Interventions and Pathways to Reducing Water Insecurities in the Mekong Region: Insights From SUMERNET 4 All (S4A) Research

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