USAID LEAD Trains Asian Policymakers on Low Emission Development Strategies

The USAID Low Emissions Asian Development program, in partnership with the Asian Greenhouse Gas Management Center and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, held a course from September 24 to 26 in Bangkok on the fundamentals and benefits of low emission development strategies (LEDS).Participants included a group of 20 policymakers and practitioners…

Regional Learning Group Explores Social Equity Issues of the Lower Mekong Forest

USAID’s Grassroots Equity and Enhanced Networks in the Mekong (GREEN Mekong) and RECOFTC (The Center for People and Forests) organized the 2nd Regional Learning Group on Equitable Forest Governance from September 9 to 12 in Hue, Vietnam for 20 local government officials in the forestry sector from Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.Together the participants explored…

Mekong ARCC’s Lower Mekong Climate Change Study and GIS Data Available

The USAID Mekong Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change (USAID Mekong ARCC) program, in coordination with the Greater Mekong Sub-region Environment Operations Center of the Asian Development Bank, has made available a large collection of Geographic Information System (GIS) data generated through the USAID Mekong ARCC Climate Change Impact and Adaptation Study for the Lower Mekong…

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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…

Mekong Partnership for the Environment Launches Local Grants Program

The USAID-funded Mekong Partnership for the Environment (MPE) has launched a new grants program to help local organizations strengthen their work on ensuring responsible development in the Mekong region.  From the release of its Annual Program Statement (APS) on August 29, MPE expects to increase civil society’s capacity to take part in decisions surrounding the development of…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…