Interventions and pathways to reducing water insecurities in the Mekong Region: insights from SUMERNET 4 All (S4A) research
This report synthesizes insights from 30 projects supported by the SUMERNET 4 All (S4A) program between 2018 and 2024. Funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), this program aimed to reduce water insecurities through inclusive, evidence-based research and policy engagement in the Mekong Region.
Water insecurities in the Mekong region are driven not only by environmental pressures but also socio-economic, institutional and governance factors. Exclusion from services, marginalization of communities in decision-making, policy incoherence, and insufficient transboundary cooperation lead to persistent insecurities.
Interventions from within S4A-supported projects aimed at reducing water insecurities included: construction of microhabitats; implementation of rainwater harvesting systems; facilitation of groundwater access and monitoring technologies; establishment of community-based early flood warning systems and management; creation of participatory planning platforms; adoption of adaptive agricultural practices; and utilization of tools such as board games to support and enhance stakeholder learning and engagement. These interventions were co-produced with local communities and embedded gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) principles. Engagement with decision-makers was integrated from the outset to support uptake and relevance.
Key recommendations:
- Prioritize people-centred infrastructure such as rainwater harvesting, shallow wells, and small-scale irrigation tailored to the needs of marginalized and climate-vulnerable communities.
- Support decentralized governance models and capacity building initiatives that empower local communities and authorities to co-manage water systems based on local priorities and knowledge.
- Mainstream GESI principles into decision-making processes and enable adaptive planning that connects local experiences with national planning.
- Enhance cooperation among Mekong countries through harmonized policies, facilitating transparent data sharing, and fostering meaningful community engagement in water resources management.
- Support regional platforms such as SUMERNET to facilitate co-production, policy engagement, and promote the uptake of evidence-based findings and inclusive research approaches.
Lwin, K.S., Saluja, R., Mandal, S., Lebel, L., Lebel, B., & Krittasudthacheewa, C. Interventions and pathways to reducing water insecurities in the Mekong Region: insights from SUMERNET 4 All (S4A) research. SEI report. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://doi.org/10.51414/sei2025.049
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SUMERNET 4 All: Engaging with water insecurity in the Mekong Region
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