MRC and Government of Japan Launch New Project to Strengthen Water Quality Management in the Lower Mekong Basin

Vientiane, Lao PDR, 10 February 2026 - The Mekong River Commission (MRC) and the Government of Japan have signed an agreement to launch the Project on Strengthening Water Quality Management in the Lower Mekong Basin Project, supported by Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA).

Under the agreement, the Government of Japan will provide a grant of ¥424,000,000 (approximately USD 2.7 million) to support the MRC and its Member Countries - Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Viet Nam - in strengthening basin-wide cooperation on water quality management. The project places particular emphasis on water quality emergency response, in line with the MRC Strategic Plan 2026-2030.

The project responds to emerging water quality concerns in transboundary areas across the Lower Mekong Basin. It highlights the growing need for harmonised monitoring, timely advisories, and coordinated mitigation measures to manage water quality risks that can affect communities, ecosystems, and livelihoods across borders.

Key project components

• Joint Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment (JWQMA): This component focuses on strengthening joint water and sediment monitoring and producing shared, evidence-based assessments. These efforts will help improve understanding of water quality risks in priority transboundary areas and support informed, collective decision-making.
• Monitoring System Strengthening and Decision Support: The project will enhance monitoring systems, data sharing, and decision-support tools to improve early warning, advisories, and coordinated responses to water quality incidents.
• Capacity, Community, and Communications: This component aims to build capacity at national and community levels through training and technical support, while strengthening risk communication. It will also promote linkages with community-based reporting mechanisms and digital tools to ensure timely information reaches both authorities and the public.

The new Agreement was signed between Ms. Busadee Santipitaks, CEO of the MRC Secretariat and H.E. Koizumi Tsutomu, Ambassador of Japan to the Lao PDR, at the MRC Secretariat Headquarters. Through this partnership, the MRC and the Government of Japan reaffirm their shared commitment to protecting water quality in the Lower Mekong Basin and supporting stronger regional cooperation for sustainable and resilient water resources management.

About the Mekong River Commission

The MRC is an intergovernmental organisation established in 1995 to boost regional dialogue and cooperation in the Lower Mekong River Basin. Based on the Mekong Agreement among Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Viet Nam, the MRC serves as both a regional platform for water diplomacy and a knowledge hub - to manage water resources and support sustainable development of the region.

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For more information, please contact:

Ms. MAO Chandaly
Communications Officer for Press
Mekong River Commission Secretariat
Email: [email protected]