulnerabilityandurbanpovertyareincreasinglyshapedbyaccessto,andcontrolover,thesesystemsandthroughsystemfragilityand,insomecases,failure.

3

Theinteractionsbetweenurbanisationandclimatechangecreatenewrisksandpatternsofvulnerabilitiesthatwillrequiremoreadaptiveapproachesthanthetraditionalemergencyreliefmethodssuchas‘predictandrespond’.Newformsofgovernancethathighlighttheimportanceofcitizenrightsandaccountableinstitutions,andashifttowardsmorelearningoriented,flexibleandadaptivepolicyprocessesareneededtoaddresstherisksanduncertaintiesofclimatechange.Thechallengeliesinhowgovernanceactorsandinstitutionscanimproveadaptivecapacitiestoclimatechange.Inurbanareascharacterisedbyadiversityofethnicity,class,andinterest,supportingsocialjusticethroughcollectiveadaptationmeansthatactionsmustbeframedintermsofrightsandgovernance.Thewaysinwhichurbanactorscancreatenewmechanismsofcollectivedecision-making,engagement,andlinkagestoformalstateinstitutions,remainsapressingconcern.PreviousexperienceofTEIinimplementingurbanclimateresilienceprojectsinSoutheastAsiaandengagingwithcross-sectoral,multi-stakeholderscontributedtothedevelopmentoftheUCRSEAconceptualframework,researchquestionsandapproaches.Toaddresscomplexproblemsofurbanisationandclimatechange,understandingvulnerabilitiesofurbanresidentsiscrucialtoinformresponses.Whilethenatureoftheclimatechangeproblemisnoteasilydefined,thesciencetoaddressitisuncertain,andtheequityofpolicysolutionsiscontested,itissuggestedthatthebestapproachistocreateintellectualandpracticalspacesthatpermitinformedopendialoguearoundtheseissues.IncollaborationwithAsianInstitute,MunkSchoolofGlobalAffairs,UniversityofToronto,UCRSEAwasdesignedtoaddressanumberofissuesandchallenges,includingraisingpublicawarenessandcapacitybuildingofacademicsandresearcherstourbanclimateresilience.TheoverallobjectiveoftheprojectwastoenhancetheeconomicandsocialresilienceofcitiesinSoutheastAsia,payingcloseattentiontotheimportantconnectionsbetweenurbanisation,theeffectsofclimatechange,publicawareness,andsocietalwell-being.Thespecificobjectiveoftheprojectwastoprovidevulnerablepeopleintransitionalstateswiththespacetolearnaboutandshareindecisionsaboutprotectingthemselvesfromtheeconomic,social,andphysicalimpactsofclimatechange.ThisprojectaimedtobuildpublicspacefordiscussiononstrengtheningurbanresiliencetoclimatechangeandsupportanetworkofCanadianandSoutheastAsianacademicsandpractitionerstodevelop,refine,andapplytoolsforassessingvulnerabilityandbuildingclimate-resilientlocalgovernanceacrosstheregion.ProjectpartnersweretoconductresearchintwocitiesineachofCambodia,Myanmar,ThailandandVietnam,implementeducationaloutreach,anddeveloppolicyrecommendations.Theprojectalsoaimedtotraingraduatestudents,juniorresearchersandNGOstodevelopresearchskillsandworkonurbanclimateresilienceissueswithpolicyrelevance.Thedisseminationofresearchfindingswasplannedtobethroughbothtraditionalscholarlyvenuesandaninteractive,multi-lingualwebsiteallowinginnovativeformsofresearchcommunicationandpolicyadvocacy.

4

UCRSEAconceptualframeworkandresearchquestionsTheUCRSEAPartnershipprojectwasdesignedtoaddressacriticalgapinunderstandingtheroleofurbanisationinthegrowingrisksposedbyclimatechangeinthecountriesofSoutheastAsia.Threeinterlinkedresearchquestionswereproposedasaconceptualframeworktoguideresearchanddiscussionsconductedundertheproject:

1. HowwillclimatechangeimpactthepovertyandvulnerabilityofurbanresidentsinSoutheastAsia?

2. Whatdoesknowledge,frombothacademicliteratureandactionresearch,tellusaboutcreatingclimateresilienturbangovernancethatisbothinclusiveandequitable?

3. Howcanwestrengthentheagencyofindividuals,groups,andinstitutionstoimproveeconomicandphysicalandsocialwell-beinginurbanareas,particularlyinresponsetoclimatechange?

Citiesarecomplexsocial-ecologicalsystems(SES)withmulti-scalar,dynamic,interactiveurbansystems,andunderUCRSEA,urbanisationisviewedasatransformativeprocessintermsofpoverty,vulnerability,growthandclimateimpacts.Thefirstresearchquestionwastounderstandandbetterassessurbanpovertyasaresultofurbanisation,andsubsequentlyhowurbanisationcontributestovulnerabilities.Ascitiesareassociatedwithincreasinglevelsofinequalityandcurrentdefinitionsandmeasurementsofpovertyinurbanareasarewidelycritiquedasbeinginaccurateandincomplete(MitlinandSatterthwaite2013).Atthesametime,climatechangecreatesnewsourcesofvulnerabilitythatputthosewhoarenotcurrentlypooratrisk.Thenatureofurbanizationcreatesanewsetofdependenciesoncomplexsystemsofwater,food,energy,andtransport,andthesesystemsareoftenbeyondthecapacityofindividualsandadministrationstomanage(FriendandMoench2013).Thedisruptionscausedbyclimatechangecreatevulnerabilities,thusthreateningambitionsforequitablesustainabledevelopment.Thereisaneedtodeveloppracticalmethodologicalframeworksforassessingcurrenturbanpovertyandwell-beingaswellasfuturevulnerabilitytoensureeffectivepublicpolicyforpovertyreduction,economicgrowth,socialinclusion,anddisasterriskreduction.Thesecondresearchquestionwastoaddressthechallengeofcreatingpublicspaceswhereinformedandinclusivediscussiontotakeplaceindifferentpoliticalcontexts.Itisrecognisedthatbothurbanisationandclimatechangeposecomplexgovernancechallenges.Theresilienceapproacharguesthattherisksanduncertaintiesofclimatechangerequireashiftfrompolicyandplanningprocessesof‘predictionandaction’,towardsmorelearningoriented,flexibleandadaptiveprocesses(TylerandMoench2012;Lebeletal.2006).Assuch,thereisaneedformoreinformed,deliberativegovernanceprocessesthatbringtogetherdiversedisciplinesandexperiencetocreateflexible,adaptive,andlearning-orientedinstitutions(Folkeetal.2005;Munton2003).TheemphasisofthisresearchquestionwasforresearcherstoapproachtheproblemsofurbanisationandclimatechangeusingtheprocessofSharedLearningDialogues(SLDs)(Reedetal.2013,TylerandMoench2012).SLDsrepresentaprocesswherebydifferentstakeholdersanddifferentknowledge,includingscientificdisciplinesandlocalandindigenousknowledge,arebroughttogetherinafacilitated,informedpublic

5

dialoguethatassessestrendsandtrajectories,emergingvulnerabilities,andfutureclimatechangerisks.Inthisway,SLDsputurbanisationandclimatechangeinthepublicdomain,whilepromotingsociallearningandinnovation.Thethirdquestionfocusedonthechallengeofhowtostrengthenadaptivecapacityofurbanactorstorespondtoclimateimpactsandtheroleofinstitutionsinsupportingsocialjusticethroughcollectiveadaptationmeasures.Poorcoordination,lackofmonitoringandevaluation,rigidity,andlackoftransparencyaresomeofthecharactersoflocalgovernmentsinSoutheastAsia.Actionstoimproveadaptivecapacityanddisasterpreparednessmustbeframedintermsofrightsandgoodgovernance.Urbanactorsmustcreatenewmechanismsofcollectivedecision-makingandengagementasanapproachtoincreaseadaptivecapacity.Thisresearchquestionaimedtoguideresearcherstoapproachtheissuesofurbangovernancethroughcollectiveactionsthataddressurbanclimateproblems.Thethreeresearchquestionswereintendedtocovercriticalknowledgegapsinunderstandingvulnerability,urbanpovertyandbuildingclimateresilience.Thereisapressingneedtobetteraddressglobalenvironmentalchallenges,likeclimatechange,andurbanfutures,notonlyintheMekongregion,butalsoinurbanisingareasoftheGlobalSouth.Furthermore,asaregiontheGreaterMekongSubregion(GMS)isbecomingmoreregionalisedandconnectedthrougheconomicintegrationandtransportinfrastructure,drivingmuchoftheregion’surbanisationprocess,understandinghowclimatevulnerabilitytranscendsandcascadesacrossadministrativeandpoliticalboundariesiscriticalforsustainableandequitableurbandevelopment.ThecommitmentofUCRSEAtobuildevidence-basedknowledgeandpracticeswastocontributenotonlytoinfluencepolicychangeatthelocallevel,butalsototackleglobalchallenges.Withanaimtobuildanddeepenknowledge,8citieswereselectedtoenableresearcherstodocumentcasestudies,engagewithkeystakeholdersanddecision-makersanddevelopimpactpathwaystoinfluencechange.Tocontributetobetterunderstandingofclimatevulnerabilityattheregionallevel,oneofthecriteriawas‘RegionalConnection’tohelpguidecityselection.Citieswithregionalconnectionsintermsofmigration,transportinfrastructure,communicationandregionalinvestmentwouldrepresentthechallengesofregionalintegrationandregionalisation.UCRSEAprovidedopportunitiesforstrengtheningcapacityofurbanactorsandbuildingaregionalnetworkofacademics,practitionersanddecision-makerstotackleurbanclimateresiliencechallenges.AtthestartofUCRSEA,theconceptsofclimatevulnerabilityandurbanresilienceandurbanclimateresilienceapproacheswereintroducedtotheprojectpartners.Withdiversebackgroundsandexperiencestheconceptsandapproacheswerenewandunfamiliartothepartners.Subsequently,timewasdedicatedtodiscussionsunpackingtheconceptsandresearchapproaches.Throughouttheproject,thethreeresearchquestionsandconceptualframeworkwerediscussedanddebatedamongtheprojectpartners,networksofacademics,researchersandpostgraduatestudents.Avulnerabilityassessmenttoolkitwasdevelopedtohelpguidethepartnersandpostgraduatestudentsassessurbanclimatevulnerability.Aseriesofregionalworkshopsandmeetingswereorganisedthroughouttheproject,providing

6

opportunitiesforexchangesandsharingofkeylearning,knowledgeandexperiences.EvolutionoftheresearchquestionsAstheprojectprogressed,itbecameclearthatdifferentpartnersinterpretedtheresearchquestionsdifferentlyandaddresseddifferentelementsoftheresearchquestions,dependingonthelocalcontextsofselectedsitesandbackgroundandinterestsofthepartners.DifferencesinapproachesandunderstandingoftheconceptswereevidentbetweenuniversityacademicandNGOpartners.However,moreeffortswereputintothefirstresearchquestionaroundunderstandingclimatevulnerability.Asaresult,researchandstudiesconductedbySoutheastAsianpartnersandpostgraduatestudentscoveredmultiplestressors,multi-leveldriversaswellasmultiplepathwaysofvulnerability,usingdiversemethods.Focusingonsocial-ecologicalsystemsintheurbananddevelopmentcontexts,studiesacrosstheMekongregionportrayedvulnerabilityoflocalcommunitiesasnegativeoutcomesduetoincreasingexposuretoarangeofexternalstressors,includingfloods,degradingwaterqualityandpollution,asresultsofexpandingurbanisation,industrialisationandtourism.Someofthestudiesalsodiscussedinherentvulnerabilityoflocalcommunitiesfocusingontheinteractionofsocial,economicandpoliticalfactors,governancefailuresorthelivelihoodsofindividualsandfamilies.However,thelinkagesbetweenurbanisationandurbanpovertyandbetweenurbanpovertyandvulnerabilitywerenotexplicitlyaddressedanddiscussedbythepartners.ThesecondresearchquestiononfacilitatedpublicdialoguewaspromotedandsupportedbyUCRSEAtobeimplementedasaprocessofassessingvulnerability.Whilethepartnersagreedontheimportanceofinformedpolicyplanninganddecisionsthroughmulti-stakeholderengagement,structuredandfacilitatedpublicdialoguestogenerateknowledgeandunderstandingofvulnerabilitywerelessexplored.Differentapproachestoengagewithlocalmulti-stakeholderswereundertakendependingonbackgroundofthepartnersandlocalcontexts.AlthoughtheprojectencouragedthepartnerstousetheSharedLearningDialogueapproachtoengagewithmulti-stakeholdersinvulnerabilityassessments,universityacademicsandresearcherswerelessinclinedtoapplytheapproachthanNGOs/practitioners.Methodsundertakenacademicpartnersweremoretraditionalandconventional,usinginterviewswithindividualsandquestionnaires.Whilethesemethodswouldprovidedetailedinformationofcommunity-orhousehold-leveldata,theydonotpromotelearningamongthestakeholders.Mucheffortwasalsoputintoaddressingthethirdresearchquestiononhowtostrengthencapacityofurbanactorstoimproveresilience.ThisinvolvedusingtheAirBeamdeviceasatoolforstakeholderengagement,awarenessandadvocacyandrealtimeairqualitymonitoring.IntroducedbyProfessorDylanJones(DepartmentofPhysics,UniversityofToronto)in2016,theAirBeamdeviceisadetectorthatcanbeusedtomeasurefineparticulatematter(PM2.5)amongotherparameterssuchasairtemperatureandhumidity.Real-timemeasurementsarerecordedandcommunicatedusingtheAirCastingAndroidappviaBluetooth.Dataiscrowdsourcedtogeneratemaps(seehttp://aircasting.org).SeveraldeviceswerepurchasedbytheUniversityofTorontoandonloantothecountrypartners.

7

WithguidanceandtechnicalsupportfromProfDylanJones,thepartnersparticipatedinatrainingworkshopandlearnedhowtousethedeviceinearly2017.ThepartnersdesignedprojectactivitiesusingtheAirbeamtoengagewithkeystakeholdersandselectedsitesfordatacollection.Activitiesincludedairqualitymonitoringinselectedareasfordatabaseorcomparison,awarenessraisingandadvocacy,andteachingandtrainingofschoolanduniversitystudents.UCRSEAsupportedCitizenScienceapproachasaprocesstostrengthencapacityofurbanactors.TheCitizenScienceapproachwaslargelyexploredandadoptedbyNGOpartners.Theacademicpartnersusedthedeviceinamoretraditionalway,throughteachingoftheiruniversitystudents.

Inconclusion,UCRSEAresearchprovidedevidenceofhowon-goingurbanisationanddevelopmentofurbansystemsandinfrastructurecreatedsocio-economicandenvironmentalchallengesthatcontributedtoincreasingvulnerabilitiesoflocalcommunitiesacrosstheregion.Thecurrenteconomicdevelopment,growthandtransitionsinsecondarycitiesinSoutheastAsiahaveledtosocio-economicdisparities,aggravatedunevenimpactsofclimate-relatedshocksandcrises,andcreatednewformsofvulnerability.Theresearchillustratedtherelationshipsbetweenclimaterisks,urbandevelopmentandvulnerabilitydynamics.However,forfutureresearch,thelinkagesbetweenurbanisationandurbanpovertyneedfurtherinvestigationtodeepentheunderstandingofurbangovernance,equityandjustice,andbetterframevulnerabilityofurbanresidentstoclimatechange.Futureresearchalsoneedstoidentifyandfurtherinvestigatepoliticallymarginalisedcommunitygroupsinurbanareas.Reflectingonthecomplexityofurbanisingareas,diversecommunitygroupssuchasthoseintheinformaleconomysector(e.g.streetvendors),ethnicminorityanddifferentreligiousgroups,needtobeincludedinresearchanddecision-makingandplanningprocesses.Furthermore,asaregion,SoutheastAsiaisbecomingmoresocially,economicallyandphysicallyconnected,understandingvulnerabilitythatisnotplace-basedbutcascadingacrossscalesandpoliticalandadministrativeboundariesiscriticalforshapingregionalurbanfutures,sustainabilityandlong-termclimatepreparedness.Forinstancethereisaneedtobetterassessandunderstandthevulnerabilityofinternationalmigrantlabourersandworkers(suchasmillionsofCambodianandBurmesefactoryandconstructionworkersinThailand)whosefamiliesrelyonremittancesthatareusuallyderivedfromurbansources.Whenmigrantworkersarefacedwithclimate-relatedshocksandcrises(e.g.duringaflooddisaster)andunabletoworkandsendmoneyhome,thevulnerabilityofindividualsatthehouseholdlevelacrossinternationalbordersislessunderstood.MuchoftheUCRSEAresearchdiscussedanddemonstratedtheurgentneedforcitygovernmentsresponsibleformanagingurbanisingareastobetterconnectwithindividualsandcommunities,particularlythosewhoaredirectlyimpactedbybothurbanisationandclimatechange,forurbanandeconomicdevelopmentplanning,disasterriskreductionandbuildingurbanclimateresilience.However,meaningfulparticipationinplanninganddecision-makingprocessesaswellasprovidingspaceformulti-stakeholderdialoguesanddebatesarestilllackinginthisregion.EvidentlytheissuesofurbangovernanceandinstitutionalcapacityremainandposeamajorchallengeforclimatepreparednessandurbanresilienceinSoutheastAsia’ssecondarycities.Thereisacriticalgapintherolethatacademicsand

8

researcherscanplayinpromotingcross-learningandimprovingaccesstoinformationforempowermentoflocalstakeholders.Toempowerthosewhocanserveasactorsofgovernance,futureresearchdesignforbuildingurbanclimateresilienceneedstostrategicallyfocusonestablishinganenablingenvironmentforlocalcivilsociety,non-governmentalandcommunity-basedorgrass-rootorganisationstoaddressemergingissuesofclimateimpacts,urbanisationandsocialvulnerability.III.ProgressTowardsMilestonesOverthelastfiveyears,outcomes-basedmilestoneswithfinancialpaymentsweretracked.UCRSEAcompliedwiththetechnicalandfinancialmilestonesestablishedinthegrantagreement.KeymilestonesachievedbytheendofProjectYear1(Aug14-Jul15)include;

• ThefirstPartnersAnnualWorkshopwasorganisedinBangkokinJanuary2015,bringingallofthepartnersfromtheMekongcountriesandCanadatogethertodiscusstheUCRSEAconceptualframeworkandthreeresearchquestionsandprojectmanagementandgovernancestructure.Newcommitteeswereestablishedduringtheworkshop;ExecutiveCommittee,SoutheastAsianStudentSelectionCommittee,CanadianStudentFundingCommittee,EthicsCommittee,VulnerabilityAssessmentCommitteeinadditiontotheProjectManagementCommittee(PMC)andtheInternationalAdvisoryBoard.ThepartnersalsoidentifiedpotentialpartnersinLaostobecontactedandinvitedtojoinUCRSEAanddevelopedCitySelectionCriteriaforselectingcities,whereresearchwouldtakeplace.

• Thepartnersselectedandagreedon8cities,Battambang,KohKong,NinhBinh,LaoCai,KhonKaen,Mukdahan,DaweiandBago.

• TwonewpartnersjoinedUCRSEA,FacultyofEnvironmentandResourceStudies,MahasarakamUniversity(Thailand)andCenterforEnvironmentandCommunityResearch,Vietnam.

• FirstSoutheastAsianstudentapplicantselectedandawardedafullPhDscholarship.ThecandidatefromCambodiastartedaPhDprogrammeattheFacultyofSocialSciences,ChiangMaiUniversity,Thailand(Table1).

• ThreegraduatestudentsfromCanadastartedtheirsummerresearchinternships(twotoMyanmarandonetoThailand).TwoCanadiandoctoralstudentsalsostartedtheirfieldresearchinThailandandCambodia.

• UCRSEAwebsiteandFacebookpageweresetupandlaunched,http://urbanclimateresiliencesea.apps01.yorku.ca,andhttps://www.facebook.com/ucrsea,andUCRSEAlogowasmade.

• Acasestudyofurban-basedenvironmentaldisastersintheregion,authoredbyCanadiangraduatestudent,EstherLambert(http://urbanclimateresiliencesea.apps01.yorku.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/urban-disasters-report-lambert.pdf).

• ExtensivemeetingsandacademicseminarswereheldinallfourcountriestobuildcapacityoftheprojectpartnersandexpandUCRSEAnetworks.

9

Attheendofthesecondyear(Aug15-Jul16),keymilestonesachievedinclude;• TheCentreforNaturalResourcesandEnvironmentalStudies(CRES)at

VietnamNationalUniversityjoinedthepartnership.• TheSecondPartnersAnnualWorkshopheldinHanoiinMay2016

introducedtheTheoryofChangeapproachtotheUCRSEAnetwork.• CambodianandThaicountrypartnerscarriedoutsituationanalysesin

theirrespectivecitiesforpreliminarydataforvulnerabilityassessments.Vietnamesecountrypartnersdevelopedworkplansandpreparedforfieldvisits,researchandlocalstakeholdersengagement.

• TheheadofGeographyDepartment,YangonUniversitywasengagedinUCRSEAandagreedtoformasmallresearchteamtocarryoutvulnerabilityassessmentsinBagoandDawei.

• OneVietnamesestudentwasselectedandawardedafullPhDscholarship.ThecandidatestartedaPhDprogrammeatChiangMaiUniversityin2016.FourSEAsianstudentapplicantswereselectedandawardedFieldResearchGrants(Table1).

• Partnersparticipatedinanumberofconferences,workshopsandroundtablediscussions,includingtheAsiaPacificUrbanForum,CanadianCouncilofSoutheastAsianstudies(AnnexC).

• 8UCRSEACityBriefswerecollatedbasedonpreliminarydataandcitysituationanalysesprovidedbythepartners(UCRSEACityBriefs2017).

• Partnerscontributedtoabookchapter(FriendandThinphanga2016a),peer-reviewedarticles(FriendandMoench2015,Friend2016a,JarvieandFriend2016),areview(Friend2016b),andop-ed(Friend2016c).

• AFrameworkforClimateVulnerabilityAssessmentinUrbanizingAsia:aGuidebookfortheUrbanClimateResilienceinSoutheastAsia(UCRSEA)Partnershipwascompletedandshared(FriendandThinphanga2016b).

• BudgetoriginallyallocatedforSEAsianPhDstudentswasreallocatedforsmallresearchteamstocarryoutshort-termresearchprojectsintheMekongcountries.

• UCRSEAwebsiterenamedaswww.ucrsea.ca• ThefourProjectManagementCommitteemembersmeteverytwomonths,

whiletheExecutiveCommitteemembersmettwiceayearforprojectupdates.

DuringtheProjectYear3period(Aug16-Jul17),keymilestonesachievedinclude;

• AjointIPaSSPartnershipGrantsMidtermreportwassubmittedandapproved.

• ThreenewpartnerorganisationsofficiallyjoinedtheUCRSEAnetwork,DepartmentofUrbanEnvironment,NationalUniversityofLaos,GeographyDepartment,UniversityofYangon,andRajamangalaUniversityofTechnologyLanna.

• FourstudentsfromSoutheastAsiawereselectedandawardedFieldResearchGrants(Table1).

• Afour-dayCollaborativeCityExchangeTriptoDaweitookplaceinOctober2016.ThetripwasarrangedforUCRSEApartnerstomeetwiththeresearchteamatYangonUniversity,visitDaweiandmeetwithlocalstakeholderstolearnabouttheimpactsofthespecialeconomiczonedevelopmentonlocal

10

communities,andtodiscussurbanfuturesofMyanmarwithGreenEconomyGreenGrowthorganisationbasedinYangon.

• ThethirdPartnersAnnualWorkshopheldinBattambanginMay2017focusedonbuildingcapacityofUCRSEApartnersandstudentsanddiscussedprogrammaticTheoryofChangeandthethreeresearchquestionsandfindings.Theparticipantsalsovisitedresearchsitesandengagedwithurbanpoorcommunities.ThesesiteswerewherethepartnersfromRoyalUniversityofPhnomPenhconductedUCRSEAresearch.

• AnumberoftrainingandregionalworkshopswereorganisedforthepartnersandstudentsacrosstheMekongregion,includingTheoryofChangeworkshopsheldinCambodia,ThailandandVietnam,TechnicaltrainingusingtheAirbeamdeviceinallfourcountries,andPartnersWriteshopinBangkokfocusingonvulnerabilityassessments.

• ThefirstregionalmeetingonCurriculumDevelopmentforUniversitiesintheGreaterMekongSubregionwasorganisedinBangkokinFebruary2017,bringingtogetherexistingUCRSEAacademicpartnersandacademicsfromnon-partneruniversitiesacrosstheregion.Theparticipatinguniversitiesagreedonanewdegreecoursewithcross-disciplinaryresearchagendasandteachingsubjectstoaddressthechallengesofclimatechange,urbanisationandsustainability.AfollowupregionalmeetingtookplaceinSiemReap(Cambodia)inMaywithparticipationofacademicsfromCanadatoexploresubjectsandcoursesonclimatechangetaughtinCanadianuniversities.

Inthefourthyear,keymilestonesachievedinclude;

• OneVietnamesestudentwasselectedandawardedFieldResearchGrant(Table1).

• RegionalResearchExchangeandWriteshopheldinKhonKaeninJanuary2018broughttogetheracademics,researchers,practitionersandstudentstosharetheirto-dateresearchfindings,experienceandlessonslearnedfromconductingresearchinsecondarycitiesintheMekongregionandtodiscusstheoreticalandpracticalaspectsoftheUCRSEAconceptualframeworkfromdifferentperspectives.AfieldtriptoresearchsitesinKhonKaenwasalsoorganisedfortheparticipantstomeetandinteractwithlocalstakeholders.

• AregionalworkshoponCitizenScienceandAirqualitymonitoringusingAirbeamheldinUdonThani(Thailand)inMarch2018broughttogetherUCRSEAcountrypartners,studentsandresearcherstodiscusstheuseoftheAirbeamdevicetoengagewithlocalstakeholdersinairqualitymonitoring.Thediscussionsinvolvedreviewingcommonresearchquestionsandmethodologiesfordatacollection,collectiveeffortstosynchronisedatesfordatacollectionacrosstheregion,andsharingplansforcitizenscienceactivities.

• The4thPartnersAnnualWorkshopinYangoninMay2018focusedonprovidingsupporttothecountrypartnersforthedevelopmentofeffectiveandhigh-qualityresearchoutputsdesignedtoreachdiversestakeholderaudiences.Theworkshopactivitiesweredesignedforthepartnersandstudentstoenhancetheimpactofresearchdatathroughstrengthened

11

theoreticalframing,morevariedandinnovativeknowledgemobilisationstrategies,andmorefrequentandactiveengagementwithkeystakeholders.

• ThethirdregionalworkshoponCurriculumDevelopmentwasheldinChiangMaiinMay.ThisfinalworkshopfocusedonthestructureandteachingmaterialsofaclimatechangecourseintroducedbyacademicsfromCanada.Throughdialogues,networksofuniversitiesandacademicscollaboratedonintegratingthisnewcourseintoexistingteachingandresearchagendasinmultipleinstitutionsacrosstheregion.

• Researchteamswithjuniorresearchersandstudentscarriedoutsmallcollaborativeandparticipatoryresearchprojectsindifferentlocationsanddocumentedkeyfindings(Hayward2017,Rhodes2018,Wontragoon2018).

• Twojournalarticlesandabookchapterwerepublished(Kimleng2017,BeringerandKaewsuk2018,FriendandThinphanga2018a).

InthefinalyearofUCRSEA(Aug18-Jul19),keymilestonesachievedinclude;

• ThefinalPartnersAnnualWorkshopheldinBangkokinMay2019includedaone-dayPolicyForum‘LinkingResearchandPracticetoPolicy’,where‘BoundaryPartners’andother(external)actorsintherelatedfieldsofurbanclimateresilienceanddisasters,includingrepresentativesofUNagencies,internationalandnationalNGOs,Thaigovernmentofficials,anduniversityacademicsandresearchers,wereinvitedtoparticipateindiscussionsfocusingonclimatechangeandurbanisationinSoutheastAsiabasedonUCRSEAresearchfindings.

• Inthisperiod,twojournalarticles(FriendandThinphanga2018b,Beringeretal2018)andabooktitledUrbanClimateResilienceinSoutheastAsia(EditorsDaniereandGarschagen2019)werepublished.

• UCRSEAshortfilmsfocusingonkeyresearchfindingsineachoftheMekongcountriesweremadeanddistributed(https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbRtQ6HOlaJlX4nCw0_n-7s6Kz1SauVjR).

UCRSEAgrants

Student/nationality

Institution Researchtopic

PhDfullscholarship(2014-2019)

TryThuonPhDcandidateCambodia

SocialSciencesFacultyofSocialSciences,ChiangMaiUniversity,Thailand

Remakingofurbanspace,livelihoodchangesandresilienceamongpeopleinCambodia:CasestudyfromBattambang

PhDfullscholarship(2015-2019)

LyQuocDangPhDcandidateVietnam

Women'sandGender’sStudies,FacultyofSocialSciences,ChiangMaiUniversity,Thailand

GenderDimensionsandUrbanFloodinginCanThoCityofVietnam

Field KimThiHo UniversityofSocial Assessinglivelihood

12

UCRSEAgrants

Student/nationality


researchgrantAwardedin2015

PhDstudentVietnam

SciencesandHumanitiesVietnamNationalUniversity–HoChiMinhCity

resilienceandvulnerabilitytoclimatechangeofKhmerhouseholdsinSocTrang,Mekongdeltaregion

FieldresearchgrantAwarded2016

EiShweSinPhyoMasterstudentMyanmar

DepartmentofArchaeology,UniversityofYangon,Myanmar

UrbanFloodinginBagoCityinLowerMyanmar(Phyo2017)

FieldresearchgrantAwardedin2016

SaKimlengMasterstudentCambodia

RoyalUniversityofPhnomPenhCambodia

UrbanClimateVulnerabilityinCambodia:ACaseStudyinKohKongProvince(Kimleng2017)


NguyenSongMasterstudentVietnam

ThedepartmentofAnthropology,VietnamNationalUniversity,HanoiCollegeofSocialSciencesandHumanities

Impactsofclimatechangeonthelivelihoodofcoastalurban-dwellersinVietnamCasestudyofHaiphongcity(Song2017)


ChantholHayMasterstudentCambodia

FacultyofSociologyandCommunityDevelopment,UniversityofBattambang,Cambodia

SlumareasinBattambangandClimateResilience(SamnangandChanthol2018)


PitiSrivongchaiPh.D.CandidateThailand

DevelopmentScience,FacultyofHumanitiesandSocialSciences,KhonKaenUniversity,Thailand

GuidelinestoReduceIndividualGreenhouseGas(GHG)EmissionsforLowCarbonCityinKhonKaen,Thailand


DaraLimMasterstudentCambodia

RoyalUniversityofPhnomPenhCambodia

ImpactsofSeasonalFloodingontheLivesofBattambangUrbanPoor,Cambodia(Lim2018)


TayZarMyoWinMasterstudentMyanmar

InternationalDevelopmentStudies,FacultyofPoliticalScience,ChulalongkornUniversity,Thailand

Decentralizationtowardsdemocraticaccountabilityinprovidingpublicservices:ACase

13

UCRSEAgrants

Student/nationality


StudyofDaweiTownship,Myanmar


PhamThiThuHuongMasterstudentVietnam

DepartmentofInterdisciplinaryScienceVietnamNationalUniversity,Hanoi

VulnerabilityAssessmentonClimateChangeofSaPaTowninLaoCaianditsVicinity

Table1StudentsfromSoutheastAsiawhowereawardedafullPhDscholarshiporFieldResearchGrantunderUCRSEA

IV.SynthesisofResearchResultsandDevelopmentOutcomesToaddresscomplexchallengesoftheinteractionofurbanisationandclimatechange,thereweretwocomplementarystreamsofactivitiesimplementedundertheUCRSEAproject.Thefirstworkstream;CapacityDevelopmentandNetworking,consistedoftwomainaims;i)tostrengthenresearchcapacity,knowledgeandtechnicalskillsofacademics,researchers,studentsandpractitionersinurbanclimateresilience;andii)toengageandbuildacollaborativeregionalnetworkofactorstogeneratenewknowledgeandaddressurbanandclimatechallenges.Thesecondworkstream;UrbanClimateVulnerabilityandResilienceResearch,guidedbythethreeresearchquestions,wastogeneratenewknowledgeanddocumentevidenceoftheimplicationsofurbanisation,interactionsbetweenurbanisationandclimatechangeandlinkagesofurbanisation,urbangovernanceandclimatevulnerabilityoflocalcommunities,throughcasestudiesfromselectedsecondarycitiesacrosstheMekongcountries.Throughtheseworkstreams,theUCRSEAprojectprovidedmultipleformsofsupportincludingfundingforresearchprojects,resourcesforknowledgemobilisation,andopportunitiesfortrainingandpartnershipdevelopment.UCRSEA’sTheoryofChangeframeworkwascollaborativelydevelopedtomapoutlogicalstepsandguidetheprojectpartnerstoachieveexpectedoutputsanddesirableoutcomes.Asatool,theUCRSEAtheoryofchangeframeworkwasalsousedtolinkthetwoworkstreams,consolidatetheoutputsandengagetheprojectpartnersinadialogue-baseprocessformonitoringandevaluationofprogress.CapacityDevelopmentandNetworkingTheprojectsuccessfullycreatedandexpandedregionalnetworkofacademics,researchers,studentsandpractitionerstoparticipateandengageinurbanclimateresilienceresearchanddialogues.Initially,therewere10formalpartnerorganisations(2partnerorganisationsineachofCambodiaandVietnam,and3ineachofMyanmarandThailand).Theseformalcollaboratorsparticipatedinresearchactivities,trainingsandregionalworkshops.Throughouttheproject,newpartnersandpartnerorganisationsjoinedtheUCRSEAnetworkatdifferentcapacitiesandwereengagedinvariousactivitiesfromimplementingresearchprojectstoparticipatinginregionalworkshopsandmeetings(AnnexA).

14

Overfiveyearsoftheproject,anumberofregionalworkshops,trainingsandmeetings,includingTheoryofChange,CurriculumDevelopment,ResearchExchange,Writeshops,CitizenScienceforAirQualityMonitoringusingtheAirbeamdevice,andCityExchange,wereorganisedtomaximiseopportunitiesforcapacitybuilding,researchcollaboration,networkingandsharingofexperiencesandlessonslearned.Inaddition,PartnersAnnualWorkshopsalsobroughttogetherallpartnersandgraduatestudentsfromSoutheastAsiaandCanada(UniversityofToronto,UniversityofOttawaandYorkUniversity)aswellasthefourmembersoftheInternationalAdvisoryBoardtodiscussresearchfindingsandimpacts,andcollaborateonworkplans.Theseregionalworkshops,trainingsandmeetingsrequiredeffortsincoordinationofparticipantsfromdifferentcountriesandstructuredfacilitationofdialoguestoensurelearningandnetworkingobjectiveswereachieved.Inaddition,localstakeholders(external,non-projectpartners)fromthegovernment,academiaandcommunitiesorresearchinformantswereinvitedtotheseregionalworkshopsandmeetingstoparticipateindiscussions.Insomeevents,English-locallanguageinterpreterswerenecessary.Theregionalengagementandlearningactivitieswerefoundtobevaluabletotheprojectpartnersandstudentsaswellastolocalstakeholders.Cross-learningandpeer-to-peerlearninggeneratednewknowledge,influencednewpracticesandcontributedtobetterdecision-makingprocessesandpolicychange.Examplesinclude;theGovernorofBattambangwasinterestedtolearnfromUCRSEAresearchtoupdatetheprovincialclimatechangeandurbandevelopmentplans;PraLapMunicipalityinKhonKaenprovincewasseekingforUCRSEAresearchinputstoinfluenceurbandevelopmentandfloodmanagementplansofKhonKaencity;LaoCaicitygovernmentsresponsibleforclimatepolicyimplementationwereinterestedinupdatingvulnerabilityassessmentsinresponsetorapidurbangrowthsincethehighwaylinkingtoHanoifinished;theresearchteamsfromtheCentreforEnvironmentandCommunityResearch(CECR)learnednewskillsinundertakingclimateandurbanresearch;ontheCityExchangetrip,UCRSEApartnerslearneddirectlyfromlocalfishingcommunitiesinDaweiabouttheimpactsofthespecialeconomiczonedevelopmentonwateravailability;theresearchteamsfromCRESatVietnamNationalUniversitylearnedfromfellowUCRSEApartnershowtoengagewithlocalfamiliesinPhuHaovillage,KhanhPhucommune,NinhBinhcity.ContributionsofUCRSEAfundedstudentsTheopportunitiesforgraduateandresearchstudentsaswellasjuniorresearchersfromtheMekongcountriestomeet,networkandexchangeandshareknowledgewithandtohaveaccesstofellowstudents,researchers,andsenioracademics,notonlywithintheircountries,butalsoacrosstheregionandCanada,wereuniqueandvaluable.TheregionalworkshopsandmeetingsinvitedthestudentswhowereawardedresearchgrantsbyUCRSEA(aslistedinTable1)andotherstudentsfromthepartneruniversitiestoparticipateindiscussionsandprovidedopportunitiesforthemtopractisepresentingtheirresearchbyPowerPointorpostersinEnglish.AlthoughthestudentsdirectlyfundedbyUCRSEAFieldResearchGrantswereencouragedtopublishtheirresearch,moreacademicandtechnicalsupportwouldbenecessarytoimprovetheirresearchtechniquesandwritinginEnglish.Nevertheless,UCRSEAfundingprovidedopportunitiesforthestudentstoget

15

exposuretonewareaofstudy,carryoutresearchinclimatechange,vulnerabilityandurbanisation,andlearnnewresearchskills.Whiletheresearchqualityofthegraduatestudentsmightnotmeettheinternationalresearchandpublicationstandards,theirresearchfindingscontributedtonewknowledgeoftheUCRSEAnetwork.Examplesinclude;TheworkofKimThiHoexploredthevulnerabilityofethnicminoritygroupsofKhmerwomeninOMandistrictinCanTho,andKhmerimmigrantsinBanTandistrict,aperi-urbanareaofHoChiMinhCity.TheeffectsofrapidurbanisationofCanThoandHoChiMinhCityhaveinfluencedthetransformationoflivelihoodsandenforcedtheadaptabilityofthecommunitygroups.However,theywereabletoadapttothemoreurbanisedlifestylebecauseoftheirsocialcapitalwithinhouseholds,andbyretainingtheirculturalidentityandreligiousbeliefs.EiShweSinPhyo,astudentinArchaeology,analysedtheurbanfloodinBagobyexamininghydrologicaldata,townplanninganddrainagesystemstructureandmapstoidentifyrootcausesoffrequentfloods,anddiscussedthevulnerabilityoflocalresidentsimpactedbyfrequentfloods,bydrawingonthecomplexsystemsthinking.TheresearchrevealedurbanfloodsinBagowerecausedbypoorandout-dateddrainagesystemandinfrastructure.Itwasalsofoundthatlocalinstitutionshadweakandineffectivecapacityandwereunabletodealwithrapidlychanginglanduseandurbanlandscapes.Furthermore,domesticandconstructionwastesweredumpedinthedrainagesystemblockingwaterflow.Withlimitedsupportfromlocalgovernmentsduringfloods,localcommunitiesreliedoneachotherforfood,watersupplyandboats.TworesearchstudieswereconductedinBattambangfocusingonthevulnerabilityoftheurbanpoorcommunities,usingthelinkagesofsocial-ecological-technologicalsystems.TheworkofRemSamnangandHayChantholexploredthesocio-economicconditionsoftheslumcommunities.DaraLimlookedattheimpactsoffloodsonthelow-incomecommunities.Bothstudiesshowedthedailyincomeoftheurbanpoorwasabovethepovertylineof1USDperday,earnedbyworkingasconstructionworksorshopandrestaurantassistants.However,accesstocleanwaterwasachallengewithoutandduringfloods.Thosewithoutaccesstopipedwaterwouldharvestrainwaterfordrinkingandcookingandsomewouldbuywaterfromprivatevendorcompanies.Increasingfloodfrequencyasaresultofurbanlandusechangeandclimateimpactsandwithoutimprovingaccesstocleanwaterwillexacerbatethevulnerabilityoftheurbanpoor.ResearchconductedbyTryThuoninBattambangexploresin-depthinstitutionalandgovernancepracticesinurbanplanningandmanagementandtheimpactsofurbanandeconomicdevelopmentonequity,justiceandtheurbanpoor.BattambangisasecondlargestcityafterPhnomPenh,richwithnaturalresourcesandculturalheritagesofpre-colonialandFrenchcolonialbuildingsandtemples.Forthisreasonthecityhasbeenstrategicallydesignatedforurbanandeconomicdevelopment.Therevisedurbanvisionpromotesequitablelandsharingforinformalsettlementsandlow-costhousingscheme,aswellasagro-ecotourismusingurbanheritageareaasculturalvillage.However,withouttheparticipationandconsultationoflocalresidentsinlanduseplanning,couplingwithdominance

16

ofselectivegroupswithpoliticalconnection,theimplementationoftheurbanvisionhasledtosocialandpoliticalconflictsandresistanceofcertaingroupstoproposedurbaninfrastructuredevelopment.Thepromotionofurbanculturalheritagetourismismorelucrativeandhasledtoincreasedincomeoffewresidentswhoownlandandheritagehouses.Landhasalsobeensoldandsharedwithnon-residents.Uncontrolledandunregulatedlanddevelopment,suchaslandfillinghasledtoincreasingflooding.Withcontestedaccessoverstrategicresourcessuchasland,therevisedurbanvisionwiththeintentiontoimprovethelivelihoodsoftheurbanpoorandinformalsettlementshasinsteadcontributedtoincreasingvulnerabilityoflocalresidents.Keyfindingsofthisresearchwillinformon-goingdevelopmentinitiativesandprogrammescurrentlytakingplaceinBattambang,whichwillhaveimportantimplicationsontheurbanpoorcommunities.Forinstance,thegreenbeltdevelopmentproject,supportedbytheClimateInvestmentFund,thegreencityprogramme,ledbytheGlobalGreenGrowthInstitute,andtheurbandevelopmentprogrammeoftheFrenchDevelopmentAgency,willneedstrategicinputstoensureinclusive,equitabledevelopmentthatwillincreaseclimateadaptivecapacityandresilienceoflocalresidents,particularlytheurbanpoor(Thuon2019,personalcommunication3October).ContributionsofUCRSEApartnersGuidedbytheUCRSEAconceptualframeworkandthreeresearchquestions,thepartnerscarriedoutsituationanalyses,vulnerabilityassessmentsandcitizenscienceactivitiesinselectedsecondarycities(AnnexB).TheTheoryofChangeapproachwasusedtosupportthepartnersinlinkingthedesignoftheirresearchprojectsandresearchfindingstopolicyimpactsandknowledgemobilisation(UCRSEATheoryofChangeFramework2017).Inthetraining,eachofthepartnerswasrequestedtoidentifykeyboundarypartnersandhighlightimportantmessagestoinformpolicy.Asaresult,emergingfindingsbecamemoreclearlydirectedtowardpolicybriefs,targetingthecorrectaudience.EachpartnerworkedonspecificpathsofinfluencesthatcontributedtoanoverarchingTheoryofChange(Figure1).

• TheCentreforEnvironmentandCommunityResearch(CECR)CECRfocusedonguidingwomenaccessdiverse,sustainablelivelihoodswithintheircommunityandobtaintheknowledge,capacity,andresourcestheyneedtowithstandandrecoverfromclimaterelatedshocks.CECRcollecteddataontheimpactsoftourismdevelopmentonthelivelihoodsandwellbeingoffamiliesintheUNESCOWorldHeritageSiteatTrangAn.ThroughoutthevulnerabilityassessmentCECRengagedwiththeWomen’sUnionofTruongYenandDongThanhtobetterunderstandconnectionsbetweentourismentrepreneursandlocalwomen(Lyetal2017).CECRdevelopedevidence-basedrecommendationstosupportsustainabletourismdevelopmentthatwillimprovethelivelihoodsofwomenandprotecttheenvironmentacrossVietnam.UsingexampleofTrangAn,therecommendationstargetedtheVietnamUnionofScienceandTechnologyAssociationsofNinhBinh,TrangAnLandscapeComplexManagementboard,CenterForEnvironmentalMonitoringPortalandDepartmentofenvironmentofNinhBinh(Lyetal2019).Throughthiswork,CECRengagedwiththeVietnamTourismAssociation(VITA).Theengagementhasconsequentlyledtofurther

17

collaborationandpartnership.CECRandVITAcontinuetoworkonanewprojecton‘TransformingClimatechangeaffectedareasintosustainabletouristdestination:BuildingupanewGreenTourismBusinessModelsforMSMEsandlocalcommunities’andNinhBinhhasbeenselectedasoneoftheprojectsites(Ly2019,personalcommunication,2October).Furthermore,keyresearchfindingsweresharedinthedialoguefocusingonGenderandNationalDeterminedContributions(NDC)inAugust2019tohighlighttheissuesofgenderandwomenandtoinfluenceinclusivenessregardinggenderdimensions.ThroughtheworkofUCRSEA,CECRhasbecomeoneofthemainpartnersinanewUNWomentrainingprogrammeonWomenandClimateChange.Inaddition,CECRisnowaleadingNGOtoadvocateforgendermainstreaminginclimatechangepoliciesinVietnamandintheregion.CECRwillspeakonapanelattheAsia-PacificMinisterialConferencetoinfluenceandadvocateforgenderequalityforwomenandgirlsinenvironmentalconservation,climateactionandresiliencebuilding(Ly2019,personalcommunication,2October).

Figure1UCRSEATheoryofChangeFramework

• TheCentreforNaturalResourcesandEnvironmentalStudies(CRES)TheworkofCRESaimedatinfluencingthedevelopmentoflocalindustrialzonessothattheybecomemoreinclusive,environmentallyrespectful,andsustainable.CREScollectedenvironmentalandsocialdataonthenegativeimpactsofKhanhPhuindustrialdevelopmenttoassesstheclimatevulnerabilityoflocalcommunity

18

membersinPhuHaovillage.Thevillagersexperiencehealthissuesfromcontaminatedwatersupplyduetowastewaterdischargeoftheindustrialzone.Thecommunealsoexperiencesmorefrequentfloodsduetochangesinlanduseandclimateimpacts.CRESdevelopedevidence-basedmaterialstosupporttheeffortsoflocalcivilsocietyorganisationsandtargetedthepolicymakersattheKhanhPhuCommunePeople’sCommittee,theNinhBinhIndustrialZoneManagementBoard,theNinhBinhProvincialDepartmentofNaturalResourcesandEnvironment,theNinhBinhProvincialPeople’sCommittee,andtheMinistryofNaturalResourcesandEnvironmenttoprotecttheinterestsoflocalresidents(LeandHa2019).

• TheFacultyofEnvironmentandResourcesStudiesatMahasarakhamUniversity(MSU)

TheresearchteamfromMSUfocusedontheimplicationsofthedevelopmentofspecialeconomiczoneinMukdahan.Theaimwastofindeffectiveapproachestominimisethenegativeimpactsofindustrialdevelopmentonnearbyresidentsandtheenvironmentandmaximisethebenefitstolocalcommunities.Theyarguedthatinordertomaintainthebalancebetweenindustrialdevelopmentandthelivelihoodsoflocalcommunities,aproportionofcommunityforestsmustbeprotectedandmanagedbythecommunities(Bridhikitti2017).TheteamsuggesteddifferentapproachesandusedthisevidencetoproposaltotheBoardofMukdahanSpecialEconomicZoneDevelopmentCommittees(BridhikittiandKhadkar2019).TheresultsofUCRSEAresearchinfluencednewplanninganddecisiontoincorporatetheconceptofeco-industrialdesignfortheMukdahanSEZinresponsetothenaturalresource-basedneedsofMukdahanindigenousgroupsandtoachievesustainabledevelopmentgoals(Inmuong2019,personalcommunication,30September).TheresearchteamalsofolloweduponthedialogueandengagementwiththeKhonKaenProvincialGovernortodiscusspossiblesolutionstomitigatefloodsandfloodrisksinPraLapcommunity.WaterdiversionandsewerageoutflowofKhonKaenCityMunicipalityexacerbatetheimpactsoffloods.DrInmuongstatedthatinAugust2019,usingtheUCRSEAresearchfindings,theDepartmentofPublicWorksandTown&CountryPlanning,MinistryofInterior,agreedtoincludethefloodissuesofPraLapinthedevelopmenttheMasterPlanofDesignandInvestmentofFloodManagementandMitigationofKhonKaenCity(personalcommunication30September2019).

• TheRoyalUniversityofPhnomPenh(RUPP)TheresearchteamsfromRUPPaimedtoprovidetechnicalsupporttopolicymakersinthedevelopmentofsustainableurbanfuturesforrapidlyurbanisingcitiesacrossCambodia,usingBattambangandKohKongasexample.Workingcloselywithlocalstakeholders,RUPPfocusedonunderstandingtheimpactsofclimatechangeandurbanisationonthesocialwellbeingofvulnerablecommunitiesinordertoadvancemoreeffectiveandsustainableurbansystemsandbuildmoreinclusivecities.Theteamsengageddirectlywithprovincialandmunicipalityofficials,DepartmentofLandManagement,UrbanPlanningandConstruction,andDepartmentofPublicWorksandTransportation,indialoguestoassessvulnerabilityandinfluencechange(Asifetal2016,Thuonetal2016).

19

• TheNationalUniversityofLao(NUOL)

TheresearchteamfromNUOLparticipatedintheTheoryofChangetrainingandlearnednewfortheirfutureresearchtodevelopanacademicmethodologyforequitableandinclusiveurbandesignplanning,andcreatingamulti-stakeholderplatformthatallowscommunitymembers,policymakers,academicsandprivatesectorstakeholderstocollaborativelydevelopurbandesignplans.

• PhDcandidatefundedbyUCRSEALyQuocDang(Table1)participatedintheUCRSEATheoryofChangetrainingworkshopinlate2016andwasabletousetheframeworktoincorporatetheSustainableLivelihoodapproachtoassessvulnerabilityandgenderinequalityinhisPhDresearch.Thetheoryofchangeframeworkbringsaboutadiscussionfocusingonhowwomenandmenindifferentclasses,ethnicitygroups,religions,andlivelihoodbackgroundsareimpactedbyurbanfloodingdisasterinCanTho.Thedifferentialimpactsreflectthedifferencesinsocial,economicandpoliticaldimensions,whichareinturndynamic.Floodingisalsoacatalystleadingtosocial,politicalandeconomicchanges,drivinginequality.Hisresearchisinformingappropriateeconomicandinfrastructuredevelopmentplanningandadaptivestrategiesthatareinclusivetoimprovethelivelihoodsofvulnerablegroups,particularlywomen(Dang2019,personalcommunication,30September).UrbanClimateVulnerabilityandResilienceResearchFindingsThesignificanceofcitiesisincreasinglyrecognisedinglobalagendas.TheSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs)explicitlyacknowledgetheimportantrolethatcitiesplayinthepursuitofsustainabledevelopmentthroughGoal11,whichaimsto‘Makecitiesandhumansettlementinclusive,safe,resilientandsustainable’.SDG13focusesspecificallyontakingurgentactiontotackleclimatechangeissues.The2015ParisAgreementalsohighlightsthekeyroleoflocalgovernmentsintheglobalresponsetoclimatechange.However,manycities,particularlyintheGlobalSouth,faceenormousconstraintsandlackthenecessarycapabilitiestoeffectivelydealwiththeissueofclimatechange(Tanneretal2009).TheconceptualframeworkofUCRSEAguidedresearchactivitiestoadvanceunderstandingofanddocumenttherangeofvulnerabilitiesfacedbyurbanresidentsinsmall-andmedium-sizedcitiesandexplorewaysinwhichthesecitiescanfullyengageinresiliencebuildingactivities.Casestudiesfromdifferentlocationscollectivelyshowhowurbanisationincreasestheexposureandsusceptibilityofurbanresidentstodisastersandclimate-relatedshocks,andthatimpactsarefeltunevenlyamongurbanpopulations(Kimleng2017,BeringerandKaewsuk2018,LeandHa2019).Theurbanisationpatterninthisregionreflectsthelong-termconsiderationsofclimatechangeadaptationbeingofmuchlowerprioritythanshort-termeconomicgrowth(Bridhikitti2017,Lyetal2019,Martinetal2019).Muchoftheresearchalsodiscussedlimitedcapacityandaccountabilityofcitygovernmentstodealwithemergingenvironmentalandsocio-economicchallengesassociatedwithurbaninfrastructureandindustrialdevelopment(Thuonetal2016,FriendandThinphanga2018b).Furthermore,theworkofUCRSEAsuggestedeffectivegovernanceandinstitutionalcapacitymustbe

20

highlightedwhenaddressingurbanclimatevulnerabilities(Hayward2017,Rhodes2018,FriendandThinphanga2018a).Similarurbanisationpatternscanbeobservedacrosstheregion.Ruraltownsandcitiesarebeingpositionedasnewindustrialorspecialeconomiczoneforeconomicdevelopment,suchasMukdahanandDawei.Mukdahan,NortheastThailand,islocatedinthemiddleoftheEast−WestEconomicCorridor(EWEC),connectedtoSawannakhet,LaoPDRbyaThai-LaosFriendshipBridge.DuetoitslocationMukdahanistargetedfortradeandtourismandMukdahanSpecialEconomicZone(MSEZ),coveringover500sqkm,hasbeenestablishedbythenationalgovernment(BridhikittiandKhadka2019).Changinglanduseandecologicallandscapesisamainconcernforlocalcommunities.Withlimitedwateravailability,increasingdemandwillleadtoconflicts,asitislikelythatwaterwillbeallocatedanddistributedtotheindustryaspriority(FriendandThinphanga2018b).TheDaweiSpecialEconomicZone(DSEZ)withadeep-seaport,inMyanmar,issettobeoneofthelargestinAsia,coveringanareaofapproximately200sqkm(MercyCorps2017).WiththeopeningoftheASEANEconomicCommunity(AEC),theprojectwillnowbelinkeddirectlybyroadtoQuyNhonwhereplansforasimilar,butsmallerscale,petrochemicalindustrialplanthavebeenapproved.Ahighway,railway,andoilandgaspipelinesarealsobeingconstructedlinkingDaweitoThailand’sMapThaPhutandtoQuyNhoninVietnam(FriendandThinphanga2016a).ThecompletedSEZwillincludeadeep-seaport,oilrefinery,coal-firedandliquefiedpetroleumgaspowerplants,steelmill,petrochemicalcomplex,andothermediumandlightindustries.Theestablishmentofspecialeconomiczonerepresentsadramatictransformationoftheecological,social,andeconomiclandscapeinbothtownsandwillhavebroaderimplicationsasobservedinestablishedindustrialzonesliketheEasternSeaboardinThailand(Rhodes2018).DaweiandMukdahanarenotonlyexperiencingpopulationgrowth,butalsodirectandindirectimpactsfromthedevelopmentoftheadjacentSEZ,manypoorerruralandurbanhouseholdsareexperiencingthedispossessionoftheirland,whichisleadingtothelossoflivelihoods,forcedmigration,andincreasedcommodityprices(Martinetal2019).Thereremainsasignificantgapinconsideringtheinstitutionalandregulatorymechanismsthatwillberequiredformanagingthetransformationthattheindustrialestatewillbringtothewiderarea,includingmanagingthedemandforwaterandhowthiswillbemet,preventingimpactsonair,groundwaterandsoilquality,ensuringtransparencyandproactivecommunicationwiththepublic,maximizingeconomicbenefitstothecommunity,andmanagingresettlementandcompensationforlossoflandandresourcesintegraltolocallivelihoods(FriendandThinphanga2016a,Rhodes2018).Importantly,giventheanticipatedlonglifespanoftheproject,itwillalsobeimportanttoconsiderclimatechangevulnerabilities,andhowthesecanbemitigated(Martinetal2019).UrbanisationinmanyareasacrossVietnamisdrivenbyeconomicdevelopmentthroughthetourismindustry.TheestablishmentofTrangAnasaUNESCOheritagecomplexinNinhBinhhastransformedthelivelihoodofTruongYen

21

communefromaruralagriculturetomoreurbanisedeconomies(Lyetal2019).ThetouristoperationofTrangAnissolelydonebyonecompany,theXuanTruongCompany.Ononehand,theeconomicdevelopmentmodelofthetourismsectorisimportantforpovertyreductioninruralareas.PercapitaincomeofTruongYenhasincreasedbyeightfoldinadecade.Tourismcontributesmorethan80%ofTruongYencommune’sGDPdespiteemployingjust20%oflabour.Incontrast,whileemployingabout60%oflabour,agricultureaccountsforonly20%oftotalGDP(Lyetal2017).Ontheotherhand,dramaticchangesinlivelihoodsandlandusecontributetoincreasingvulnerabilities.Thelossofagriculturalareasalongwithlargeinfluxoftouristsmeansthatfoodbecomeslessaffordabletolocalresidents.FoodandnecessitypriceinTruongYenisfurtherpushedupbytheinfluxoftourists.Thecompanyemploysonlywomenasrowers,takingtouristsonboattours.Otherfamilymembersmigratetothecityforemployment,leavingbehindelderlyandchildren.Duringpeaktouristseason,eachrowermaygetuptotworoundsofboattour,earningapproximatelyUSD6.60pertour.Outsideofpeakseason,itiscommonthatrowersmaywaitforseveraldayswithoutgettingatour.Duringthisperiodofnoboatridingincome,theyresorttoinformaljobssuchasdaylabourconstruction.ThusinTruongYen,thenewurbanisedlivelihoodischaracterisedbytheinstabilityandinsecurityofincomeandmigrationofmenandyoungpeopleoutofthecommune(Lyetal2017).Urbanisationisalsoassociatedwithshiftingvaluesandlifestyles.Thereisincreasingdesiretobemoreurbanformore‘modern’lifestyle,especiallyamongtheyoungergenerationwhohavebetteraccesstocommunicationtools(internet,socialmedia),andgreaterexposuretomediaandadvertising.Thisisprefacedbychangingattitudesbyyouthtowards‘conventional’livelihoodssuchasfarmingandfishingwhichisseenaslabourintensive,unpredictableincomeandtooprecarious(Asifetal2016).InthecoastalfishingcommunitiesofKohKong,Cambodiaasanexample,manysonsanddaughtershaveremarkedthattheyhavenodesiretodofishingafterwatchingtheirparentsstruggletomakeenoughmoneyforthefamily.Instead,theyaspiretoleavethefishingvillagewiththedaughterswantingtoworkinthefactoriesoftheKohKongSpecialEconomicZoneandthesonsseekingeitherfurthereducationorlabourorservicejobsinthecity,likePhnomPenhandsometimesThailand.Meanwhile,theirparentsstayinthevillage,eithercontinuingtofish,makingwhatevertheycan,orsellinggoodsfromtheirhouse,orabandonfishingaltogether,relyingonremittancesfromtheirsons/daughters.Theeffectsofout-migrationofpeopleofKohKongphenomenaleadtoshiftingdimensionsofvulnerability(Asif2019).ThethinkingandargumentofUCRSEAsupportedtheneedofclimatevulnerabilityassessmentsneedtomoveawayfroma‘predictandact’approachtowardsassessingclimatethresholds(FriendandThinphanga2018a).Thismeansthatinsteadoftaking(downscaled)climateprojectionsasthestartingpointforvulnerabilityassessments,itisimportanttoassesshowpatternsofurbanisationandotherfactorssuchasdependenceoncomplexurbansystems,infrastructureandtechnologyarecreatingvulnerabilitiesthatwillbeexacerbatedbyfutureclimatechange(Chelleri2011,Friendetal2015,FriendandMoench2015).This

22

thinkingofclimatevulnerabilitydeterminesthepointsatwhichacrisiswilloccur,andthesocialprocessesinwhichthiscrisisisidentified(FriendandThinphanga2018a).Furthermore,shocksandcrisesarenotonlydeterminedbythelocationofaparticularevent,butbythewaysinwhichsystemsarenetworked,andhowtheimpactsofshocksandcrisescascadethroughinter-linked,inter-lockedsystemsacrossdifferentlocations,impactingdifferentpeopleindifferentways(Friendetal2015,FriendandThinphanga2018a).Theways,inwhichactors(individuals,households,communities,organisations)accessandcontrolurbansystems,arekeydeterminantsinwellbeingandwelfare,andconverselyinpovertyandvulnerability.Theapproachtoinvestigatetheinterfacebetweencriticalurbansystems,suchaswaterandwaste,andactorsasakeyprincipletosituateandunfolddimensionsofvulnerabilitywascarriedoutbytheresearchteamsinBattambang,PhraLapinKhonKaen,andNinhBinh.Battambang,oneoftheoldesttownsinCambodiaestablishedbeforetheFrenchcolonisationperiod,israpidlyurbanising.SituatedontheSouthernEconomicCorridor,animportantnodeofASEAN,atraditionallyagriculturaltown,Battambanghasrecentlytransformedintoagro-industrialcentre.Withincreasingpopulationandexpansionofurbanisedareas,localauthoritiesareunabletoprovideadequateservices,suchassolidwastemanagement,andwaterinfrastructure,suchasdrainageandsanitation(Thuonetal2016).Solidwastecollectionanddispersalisinsteadcontractedtoaprivatecompany.Upto80%ofhouseholdsinurbanareasreceivethisservicethroughthecompany,includingfactoryandhospitalwastes.Withweaklegalframeworkandgovernance,thecompanydoesnotfollowenvironmentalregulationsandisnotaccountableformanagementandoverflowoftheonlydumpsite,whichislocatednearresidentialareas.Inthiscase,withurbansprawlandlackofurbanplanning,residentialareasedgeclosertothedumpsite.Contaminatedwaterfromthedumpsiteisleakedintonearbypaddyfieldsandhouses,andisexacerbatedbyfloods.Battambangisexperiencingmorefrequentfloods,aspaddyfieldshavebeenconvertedintobuiltenvironmentswithinadequatedrainage(ThuonandCai2019).ThecurrentdrainagesystemwasbuiltduringtheFrenchperiod.Onlyasmallproportionofhouseholdsareconnectedtothecentralsewagesystem.Untreatedwastewaterisdischargedintofarmland,riversandcanals.CommunitiesofPraLapsub-districtarefacedwithincreasinglycomplexwaterresourceissues,rangingfromchangingfloodpatterns,intensityanddurationtowatersupplyshortagesinthesameyear(KaewsukandBeringer2017).Thisperi-urbanareaisdownstreamfromfastgrowingcityofKhonKaenandsharesthesamewatersupplysourceintheChiriverbasin.AstheurbanpopulationofKhonKaencontinuestoexpand,waterislimitedandcannotmeetincreasingdemand.Waterislargelyallocatedforurbanconsumptionandindustries.Inaddition,unregulatedanduncontrolledurbansprawlsleadtotransformationofnaturalwaterwaysandecologicallandscapes,causingfrequentfloods(FriendandThinphanga2018b).Toprotecturbaneconomiccentres,floodwaterispumpedanddivertedtoPraLap.PraLapvillagers,particularlywomen,childrenandelderly,sufferfromasuiteofhealthimpactsandarevulnerabletowaterresourceissues,includingwatersupplyshortages,contaminatedanddegradedwater

23

qualityduetountreatedwastewaterandurbanrun-offfromKhonKaen,andincreasinglyunpredictablefloods(BeringerandKaewsuk2018).InNinhBinh,theestablishmentofKhanhPhuindustrialzoneincreasesvulnerabilitiesofnearbylocalcommunitiesofPhuHaovillagethroughrisingairpollutionandwatercontamination(LeandHa2019).Contaminatedwaterisleakedintogroundwatercausinglossesoflivestock,reductionofcropyieldandhumanhealthimpacts,andisexacerbatedbyfloods.Weaklocalinstitutionsinmanagingcomplexinterlinkedurbansystemsthatareoperatingacrossadministrativeboundariesandinadequatewaterinfrastructuresforsupply,sanitationanddrainagemeanfloodsandpollutionposeseriouschallenges(LeandHa2018).Inconclusion,buildingresilienceisanecessaryfeatureoffutureurbanisation,particularlyinfastgrowingsmall-andmedium-sizedsecondarycities(Birkmannetal2016,Soleckietal2017).VulnerabilitiesareshapedbyurbanisationandeconomicdevelopmentasobservedacrosstheMekongregion.PatternsofurbanisationintheMekongcitiesrevealimportantissuesofurbangovernanceandapproachtovulnerabilityassessments.Drawingoncomplexsocial-ecological-technologicalsystemsthinkingandapproachesprovidesalensthroughwhichwecanunderstandcitiesbeyondtheirspatialorterritorialboundaries.Thecomplexsystemslensalsoprovidesanewmechanismtoassessvulnerabilitytoclimatechange.Increasingly,theimpactsofclimateshocksandcrisesarefeltthroughthefailureofurbansystems,andthewaysinwhichthesecascadeacrossdifferentlocationsandpeople.Furthermore,observedunequalpowerrelationshipsandaccesstopower,resourcesandurbansystemsofdiverseurbancommunitygroupscontributestoincreasingvulnerabilities.Localcommunitiesofthisregionhavelimitedspaceforparticipationandinfluenceindecision-makingprocessesthatshapeurbanisation.Ineffectiveinstitutionalcapacityandweakurbangovernancefromincompletedecentralisationprocessesmeansthatlocalgovernmentsareunabletodevelopcitywidelong-termactionsandpreparefordisasterandclimateimpactsthattranscendacrosspoliticalandadministrativeboundaries.V.MethodologyArangeofresearchmethodsandanalyticaltechniqueswereusedintheUCRSEAproject.ThepartnerswereencouragedtoconductSharedLearningDialogue(SLD)asanapproachtoengagewithmulti-stakeholdersforvulnerabilityassessmentsandwithdecision-makerstocontributetoinfluencingpolicychange(Reedetal2013).TheFrameworkforClimateVulnerabilityAssessmentinUrbanisingAsiawasdevelopedasaguidebookforpartnersandstudentstocarryoutsituationanalysesandvulnerabilityassessmentsindifferentselectedcities(FriendandThinphanga2016b).Theframeworkhighlightsthegovernancedimensionsofurbanclimatevulnerabilityandresilience,combiningcomplexSocial-EcologicalSystems(SES)approacheswithactor-orientedapproaches.Thiscombinationofframeworksisgroundedintheoryofresilienceandassets,capabilitiesandfreedoms(Bahaduretal2010,BahadurandTanner2014).Thepartnerscarriedoutsituationanalysesofcitiestoexploreurbansystemsandinfrastructure,and

24

thelinkagestoinstitutionsthatoperatethesecriticalsystemstoidentifypointsoffragilityandfailures(Bridhikitti2016,Asifetal2016,KaomuangnoiUrbanek2016,Thuonetal2016).PriortoworkingwiththeUCRSEAPartnership,manypartnerorganisationsdrewprimarilyonquantitativedatacollectionmethodsforresearch.Sincebeinginvolvedinthisproject,greateruseofurbanclimateresiliencetheoriesinformingUCRSEA’sconceptualframeworkhasalteredthewayinwhichthepartnerorganisationsgatherdataandconstructresearch.Toelucidateuponthisevolution,thissectionprovidesabriefoverviewofthemethodsusedbyeachoftheURCSEApartners.

• TheCentreforEnvironmentandCommunityResearch(CECR)CECRincorporatedin-depthinterviewsandparticipatoryfocusgroupdiscussionsintheirResearchBriefandVulnerabilityReport(Lyetal2019).Theirmethodsdrewonstrength,weakness,opportunities,threats(SWOT)analysis,hazardmapping,disasterhistory,seasonalcalendars,Venndiagrams,andsocialnetworkanalysis.Researchersperformedavarietyoftheseparticipatorymethodsonawideselectionofstakeholdersincludingresidents,governmentalstaff(localandprovincial),managementboards,andcommunitylevelauthorities.Inaddition,theyalsomadeaconscientiousefforttoaddressgenderdifferencesthroughengagementwithawomen-onlyfocusgroup(Lyetal2017).

• TheCentreforNaturalResourcesandEnvironmentalStudies(CRES)CRESspecificallyconceptualisedtheirworkaroundtheTheoryofChangewithintheircontexttoframetheirresearch.Theyappliedanassortmentofmethodstotheirwork:deskstudy,stakeholdermeetings,householdinterviews,keyinformantinterviews,focusgroupdiscussions,andfieldobservations(LeandHa2018).TheCRESisaneducationandtrainingcentreinVietnam;thus,theirexpansionintoqualitativemethods,suchasthosejustlisted,carriessignificantinfluencebeyondtheirownorganisationasthesemethodologiescanbesharedwithotherresearchinitiativesthroughoutVietnam.

• TheFacultyofEnvironmentandResourcesStudies,MahasarakhamUniversity(MSU)

Focusingtheirresearchonstakeholders’adaptivecapacitytourbandynamicsandclimatechange,MSU’sresearchinMukdahanwasinformedbytheuseoflivelihoodassessments,householdsurveys,interviews,andmailedsurveys(Bridhikitti2017).TheotherresearchteamemployedtheclimateresilienceframeworkandsustainablelivelihoodsapproachesinKhonKaen,focusingontheimpactoffloodingandhowhouseholdscouldcopewithandadapttosuchsituationstostrengthenresilience.Byreviewingrelevantdocumentsandliterature,hostingpreliminarymeetingswithmunicipalitiesanduniversitydepartments,andconductinghouseholdsurveysandin-depthinterviews,researchersmappedoutmajorfloodvulnerabilityareasanddeterminedcommunityadaptivestrategies(KaewsukandBeringer2017).Inaddition,theyproducedpolicybriefsandapublicationfromthisworktofurtherdisseminatethisinformation.

25

• TheRoyalUniversityofPhnomPenh(RUPP)RUPP’sresearchstrategyconcentratedonaqualitativeapproachusingfocusgroupsandinterviews.Thisresearchnotedtheimportanceoflinkingkeyfindingstothesocial,political,capacity,andinstitutionaldimensionsoflocalgovernmentsinBattambangandKohKong.TheresearchteamsatRUPPalsofocusedonasurveymethodandappliedtheUnitedNationsInternationalStrategyforDisasterReduction(UNISDR)LocalGovernmentSelf-AssessmentTool(LG-SAT),framedundertheHyogoFrameworkofAction(Yin2017,ThuonandNaret2018).TheLG-SATisapowerfultool,whichhelpscitiesreflectonandassesstheirowncapacityfordisasterriskreduction(DRR)asameanstofacilitatespacefordialoguearoundkeycapacitiesandvulnerabilities(Hencerothetal2015).

• TheDepartmentofGeography,YangonUniversityRelyingonamixedmethodsapproachofsurveysandinterviewstoaddressquestionsabouteconomicopportunities,thisresearchpartnerworkinginBagomadefurtherconnectionstosustainableenvironmentalpracticesandclimatechangeresiliencewiththedataobtained.Anengagementtool–theAirbeamdeviceTheuseoftheAirbeamdeviceasapracticalengagementtoolwasprovedtobeeffective.AspartoftheeffortstoaddressthethirdUCRSEAresearchquestion(Howcanwestrengthentheagencyofindividuals,groupsandinstitutionstoimproveeconomic,physicalandsocialwell-beinginurbanareas,particularlyinresponsetoclimatechange?),thepartnersdesignedprojectactivitiesusingtheAirbeamdevicetoengagewithtargetgroupsandkeylocalactors.Intherecentyears,airpollutionhasbecomeaseriousthreatinmanycitiesacrosstheworld.PoorairqualityisrapidlyworseninginSoutheastAsiancitiesandisexacerbatedbyfastpacedurbanisation,poorurbangovernanceandineffectiveinstitutionalcapacity.ManycitieswhereUCRSEAoperatedhavebeenrankedbytheGreenpeaceSoutheastAsiatobeinthetop5withthehighestannualaverageconcentrationsofPM2.5.Environmentalqualitymonitoringinthisregionisgenerallyinadequate,unreliable,inaccurateandoftennon-existent.Raisingawareness,increasingunderstandingofhealthrisksassociatedwithairpollution,advocacyforclean-airactions,andimprovingaccesstoinformationamonglocalcommunitieswillcontributetostrengtheningresilience.ThepartnerswereadvisednottousetheAirbeamdeviceforscientificmeasurementofPM2.5levelsduetotheaccuracyofthemeasurementtomeetscientificstandards.However,usingtheAirbeamdevicetoengagewithgovernmentofficials,localcommunities,students,andyouthgroupstovisualisereal-timePM2.5levelsandhighlighttheurgencytotackleairpollutionproblemswaseffectiveandpractical(WinandOo2018,BridhikittiandPrabamroong2018,Wongtragoon2018).Someofthepartnerswereabletoprovideevidenceofpoorairqualitytothepublicandusingpressreleasetoinformpublicpolicyplanningandadvocateforthegovernmenttotakeimmediateaction(Khan2018).Theuseofapracticaltooltoopenupspaceforlearning,dialogues,accesstoinformationandmulti-stakeholderengagementiscriticalformanycountriesinSoutheastAsiawithweakenvironmentalsafeguardsandgovernance.Buildingcapacityofuniversity

26

academics,juniorresearchersandstudentsisanimportantapproachtosupporttheplanninganddecision-makingprocessesofthegovernmentsandtoinformpublicpolicy.TheAirbeamdevicewasusedtotrainacademicsandresearchersin12universitiesandresearchinstitutesinYangon,BagoandDaweiwithparticipationofrelevantgovernmentofficials.Thisresultedinstateandnon-statecollaborationandpolicydialogues(Win2019,personalcommunication,1October).VI.ProjectOutputsUCRSEAstrengthenedtheknowledgeandtechnicalskillcapacitiesofacademics,researchers,studentsandNGOsinurbanclimateresiliencethroughlearninganddevelopingresearchquestions,implementingresearchactivities,andwritingupandpresentingresearchfindings.ThepartnersandgraduatestudentswerefinanciallysupportedbyUCRSEAtopresenttheirresearchinrelevantinternationalconferencesindifferentcountries(AnnexC).Throughouttheproject,theywerestronglyencouragedandsupportedtowriteupandpublishtheirresearchfindings.Asaresult,arangeofresearchoutputs,includinggreyliterature,journalarticles,andbookchapters,hasbeenproducedovertheyears.Somearelistedbelow.Peerreviewedarticles

• Friend,R.andThinphanga,P.(2018)UrbanWaterCrisesunderFutureUncertainties:TheCaseofInstitutionalandInfrastructureComplexityinKhonKaen,Thailand.Sustainability10,3921;doi:10.3390/su10113921

• Berginer,A.L.andKaewsuk,J.(2018)EmergingLivelihoodVulnerabilitiesinanUrbanizingandClimateUncertainEnvironmentfortheCaseofaSecondaryCityinThailand.Sustainability10,1452;doi:10.3390/su10051452

• Beringer,A.L.,Inmuong,Y.,Kaomuangnoi,K.(2018)UnderstandingurbanvulnerabilitiestoclimatechangeimpactsinKhonKaenandMukdahaninThailand.SocialScienceAsia4(4):p1-13inconjunctionwithCommunityUniversityEngagementJournal.DOI:10.14456/ssa.2018.28

• Kimleng,S.(2017)UrbanClimateVulnerabilityinCambodia:ACaseStudyinKohKongProvince.Economies,5,41,doi:10.3390/economies5040041

• Asif,F.,Marschke,M.,Ngin,C.(2017)Assessingthepotentialofalow-carbonfutureforCambodia.JournalofRenewableandSustainableEnergy9,021404.http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4978495

• Friend,R.(2016)Urbanresilience.InternationalEncyclopediaofGeography:People,theEarth,EnvironmentandTechnology:People,theEarth,EnvironmentandTechnology,pages1-7https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118786352.wbieg1166

Bookchapters

• Martin,T.,Marschke,M.,Win,S.(2019)Chapter2BridgingSystemsandPeople-CentredApproachesinUrbanVulnerabilityResearch:InsightsforResiliencefromDawei,Myanmar.InA.G.DaniereandM.Garschagen(eds.),

27

UrbanClimateResilienceinSoutheastAsia,TheUrbanBookSeries,https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98968-6_2

• Le,H.andHa,L.B.(2019)Chapter5FloodVulnerabilityandResilienceinPeri-urbanizingVietnam:ACaseStudyfromNinhBinhProvince.InA.G.DaniereandM.Garschagen(eds.),UrbanClimateResilienceinSoutheastAsia,TheUrbanBookSeries.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98968-6_5

• Thuon,T.andCai,Y.(2019)Chapter7ResistanceforResilience:AReflexiveExplorationofBattambang,Cambodia.InA.G.DaniereandM.Garschagen(eds.),UrbanClimateResilienceinSoutheastAsia,TheUrbanBookSeries.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98968-6_7

• Friend,R.andThinphanga,P.(2018)Urbantransformationsacrossborders:theinterwoveninfluenceofregionalisation,urbanisationandclimatechangeintheMekongregion.GoverningEnvironmentalDisastersinaGlobalUrbanAgeinAsiaandthePacific.Eds:Miller,M.A.,Douglass,M.,andGarschagen,M.SpringerNatureSingaporePteLtd.Doi:10.1007/978-981-10-6126-4_6

• Friend,R.andThinphanga,P.(2016)Urbanization,climatechange,andregionalintegrationintheMekong.HandbookofCitiesandtheEnvironment.Eds.KevinArcherandKrisBezdecny.EdwardElgarPublishing.DOI:https://doi.org/10.4337/9781784712266.00015

AtextbookAThaitextbooktitled‘KhonKaenCity:UrbanGrowth,ChallengesandOpportunities’(ISBN978-974-8479-80-4FirsteditionpublishedinMay2019,156pages),authoredbytheresearchteamoftheResearchGrouponWellbeingandSustainableDevelopment(WeSD),KhonKaenUniversity,ledbyDrPromphakping,aimsatundergraduateuniversitystudentsasbackgroundreadingandaprerequisitetounderstandingurbanisationforframingresearcharoundurbanandclimateissues.ThetextbookhighlightstheurbanisationprocessofKhonKaencityasaregionalgrowthpole,shapedbynationalpolicyandeconomicdevelopmentandindustrialisation.Variousurbantheoriesandcityconceptsarediscussed.Thebookpointsouttheimportanceofurbangovernanceandtheneedtounderstandurbanclimatevulnerability.(https://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/kk-urbanisation-2/)GreyliteratureSomeofthepartnershavepublishedresearch/policybriefs,highlightingkeyresearchfindingsandmessagestargetingtheir‘boundarypartners’.

• Ly,N.N.,Hoa,T.L.,Anh,N.P.(2019)Researchbrief:PublicprivatepartnershipinsustainabletourismdevelopmentinTrangAnLandscapeComplexNinhBinhinthecontextofclimatechange.TheCenterforEnvironmentandCommunityResearch(CECR),Vietnam

• Yin,S.,Ngin,C.,Heng,N.(2018)Policybrief:HowcanaSecondaryCoastalCityinCambodiabeBetterPreparedforClimateChangeandNaturalDisasterRisks?RoyalUniversityofPhnomPenh,Cambodia

28

CreativeoutputsInadditiontothepublicationsofjournalarticlesandbookchapters,creativeoutputsbasedonUCRSEAresearchwereproduced.

• UCRSEAshortfilmsShortfilmswerecommissionedhighlightingkeymessagesemergingfromthevulnerabilityassessmentsconductedbythepartnersandresearchstudentsinCambodia,Myanmar,ThailandandVietnam.ResearchwasguidedbytheUCRSEAconceptualframeworkandfundedbyIDRC.ThefilmproductionwascarriedoutbyLivingFilms&EurekaFilms,fundedbySSHRC.BasedontheUCRSEATheoryofChangeframework,theshortfilmsfocusedonchangesinKnowledge,Access,Skills,andWillasanapproachtobuildingurbanclimateresilience.ThefilmshighlightedUCRSEAmessagesongeneratingnewknowledge,increasingaccesstoresources,enhancinglearningofnewskills,andimprovingpoliticalwillingnessaskeyfactorscontributingtochangesindecision-makingprocessesandplanningandstrengthenclimateresilience.

o https://youtu.be/iKMz5jP6nx8o https://youtu.be/ebGfNVUTYuwo https://youtu.be/y0L__nWbLcko https://youtu.be/nArId7MD6wso https://youtu.be/CKkci_u7ojQo https://youtu.be/uA8KkZpxW-8o https://youtu.be/w6wmG635EAY

• BangkokPost–followingthefinalPartnersAnnualWorkshop,thisnews

articlehighlightsonthekeymessagesemergingfromUCRSEAresearchacrosstheMekongregion

o https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/special-reports/1684044/preventing-climate-change-in-the-face-of-urbanisation

VII.ProblemsandChallengesUCRSEAwassupportedundertheprogrammeoftheInternationalPartnershipsforSustainableSocietiesGrant(IPaSS).Thereweretwosourcesoffunding.FundingfromSocialSciencesandHumanitiesResearchCouncil(SSHRC)wasresponsiblebytheAsianInstitute,MunkSchoolofGlobalAffairs,UniversityofToronto,andfundingfromtheInternationalDevelopmentResearchCentre(IDRC)wasundertheresponsibilityofThailandEnvironmentInstitute(TEI).UndertheIPaSSprogramme,therewerespecificrequirementsandoutcomestobeachievedbyUCRSEA.However,thereweresomedifferencesintherequirementsandobjectivesbetweenthetwofunders,posingchallengesinprojectmanagementandadministrationforthetwoco-directors.UCRSEAwasimplementedinmultiplecountrieswithmultiplepartnerorganisations.Itwasevitablefortheprojecttoexperiencesomeadministrativeandpartnershipproblemsandchallengesarisingduringtheimplementation.Inaddition,thereweredifferencesinexpectationsandcapacityoftheprojectpartners.However,problemsandchallengeswerehandled

29

andresolvedprofessionally,throughopendiscussionandface-to-facemeetingsbetweentheprojectco-directorsandimplementingpartnersorbetweenthetwoco-directorsorbetweentheco-directorsandtheProjectManagementCommittee,dependingonthenatureofproblemsandchallenges.

• TheoreticalandresearchchallengesThemostimportantchallengethatwasrecognisedearlyonintheprojectwastheunderstandingoftheconceptualframeworkandresearchquestionsamongalloftheprojectpartnersfromCanadaandSoutheastAsia.Whiledifferentinterpretationsandexplorationofdifferentapproachestoaddresstheresearchquestionswerewelcomedandencouragedinordertogeneratediversityandlearningthroughvaryingcasestudies,attimesdifferentunderstandingandperspectivescreatedsomeconfusionandconflictingopinions.Forinstance,someoftheSEAsianpartnersweremoreinterestedinunderstandingtheurbanisationprocessdrivenbyregionalisationandeconomicdevelopmentandhowthispatternofurbanisationcontributedtoclimatevulnerabilityoflocalcommunities.SomeoftheacademicpartnersfromCanadaweremoreinterestedinclimateimpactsondisasters,suchasfloods,andhowtheseclimateimpactsdrivethevulnerability,buttooktheissuesofcurrenturbaneconomicdevelopmentpathwayverylightly.Thetheoreticalframeworksandvariousdefinitionsofclimatevulnerabilitydiscussbothperspectivesofurbanandclimateimpactsasdriversofvulnerability.Thisshowsthedifferencesinhowtoapproachandunderstandclimatevulnerability.However,confusionoccurredinYear3whenacademicsfromCanadastronglypushedtoremoveoneoftheselectedThaicities,Mukdahan,becausethecitydidnotrigorouslydisplayclimaterisksandimpactsandtoreplaceitwithanewcityinthesouthofThailandthathadrecentlyexperiencedfloodcrises.InProjectYear1,allofthepartnersfromCanadaandSoutheastAsiacametogethertodevelopandagreeoncityselectioncriteria.ThepartnersfromeachoftheMekongcountrieswerethenresponsibleforreviewingproposedshort-listedcitiesanddecidingtheirrespectivefinal2citiespercountry.Itwasalsoagreedthatthepartnerswouldworkinoneorbothofthecitiesintheirrespectivecountries.SomeconfusionarosewhenCanadianstudentswerefunded(bySSHRC)toconductresearchinlocationsthatwerenotinthegroupoftheselectedcities.Furthermore,theStudentSelectionCommitteewouldawardSEAsianstudents’researchproposalsthatwerenotinanyoftheselectedcities.Reconciliationoftheresearchquestionandapproachesaroundtheimplicationsofurbanisation,climateimpactsandvulnerabilitywouldhavebenefitedtheactualresearchconductedundertheproject.UCRSEAhadtheopportunitytotaketheleadinrefiningmethodologiesforvulnerabilityassessmentsinthecontextofrapidurbanisationandclimatechangeandgeneratingevidence-basedknowledgetobetterunderstandhowbothsocio-economicdevelopmentandclimatechangecontributetourbanvulnerability.

• PartnershipsupportchallengesWithmultiplepartnerorganisationsacrosstheMekongcountries,itwasanticipatedthattherewouldbearangeofinterests,agendas,capacities,andresearchandwritingskills.Understandably,somepartnerswouldrequiremore

30

resourcesandsupportthanothers,suchastheacademicpartnersinMyanmarwhereuniversitieshadbeenshutdownbythemilitaryregimefordecades.OneoftheobjectivesofUCRSEAwastostrengthenresearchcapacityandskillsofacademics,researchersandpractitioners.Therefore,someofUCRSEAactivitiesweredesignedtomeetthisobjective.Theseactivitiesincludedsmall-groupdiscussionsineachofthecountries,trainingsandregionalworkshops.However,mostoftheSoutheastAsianpartnersexpectedacademicsupportfromCanadainparticularlyacademicwritingforpublication(inEnglish).Tomeetthisrequest,postdoctoralfellowsandPhDstudentsfromCanadawereaskedtoprovideresearchandpublicationsupporttothepartners.Thechallengefacedbytheprojectwasthebalanceofprovidingsupporttothepartnersandstudents’ownacademicadvancement.WithlimitedtimespentinAsia,postdoctoralfellowsandPhDstudentsfromCanadanaturallyoptedfortheirownacademicadvancement.

• SoutheastAsianstudentsupportchallengesTheweakcapacityofgraduatestudentsfromtheMekongnationswasnotanticipated.UCRSEAwasdesignedtoprovidefinancialsupporttograduatestudentsfromtheMekongcountriestoconductresearchinurbanclimateresilience.Callsforproposalswereannouncedatleasttwiceayear.GraduatestudentswereencouragedtosubmitresearchproposalsinEnglishaddressingelementsoftheUCRSEAresearchquestions.Afewproblemsandchallengesemerged.Thenumberofapplicationspercallwasmuchlowerthananticipated.Numberofapplicationspercountrysubmittedwasimbalanced.ApplicationsfromLaos,ThailandandMyanmarwerelowest.Researchproposalswerepoorinqualityanddidnotmeettherequirements.Englishskillswerealsogenerallyweak.OriginallysomeoftheIDRCbudgetwasallocatedtosupportatotalof16studentsfortheFieldResearchGrantsandatotalof4PhDstudentswithfullscholarships.Duetothechallengeslistedabove,UCRSEAsupportedatotalof2PhDcandidatesand9studentswereawardedfieldresearchgrants.Theremainingbudgetwasreallocatedtosupportresearchteamsthatincludedjuniorresearchersandgraduatestudentstoconductsmallorone-yearresearchprojects.Theaimwastostrengthenresearchcapacityandskillsofuniversity-levelacademicsandresearchers.Furthermore,throughdiscussionswiththeSEAsianacademicpartners,itwasdiscoveredthatpartoftheproblemwasfromtherigidityoftheuniversitysystemacrosstheregion.Thesubjectsofclimatevulnerability,urbanisation,andresiliencewerenotwidelytaughtandunderresearchedattheuniversitylevel.Thesesubjectswouldcutacrossmultipledisciplinesandfacultiesandtheexistinguniversitysystemoperatesinsilo.Inaddition,graduatestudentswouldneedsupportfromdifferentsupervisorsacrossdifferentfacultiestoconductresearch.Tohelpaddressthisuniversityissue,UCRSEAestablishedaregionaluniversitynetworkforCurriculumDevelopmentbringingtogethersenioracademicsfromvariousuniversitiesintheMekongcountriestocollaborate,plananddevelopanewcurriculum.Theaimwastobridgephysicalandsocialsciences,creatinganewdegreecoursethatwouldaddresschallengesofclimatechange,urbanisationandsustainability.Theregionaluniversitynetwork,co-hostedbyDeanofFacultyofEnvironmentandResourcesStudies,MahasarakhamUniversity(MSU),also

31

engagedwiththeacademicpartnersfromCanadaforthedevelopmentofanewurban-climatecourse,andforsharingofreadingmaterialsandresourcesforteaching.Throughthiscollaborativeengagement,acourseon‘UrbanClimateChangeinSoutheastAsia’wasdevelopedwith15-weekcoursescheduleandreadinglists.TheMekonguniversitypartnerswerekeentooperationalisethenewcurriculumandcollaborateacrossuniversitiesintheregiontoshareresources.TherewerelimitedinterestsandeffortsfromtheacademicsinCanadatopursuefurthercollaborationinlinkingattheinstitutionallevelwithuniversitiesintheMekongcountries.Withtheexistingregionalplatformandnetworksofuniversities,theacademicpartnersintheMekongwillseekfutureopportunitiestocontinuethecollaborationtodevelopandpromotenewteachingandresearchagendaandinstitutionaliseurbanclimateresilienceapproaches.TheacademicpartnersinCanadaorganisedandhostedseveralStudentsVirtualSeminarstoprovideopportunitiesforstudentsfromSoutheastAsiaandCanadatonetwork,shareandexchangeresearchplansandfindings,anddiscusstheoreticalliterature.Thisactivitywashighlybeneficialtothestudents.However,additionalsupport,includingaccesstopublications,tomeetresearchcapacitybuildingandtrainingneedsofstudentsfromSoutheastAsiawouldbevaluable.InadequateinfrastructureandInternetconnectivityinsomelocationslikeMyanmarmeansthatstudentshavelittleornoaccesstoe-libraryandvirtualseminars.

• EthicsAllofthepartneruniversitiesintheMekongcountriesdidnothaveethicsreviewingprocessinplace.TomeettherequirementofIDRCforethicapprovalofresearch,aUniversityofTorontoethicsapplicationwasadaptedforSEAsianpartnersandstudents.Priortotransferringbudgetforresearch,thepartnersandstudentswererequestedtofillinandsubmittheethicsapplicationforapproval.DataandinformationoftheethicsapplicationswerestoredatTEI.

• SSHRCrequirementchallengesThedifferentrequirements,regulationsandrulesofSSHRCandIDRCcreatedsomeconfusionamongtheSoutheastAsianpartners.SSHRCfundingwasdesignatedtosupportgraduateandresearchstudentsandpostdoctoralfellowshipsfromCanadaforarangeofactivitiesunderUCRSEA,includinginternshipsandconductingfieldresearchinanyofthefourcountriesandattendinginternationalconferences.TheobjectiveandroleofCanadianstudentswereinitiallyunclearandtheSEAsianpartnersmisunderstoodinthinkingthatthestudentprogrammewasadifferentprojecttoUCRSEA.Theinternshipprogramme,whichappearedtovalueCanadianresearchstudents,butdisadvantagetheregionalpartnerswhowerenotcompensatedfortheadditionaltimetheyspenttrainingstudentsandsettingupstudentprojects,exacerbatedfundingissues.Furthermore,earlyonintheproject,afewchallengesemergedduringstudentinternships,particularlyfromthoseCanadianstudentstravelingoverseasforthefirsttime.However,withtherecognitionofthisproblem,studentsandinternsfromCanadawererequiredtoattendsessionatthePartnersAnnualWorkshopandnetworkwithfellowinternsandresearchstudents.Studentsandsupervisorswereinvitedtomeetattheseworkshopstobuildworkingrelationship.StudentswereintroducedtoUCRSEAadministrationteamtoensureaccesstoasmanycontactsaspossibleduringtheir

32

timeinthefield.Therewerealsosomesuggestionsthatastrongerfocusonculturallyappropriatebehaviourandtheroleofinternsincertainsettingswasneeded.VIII.AdministrativeReflectionsandRecommendationsOverall,thescopeandfive-yeardurationoftheprojectweregoodforaresearch-actionprogramme.UCRSEAwassetouttoserveasaregionalcapacityplatformtoadvanceresearchandknowledgeinurbanclimateresilienceinlocationswheresolutionstoaddresstheemergingissuesofurbanisationandclimatechangeareurgentlyneeded.Despitesomechallengesintheprojectmanagementunderdifferentfunders,thecollaborativeintentionsofjointfundingandpartnershipsbetweenCanadaanddevelopingcountrieswerehighlycommended.GrantadministrationandmanagementofIDRCwereofhighstandard,providingstrongsupporttothepartners.However,theprojectimplementationinSoutheastAsiawasconstrainedbycurrencyexchangefluctuations.Towardsthefinalyearoftheproject,keyactivities,includingknowledgemobilisationanddissemination,werecutbackduetosubstantialbudgetlossesfromthedevaluationoftheCanadiandollar.TheareaforimprovementwouldbealigningthecollaborativeroleofresearchandgraduatestudentsandpostdoctoralfellowsfromCanadatotheneedsofSoutheastAsianpartners,particularlyjuniorresearchers,andgraduatestudentsintermsofacademiccollaboration,researchassistance,andcapacitybuilding.StreamliningandsharpeningresearchconductedbyCanadianresearcherstoaddresstheUCRSEAconceptualquestionswouldadvanceandenforceknowledgeandincreasescience-policyrelevanceinSoutheastAsia.Foracollaborativepartnershipprogramme,identificationofstrategicapproachestoenforce,supportandincreasecollaborativeeffortsamongthepartnerswasimportant.GreatercollaborativeeffortsbetweenacademicsfromCanadaandSoutheastAsiainconductingresearch,refiningandinstitutionalisingurbanclimateresilienceapproachesandpublicationswouldhavedeliveredgreateracademicandpolicyimpactsofUCRSEA.IX.ReferencesAsfi,F.,Chanrith,N.,Naret,H.,Nong,K.(2016)Situationanalysisreport,KhemarakPhouminCity,KohKongProvince,Cambodia.UCRSEAResearchProject.https://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/situation-analysis-report-khemarak-phoumin-city-koh-kong-province-cambodia-2/

Asif,F.(2019)Chapter8FromSeatoCity:Migrationandsocialwell-beinginCoastalCambodia.InA.G.DaniereandM.Garschagen(eds.),UrbanClimateResilienceinSoutheastAsia,TheUrbanBookSeries.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98968-6_8

Bahadur,A.V.andTanner,T.(2014)Transformationalresiliencethinking:puttingpeople,powerandpoliticsattheheartofurbanclimateresilience.Environment

33

&UrbanizationVol26(1):1–15.InternationalInstituteforEnvironmentandDevelopment(IIED).DOI:10.1177/0956247814522154

Bahadur,A.V.,Ibrahim,M.,Tanner,T.(2010)Theresiliencerenaissance?Unpackingofresiliencefortacklingclimatechangeanddisasters.StrengtheningClimateResilienceDiscussionPaper1.InstituteofDevelopmentStudies2010.

Beringer,A.L.andKaewsuk,J.(2018)EmergingLivelihoodVulnerabilitiesinanUrbanizingandClimateUncertainEnvironmentfortheCaseofaSecondaryCityinThailand.Sustainability10,1452;doi:10.3390/su10051452

Beringer,A.L.,Inmuong,Y.,Kaomuangnoi,K.(2018)UnderstandingurbanvulnerabilitiestoclimatechangeimpactsinKhonKaenandMukdahaninThailand.SocialScienceAsia4(4):p1-13inconjunctionwithCommunityUniversityEngagementJournal.DOI:10.14456/ssa.2018.28

Birkmann,J.,Welle,T.,Solecki,W.,Lwasa,S.,Garschagen,M.(2016)Boostresilienceofsmallandmedium-sizedcities.NatureV.537(7622),p605-608.

Bridhikitti,A.(2016)SituationanalysisofMukdahanSpecialEconomicZone.FinalNarrativeReport.UCRSEAResearchProject.https://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/situation-analysis-of-mukdahan-special-economic-zone-2/

Bridhikitti,A.(2017)AdaptivecapacityofMukdahanSpecialEconomicZonetotheproblemsrelatingtotheextremeweathereventsandurbangrowth.FinalNarrativeReport.UCRSEAResearchProject.https://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/adaptive-capacity-of-mukdahan-special-economic-zone-to-the-problems-relating-to-the-extreme-weather-events-and-urban-growth-2/

Bridhikitti,A.andKhadka,B.(2019)Assessingfactorstosuccessfulmanagementforsmall-scalecommunityforestunderthreatofurbangrowth:inacaseofBanNaKhamNoicommunityforest,Mukdahan,Thailand.JournalofSustainableForestry.DOI:10.1080/10549811.2019.1631184

Bridhikitti,A.andPrabamroong,T.(2018)CitizenScienceandAirBeamMahaSarakham,Thailand.UCRSEACityResearchProjectSeries.https://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/citizen-science-and-airbeam-maha-sarakham-thailand-2/

Chelleri,L.(2011)Fromthe«ResilientCity»toUrbanResilience.Areviewessayonunderstandingandintegratingtheresilienceperspectiveforurbansystems.Documentsd’AnàlisiGeogràfica2012,vol.58/2287-306.

Daniere,A.G.andGarschagen,M.(Eds.)(2019)UrbanClimateResilienceinSoutheastAsia.TheUrbanBookSeries,ISBN978-3-319-98967-9.SpringerNatureSwitzerlandAG.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98968-6

Folke,C.,Hahn,T.,Olsson,P.,Norberg,J.(2005)Adaptivegovernanceofsocio-ecologicalsystems.AnnuRevEnvironResour30(1):441–473

Friend,R.(2016a)Urbanresilience.InternationalEncyclopediaofGeography:People,theEarth,EnvironmentandTechnology:People,theEarth,EnvironmentandTechnology,pages1-7.https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118786352.wbieg1166

Friend,R.(2016b)Howtoputinformation,transparencyandcommunitiesatthecentreofresilienceplanning?AreviewofPlanningforCommunityResilience:AHandbookforReducingVulnerabilitytoDisasters,byJamieHicksMasterson,WalterGillisPeacock,ShannonS.VanZandt,HimanshuGrover,LoriFelidSchwarz,andJohnT.CooperJr.2014.ISBN:9781610915854.IslandPress,Washington.256pages.http://www.thenatureofcities.com/2016/03/07/how-

34

to-put-information-transparency-and-communities-at-the-center-of-resilience-planning/

Friend,R.(2016c)Market-BasedSolutionsCannotForgeTransformativeandInclusiveUrbanFutures.http://www.thenatureofcities.com/2016/05/22/market-based-solutions-cannot-forge-transformative-and-inclusive-urban-futures/

Friend,R.andMoench,M.(2015)Rightstourbanclimateresilience:movingbeyondpovertyandvulnerability.WIREsClimChange2015,6:643–651.doi:10.1002/wcc.364

Friend,R.andThinphanga,P.(2016a)Urbanization,climatechange,andregionalintegrationintheMekong.HandbookofCitiesandtheEnvironment.Eds.KevinArcherandKrisBezdecny.EdwardElgarPublishing.DOI:https://doi.org/10.4337/9781784712266.00015

Friend,R.andThinphanga,P.(2016b)AFrameworkforClimateVulnerabilityAssessmentinUrbanizingAsia:aGuidebookfortheUrbanClimateResilienceinSoutheastAsiaPartnership(UCRSEA).https://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/framework-for-climate-vulnerability-assessment-in-urbanizing-asia-a-guidebook-for-the-urban-climate-resilience-in-southeast-asia-ucrsea-partnership-2/

Friend,R.andThinphanga,P.(2018a)Urbantransformationsacrossborders:theinterwoveninfluenceofregionalisation,urbanisationandclimatechangeintheMekongregion.GoverningEnvironmentalDisastersinaGlobalUrbanAgeinAsiaandthePacific.Eds:Miller,M.A.,Douglass,M.,andGarschagen,M.SpringerNatureSingaporePteLtd.Doi:10.1007/978-981-10-6126-4_6

Friend,R.andThinphanga,P.(2018b)UrbanWaterCrisesunderFutureUncertainties:TheCaseofInstitutionalandInfrastructureComplexityinKhonKaen,Thailand.Sustainability10,3921;doi:10.3390/su10113921

Friend,R.M.,Thinphanga,P.,MacClune,K.,Henceroth,J.,Tran,P.V.G.,Nghiem,T.P.(2015)Urbantransformationsandchangingpatternsoflocalrisk:lessonsfromtheMekongRegion.InternationalJournalofDisasterResilienceintheBuiltEnvironment,Vol.6Iss1pp.30–43.http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IJDRBE-08-2014-0061

Friend.R.andMoench,M.(2013)Whatisthepurposeofurbanclimateresilience?Implicationsforaddressingpovertyandvulnerability.UrbanClim6(December):98–113.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2013.09.002

Hayward,D.(2017)UnderstandinginstitutionalchallengesforurbanplanninginVientianecapital,LaoPDR.UCRSEACityResearchProjectSeries.https://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/understanding-institutional-challenges-for-urban-planning-in-vientiane-capital-lao-pdr-2/

Henceroth,J.,Friend,R.M.,Thinphanga,P.,Tran,P.V.G.,andTuyen,P.N.(2015)Lessonsfromself-assessmentswithinurbanclimateresilienceprograms,InternationalJournalofDisasterResilienceintheBuiltEnvironment,Vol.6Iss:1,pp.86–101.Doi.org/10.1108/IJDRBE-08-2014-0060

Jarvie,J.andFriend,R.M.(2016)Urbanisation,inclusionandsocialjusticeinAcceleratingthetransitiontosustainablecities:Thestateoftheworldreport2016WorldWatchInstitute:WashingtonDC(https://canacitybesustainable.org/home-page/about/book/)

Kaewsuk,J.andBeringer,A.L.(2017)Livelihoodsvulnerabilityassessmentofflood-pronePralabcommunityinKhonKaen,Thailand.FinalNarrativeReport.

35

UCRSEAResearchProject.https://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/livelihoods-vulnerability-assessment-of-flood-prone-pralab-community-in-khon-kaen-thailand-2/

KaomuangnoiUrbanek,K.(2016)Situationanalysis:KhonKaenCity,Thailand.FinalNarrativeReport.UCRSEAResearchProject.https://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/situation-analysis-in-khon-kaen-city-2/

Khan,L.(2018)PressreleasePhnomPenhairpollution.RoyalUniversityofPhnomPenh(RUPP).UCRSEACityResearchProjectSeries.https://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/phnom-penh-air-is-dangerously-polluted-2/

Kimleng,S.(2017)UrbanClimateVulnerabilityinCambodia:ACaseStudyinKohKongProvince.Economies,5,41,doi:10.3390/economies5040041

Le,H.andHa,L.B.(2018)VulnerabilityAssessmentofPhuHaovillage,KhanhPhucommune,NinhBinhCity.FinalNarrativeReport.UCRSEAResearchProject.https://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/vulnerability-assessment-of-phu-hao-village-khanh-phu-commune-ninh-binh-city-2/

Le,H.andHa,L.B.(2019)Chapter5FloodVulnerabilityandResilienceinPeri-urbanizingVietnam:ACaseStudyfromNinhBinhProvince.InA.G.DaniereandM.Garschagen(eds.),UrbanClimateResilienceinSoutheastAsia,TheUrbanBookSeries.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98968-6_5

Lebel,L.,Anderies,J.M.,Campbell,B.,Folke,C.,Hadfield-Dodds,S.,Hughes,T.P.,Wilson,J.(2006)Governanceandthecapacitytomanageresilienceinregionalsocio-ecologicalsystems.EnergySoc11(1):19–39

Lim,D.(2018)ImpactsofSeasonalFloodingontheLivesofBattambangUrbanPoor,Cambodia.AWorkingPaper.UCRSEAStudentResearchProject.https://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/impacts-of-seasonal-flooding-on-the-lives-of-battambang-urban-poor-cambodia-2/

Ly,N.N.,Hoa,T.L.,Anh,N.P.(2017).VulnerabilityAssessment:acasestudyofTruongYencommuneinTrangAnsceniclandscapecomplex,NinhBinh,Vietnam.FinalNarrativeReport.UCRSEAResearchProject.https://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/vulnerability-assessment-a-case-study-of-truong-yen-commune-in-trang-an-scenic-landscape-complex-ninh-binh-vietnam-2/

Ly,N.N.,Hoa,T.L.,Anh,N.P.(2019)Researchbrief:PublicprivatepartnershipinsustainabletourismdevelopmentinTrangAnLandscapeComplexNinhBinhinthecontextofclimatechange.TheCenterforEnvironmentandCommunityResearch(CECR),Vietnam.https://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/public-private-partnership-in-sustainable-tourism-development-in-trang-an-landscape-complex-ninh-binh-in-the-context-of-climate-change-2/

Martin,T.,Marschke,M.,Win,S.(2019)Chapter2BridgingSystemsandPeople-CentredApproachesinUrbanVulnerabilityResearch:InsightsforResiliencefromDawei,Myanmar.InA.G.DaniereandM.Garschagen(eds.),UrbanClimateResilienceinSoutheastAsia,TheUrbanBookSeries,https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98968-6_2

MercyCorps(2017)StakeholdermappingreportoftheDaweiSpecialEconomicZone,Myanmar(preparedbyDannyMarksandTammyChou).UCRSEACityResearchProjectSeries.

36

MitlinD.,Satterthwaite,D.(2013)UrbanpovertyintheglobalSouth:scaleandnature.Routledge,Abingdon,Oxon,NewYork,NY.https://www.routledge.com/products/9780415624671

Munton,R.(2003)Deliberativedemocracyandenvironmentaldecision-making.In:BerkhoutF,LeachM,ScoonesI(eds)Negotiatingenvironmentalchange:newperspectivesfromsocialscience.EdwardElgar,Cheltenham,UK,pp109–136

Phyo,E.S.S.(2017)UrbanFloodinginBagoCityinLowerMyanmar.AWorkingPaper.UCRSEAStudentResearchProject.https://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/urban-flooding-in-bago-city-in-lower-myanmar-2/

Reed,S.O.,Friend,R.,Vu,T.C.,Thinphanga,P.,Sutarto,R.,andSingh,D.(2013)“Sharedlearning”forbuildingurbanclimateresilience–experiencesfromAsiancities.Environment&UrbanisationVol.25(2):393-412.Doi:10.1177/0956247813501136

Rhodes,J.(2018)DaweiSpecialEconomicZone,CityandPeople:LearningfromMapThaPhut.UCRSEACityResearchProjectSeries.https://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/dawei-special-economic-zone-city-and-people-learning-from-map-tha-phut-2/

Samnang,R.andChanthol,H.(2018)SlumareasinBattambangandClimateResilience.AWorkingPaper.UCRSEAStudentResearchProject.https://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/slum-areas-in-battambang-and-climate-resilience-2/

Solecki,W.,Pelling,M.,Garschagen,M.(2017)Transitionsbetweenriskmanagementregimesincities.EcologyandSociety22(2):38.https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-09102-220238

Song,N.(2017)Impactsofclimatechangeonthelivelihoodofcoastalurban-dwellersinVietnamCasestudyofHaiphongcity.AFinalReport.UCRSEAStudentResearchProject.https://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/impacts-of-climate-change-on-the-livelihood-of-coastal-urban-dwellers-in-vietnam-case-study-of-haiphong-city-2/

Tanner,T.,Mitchell,T.,Polack,E.,Guenther,B.(2009)UrbanGovernanceforAdaptation:AssessingClimateChangeResilienceinTenAsianCities.IDSWorkingPaper315.InstituteofDevelopmentStudiesattheUniversityofSussexBrightonBN19REUK.

Thuon,T.andCai,Y.(2019)Chapter7ResistanceforResilience:AReflexiveExplorationofBattambang,Cambodia.InA.G.DaniereandM.Garschagen(eds.),UrbanClimateResilienceinSoutheastAsia,TheUrbanBookSeries,https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98968-6_7

Thuon,T.andNaret,H.(2018)Assessingcityresilience:lessonsfromusingtheUNISDRLocalGovernmentSelf-AssessmentToolforBattambangtown,Cambodia.FacultyofDevelopmentStudies,RoyalUniversityofPhnomPenh.UCRSEAResearchProject.https://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/assessing-city-resilience-lessons-from-using-the-unisdr-local-government-self-assessment-tool-for-battambang-town-cambodia-2/

Thuon,T.,Chanrith,N.,Naret,H.(2016)Situationanalysisreport,BattambangCity,Cambodia.UCRSEAResearchProject.https://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/situation-analysis-report-battambang-city-battambang-province-cambodia-2/

Tyler,S.andMoench,M.(2012)Aframeworkforurbanclimateresilience.ClimDev4(4):311–326.https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2012.745389

37

UCRSEA(2017)TheoryofChangeFramework(preparedbyJoannaKocsis)https://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/ucrsea-theory-of-change-2/

UCRSEACityBriefs(2017)Battambanghttps://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/city-brief_cambodia-battambang-2/,KohKonghttps://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/city-brief_cambodia-koh-kong-2/,Bagohttps://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/city-brief_myanmar-bago-2/,Daweihttps://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/city-brief_myanmar-dawei-2/,KhonKaenhttps://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/city-brief_thailand-khon-kaen-2/,Mukdahanhttps://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/city-brief_thailand-mukdahan-2/,LaoCaihttps://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/city-brief_vietnam-lao-cai-2/,andNinhBinhhttps://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/city-brief_vietnam-ninh-binh-2/

Win,S.andOo,M.(2018)CitizenScienceandAirbeamMyanmarProject.FinalNarrativeReport.UCRSEACityResearchProjectSeries.https://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/citizen-science-and-airbeam-myanmar-2/

Wongtragoon,U.(2018)ParticipatorymonitoringofairqualityandurbanheatinthemunicipalareaofUdonThani,Thailand.FinalNarrativeReport.UCRSEACityResearchProjectSeries.https://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/air-quality-and-urban-heat-udon-thani-thailand-2/

Yin,S.(2017)AssessingCityResilienceUsingtheUNISDRLocalGovernmentSelf-AssessmentToolinKohKong,Cambodia.FacultyofDevelopmentStudies,RoyalUniversityofPhnomPenh.UCRSEAResearchProject.https://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/assessing-city-resilience-using-the-unisdr-local-government-self-assessment-tool-in-koh-kong-cambodia-2/

Yin,S.,Ngin,C.,Heng,N.(2018)Policybrief:HowcanaSecondaryCoastalCityinCambodiabeBetterPreparedforClimateChangeandNaturalDisasterRisks?RoyalUniversityofPhnomPenh,Cambodia.https://www.thaicity-climate.org/document/how-can-a-secondary-coastal-city-in-cambodia-be-better-prepared-for-climate-change-and-natural-disaster-risks-2/

X.AnnexesAnnexA–AlistofSoutheastAsianpartnerorganisationsmakinguptheUCRSEAnetworkStatus PartnerorganisationsOriginalformalpartners

CentreforEnvironmentandCommunityResearch(CECR),VietnamCentreforPeaceandConflictStudies,ChulalongkornUniversity,ThailandGraduatePrograminDevelopmentStudies,RoyalUniversityofPhnomPenh(RUPP),CambodiaMercyCorpsMyanmarMinistryoftheEnvironment,GeneralDepartmentofAdministrationforNatureConservationandProtection,CambodiaRenewableEnergyAssociationMyanmar(REAM)RegionalCentreforSocialScienceandSustainableDevelopment(RCSD),FacultyofSocialSciences,ChiangMaiUniversity,Thailand

38

Status PartnerorganisationsResearchGrouponWellbeingandSustainableDevelopment(WeSD),KhonKaenUniversity,Thailand

Additionalformalpartners

CentreforNaturalResourcesandEnvironmentalStudies(CRES),VietnamNationalUniversity,VietnamFacultyofEnvironmentandResourcesStudies,MahasarakhamUniversity(MSU),ThailandDepartmentofUrbanEnvironment,NationalUniversityofLaos,LaoPeople’sDemocraticRepublicGeographyDepartment,UniversityofYangon,MyanmarRajamangalaUniversityofTechnologyLanna(RUTL),Thailand

Partnersparticipatedinresearchactivitiesorregionalworkshops,meetingsortrainings

FacultyofEnvironmentalScience,VietnamNationalUniversityofHanoiEnvironmentalFaculty,HaNoiUniversityofNaturalResourcesandEnvironmentFacultyofEnvironment,BachkhoaUniverity,HoChiMinhCity,VietnamFacultyofEnvironment,HoChiMinhUniversityofNaturalResourcesandEnvironmentDepartmentofNaturalResourceManagement-Development,FacultyofDevelopmentStudies,RoyalUniversityofPhnomPenhFacultyofEnvironmentalScience,NationalUniversityofLaoFacultyofArchitecture,KingMongkut’sInstituteofTechnology,Ladkrabang(KMITL),ThailandAsianDisasterPreparednessCenter(ADPC)DepartmentofGeography,UniversityofMandalay,MyanmarMaubinUniversity,MinistryofEducation,UnionofMyanmarUdonThaniRajabhatUniversity(UTRU),ThailandDepartmentofSociologyandAnthropology,FacultyofHumanitiesandSocialSciences,KhonKaenUniversity,ThailandUniversityofBattambang,Cambodia

Partnersleftthenetwork

SwanyeeDevelopmentFoundation,MyanmarISET-InternationalVietnam

AnnexB–AlistofSEAsianpartnerorganisationsandtheirresearchtopicsPartners VulnerabilityAssessments CitizenScienceandAirQuality

MonitoringusingAirbeamCECRVietnam

VulnerabilityAssessment:acasestudyofTruongYencommuneinTrangAnsceniclandscapecomplex,NinhBinh,Vietnam

EngagingwithschoolstudentsinHanoitoraiseawareness

CRESVietnam

Assessthevulnerabilityoflocalcommunitycausedbytheimpactofurbandevelopmentintheclimatechangecontext.ThefieldsurveywasfocusedonPhuHao

EngagingwithschoolandlocalcommunitiesinNinhBinhtoraiseawareness1)QuanThiensecondaryschoolinKimSonDistrict

39

Partners VulnerabilityAssessments CitizenScienceandAirQualityMonitoringusingAirbeam

village,KhanhPhucommune,NinhBinhcity

2)KhanhPhucommuneinYenKhanhDistrict

YangonUniversityMyanmar

EconomicPotentialofBagoCity:OpportunitiesandChallengescomparedwithUrbanClimateChangePractices

-

MercyCorpsMyanmar

StakeholderMappingReportoftheDaweiSpecialEconomicZone,Myanmar

-

RUPPCambodia

AssessingCityResilienceUsingtheUNISDRLocalGovernmentSelf-AssessmentToolinKohKong,Cambodia

AirqualitymonitoringtrainingforgovernmentofficialsinPhnomPenh

RUPPCambodia

FactFindingstudytoBattambang’sBorderDistrictswithThailandonProductiveSystem,TradesthatLinktoKeyEngineforUrbanGrowthofBattambangprovince,Cambodia

AirqualitymonitoringandawarenessraisingwithlocalcommunitiesinBattambang

MSUThailand

AdaptivecapacityofMukdahanSpecialEconomicZonetotheproblemsrelatingtotheextremeweathereventsandurbangrowth

StudentstrainingandcommunityengagementAirqualitymonitoringandPM2.5mappinginMahaSarakham

MSUThailand

LivelihoodsVulnerabilityAssessmentofFlood-PronePralabCommunityinKhonKaen,Thailand

-

RCSDThailand

UnderstandinginstitutionalchallengesforurbanplanninginVientiane,LaoPDR

-

REAMMyanmar

- UniversitystudentstrainingandairqualitymonitoringintenlocationsinYangon,Bago,MuabinandDawei

RUTL/UTRUThailand

- ParticipatoryairqualitymonitoringinmunicipalareaofUdonThani

AnnexC–AlistofinternationalconferenceswhereUCRSEApartnersandstudentsattendedandpresentedtheirresearch(fundedbyIDRC)ProjectYear

Events Dates/locations

ProjectYear2

Theregionalsymposium“SharedSolutions:SafeguardingSustainableDevelopmentintheMekong”

August2015,Bangkok

40

ProjectYear


TheSixthAsiaPacificUrbanForum(APUF6):SustainableUrbanDevelopmentinAsia-Pacific:TowardsaNewUrbanAgenda

Jakarta,October2015

TheConferenceonCrossingBorders:GoverningEnvironmentalDisastersinaGlobalUrbanAgeinAsiaandthePacific

NUS,Singapore,November2015

TheWorkshoponToolsandIndicatorsforAssessingUrbanResilience

December2015atTheUniversityofTokyo,Japan

TheResilienceRoundtable,hostedbyUSAID Bangkok,inJanuaryandMay2016

ProjectYear3

The13thAsiaPacificSociologicalAssociationConference(APSA),UCRSEApanel(6presenters)-Title:Regionalisation,urbanisationandclimatechange

24-25Sept2016PhnomPenh

The10thInternationalConventionofAsiaScholars(ICAS10),UCRSEApanel(5presenters,1discussant)-Title:TrendsandtrajectoriesoftheMekongRegion–understandingtheimplicationsofregionalisation,urbanisationandclimatechange

20-23Jul2017ChiangMai

ProjectYear4

IEEC2017,Individualpaper-Title:Lifeisnowadisasterwiththerains”:theimpactofclimatechangeandurbanizationinKhonKaencity

15–17Nov2017SouthKorea

ForumonUrbanResiliencetoClimateChangeandDisasterRiskManagementStrategies,Individualpaper-Title:VulnerabilityAssessmentinDawei,theimpactsofSpecialEconomicZone

4-8Dec2017Philippines

2017ANPORTechnicalAdvancesandPublicOpinionResearch,Individualpaper-Title:SlumareasinBattambangandClimateResilience

1-4Nov2017Shanghai

14thAsianUrbanisationConference“SustainableDevelopmentGoalsinAsia,Individualpaper-Title:UrbanFloodsinCanThoCity:VulnerabilityandResilienceamongWomen

11-13Jan2018Bangkok

DimensionofPoliticalEcology,Individualpaper-Title:VulnerableLivesofWomenandEmpowermentProcessinUrbanFloodinginCanThoCity,Vietnam

22-24Feb2018Kentucky,USA

InternationalConferenceonBusiness&HumanRights,Individualpaper-Title:LessonslearnedforDawei:LearningfromMapThaPhut

12-13July2018Bangkok

ProjectYear5

PolicyForum–LinkingResearchandPracticetoPolicy,UCRSEApanel(4presenters,2discussants)-Title:Whatisneededtoinformandinfluencepolicychangeinurbandevelopmentand

22May2019Bangkok

41

ProjectYear


climateresponses?