Mekong - U.S. Partnership
Working Papers Published on Payments for Ecosystem Services in Laos and Thailand
With support from USAID, the Center for International Forestry Research recently published two working papers: “Motivations for Payments for Ecosystem Services in Laos: The Essential Alignment” and “A Review of the Legal and Policy Framework for the Payments for Ecosystem Services in Thailand.”These working papers will serve to inform and promote discussions recognizing the non-tradable benefits of natural resources…
Mekong Climate Change Adaptation Roundtable Strengthens Science-Policy Links
At the end of July, the USAID RDMA Regional Environment Office hosted the 3rd Roundtable Discussion on Climate Change Adaptation in the Greater Mekong Subregion in Bangkok. The event, held in coordination with the Greater Mekong Subregion Environment Operations Center of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and co-organized by the USAID Mekong ARCC project, brought together a core group…
USAID Announces Regional Research Collaboration Awardees
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), National Science Foundation (NSF), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have announced 26 new research projects in Asia funded through the Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) program a joint initiative designed to foster collaborative global research. Through this competitive grants program, USAID directly supports…
Cambodia Increases Climate Resilience of Community Water Supply Ponds with Support from USAID Adapt Asia-Pacific
With support from USAID Adapt Asia-Pacific, Cambodia’s Ministry of Rural Development recently helped 10 rural villages in Banteay Meanchey province to improve the resilience of their vital fresh water supply. Past events have demonstrated that communities located on the Tonle Sap flood plain are particularly vulnerable to the increased flooding predicted to occur as a…
Regional Water Cooperation and Flood Preparedness Event Highlights Lower Mekong Initiative Progress
Bangkok, Thailand, August 1, 2014 –Bulbul and red avadavat dance from the shrubs and grass, as a gentle rain falls musically on the Golden Triangle. The mighty Mekong River slowly drifts down its banks, obliviously to the precipitation. In the distance, mountains brood with curling ominous clouds. These clouds indicate that the gentle rains currently…
NEWS: Sustainable Future for the Mekong Basin
On the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, the seventh Lower Mekong Initiative Ministerial Meeting and the fourth meeting of Friends of Lower Mekong Meeting were took place under the chairmanship maintenance of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar and United States Secretary of State. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affair Minister Pham Binh Minh…
Supporting Women Entrepreneurs Through WECREATE Centers
When the U.S. Department of State announced the up-coming launch of a WECREATE Center in the Lower Mekong sub-region this past weekend, it underscored the State Department’s enduring commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs everywhere, particularly in developing countries. The development of WECREATE Centers is one of the many ways the Department is supporting the goals…
Seventh Ministerial Meeting of the Lower Mekong Initiative Joint Statement
Media NoteOffice of the SpokespersonWashington, DCOn August 9, 2014, the Foreign Ministers of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam, the Secretary-General of ASEAN and the U.S. Secretary of State met in NayPyiTaw, Myanmar, for the Seventh Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) Ministerial Meeting.Ministers affirmed LMI’s effectiveness during its first five years in addressing complex,…
Fourth Friends of the Lower Mekong Ministerial Meeting Joint Statement
Media NoteOffice of the SpokespersonWashington, DCOn August 9, 2014, the U.S. Secretary of State and the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Cambodia, Japan, Lao PDR, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Viet Nam, the Managing Director of the EU, and senior representatives of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank joined the…
NEWS: Vietnam Pledges to Manage Mekong River Water Resources Sustainably
(VOV) – Vietnam attaches high importance to and prioritizes efforts to develop and use water resources of the Mekong River Basin effectively and sustainably in the context of global climate change, affirmed Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh.The deputy PM made the statement at the seventh Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) Ministerial Meeting and the fourth…
NEWS: Thailand Meets with Mekong Neighbors to Bolster Cooperation
NAYPYIDAW, 10 August 2014 (NNT) – The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called on neighboring countries within the Lower Mekong River Basin to step up their cooperation towards regional development during the 47th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.In his capacity as Acting Foreign Minister of Thailand, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow attended the…
Remarks at the Seventh Lower Mekong Initiative Ministerial Meeting
John KerrySecretary of StateMyanmar International Conference CenterNaypyitaw, MyanmarThank you very much, Mr. Minister, and again, we all thank you for your hospitality in convening us here and for your leadership. And we particularly are grateful for the efforts of your meeting through ASEAN as well as your efforts with the Lower Mekong Initiative. I also…
