Resilient Urban Centres and Surrounds (RUCaS)

Project Description
Urban areas in the Mekong region grew at a rapid pace of 3–5% annually, with projections showing over 40% of the population living in cities by 2030. While urbanization fueled economic development, it also intensified exposure to climate risks. Traditional reliance on grey infrastructure often failed to deliver sustainable outcomes for communities and ecosystems. The Resilient Urban Centres and Surrounds (RUCaS) program, financed by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), aimed to strengthen urban climate resilience through Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and integrated water management in Thailand, Viet Nam, Cambodia, and Lao PDR.

Objectives, Activities, and Results
The RUCaS program, led by ICEM and partners, sought to scale successful NbS practices from Thailand and Viet Nam and apply them in Cambodia and Lao PDR. The project engaged local stakeholders to identify priority actions and align opportunities for hybrid NbS investments. It demonstrated local applications and economic benefits of NbS, supported scaling efforts for broader regional impact, and strengthened institutional partnerships and capacities. Through this four-stage approach, RUCAS promoted sustainable urban planning models that integrated NbS, improved water resilience, and fostered long-term collaboration among urban authorities in the Mekong region.

 

Click here to visit our partner, Water Sensitive Cities Australia

client:
AusAID,DFAT
LOCATION:
Cambodia,Lao PDR,South East Asia,Thailand,Vietnam
TIME:
October 2022
to February 2025

TAGS

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Economics, Project description, Urban Resilence, Water
Cambodia, Lao PDR, South East Asia, Thailand, Vietnam
Completed Project

Publications

As part of the RUCaS project, case studies were developed for four countries, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Viet Nam, highlighting national experiences and lessons in resilient urban climate solutions. Click on each title below to read the full report.  

Case Studies

Cambodia Lao PDR Thailand Vietnam  

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