The Capacity-Building Program in Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) was designed to strengthen water governance and basin planning capacity in South Asia, particularly for delegates from Nepal and Sri Lanka. Funded by Australia Awards in South Asia and Mongolia, the two-week short course was part of Australia’s broader support for climate resilience and sustainable water management in the region. As both countries face growing water challenges, the course offered a unique opportunity to learn from Australia’s experience in IRBM.

Alluvium Group, in partnership with Griffith University, Griffith International Development Unit, and the International WaterCentre, led the delivery of the program. The course was structured around the BasinGuide, co-authored by Alluvium, which outlines best-practice basin planning frameworks based on Australian case studies.

Week one in Brisbane included expert-led sessions and meetings with Queensland Government stakeholders. In week two, participants travelled through the Murray-Darling Basin, visiting key institutions such as the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, CSIRO, and Snowy Hydro, and observing on-ground water management in action. The program concluded in Melbourne, with delegates presenting return-to-work plans to apply their learning in-country.