Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 31 August, 2016 —The Mekong River Commission and its Development Partners (donor governments and organisations), held their annual Informal Development Partner Meeting (IDM) in Phnom Penh Cambodia, to update each other on the progress made over the past year in the wide range of activities of the MRC.

It was the 14th IDM since the first meeting held in 2003, and an opportunity to revisit the plans for the upcoming year amid the ongoing institutional reform that includes a new funding mechanism.

Some of the topics for discussion included:

· The implementation of the MRC Basin Development Strategy, and the Strategic Plan for 2016-2020, and the preparation of the Annual Work Plan 2017
· The implementation of the MRC's new structure and the operation of the Basket Fund and Financial Management Information System
· The implementation of the MRC Procedures, including lessons learnt from the Prior Consultation process
· Progress on the Study on the Sustainable Management and Development of the Mekong River, including impacts of mainstream hydropower projects

The Development Partners issued a statement in which they praised the MRC's effort in the decentralisation of activities, development of climate change and adaptation initiatives, studies on sediment transport, the implementation of a Regional Master Plan for Waterborne Transportation, and the inclusion of stakeholder outreach in the strategic plan, among others.

The MRC has 14 development partners: Australia, Belgium, Denmark, the European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Luxembourg, The World Bank, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and the United States.

 

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