Beijing, April 26, 2018: A regional consultation for full proposal development of the project “Mekong EbA South: Enhancing Climate Resilience in the Greater Mekong Sub-region through Ecosystem-based Adaptation in the Context of South-South Cooperation” was organized in Beijing, China. The proposed project’s overall objective is to reduce vulnerability to climate change in the Greater Mekong Sub-region, with demonstration of climate change adaptation interventions, including Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA), focusing on drought and flood management in Thailand and Vietnam. South-South Cooperation is a highlight of the project and it will be facilitated mainly through technical cooperation and knowledge exchange. In particular, China, as a country in the upper part of the Lancnag-Mekong River, will play a key role in the South-South linkages potentially through the institutions such as the Chinese Ecosystem Research Network (CERN) on long-term ecosystem monitoring.

The workshop was organised by the United Nations Environment Programme – International Ecosystem Management Partnership (UNEP-IEMP). The proposal aims to seek funding from the Adaptation Fund, with the UN Environment as the Implementing Entity and UNEP-IEMP to lead the implementation of regional components related to regional knowledge sharing and regional cooperation, including roles of Chinese institutions in South-South Cooperation. The concept proposal was endorsed at the 30th meeting of the Adaptation Fund Board in October 2017.

The workshop participants consisted of representatives from the Mekong countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam), Lancang-Mekong Environmental Cooperation Center, UNEP-IEMP and UN Environment Headquarters. Its objectives were to introduce the project overview, background and latest status on the full proposal development; and to discuss on the design of the regional components for benefits of individual country and the region as a whole. The workshop was very fruitful in discussions and advice on finalizing the regional component design as well as implementation arrangements. The participants actively shared their valuable ideas from both national and regional perspectives on, for instance, upscaling EbA, gaps in EbA mainstreaming, potential knowledge and policy platforms, as well as resources and cooperation with Chinese-based organizations.

At the end of the workshop, representatives from UN Environment Headquarters expressed high appreciation to the participants for their support in the proposal development process and active contributions at the workshop. The full proposal will be submitted at the next submission round in August 2018.

About UNEP-IEMP

The United Nations Environment Programme – International Ecosystem Management Partnership (UNEP-IEMP), hosted by the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, is the first UN Environment Collaborating Centre in the South and for the South. It is a joint venture between UN Environment and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, supported by the Government of China. Since its inception in 2011, the Centre has been at the forefront of mobilizing science to support policy setting for sustainable ecosystem management in developing countries. It promotes integrated approach for 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and Pairs Climate Agreement through the ‘Climate, Ecosystem and Livelihoods’ flagship programme. The Greater Mekong Sub-region is one of UNEP-IEMP`s focal regions.