News and Activities

Phnom Penh, Cambodia | 19 June 2025 —With climate pressures rising and prolonged dry seasons becoming the new norm, Cambodia has officially launched two groundbreaking national strategies to tackle its most pressing water challenges.

Worldwide, Online | June 23, 2025 - The Global Water Partnership (GWP) in collaboration with United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) hosted a global webinar titled “Unveiling the World Drought Atlas: Risks, Pathways, and Regional Perspectives” on June 17, 2025, brought together experts from around the world to showcase the World Drought Atlas and discuss how drought affects different regions and how countries can better prepare for future risks.

Thalath, Vientiane Province Lao PDR | June 13, 2025 - The Lao People’s Democratic Republic took a decisive step forward in tackling water and climate challenges. A national stakeholder meeting brought together senior government officials, technical experts, and development partners to officially launch two vital strategic documents: The Preliminary Integrated Water Resources Management Action Plan 2026-2030 for (the) Lao PDR and Drought Management Framework in Laos.

Bali, Indonesia | June 4, 2025 — Water resource leaders from across Southeast Asia convened in Bali for the 25th ASEAN Working Group on Water Resources Management (AWGWRM) Meeting. The event featured an open consultation in collaboration with the UN Water Convention, focusing on advancing transboundary water cooperation in the region.

Putrajaya, Malaysia | June 3, 2025 – Malaysia hosted a landmark regional workshop titled “From the Source to the Sea: Operationalising the 2040 Agenda” at the Zenith Hotel in Putrajaya.

Chengdu, China | 15–23 May 2025 — Against rising global concern over climate-induced infrastructure challenges, the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) held its 93rd General Assembly and 26th Congress was held. The event gathered over a thousand global experts, policymakers, engineers, and practitioners to examine the future of water infrastructure in an increasingly unpredictable world.

Bangkok, April 9, 2025 - Southeast Asia is facing increasing water-related challenges as climate change intensifies. To address these risks, a regional workshop held in Bangkok, Thailand from 8 – 9 April 2025, brought together experts and leaders from Cambodia, Lao PDR, and beyond to strengthen water and drought risk management under a flagship Climate Risk & Early Warning Systems (CREWS) Initiative.

Jakarta, January 30, 2025 – The Center for Hydrology and Water Environment, Ministry of Public Works Indonesia, hosted an international webinar titled “Water Can’t Wait: Accelerating the Adoption of Innovations in the Water, Energy, and Food Security Nexus.” The hybrid event drew around 900 participants, both online and in person, including leading experts and policymakers.

Water, vital for sustaining life, is becoming increasingly scarce as global demand has surged tenfold over the past century. In Southeast Asia, ASEAN countries share 19 transboundary water resources, including surface and groundwater, most of which are managed bilaterally. The Mekong River Commission (MRC), formed by Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, aims to promote sustainable development, management, and conservation of the Mekong Basin. Despite growing cooperation, challenges remain, such as the lack of legal frameworks for managing shared aquifers and the absence of cooperation mechanisms beyond the Mekong region. Water diplomacy provides a vital approach, offering strategies to address disputes and foster joint water governance through political processes that extend beyond traditional water agreements.

In 2017 and 2020, the SDG 6.5.1 Survey Reporting was conducted, and a post-Survey Assessment of the results was carried out in 2021. One of the challenges in IWRM implementation identified through the assessment was the lack of IWRM understanding among various government stakeholders, as well as the private sector.