The Mekong Institute (MI) and the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 16 June 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand. The five-year agreement builds on a partnership established in 2018 and expands cooperation on climate resilience, transboundary water governance, and sustainable development in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS).

Since 2018, MI and SEI have collaborated on transboundary water initiatives, climate resilience programming, and knowledge exchanges through regional frameworks including the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC), the Sustainable Mekong Research Network (SUMERNET), the Strategic Collaborative Fund (SCF), and the Mekong Thought Leadership and Think Tanks (MTT) Network. Their most recent joint work, a research study on “Partnership Models for Nexus-Based Regional Cooperation,” examined integrated approaches across water, energy, food, environment, and economic development in the Mekong region.

“By combining MI’s strengths in regional integration and SEI’s expertise in sustainability science, we are building a partnership that is greater than the sum of its parts. This collaboration will serve as a catalyst for innovative solutions, shared learning, and impactful action across the GMS,” said Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn, MI’s Executive Director, during the signing ceremony in Bangkok.

The renewed MoU expands the scope of cooperation across seven areas: climate change adaptation and mitigation, including green economy and just energy transition; transboundary water and natural resources management; integrated nexus approaches linking climate, water, energy, food, and trade; nature-based solutions for climate resilience and disaster risk reduction; sustainable agriculture and climate-smart technologies; community-based research and capacity development; and other areas mutually agreed by both parties. The partnership also emphasises multi-stakeholder engagement across governments, academia, civil society, youth, the private sector, and regional cooperation mechanisms.

Through the MoU, MI and SEI reaffirm their commitment to generating knowledge, building capacities, and supporting evidence-informed decision-making for a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable Mekong Region.