Project Description
The Mekong Delta Study was commissioned by Vietnam’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) with support from AusAID, in response to growing concerns about the downstream impacts of upstream Mekong mainstream hydropower developments. With over 20 million people dependent on the Delta for their livelihoods—alongside more than half of Vietnam’s rice and fruit production—the region is especially vulnerable to hydrological and ecological changes. The study was designed to generate comprehensive scientific knowledge to inform Vietnam’s position and policy responses to Mekong hydropower development.
Objectives, Activities and Results
The project aimed to fill critical knowledge gaps and enable evidence-based planning for the Mekong River Basin. ICEM was tasked with designing and managing the Delta Study and ensuring its adherence to international best practices. Key activities included securing Vietnamese government approval for the study’s terms of reference, methodology, budget, implementation schedule, and stakeholder engagement plan. ICEM also developed the Request for Proposals (RFP) documentation and presented findings on hydropower’s impacts on agriculture and fisheries at a Delta Roundtable. The study’s outputs will form the scientific basis for Vietnam’s policy decisions regarding Mekong River development and safeguard the future of the Mekong Delta.
