Project Description
The Mekong River Commission’s Climate Change and Adaptation Initiative (CCAI) aimed to enhance regional climate adaptation in the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB). As part of this effort, a Basin-Wide Assessment (BWA) was conducted to evaluate the impacts of climate change across seven critical components. ICEM was commissioned to deliver the seventh and final component—the Socio-Economic Vulnerability Assessment (SEVA)—to identify how climate change could impact communities, livelihoods, and socio-economic systems throughout the basin. The SEVA was informed by the preceding six components and used to support the formulation of the Mekong Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan (MASAP).
Objectives and Outcomes
SEVA applied a structured methodology based on proxy indicators to assess exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity, producing a comprehensive vulnerability index. This assessment provided a basin-wide analysis of where and how communities are most at risk, enabling targeted planning for adaptation interventions. Key outputs included a reproducible methodology, consolidated datasets, vulnerability maps, and a clearer understanding of the socio-economic pathways through which climate change may impact the LMB. The SEVA also delivered initial recommendations for adaptation priorities, contributing to national and regional efforts to build resilience in the Mekong River Basin.
