Mekong Thought Leadership and Think Tanks Network

The Mekong Thought Leadership and Think Tanks Network program aims to work with knowledge-based policy influence organizations in the Mekong Region. The 3-year program will develop clear and actionable evidence-based solutions to water, energy, and development challenges in the Mekong Region to bring about positive changes in policy and practice.

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Context and overview

The Mekong Region has faced sustainability challenges related to water, energy, and changing climate. There are also inequities in the rapid development of the subregion, in which local communities have benefited little from this development. The poorest and most vulnerable bear the brunt of these changes due to their close connection to, and dependency on, natural resources. In addressing these inequities and ensuring that no one is left behind, there is a need for clear and actionable evidence-based development options along with tangible solutions that would support positive changes in policy and practice for sustainable futures for all.

The Mekong Thought Leadership and Think Tanks Network Program aims to work with national and regional knowledge-based policy influence organizations (KBPIOs), including think tanks, to enhance their effectiveness and inclusiveness in policy engagement. This will be combined with communications based on high-quality research, practical advice generated by the program, cross-learning among relevant organizations in the subregion, and drawing upon relevant Australian and other expertise and experiences in water security, energy security, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The Mekong Think Tanks program will achieve this through supporting and facilitating evidence-based research and analysis, engagement with regional and national KBPIOs, effective dialogue with decision-makers, and professional development for agents of change in the Mekong Region. The program will deliver high-quality, inclusive research and policy advice on governance, socio-economic values, benefits, and risks associated with water, energy, and the environment to achieve resilience to future climates at the regional and national levels. This research will also strive to address gender and social inclusion in all research projects while providing gender support and capacity development to all research teams. This is aimed at enhancing the inclusiveness of the research and policy advice created by the program.

This program will create opportunities for KBPIOs to engage with policy stakeholders by organizing regional and national policy forums. These forums will be the platforms for KBPIOs to deliberate high-level issues around governance, development, and equity in water resources, energy, and the environment within the context of climate change, utilizing the research supported by the Program.

What are KBPIO’s?

Knowledge-based policy influence organizations (KBPIOs) are entities and organizations that generate evidence-based knowledge, comment, analyze, or propose policies that aim to influence policy processes at various levels. We will expand our work on ‘KBPIOs’ to include a range of entities and organizations that generate evidence-based knowledge, comment, analyze, or propose policies that aim to influence policy processes.

The 3-year Mekong Thought Leadership and Think Tanks Network program aims to work with knowledge-based policy influence organizations in the Mekong Region. We will develop clear and actionable evidence-based solutions to water, energy, and development challenges in the Mekong Region to bring about positive changes in policy and practice. Please see this short video that illustrates what we aim to achieve and how we will get there.

Download program brochure
Goals and objectives

Long-term goal:

To contribute to improved and more equitable water and energy security, adaptation, and mitigation of climate change in the Mekong Subregion to benefit all, especially the marginalized, vulnerable, and at-risk communities.

End-of-program objective:

Water, energy, and climate research and policy interfaces are robust and more inclusive, resulting in more effective and equitable policies, which are cross-sectoral, informed by evidence, and respond to vulnerable groups’ needs.

By developing a regional network or alliance of KBPIOs, the program aims to:
- Strengthen the role and effectiveness of national and regional KBPIOs in engaging with national and regional policy processes on water and energy security and climate change mitigation and adaptation
- Strengthen the role and capabilities of national and regional KBPIOs in inclusive knowledge co-production processes by engaging with stakeholders across sectors, locations, and countries on water, climate, and energy issues and their interlinkages.
- Enhance the capacity for networking of national and regional KBPIOs and build the capacity of young professionals in delivering research and communicating and engaging with policy processes.
Key activities
- Scoping study of KBPIOs
- Key activities
- Design and establishment of the regional alliance or network of KBPIOs
- Mekong think tanks flagship studies
- Rapid response funds
- Fellowship grants
- Training and capacity-building activities
- Development of a young professional network
- Annual regional forum
Governance

The Program is governed through the Program Steering Committee, the Program Secretariat, and Program Advisors. These bodies contribute to ensuring effective, efficient, and accountable implementation of the Program.

Program Steering Committee
- Marie Jürisoo, SEI Asia, Thailand (Chair)
- Louis Lebel, USER, Thailand (member)
- Darren Sinclair, UC, Australia (member)
- Wijarn Simachaya, TEI, Thailand (member)
- Ngin Chanrith, CDRI, Cambodia (member)
- Phoummixay Siharath, NOUL, Laos (member)
- Karen Delfau, IWCAN, Australia (member)
- Truong Dao Thanh, IPAM, Vietnam (member)
- Dwight Ronan, DFAT, Australia/Thailand (member)
Program Advisors
- Ngin Chanrith (CDRI), Component 1 Advisor
- Chu Thai Hoanh, Component 1 Advisor
- Andrew Noble, Component 1 Advisor
- Francis Johnson (SEI), Component 2 Advisor
- Pichamon Yeopanthong, Components 2 & 4 Advisor
- Wijarn Simachaya (TEI), Component 3 Advisor
- Klomjit Chandrapanya, Component 3 Advisor
- Karen Delfau (IWCAN), Component 5 Advisor
- Frederick Bouckaert (IWCAN), Component 5 Advisor
Program Secretariat
- Chayanis Krittasudthacheewa (SEI), Program Director & Component 1 Lead
- Agus Nugroho (SEI), Program Manager and Component 5 Lead
- Arkar Aung (SEI), Program Assistant
- Nhan Vo Tran Trung (SEI), MEL Specialist
- Sizwile Khoza (SEI), Gender expert
- Rajesh Daniel (SEI), Head of Communications
- Variya Plungwatana (SEI), Communications Officer
- Bach Tan Sinh, Component 1 Co-lead
- Louis Lebel (USER), Component 2 Lead
- Thanapon Piman (SEI), Component 2 Co-lead
- Cynthia McDougall (SEI), Component 2 Co-lead
- Sushmita Mandal (SEI), Component 3 Lead
- Albert Salamanca (SEI), Component 3 Co-lead
- Leonie Pearson (UC), Component 4 Lead
- Phoummixay Siharath (NUOL), Component 4 Co-lead
- Boripat Lebel (USER), Coordinator for Component 1, 2 and 4
Program components

Five components of the Mekong Thought Leadership and Think Tanks Network Program / Graphic: SEI Asia.
Program consortium

The program partnership comprises 25 organizations, including eight consortium members, that not only help to ensure technical competency across the water, energy, and climate domain but also draw upon critical insights and connections.

Consortium members:
1. Stockholm Environment Institute – Asia Centre (SEI Asia), Thailand (Lead)
2. Unit for Social and Environmental Research (USER), Chiang Mai University, Thailand (Co-lead)
3. Centre for Change Governance, University of Canberra, Australia (Co-lead)
4. Cambodia Research and Development Institute (CDRI), Cambodia
5. Faculty of Engineering, National University of Laos (NUOL), Lao PDR
6. Thailand Environment Institute (TEI), Thailand
7. Institute of Policy and Management (IPAM), Vietnam
8. International Water Centre Alumni Network (IWCAN), Australia
Graphic: SEI Asia.

The program also has 17 counterparts: UNSW, RUPP, ITC, IFReDI, NAFRI, NAFC, NERI, GMS Centre of MSU, MFU, SET of AIT, ERI, SPP of CMU, VNMC, Viet Insight, WASI, MRCS, WWF Regional Asia-Pacific Office from 4 Mekong countries and Australia to support the implementation of the program activities.

Flagship studies

Flagship studies are one of the critical activities of the MTT Program aiming to enhance evidence-based understanding of the Water-Energy-Climate (WEC) nexus, including through the lens of gender and social equity. The work motivates the application of this knowledge to practical, robust, and equitable policy solutions to persistent and emerging issues and challenges.

The MTT Program supports 4 Flagship studies:

Title of project	Outputs committed/expected
Solutions and Opportunities in managing water Storage to reduce transboundary water-related disaster risks and to address multiple water demands Short project name: SOS	The findings will be disseminated through stakeholder networks and published in peer-reviewed journals.
Urban Heat Resilience: Bridging Science, Policy and Sustainable Design Short project name: Urban Heat Resilience	The project will produce a peer-reviewed journal article and communication and capacity-building products, such as policy briefs and fact sheets, to disseminate key findings.
Sustaining the shared groundwater resources of the Transboundary Cambodia- Vietnam Mekong River Delta aquifer under Climate Change impacts through strategic Gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI) tools and suitable Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Short project name: SAGAA	The knowledge generated will influence the revision and enhancement of groundwater management policies and regulations in Vietnam and Cambodia.
Resettlement, Transformation, and Eco-Adaptation Typology for Cities (and Communities) amidst rising seas in the Lower Mekong Short project name: ReTrEAT-Cities	The project contributes to policy processes addressing sea-level rise and climate adaptation, guiding the development of sustainable urban development policies that discourage high-risk coastal ventures.

For more details about each project, please download the document below:

DOWNLOAD_MTT FLAGSHIP PROJECTS DESCRIPTIONS

Rapid response projects

Rapid response projects are one of the critical knowledge-generating activities of the MTT Program. These are more flexible than the flagship projects and aim to support focused interdisciplinary research that seeks practical solutions to urgent or emerging challenges in the water-energy-climate nexus.

The MTT Program supports 7 Rapid response projects:

Title of project	Outputs committed/expected
Gender-sensitizing for the Design and Operation of Water-Energy-Climate Change Infrastructures in Soc Trang Province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam Short project name: GS4Infra	GS4Infra produced several key deliverables aimed at influencing policy: the project report on gendersensitizing WEC infrastructures, training modules developed to educate local policymakers, engineers, and community leaders on the importance of gendersensitive approaches and how to implement them effectively, and policy dialogues to engage with key decision-makers and present policy briefs that distill the research findings into actionable insights.
Addressing Water Scarcity through Groundwater Use: Development of Solar-Powered Groundwater Treatment System for Remote Areas of Cambodia Short project name: Solar Groundwater Treatment System	This project supported the Royal Government of Cambodia's goal of achieving 100% coverage of rural sanitation services, universal urban water supply by 2025, and universal access to clean water by 2030, aligned with the Cambodian Water and Sanitation Policy. Additionally, it supported the government's climate change adaptation strategies by providing a renewable energy-powered solution that can withstand environmental changes.
Assessing the Communities' Resilience to Climate Change: Water-Energy-Climate Nexus: A Case Study in Mekong Sub-Region's Marginalized Communities in Stung Treng Province, Cambodia Short project name: Communities Resilience	The project will document the vulnerabilities and resilience of marginalized communities to climate change, with solution recommendations, through research and engagement with decision-makers.
Strengthening climate resilience of agricultural livelihoods in Savannakhet Province, Lao PDR, through participatory Ecosystem-based Adaptation Short project name: Climate Resilience through Participatory EbA	The project's impacts include enhancing climate resilience by developing scenarios of climate-hazard impacts and assessing EbA practices to empower agricultural communities in Savannakhet.
Building resilience and adaptive capacity of Women's Union to address water-energy-climate challenges in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta Short project name: WEC Capacity for Women's Union in Vietnam Mekong Delta	Project outcomes include training about 30 Women's Union staff on WEC knowledge and facilitation skills through a TOT training class, direct participation of at least 300 Women'sUnion members in capacity-building programs through meetings and workshops, development of at least three action plans to integrate WEC challenges into provincial Women'sUnion programs, creation of three video clips in the selected provinces, production of a policy brief, and organization of kick-off and final workshops.
Enhancing Fisheries Resilience and Managing Fisheries Resources Sustainably under Climate Change Impacts through Local Community Participation in Lao PDR Short project name: Enhancing Fisheries Resilience	The project established conservation zones to protect crucial spawning periods and introduce small-scale community-based aquaculture systems.
Promote equitable sharing of water resources for ethnic minority communities living downstream of small hydropower projects through collaboration among the community, businesses, and the state in Vietnam Short project name: SHARE-WREM	The project had two primary outcomes: knowledge-based evidence and an action plan with benefit-sharing regulations.

For more details about each project, please download the document below:

DOWNLOAD_MTT RAPID RESPONSE PROJECTS DESCRIPTIONS

Grants

Media-research collaboration fellowship for environmental reporting

Mekong Thought Leadership and Think Tanks Network Program (MTT), hosted by SEI Asia, is providing six media-research collaboration fellowships (media fellowships) to selected journalists in the Mekong Region. Each fellowship is worth up to AUD 5,000 (~ USD 3,300) for activities to be undertaken from October 2024 to May 2025.

The media fellowship aims to produce and publish impactful stories highlighting critical environmental sustainability issues related to the MTT program’s research activities. The media fellowships aim to support MTT’s granted projects in the Mekong Region (four flagship studies and seven rapid response projects) to better communicate our science to the public for enhanced visibility and policy impacts.

Application deadline: 15 September 2024, 23:59 (Bangkok/Indochina time)

For more details of this media-research collaboration fellowship call, please click to download this pdf.

Midterm Evaluation proposals

The purpose of the MTE is to take stock of program progress and evaluate where the program stands against its set targets in terms of expected outcomes, outputs, and planned activities. The MTE serves as a guide for all parties concerned (DFAT, MTT Program Secretariat hosted in SEI Asia, MTT Program Steering Committee, and key partners) to help improve the implementation for the remaining period. The MTE shall include initial recommendations for enhancing the impact and sustainability of MTT Program outcomes, beyond its current period of implementation (2022-2025). Relevant stakeholders will consider these recommendations to conceptualise and design any follow-up investments and programs.

Funding: The total amount of the MTE will not exceed AUD25,000.00 (~USD 16,300.00), including personnel costs, travel/site visit costs (if any), etc.

Application deadline: 15 May 2024, 23:59 (Bangkok/Indochina time)

For more details of this Midterm Evaluation proposals call, please click to download this pdf.

Fellowships

The program views that investing in diverse entry- or mid-level professionals of all genders working in research and policy engagement is essential to enhance their capacity to produce and promote practical and sustainable solutions. The program will spearhead capacity building for entry- or mid-level professionals through fellowships and trainings.

The first round of fellowships, launched in April 2023, successfully awarded seven fellows. This call is seeking to recruit at least 13 high-quality fellows.

Timeline: Available to commit to a 12-month fellowship full-time or a maximum of 17 months part-time to end no later than June 2025.

Application deadline: 30 September 2023, 23:59 (Bangkok/Indochina time)

For more details of this fellowship call, please click to download this pdf.

Flagship Studies and Rapid Response Grants

The Mekong Thought Leadership and Think Tanks Network Program (MTT) is opening calls for research-to-policy proposals that seek practical solutions to urgent or emerging challenges in the water-energy-climate nexus.

Calls open for two types of grants:

1. Flagship Research Studies

Funding: Total grants of AUD 1,000,000 (~USD 652,000) are available to award up to 4 research projects. Support will not exceed 250,000 AUD (~USD 163,000) per research project.

Timeline: Work to be completed within 1.5 years (18 months) from contract signing or agreed upon start date.

Application deadline: 1 October 2023, 23:59 (Bangkok/Indochina time)

Flagship studies are one of the key activities of the MTT Program that aim to enhance evidence-based understanding of the Water-Energy-Climate (WEC) nexus, including through the lens of gender and social equity. The work motivates the application of this knowledge to practical, robust, and equitable policy solutions to persistent and emerging issues and challenges.

For more details of this flagship study call, please click to download this pdf.

2. Rapid Response Grants

Funding: Total grants of AUD 350,000 (~USD 230,000) are available to award up to seven research projects. Support will not exceed 50,000 AUD (~USD 33,000) per rapid response project project.

Timeline: Work to be completed be completed within one year (12 months) from contract signing or agreed upon start date.

Application deadline: 1 October 2023, 23:59 (Bangkok/Indochina time)

Rapid response grants are one of the key knowledge-generating activities of the MTT Program. These are more flexible grants than the flagship grants and aim to support focused interdisciplinary research projects that seek practical solutions to urgent or emerging challenges in the water-energy-climate nexus.

For more details of this rapid responses grant call, please click to download this pdf.
Project Team
Address:

10th Floor, Kasem Uttayanin Building, 254 Chulalongkorn University

Henri Dunant Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330 Thailand

Email:

sumernet.mtt@sei.org