The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has signed a Grant Agreement with the Mekong River Commission (MRC) valued at approximately $5 million for the Mekong Basin Partnership.
This funding aims to enhance the coordination and transboundary management of water resources and related assets, thereby contributing to the successful implementation of the MRC's Mekong Basin Development Strategy.
The agreement provides the MRC with crucial resources to address developmental challenges within its priority strategies. It also delivers technical support to the MRC member countries—Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam—in their efforts to collect and utilize data for making effective decisions.
Moreover, the agreement fosters the involvement of stakeholders, including local communities, civil society organizations, the private sector, and development partners, in discussions for the benefit of the Mekong River Basin.
According to Dr. Steven G. Olive, Director of the USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia, USAID is committed to collaborating with regional leaders to enable the governments of the Lower Mekong countries to take collective action in addressing complex challenges, promoting sustainable development, enhancing resilience to climate change, and fostering economic prosperity.
The agreement also aims to improve technology and tools for basin management through remote sensing and satellite systems. Additionally, a simulation model for key points in the basin will be established to analyze and model the impacts of floods and droughts.