Mekong River Commission - Contribution to the basket fund for the implementation of the Strategic Plan 2026-2030
The Mekong River Basin is vital for millions, and mounting pressures require coordinated transboundary solutions. The Mekong River Commission, as the basin's treaty-based organization, leads this cooperation for sustainable and equitable water management. Drawing on its extensive experience in water diplomacy and integrated water management, Switzerland supports progress on the Basin Development Strategy and the MRC's goal of achieving financial sustainability by 2030.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mekong |
Water
Water diplomacy and security
|
01.03.2026
- 31.12.2030 |
CHF 3’950’000
|
- Other OI
- SDC Field Office
- Mekong River Commission Secretariat (MRCS)
-
Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation WATER SUPPLY & SANITATION
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Water sector policy and administrative management
Cross-cutting topics The project promotes biodiversity.
Conflict reduction
The project supports partner organisation improvements as a priority
Aid Type Basketpooled multi-donor fund
Mandate without fiduciary fund
Project number 7F09506
| Background | The Mekong River Basin has faced mounting challenges over the past decades due to rapid economic growth, climate change, large-scale infrastructure development, particularly hydropower dams and urbanization. Currently, 745 dams, including 209 hydro-power facilities, are completed or under construction, transforming the river's natural flow into a highly engineered system for hydropower, irrigation, water supply, and flood control. Unregulated sand extraction further exacerbates environmental degradation. Much of this development has proceeded with insufficient coordination among riparian countries, including upstream China, resulting in significant impacts: altered flow regimes, increased floods and droughts, disrupted sediment transport, biodiversity loss, and community displacement. These pressures have heightened the basin's geopolitical sensitivity, with water governance emerging as a critical factor for regional stability and peace. The Mekong River Commission (MRC), comprising four Lower Mekong countries (Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam), plays a central role in promoting regional cooperation, data sharing, and sustainable water resource management. Strengthening and working closely with the MRC remains essential to address transboundary water challenges, enhance joint planning, and ensure inclusive decision-making among riparian states. |
| Objectives | The Vision of the MRC identified among the riparian countries as a shared long-term aspiration is "an economically prosperous, socially just and environmentally sound, and climate resilient Mekong River Basin" |
| Target groups | Primary beneficiaries will be MRC Member Countries and MRC Secretariat. Secondary beneficiaries include regional and national stakeholders from the private sector and civil society. End beneficiaries shall include the poor and vulnerable communities, men and women relying on the Mekong river and tributaries for livelihood and income. |
| Medium-term outcomes |
The MRC strategic priorities include: Strategic Priority 1: Maintain the ecological function of the Mekong River Basin Strategic Priority 2: Enable inclusive access and utilisation of the basin's water and related resources Strategic Priority 3: Enhance optimal and sustainable development of water and related sectors Strategic Priority 4: Strengthen resilience against climate risks, extreme floods, and droughts Strategic Priority 5: Strengthen cooperation among all basin countries and stakeholders |
| Results |
Expected results: Out of the 25 key outputs of the Strategic Plan 2026-2030, the following outcomes are most in line with SDC's current Mekong Regional Cooperation Programme: 2.1.3 Gender and vulnerability aspects addressed 3.2.2 Sustainable hydropower 4.1.1 Core monitoring network 4.1.4 Flood and drought forecasting & early warning. 4.2.3 Climate change adaptation, flood and drought management mainstreamed at national levels 5.1.1: Implementation of the MRC Procedures 5.1.2 Organisational development of MRC 5.2.1 Increased joint efforts and partnerships 5.2.5: Harmonised basin-wide stakeholder platform Results from previous phases: Strengthened Governance and Procedures: Updated the Procedures for Notification, Prior Consultation and Agreement, issued new Preliminary Design Guidance, and introduced the Transboundary Environmental Impact Assessment framework. Expanded and automated the Core River Monitoring Network, integrating realtime hydrological and water quality data. Improved flood and drought forecasting with advanced modelling, real-time early warning systems, and tools like the upgraded Flood and Drought Management Centre and the One Mekong App. Finalized key instruments including the Sustainable Hydropower Development Strategy, the Regional Action Plan on Dangerous Goods, and the Initial Adaptive Basin Plan. Integrated gender and social data into MRC tools and piloted community-based initiatives on flood resilience and aquaculture. Deepened engagement with China and Myanmar via joint studies and data sharing; intensified ASEAN collaboration through ministerial dialogues. Increased Member Country contributions |
| Directorate/federal office responsible |
SDC |
| Project partners |
Contract partner Other International Organization Other partners MRC Development Partners: Australia, New Zealand, EU, Germany, Luxembourg, France, Japan, Belgium, Sweden, USA, World Bank. |
| Coordination with other projects and actors | Inclusive Water Governance Programme 2; Dam Safety; Flood Resilience in the Lower Mekong; BRIDGE (IUCN); Water Stewardship. |
| Budget | Current phase Swiss budget CHF 3’950’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 0 Budget inclusive project partner CHF 68’812’681 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF 12’296’069 Budget inclusive project partner CHF 16’685’000 |
| Project phases | Phase 3 01.03.2026 - 31.12.2030 (Current phase) Phase 2 01.01.2021 - 31.12.2025 (Completed) Phase 1 01.06.2016 - 31.12.2020 (Completed) |
