Community Capacity Building in Water Resource Management of Kok watershed, Chiang Rai Province

Abstract

The research on enhancing community capacity for water resource management in the Kok River Basin, Chiang Rai Province, aims to study the level of participation in water management and explore approaches to strengthen the community’s capacity for sustainable water resource management in the lower Kok River Basin area. This qualitative research collects data through in-depth interviews with community leaders and water management committee members in Ban San community, Yonok Subdistrict, Chiang Saen District, Chiang Rai Province, involving 30 individuals. The data are analyzed descriptively, and assesses the community’s capacity using SWOT Analysis. The research results show that the level of participation in various activities, from problem identification, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, scored an average of 3.50, indicating a moderate level of participation. Through brainstorming sessions using SWOT Analysis, it is found that a strength of the water management committee is its strong internal water usage management, with strict rules that all members must adhere to. However, weaknesses and obstacles in water management are identified, particularly in terms of insufficient budget, lack of coordination with relevant agencies, and limited participation from some community members in all levels of water management. To strengthen the community's water management capacity, it is found that there is a need to increase participation from all sectors, especially in coordination with government agencies, to reduce conflicts, build mutual understanding, and foster community awareness and a sense of ownership over water resources, ultimately establishing a sustainable water management model for the future.