Project Description
The Sekong, Sesan, and Sre Pok (3S) basins—transboundary tributaries of the Mekong River—support the livelihoods of 3.5 million people across Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Rich in natural resources and economic potential, the 3S region is under increasing pressure from development driven by a “growth at all costs” paradigm. To improve sustainable planning and investment, a multi-phase project was implemented under the BRIDGE (Building River Dialogue and Governance) initiative, led by IUCN with ICEM and IWMI as partners. ICEM’s key role was to support the 3S Nexus assessment, focusing on the environmental and ecological analysis of past and projected development trends.
Objectives and Outcomes
The project aimed to improve planning quality by identifying trade-offs and risks across water, food, energy, and environment sectors. Stream 1 involved a detailed Nexus assessment that synthesized basin-wide data to highlight inter-sectoral linkages and risks. Stream 2 translated assessment findings into regional policy by training government officials and integrating results into planning processes. Stream 3 promoted regional water diplomacy through dialogues and academic engagement using the 3S basins as a case study. ICEM’s analysis provided a robust evidence base for sustainability-focused recommendations, contributing to greater regional cooperation and resilience to climate change.
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