Hanoi, Viet Nam, May 11, 2026 – The Mekong–Republic of Korea (RoK) Cooperation is leveraging regional collaboration to address shared legacy and environmental challenges that continue to shape the future of the Mekong region, beginning with a mine action project that will explore climate-adaptive and environmentally responsible approaches to clearing landmines and other explosive remnants of war (ERW). Funded under Call 9 of the Mekong-RoK Cooperation Fund (MKCF), the “Clearing the Past, Greening the Future in the Mekong Region (CPGFM)” project will be implemented by the Korea Institute for Development Strategy (KDS), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Viet Nam, and the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center (ARMAC).
At the project launch, KDS Vice President Mr. Hongmin Andrew Chun spoke about the importance of strong collaboration among partners to achieve the project’s objectives, including integrating sustainability into demining activities and broader regional mine action efforts.
Ms. Francesca Nardini, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Viet Nam, emphasized how the project works at the intersection of the legacy of explosive ordnance (EO) contamination and emerging climate risks, noting its importance in building safer and more resilient communities.
Ms. Han Younghee, Counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, commended the partnership and highlighted RoK’s continued support for regional cooperation in addressing shared development and resilience challenges while advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Mr. Madhurjya Kumar Dutta, Director of MKCF at the Mekong Institute (MI), emphasized the importance of partnership-based implementation and the need to ensure tangible, practical results that can be effectively used by stakeholders and communities.
EO contamination threatens community safety and limits land use, while climate change intensifies risks by increasing the frequency of floods and erosion that can displace unexploded ordnance (UXO). Demining activities may also cause environmental damage and GHG emissions if not carefully managed.
The CPGFM project, which will primarily be implemented in Viet Nam, Cambodia, and Lao PDR, aims to address these challenges by introducing sustainable practices into mine action. The project will strengthen risk-informed decision-making and enhance the capacities of national authorities, practitioners, and affected communities. It also seeks to promote regional cooperation and knowledge-sharing through partnerships with regional stakeholders, supporting coordinated implementation across the region.
For more information, please contact:
Mekong Institute
Email: [email protected]
