Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 2026 – Twenty-eight (28) youth representatives from Phnom Penh and three other provinces in Cambodia gained new artificial intelligence (AI) skills to support evidence-based advocacy, communication campaigns, and informed decision-making through the “AI for Advocacy” training organized by Passerelles Numériques Cambodia (PNC), in partnership with Plan International Cambodia and co-supported by the Mekong Institute (MI). The training formed part of the implementation of an action plan committed by Cambodian alumni of a previous MI-led regional program on AI-enabled digital transformation for cities and institutions.

Ms. Guohua Liu, Director of MI’s Sectoral Development and Integration (SDI) Department, shared that the training translated the knowledge and skills gained through the regional program into practical action at the national level, demonstrating how regional capacity development can generate meaningful local impact.

“This reflects the commitment of participating institutions to implementing their action plans and sharing the knowledge they gained through their own training,” said Ms. Liu. “We also take pride in seeing this program reach young leaders, equipping them with practical AI knowledge and advocacy skills that they can apply in their own communities.”

Participants explored how AI can strengthen evidence-based advocacy while promoting responsible and ethical AI use. The training focused on three key objectives: translating complex AI concepts into practical and localized advocacy approaches; mitigating risks such as algorithmic bias, misinformation, and digital manipulation; and empowering youth to develop evidence-based counter-narratives that effectively engage local communities.

Through interactive discussions, practical exercises, and collaborative learning, participants gained hands-on experience in applying AI tools to enhance communication strategies and support informed decision-making. The training also encouraged participants to critically assess both the opportunities and challenges associated with AI adoption, emphasizing responsible innovation, digital ethics, and inclusive participation.

“By empowering youth advocates with practical AI competencies, the program contributes to digital literacy, civic engagement, and innovation capacity among Cambodia’s next generation of leaders,” Ms. Liu added.

The initiative forms part of a broader regional effort to promote AI-enabled digital transformation across the Lancang–Mekong countries, fostering collaboration among governments, civil society, academia, and development partners to accelerate inclusive and sustainable digital development.

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🎥 Want to hear directly from the participants? Watch our latest video, Empowering Cambodia’s Next Generation: How AI is Transforming Youth Entrepreneurship, and discover how young Cambodians are applying AI skills to strengthen entrepreneurship, communication, and community engagement—helping shape a more innovative, inclusive, and digitally empowered future via this link: www.youtu.be/Sbc5fv2rUTs

Following their participation in the Mekong Institute (MI)-led regional training on AI-enabled digital transformation for cities and institutions, Myanmar alumni rolled out their own AI education and awareness activities to help others build the same skills they gained. In partnership with the Myanmar Women Entrepreneurs Association (MWEA) and co-supported by MI, the Myanmar alumni group reached nearly 200 additional participants, multiplying the program’s beneficiaries exponentially through both onsite and hybrid sessions.

The “Advancing Ethical AI through Education and Responsible Innovation Frameworks in Myanmar” action plan was committed by Myanmar alumni following their MI training. Ms. Guohua Liu, Director of MI’s Sectoral Development and Integration (SDI) Department, explained that the action plan translated their regional learning into practical national implementation by promoting responsible AI adoption across education, research, business, and public institutions.

“The activities under this action plan focused on equipping participants with practical AI knowledge while emphasizing ethical governance, digital literacy, and responsible innovation to support Myanmar’s digital transformation journey,” said Ms. Liu.

Implemented from June to July 2026, the action plan consisted of two activities. The first was an onsite AI Awareness Training, which brought together 140 participants to explore practical AI applications, ethical considerations, and cybersecurity awareness, among other topics. It featured expert presentations and interactive practical sessions that enhanced participants’ understanding of responsible AI adoption in education, business, and public institutions.

The second activity, a Hybrid AI Awareness Campaign Workshop, engaged 53 participants through interactive community outreach. The campaign introduced practical examples of AI applications in everyday life while highlighting important issues such as algorithmic bias, misinformation, privacy protection, and digital ethics.

The Myanmar group’s action plan sought to strengthen practical AI competencies and encourage the integration of ethical AI principles into education and institutional practices. The activities also fostered greater awareness of AI opportunities while equipping participants with the ability to recognize and manage emerging digital risks.

MI commended the implementation of the action plan for helping lay the foundation for responsible AI practices in Myanmar and contributing to MI’s broader goal of advancing AI-enabled digital transformation across the Lancang–Mekong countries.

Vang Vieng, Lao PDR, 1 July 2026 — Fourteen representatives from the Ministry of Health of Lao PDR, Mekong Institute (MI), Fuwai Hospital (Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences), participating hospitals, and implementing partners convened for the first Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Meeting of the Mekong Children’s Heart Care (MCHC) Project, marking the project’s first formal review since its launch in 2025. 

The meeting reviewed implementation progress, assessed key challenges, and endorsed a work plan for the next phase of the project. The agreed priorities focus on expanding access to pediatric cardiac care, improving referral and follow-up systems, and advancing long-term health system capacity in Lao PDR. 

To date, more than 8,200 children have been screened across two of the project’s four target provinces in Lao PDR, keeping the project on track to achieve its target of screening at least 10,000 children across all four target provinces by the end of 2026. 

The endorsed work plan prioritizes completing screening activities in the remaining target provinces, expanding outreach to remote and underserved communities, increasing community awareness to improve parental consent and treatment uptake, and enhancing the clinical capacity of Lao healthcare professionals through continued mentorship, technical exchanges, and knowledge sharing with Fuwai Hospital. Together, these efforts will help build a more resilient and sustainable pediatric cardiac care system in Lao PDR. 

Dr. Daodouangchan Oudommavong, Deputy Director of Cabinet, Ministry of Health of Lao PDR, said: 

“The first Monitoring and Evaluation Meeting provides an important opportunity to review progress, identify practical solutions to implementation challenges, and strengthen our collective efforts to improve children’s health. Through this partnership, we are expanding access to early screening and treatment while enhancing the expertise of Lao healthcare professionals to deliver specialized pediatric cardiac care in Lao PDR.” 

Ms. Guohua Liu, Director of the Sectoral Development and Integration Department at MI and Project Director of the MCHC Project, said: 

“The progress achieved over the past year reflects the strong commitment of all partners. The priorities agreed during this meeting provide a clear roadmap for implementation, enabling us to reach more children and laying the foundation for sustainable, high-quality pediatric cardiac care in Lao PDR.” 

Participants also identified areas requiring continued attention, particularly the relatively low rate of parental consent for follow-up diagnosis and treatment. To address this challenge, partners agreed to strengthen communication with families, improve coordination among implementing agencies to increase referral and treatment uptake, reinforce project monitoring, and identify additional eligible children through existing healthcare networks to maximize access to life-saving care. 

The meeting concluded with partners reaffirming their commitment to implementing the agreed work plan, deepening collaboration, and delivering measurable health outcomes for children and families across Lao PDR. 

Supported by the Government of China through the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, the Mekong Children’s Heart Care Project advances sustainable health development through South–South cooperation. The initiative contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). 

Application Deadline: 17 July 2026

Mekong Institute (MI), in partnership with the Asia-Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA), is pleased to announce the opening of applications for the Regional Training on Green Bond Readiness for Nexus-based Agri-Food Systems, to be held from 3–5 August 2026.

As countries across the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) and the Asia-Pacific accelerate the transition toward climate-resilient and sustainable agri-food systems, access to innovative financing has become increasingly important. Green bonds and other sustainable finance instruments offer significant opportunities to mobilize long-term investment for climate-smart agriculture, water management, renewable energy, and resilient food systems. However, many institutions continue to face challenges in developing bankable projects and applying green finance principles effectively.

This three-day regional training is designed to strengthen the capacity of financial institutions, government agencies, regulators, development partners, and agri-food stakeholders to design, assess, and advance green bond-ready investment concepts that support nexus-based agri-food transformation. Participants will gain practical knowledge of green bond frameworks, project pipeline development, ESG safeguards, impact measurement, and investor expectations through technical sessions, case studies, group exercises, project clinics, and peer learning.
The training is intended for professionals from:

• Agricultural development banks, commercial banks, rural finance institutions, and microfinance institutions;
• Government agencies responsible for agriculture, environment, finance, planning, water resources, energy, trade, and rural development;
• Central banks and financial regulators;
• Development organizations and technical agencies;
• Farmer organizations, cooperatives, agri-SMEs, and value chain platforms; and
• Organizations working on sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, climate resilience, and green finance.

Full Scholarships Available

A limited number of full training scholarships are available for eligible government officials and representatives of farmers’ cooperatives and smallholder networks from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

The scholarship covers:

• International airfare
• Accommodation
• Airport transfers
• Training materials
• Meals during the training
• Related programme activities

Apply Now

Interested applicants are invited to submit their applications no later than 17 July 2026. For more details, see the Concept Note here.

Application Form: www.shorturl.at/PvXJp

For further information, please contact:

Mekong Institute

• Ms. Claudine Dayo — claudine@mekonginstitute.org
• Dr. Orn-uma Polpanich — Ornuma@mekonginstitute.org

We encourage qualified professionals from across the region to apply and join this unique learning opportunity to advance sustainable finance and accelerate climate-resilient agri-food transformation across the Greater Mekong Subregion and beyond.

Bangkok, Thailand | June 29, 2026 — The Mekong Institute (MI), as Fund Manager of the Mekong–Republic of Korea Cooperation Fund (MKCF), presented the Fund’s implementation progress and strategic priorities at the Mekong–Republic of Korea Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM), held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand on 29 June 2026. The update enabled Senior Officials to review the Fund’s performance and ongoing implementation in support of sustainable regional cooperation.

Representing MI, Mr. Madhurjya K. Dutta, Director of Special Projects and Resource Mobilization and Director of the MKCF, briefed Senior Officials on the Fund’s achievements, financial performance, project portfolio, and implementation progress. The presentation provided Senior Officials with a comprehensive update on the Fund’s achievements, financial performance, project portfolio, and strategic priorities, reaffirming the continued commitment of the Mekong countries and the ROK to strengthening regional cooperation through the MKCF.

Since its establishment, ROK has contributed USD 40.66 million to the Fund between 2014 and 2025. To date, the MKCF has approved projects totaling USD 39.24 million, with USD 24.26 million already disbursed to support regional initiatives across the Mekong subregion.

As Fund Manager, MI continues to oversee the implementation of the MKCF portfolio, supporting project quality, accountability, and regional impact. The Fund currently invests across seven priority sectors, with the largest allocations directed toward rural agriculture and rural development, human resource development, and environmental sustainability. To date, 37 regional projects have been successfully completed, while 41 projects are under implementation, delivering tangible benefits to communities across Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam, and through broader regional partnerships.

The meeting also acknowledged the successful completion of the Ninth Call for Proposals, through which 17 regional projects with a combined value of USD 10.3 million were approved. These projects support priority areas including agriculture, human resource development, environmental sustainability, non-traditional security, infrastructure, and information and communication technology, reflecting the Fund’s continued responsiveness to emerging regional development needs.

Senior Officials reviewed implementation challenges affecting project delivery, including administrative procedures, recruitment processes, local regulatory requirements, and delays resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussions underscored the importance of strengthening project management, enhancing monitoring and evaluation systems, promoting sustainability, and ensuring balanced investments across the Fund’s priority sectors.

A key milestone highlighted during the meeting was the operationalization of the MKCF Project Office in Bangkok, which will serve as the Fund’s regional coordination hub. The new office is expected to further strengthen project implementation, stakeholder engagement, knowledge sharing, monitoring, and collaboration among Mekong countries and the Republic of Korea.

The discussions reaffirmed the continued commitment of the Mekong countries and the ROK to strengthening the effectiveness and impact of the MKCF. Through its role as Fund Manager, MI will continue working closely with participating governments and development partners to ensure the Fund delivers high-quality, innovative, and impactful regional projects that advance sustainable development, regional connectivity, and shared prosperity.

About the Mekong–Republic of Korea Cooperation Fund (MKCF)

The Mekong–Republic of Korea Cooperation Fund (MKCF) supports regional cooperation initiatives that promote sustainable development, economic resilience, human resource development, environmental sustainability, innovation, and connectivity across the Mekong subregion. Managed by the Mekong Institute, the Fund serves as a flagship mechanism for implementing the priorities of Mekong–ROK cooperation and strengthening partnerships for inclusive regional development.

Khon Kaen, Thailand, 26 June 2026 – The Mekong Institute (MI) and Khon Kaen University’s (KKU) College of Local Administration (COLA) are helping Thailand’s public sector become smarter by introducing local government institutions to artificial intelligence (AI) and digital solutions. The workshop, “Smart Local Government: Enhancing Efficiency with AI and Vibe Coding,” gathered 50 participants from local government organizations, academic institutions, and partner agencies across Khon Kaen and neighboring provinces to explore practical applications of AI, workflow improvement methodologies, and digital innovation tools to enhance operational efficiency and deliver more responsive public services.

Held at MI’s Residential Training Center in Khon Kaen, the workshop was part of an action plan developed by Thai participants under a previous Lancang-Mekong Region training on AI-enabled digital transformation for cities and institutions. Implementing the workshop was an opportunity to translate knowledge gained through the regional training into practical action at the local level, demonstrating how regional cooperation can generate tangible outcomes for public institutions.

Ms. Guohua Liu, Director of MI’s Sectoral Development and Integration (SDI) Department, highlighted during the workshop’s opening program the importance of transforming regional knowledge into practical local action. “AI is no longer a technology reserved for specialists but has become an accessible tool that can help local governments improve productivity, simplify routine processes, and strengthen citizen-centered public services,” said Ms. Liu.

An expert in AI and digital transformation, COLA Assistant Professor Dr. Krisada Prachumrasee facilitated the workshop’s technical sessions, which adopted an interactive, hands-on, and collaborative approach to learning. Using swimlane diagrams and Mermaid Chart, participants conducted workflow analysis exercises to visualize and improve organizational processes. This highlighted the importance of redesigning workflows and strengthening operational efficiency as a foundation for successful digital transformation and AI adoption.

An introduction to the latest AI developments included emerging AI technologies, responsible AI adoption, digital immunity, cybersecurity awareness, and data governance in the public sector. This provided participants with a foundation for understanding both the opportunities and responsibilities associated with AI implementation.

A key session was on Vibe Coding, an emerging AI-assisted development approach that enables users to create digital applications using natural language prompts instead of conventional programming. Through live demonstrations and guided practice, participants experienced how AI can assist in generating application prototypes, automating repetitive administrative tasks, and accelerating digital solution development without requiring advanced coding expertise.

The workshop concluded with a hackathon, where participants worked in teams and used Vibe Coding to develop prototype solutions addressing real operational challenges within their organizations.