UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE SESSION: "Cooperation on the Lancang-Mekong: civil society perspectives on transboundary water governance and investment [Yangon, 6 December 2018]"

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Session organized for 2018 Greater Mekong Forum on Water, Food, and Energy

13:30 - 15:30, 6 December 2018, Session Room 2 (Session 35), Myanmar Inya Lake Hotel, Yangon

The institutional landscape for transboundary water governance and investment in the Lancang-Mekong basin is changing. A key factor is the growing role of the Lancang Mekong Cooperation framework (LMC) and its links to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and broader engagement in the region. The emergence of new institutions such as the LMC brings opportunities for strengthened cooperation. This includes, for example, cooperation between upper and lower Mekong basin countries and stakeholders on transboundary water governance and standards for cross-border investments under the LMC and BRI. However, to date, limited information is available to understand how new platforms for cooperation will build on existing institutions in the lower Mekong basin, such as the Mekong River Commission, or how they will engage with community and civil society stakeholders.

This session will explore civil society and community perspectives on transboundary water governance and investment in the Lancang-Mekong River basin. The aim is to share experiences from a history of engagement with existing institutions in the lower Mekong, as well as with investors and developers, in order to draw lessons for emerging institutions and prompt dialogue on ways forward for public participation.

The session will be structured to include a civil society and community panel comprised of representatives from lower Mekong countries, together with commentary from an academic and international NGO perspective.

Session speakers:

  • Mr Niwat Roykaew, Rak Chiang Khong Group (Thailand)

  • Ms Ormbun Thipsuna, Network of Thai People in Eight Mekong Provinces (Thailand)

  • Mr Leang Bunleap, 3S Rivers Protection Network (Cambodia)

  • Ms Van Nguyen Thi Hong, Vietnam Rivers Network

  • Dr Carl Middleton, CSDS, Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University

  • Ms Maureen Harris, International Rivers 

Conference details are available here.

This session is organized by International Rivers and Save the Mekong coalition. 

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