Working Together for

a Sustainable Mekong

SUMERNET connects researchers, policymakers, and partners to generate knowledge, strengthen collaboration, and advance sustainable development across the Mekong Region and beyond.

» Sustainable Mekong Research Network

The 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 that are committed to the sustainable development, poverty alleviation, gender and social equality and the incorporation of a rights-based approach in natural resource management. During this phase of SUMERNET, the network will engage with other Southeast Asian countries beyond the Mekong Region to promote greater regional collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Launched in 2005, with continued 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 Phase 1 covered 2005–2009; Phase 2, 2010–2013; Phase 3, 2014–April 2018; and the present phase 2019–2028.

SUMERNET’s research themes in the past have included 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.

In this phase of SUMERNET 4 All we will focus on:

Reducing water insecurities for all, in particular, the poor, marginalized and socially vulnerable groups of women and men in the Mekong Region.

SUMERNET 4 All (S4A) has a mission “to improve the policies and practices in reducing water insecurity by conducting collaborative research, engaging in the policy process, and promoting scientifically sound research and innovation while considering gender and social equality, human rights, conflict sensitivity, environmental integrity and poverty reduction in the Mekong Region.”

S4A will continue working towards sustainable development of the Mekong Region by putting knowledge-based policy engagement at the heart of its activities.

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

With the focus on reducing water insecurity for all, the programme will continue its efforts, in conducting regionally-relevant research, capacity building in research and communications, engaging in the policy process, and promoting scientifically sound research and innovation while considering gender and social equality, human rights, conflict sensitivity, environmental integrity and poverty reduction in the Mekong Region, based on current strong partnerships, and fundraising, while seeking to expand its membership to include a diverse mix of institutions concerned with transboundary natural resources management.

The mission of addressing water insecurity is pertinent to the long-term success of SUMERNET 4 All. Water insecurity is defined as “not having the rights or access to sufficient water of adequate quality or being made increasingly vulnerable to unacceptable levels of water-related risks.”

Water insecurity has important implications for health and wellbeing, gender equality, as well as livelihoods, income generation and productivity. Water insecurity is multi-scale: spatially, it may be applied to individuals, households, communities, nations and region; temporally, it may refer to just a particular time of year or season with high risks, or it may apply to entire years or decades, in particular under impacts of climate change which are highly uncertain.

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

SUMERNET’s research themes in the past have included 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 are concepts of gender equality and mainstreaming.

In response to changing demands and policy debates in the Mekong Region, S4A will focus on three research themes: 1. Water access, rights & allocation in times of scarcity; 2. Governance and management of flood disaster risks; and, 3. Transboundary interactions with water systems. (Read more in the section on themes in the website.)

This “vision guide” presents an overview of SUMERNET (www.sumernet.org)– its origins and governance structure, background to the network, aims, key research areas, engagement with policy, and outreach products from the last 14 years since the network was established, and the focus in coming decade under SUMERNET 4 All or S4A (2019-2028).

This is an evolving document that will be revised regularly to reflect the needs and perspectives of the SUMERNET Steering Committee and the partners that form the network.

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

» SUMERNET Governance

sumernet governance chart

SUMERNET Network Member (SNM)

SUMERNET is a network consisting of members contributing to the progress of the network.

In SUMERNET 4 All, the programme aims to enhance the participation and influence of network members in the decision-making process within SUMERNET. The network is guided by SUMERNET Network Members (SNMs), who collectively deliberate on strategic issues that have implications for the whole network. The SNMs delegate their authority in taking strategic decisions to SUMERNET Steering Committee (SSC).

» Activities and Membership

With 70 institute members and a variety of strategies for implementation, SUMERNET undertakes a huge range of activities. Some are listed below – but get in touch if you have good ideas or other actions we can collaborate on:

  • Initiate and implement cross-border collaborative research projects
  • Apply the scientifically proven results and innovations in pilot areas
  • Implement the activities related to proposal development and dissemination of research findings to the policy and wider public through small grants
  • Build capacity through ongoing skills trainings, and investing resources to develop capacity of researchers in the region by incorporating mentoring support of research project teams
  • Convene and support assessments of the state of the knowledge on policy issues in the region
  • Raise awareness, build capacities and highlight the need for gender analysis of emerging environment and development trends in the region and subsequently create gender-responsive measures to mitigate adverse effects on socially vulnerable groups of women and men
  • Convene and join panels at policy and research events across the region
  • Publish comparative policy analyses on timely Mekong Region issues
  • Support dissemination of research findings through books, peer-reviewed journals, policy briefs, and the media
  • Facilitate coordination and networking for knowledge exchange and sharing, both within and outside of the SUMERNET network
  • Monitor and evaluate SUMERNET programmes implementation and achievements, to ensure increased network capacity and contributions to independent discourse on regional sustainable development issues.

You can apply to be a SUMERNET network member if you have not registered as network member yet using this link: SUMERNET Member Registration.

Benefits of SUMERNET Membership

The benefits of SUMERNET membership include the following:

  1. Being part of a growing and vibrant research network in the Mekong Region.
  2. Opportunity to participate and contribute to regional and international events (e.g. workshop, meeting, forum, conference) sponsored by SUMERNET.
  3. Regular access to information on research funding and the opportunity to apply for SUMERNET and also other grants.
  4. Opportunity to provide the inputs and influence relevant strategy or plan of SUMERNET activities.
  5. Inclusion in SUMERNET mailing list.
  6. Eligibility to explore the opportunities to contribute to the programme in the role as the advisors if appropriate; and,
  7. Eligibility to apply, nominate and elect candidates to become members of the SUMERNET Steering Committee

» Steering Committee

SSC membership is drawn from network members and all Mekong riparian countries will be represented within the SSC. The SSC provides independent scientific advice and strategic oversight of SUMERNET. The SSC focusses on program planning and prioritization, science quality and strategic advice, partnership and impact issues.

» Secretariat

It provides the day-to-day management, coordination and technical support to the network under the direction of the SSC. Hosted by SEI in Asia, it supports SUMERNET through its four components of SUMERNET 4 All: 1. Multi-stakeholder engagement. 2. Research for policy and practices. 3. Communications. 4. Effective management, network sustainability, and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E).

» Environment Policy

SUMERNET 4 All is presently drafting an “Environmental Policy for Researchers” that will be finalized and available on this website soon. Below are some excerpts from the latest version.

What is it?

SUMERNET is committed to the principles of environmental sustainability and the protection of the environment in all our activities. In this phase of SUMERNET 4 All, we are introducing an “Environmental Policy” that sets out measures by which the 15 selected research projects integrate environmental perspectives in their research and project activities and take actionable steps to make their activities more “environment-friendly”.

Purpose of this policy

S4A aims to a. make researchers become more aware of, and attempt to minimize, the negative impacts of research projects and activities on the environment b. reduce our contribution to pollution (air, water and CO2) c. improve our efficiency in the use of natural resources (e.g. energy, water, or paper).

S4A aims for continuous improvement to minimize the negative environmental impacts from all our activities through reducing consumption, saving energy or making energy-use more efficient, and minimizing waste and pollution.

The policy identifies simple steps for greening your practices in conducting research, for example in the areas of waste or energy savings and CO2 emissions, and how to become aware of the impact of your actions on the environment.

By following this policy, S4A expects that researchers will become more aware of the environmental choices made when undertaking the research project: how do you plan projects, what kind of activities do you undertake or to collaborate that may be wasteful of energy (airconditioned hotel rooms), or polluting of the environment (disposable plastic for water and food). How – and how often – you travel, and the means of travel that could help minimize environmental impacts.

  • Reduce water use; ensure water is not wasted and improve water conservation in research activities and events.
  • Reduce or eliminate use of single-use, disposable plastic: plastic water bottles, plastic bags, straws, coffee stirrers, soda and water bottles and food packaging. Use reusable bottles and glasses (without straws) for drinking water at events.
  • For village meetings or research activities, ensure to purchase local food from villagers and local vegetable gardens. Supporting local farmers can not only reduce plastic use but also help reduce transport of food and the associated carbon emissions.
  • Waste disposal: ensure waste is separated into reusable (bottles, cups) and biodegradable (food and vegetable waste). During your field work, explore if local farms can make use of the biodegradable waste in their gardens and fields.
  • Catering at events: Consider more vegetarian options as a way to reduce meat consumption and related carbon emissions.
  • For meetings held at large hotels, seek hotels that have an environmental policy and are demonstrably keen to conserve water and energy.
  • Try to improve energy efficiency in your event meeting rooms and accomodation: air-conditioning is extremely energy-intensive. Keeping the thermostat between 22-25 degrees C is a simple way to save energy and reduce power consumption at hotel events.
  • Travel: Air travel is the worst emitter of carbon emissions. Reduce air travel. If you need to fly to distant events, seek to maximize opportunities for interaction. Arrange for skype or online meetings as much as possible to eliminate air travel. Try to make sensible choices about flying to events: for example, maybe the organizers require you to fly a large distance just for a quick 20-minute presentation. See if it’s possible to arrange an online presentation.
  • Use public travel as much as possible for local transport when doing research.
  • Try to implement measures in your own office, or department in the University or research institution towards reducing plastic, and waste in energy, food and water consumption.
  • Help to raise awareness about environmental sustainability in research work and these suggested actions among your research colleagues, project partners, and colleagues.

How do you know you’re being effective? Keep a weekly or monthly record if possible of the above activities. How many were possible to be achieved? Take note of where and when it was not possible, check if further measures can be taken for improvement at the next opportunity. Have continuous conversations with your colleagues on these topics and how to improve attitudes and behavior towards the environment.

S4A environmental policy seeks to build greater awareness of our choices that affect the environment. The more closely we can watch our own actions, the more improvements can be made over the long term towards achieving genuine environmental sustainability in our research projects and activities.

» Contact

Collaborating with us

SUMERNET is open to organizations and individuals with an interest in contributing to sustainable development in the Mekong Region through knowledge-based policy engagement.

We welcome partners to serve in different capacities and participate in various activities, e.g. research project implementation, knowledge exchange and sharing, capacity building and mentorship, financial support, joint publications, and contributing to policy debates and public forums.

  • +66 2 073 0040

  • [email protected]

  • 10th Floor,
    Kasem Uttayanin Building,
    254 Chulalongkorn University,
    Henri Dunant Road,
    Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330 Thailand