Mekong River Commission (MRC) 2016-2022

The Completion Report of the Strategic Plan (SP) 2016 - 2020 presents achievements and financial performance. The SP had seven outcomes with detailed outputs and activities. Sweden's support was for the entire SP but in the assessment two outcomes, nr 1 and 5 were identified as specially important to follow. In addition, given the set-up of the DP group, and the Embassy having an experienced controller, outcome 7 has also been prioritized. The completion reports states that one of the main achievements over the period has been more inclusive and fruitful Prior Consultation processes on Mekong mainstream dams. Before 2016, the Prior Consultation processes for the first two Mekong mainstream hydropower dams Xayaburi and Don Sahong were highly contentious and ended without any formal agreements being reached among the Member Countries. Five years later, following the three Prior Consultation processes for the Pak Beng, the Pak Lay, and the Luang Prabang hydropower projects, there is a process that focus on identifying measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate potential transboundary impacts. A combination of re-evaluating and redesigning their mechanisms and/or providing additional technical and management interventions is needed. Another achievement is the strengthened cooperation with MRC Dialogue Partners, in particular China. Chinas agreement to share Lancang dry season hydrological data for the first time improves the river monitoring and flood forecasting capabilities. MRC also secured a partnership with the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Water Centre, and improved their partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The Regional Flood and Drought Management Centre, expanded in 2017 to include drought with flood forecasting, allows the MRC to provide timely flood and drought services. This forecasting capability contributes to saving lives and protecting the properties of the people in the Basin. Overview of results achieved related to each key result area: Key result area 1 (outcomes 1, 2, 3 partially achieved): Enhancement of national plans, projects and resourced based on basin-wide perspectives The important knowledge gaps were mostly addressed, and a comprehensive and evidence-based state of the basin was assessed and reported. New and updated basin-wide sectorial strategies and action plans such as the Environment Strategy, the Fish Management Strategy, Drought Management Strategy (DMS), the Mekong Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan (MASAP) and the Navigation Master Plan were completed and approved by the MRC Council. New and updated guidelines such as the Preliminary Design Guidance, Transboundary Environmental Impact Assessment (TbEIA), Rapid Basin-Wide Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Tool (RSAT), Fish-Friendly Irrigation Systems, and Waterborne Transportation Guidelines were completed, and were either endorsed or scheduled for endorsement by the MRC Joint Committee. The Basin Development Strategy 20212030 for the next strategic planning cycle was completed. Key result area 2: Stengthening regional cooperation (outcome 4 and 5) MRC Procedures, a key tool of water diplomacy and cooperation among countries, was implemented with the MRC Joint Platform and strengthened to improve procedures coordination and improvement of certain technical guidelines. Several dialogue meetings, data and information sharing, exchange visits, joint studies, conferences, and outreach were conducted to promote regional cooperation with Dialogue Partners, in particular China, as well as new or renewed agreements with these partners and other regional (such as ASEAN) and international partners and broader stakeholders. Cooperation with China was strengthened, resulting in the achievement of several important milestones such as Chinas agreement to share year-round Lancang hydrological data, the granting to the MRC Secretariat the right to attend meetings of the LMC Joint Working Group on Water Resources, and the signing of the MOU between LMC Water Center and the MRC Secretariat. Broader collaboration was achieved with a growing list of strategic and technical partners with over 30 MOUs by the end of 2020. Key result area 3 (outcome 6 partly achieved): Better monitoring and communication of the Basin conditions The Mekong- Hydrological Cycle Observing System (HYCOS) Hydromet network was improved and expanded, and together with the routine environmental monitoring through water quality monitoring, ecological health monitoring and fish monitoring, the operation and maintenance were continuously improved, and results reported. The Joint Environment Monitoring for the Maistream Hydropower Programme for Xayaburi and Don Sahong dams was another breakthrough for Mekong cooperation. The Regional Flood and Drought Management Centre (RFDMC) was expanded to include drought with flood forecasting services. The MRC-Information System, the Data Portal, the Decision Support Framework, and related tools were improved and applied. In response to emerging needs, the Design Concept for the reinvigoration of the MRCs systems related to data, information management, modelling and forecasting, and communication was completed. Key result area 4 (outcome 7 achieved) A leaner river basin organisation The MRC restructuring was completed, which involved establishing one headquarters in Vientiane, and the Regional Flood and Drought Management Centre in Phnom Penh, following the consolidation of 13 Programmes into four Divisions and an Office and from 200 employees to 64. Multiple programme planning became one MRC Strategic Plan preparation, with a new consolidated M&E framework in place. The first and second riparian CEOs took charge, and all staff of the Secretariat hailed from the MCs. MRC Expert Groups became operational. The MRC internal operations were strengthened with the addition of an independent Audit Committee, an Internal Auditor, and the revisions of operation manuals for administration, finance, procurement, and human resources. The MRC Stratgic Plan 20212025 preparation was completed, endorsed by the MRC Joint Committee, and approved by the MRC Council. Cross-cutting issues Gender mainstreaming was one of the crosscutting principles underlining the SP 2016-2020. A first gender action plan was adopted in 2017 for the implementation of the gender policy. Gender action plan activities aimed to ensure that technical skills for gender mainstreaming are strengthened, a positive organisational culture is promoted and a mechanism for individual, programmatic and organisational accountability is in place. Results from the period 2021-2022 (the first two years of SP 2021 - 2025) Results from the first year of implementation of the MRC Strategic Plan 2021-2025, which is integrated with the Basin Development Strategy (BDS) 2021-2030 includes; The draft TbEIA Guidelines was piloted in Cambodia which resulted in a number of reports and studies on the positive and negative impact on the navigation channel improvement in the Bassac. A series of national consultation meetings and workshops among the relevant national line agencies was held for better understanding in the implementation of the TbEIA Guidelines. The MRC TbEIA Guidelines have been referred in the updated draft Cambodia Environmental Code and National EIA systems for the chapters relating to transboundary EIA. Importantly, the approach and methodology to implement the MRC TbEIA Guidelines have improved the national EIA rules, regulations, and guidelines in Cambodia and other MCs. For example, the scheme of the TbEIA process consists of eight steps such as TbEIA initiation and early consultation with potentially affected countries, national consultation within potentially affected countries, and regional consultation, which are additional processes to the national EIA. The TbEIA was approved the TbEIA in 2022. 2021 the Handbook for Gender Mainstreaming into MRC Core Functions and Activities 2021-2025" was launched in line with a commitment in the Gender Action Plan 2021-2025. The purpose of the Handbook is to assist the MRC to effectively integrate a gender perspective into all aspects of its work. The completion of a Review of Gender and Vulnerability was done. The objectives were to identify the key G&V aspects of water, food, and energy security in the Mekong Basin, to describe and map poor water-related resource users, their vulnerabilities to and potential benefits and to identify existing regional and national mechanisms to address G&V. The review recommends the regional and national mechanisms to address G&V inequalities. MRC has set a target of minimum 30% woman participants in all of MRC´s events and meetings. For plastic pollution, since early 2021, the MRC has carried out a basin-wide review of riverine plastic pollution in the Lower Mekong River Basin and has drafted a detailed methodology. MRC Riverine Plastic Monitoring Program (RPM) and its methodology have provided data and information on the status of riverine plastic debris pollution in the Mekong River. Lao PDR and Thailand negotiated the Harmonized Navigation Safety and Anti-Pollution Rules for the Mekong River a set of regulations that should enhances safety along the 850 kilometers of the Mekong shared by the two countries and spur more economic opportunities. The MRC, its MCs, and dialogue partners, China and Myanmar started a Joint Study in 2022: Changing Patterns of Hydrological Conditions of the Lancang-Mekong River Basin and Adaptation Strategies. This study is expected to shed light onto how hydropower water-retention and -release affects life downstream. The MRC also began to implement the Sustainable Hydropower Development Strategy, to foster greater data-sharing and coordination of cascade-dam operations, among MCs and their hydropower owners.

Long term goal: Member Countries develop and manage water and related resources of the Mekong River Basin in an effective, equitable and sustainable manner. Mission: To promote and coordinate sustainable development and management of water and related resources of the Mekong River Basin for the countries mutual benefit and the peoples well-being. This will be done to achieve the MRC outcomes through implementation of the MRC Core Functions: - Data acquisition, exchange & monitoring - Analysis, modelling & assessment - Planning support - Forecasting, warning, & emergency response - Implementing MRC Procedures