Sustainable Mekong Research Network

Sustainable Mekong Research Network (SUMERNET) is an initiative for research and policy engagement bringing together research partners working on sustainable development in the countries of the Mekong Region: Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

SUMERNET is a regional network made up of partners from the Mekong Region that are committed to sustainable development, poverty alleviation, gender and social equality and the incorporation of a rights-based approach in natural resource management. SUMERNET also engages with other Southeast Asian countries beyond the Mekong Region to promote greater regional collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Launched in 2005, with support from the Government of Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) SUMERNET supports policy-relevant research and outreach activities to inform and engage decision-makers, planners and stakeholders. Within this context, it pursues an evolving agenda in response to questions and policy issues that arise in the region. SUMERNET’s research themes include ecosystem services for local development, transboundary issues, climate compatible development, sustainable regional economic integration livelihoods and poverty, and sustainable urbanization. Embedded within these thematic areas it concepts of gender equality and mainstreaming.

A key component of SUMERNET’s work is to bridge science and policy. We do so by choosing research questions that are directly relevant to current policy debates, engaging decision-makers in all aspects of our activities, and building capacity for gender-responsive sustainable development through workshops and other activities. We also emphasize collaboration, networking, raising awareness on gender dimensions of sustainable development and knowledge-sharing, connecting partners in different countries through our projects and events, and we work to strengthen research capacity across the region. SUMERNET Phase 1 covered 2005–2009; Phase 2, 2010–2013; Phase 3, 2014–April 2018; Phase 4, 2019–2025 SUMERNET FOR ALL; and the present phase SUMERNET PLUS July 2025–2029

SUMERNET PLUS 2025–2029

SUMERNET PLUS (July 2025 to December 2029) will continue to improve policies and practices through scientifically robust, policy-relevant research and diverse and innovative means of outreach to support a just and sustainable transition for enhanced climate resilience, while taking into account gender equality, disability and social inclusion and human rights-based approach in the Mekong Region.

SUMERNET PLUS will have a regional coverage including six countries in the Mekong Region: Cambodia, China (specifically Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region), Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

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SUMERNET PLUS will continue enhancing capacities and inclusive collaborations of the region’s knowledge producers, policy influencers, and young professionals to deliver credible research, solution-oriented knowledge coproduction, policy engagement, and communications that respond to the differentiated needs of local communities, women and other marginalized groups, and local leaders in addressing climate resilience challenges.

SUMERNET PLUS has a mission to improve policy development and implementation by policymakers and practitioners that are inclusive, gender-responsive and grounded in human rights-based approach to deliver equitable climate resilience solutions in the Mekong Region.

S4A will support the formation of long-term innovative partnerships among research institutions, knowledge users and policymakers at different levels and in different sectors.

SUMERNET PLUS will support the adoption of just, equitable and sustainable practices by the private sector and other stakeholders, based on inclusive evidence from solution-oriented knowledge co-production, will contribute to climate resilience in the Mekong Region.

Bridging science and policy

A key component of SUMERNET’s work is to bridge science and policy.

We do so by choosing research questions that are directly relevant to current policy debates, engaging decision-makers in all aspects of our activities, and building capacity for gender-responsive sustainable development through workshops and other activities.

We also emphasize collaboration, networking, raising awareness on gender dimensions of sustainable development and knowledge-sharing, connecting partners in different countries through our projects

Research themes

In response to changing demands and policy debates in the Mekong Region, SUMERNET PLUS will focus on three research themes:

1. Exploring nexus interactions and trade-offs in the Mekong Region. This theme focuses on existing dependencies, synergies, and trade-offs among key sectors (e.g., water, energy, agriculture, and forests) with the overall purpose of designing innovative solutions that address the existential threats of climate and unsustainable development using a transdisciplinary and inclusive approach.
2. Building socio-ecological resilience across scales. Through practical and innovative partnerships (including public-private partnerships), this thematic area will maintain and enhance the resilience of socioecological systems to development and climate change.
3. Just sustainable transitions. This thematic area will support the development of innovative, scalable solutions and evidence in key sectors (e.g., water, energy, agriculture, and forests) on a just sustainable transition for climate resilience. It will focus on defining the problem and solutions along with marginalized and vulnerable communities, women, youth, and local and Indigenous peoples.

Questions, comments and suggestions are welcome and can be addressed to the SUMERNET Secretariat (email: secretariat@sumernet.org) that is hosted in the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) Asia Centre, Bangkok.