Policy Recommendations for Narrowing the Development Gap in ASEAN
As the newer members of ASEAN, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam (CLMV) consider deeper regional economic integration as a necessary and unavoidable process that will ultimately benefit them but will also present challenges. In this context, the key question for the CLMV countries is how they can catch up with the more advanced economies in the region given their limited resources and the limitations on their knowledge and practical experience. While advocating rapid and sustainable development in the longer term, the CLMV countries need to address several challenges inherent in their socio economic situation that may be magnified as ASEAN integration deepens. On the one hand, the CLMV countries are in the early stages of development and still experience a sizeable development gap with respect to ASEAN-6.2 On the other hand, the CLMV countries face a severe lack of institutional and financial capacity to properly address the impacts of adverse shocks. Finally, social structures with sizeable proportions of people living in or near poverty or in disadvantaged areas give rise to much concern over the sustainability of social stability, especially in the presence of shocks. In that context, ensuring both food security and effective social safety nets aimed at more sustainable development plays a critical role in ensuring more viable participation in the regional economic integration process.
The 5th CLMV Regional Conference focused on challenges related to the complexity of SDG 12 implementation in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Viet Nam and the Philippines. The conference took place on 26-27 March 2019 in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR. The event was co-organised by the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) and the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) with the cooperation of the Ministry of Planning of Lao PDR as a local host. This conference was the fifth regional event on the implementation of SDGs and was jointly delivered by ASEF, HSF and the governments of CLMV countries, under the Asia-Europe Environment Forum (ENV forum)
This report describes the biomonitoring survey conducted in the dry season of 2017 in the Lower Mekong Basin which contributes to the evaluation of the overall ecological health of the river. The objectives of the report are to (i) describe the biological indicator groups sampled during 2017; (ii) use this information to derive biological indicators for the sites examined in 2017; and (iii) use biometric indicators to evaluate these sites.
The strategy has been developed on the basis of the Integrated Water Resources Management-based Basin Development Strategy for the Lower Mekong Basin 2016-2020 in close collaboration with the four MRC Member Countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam). The five-year strategy focuses on inland capture fisheries, based on the national management and development policies, strategies and plans of Member Countries.
This report, presented through visuals and stories, depicts the efforts by the MRC over six years to transform dialogue to cooperation at the cross-boundary level. It provides accounts on how the Commission, through its Mekong Integrated Water Resources Management Project, has strengthened integrated water resources management in the lower Mekong basin via five different projects.
The Flood Management and Mitigation Programme
Component 2: Structural Measures & Flood Proofing in the Lower Mekong Basin