Key stakeholders from across the development sector in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) convened in Bangkok, Thailand for a consultation on more effective collaboration approaches in response to evolving regional needs and mounting environmental and geopolitical pressures. Held on March 11-12, 2026, the regional meeting was organized by the Mekong Institute (MI), with support from the Government of the United Kingdom (UK) through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), to inform two related research streams on nexus approaches and partnership models ahead of this year’s Mekong Forum.
Opening the one-and-a-half-day session, Mr. Matthew Phillips, First Secretary, British Embassy Bangkok, shared that the UK is committed to developing meaningful partnerships in the GMS—ones focused on resilience, transparency, and genuine cooperation. “We are clearly living in a world that is increasingly unsettled. The crises are no longer contained. They ripple, they cascade, and they converge. In such a world, it is clear that we cannot rely on the same tools to solve today’s challenges. We need new coalitions, new solutions, new approaches that recognize the complexity of the world as it actually is, not as we would like it to be.”
Building on these remarks, MI Executive Director Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn stressed that responding to today’s challenges requires greater synergy and closer alignment among stakeholders, and shifting the focus from activities to results. He further noted that achieving tangible benefits for communities depends on effectively translating regional and national policies into implementation.
“Things are not always linear or straightforward,” said Mr. Suriyan, acknowledging the complexities of implementation and the need for flexibility and coordination. “What we see, then, is the need for a new way of working together. We may not be able to act together all the time, but what can bring us in the same direction—toward a common goal—are two key concepts: nexus and partnership. We hope that nexus, supported by partnership, can serve as an approach to better translate policy into implementation.”
Marking its 30th anniversary in 2026 and guided by its 2026–2030 Strategic Framework, MI is pursuing more efficient, integrated, and results-oriented ways of delivering development interventions. To this end, it partnered with the Mekong Region Futures Institute (MERFI) to research nexus approaches and with the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) to study relevant partnership models. Initial findings from these UK-funded studies were presented during the consultation, attended by over 60 representatives from GMS governments, development partners, academia, and other regional organizations.
Addressing trade-offs
To achieve better development outcomes, initial findings from the nexus research suggest moving away from optimizing within individual sectors and instead focusing on optimizing across sectors and borders, which requires a fundamentally different way of working. Dr. Alex Smajgl, consultant for the nexus study and Managing Director of MERFI, an evidence-based policy and planning research institute, explained that nexus thinking is essentially about understanding and managing what happens between sectors, particularly the trade-offs and synergies that traditional approaches tend to overlook.
“For decades, we supported decision-making, planning, and investments within ministries, and that worked well. But over time, problems began to emerge in the form of trade-offs, where investments in one sector created unintended side effects in others, and we could no longer afford to operate in these silos,” said Dr. Smajgl during his presentation.
He added that an estimated potential economic gain of USD 50 billion per year across the GMS could be generated by better managing trade-offs between sectors. Specific areas where the nexus approach could help include transboundary haze, mining-related heavy metal pollution, and changes in water systems, which, together with agricultural expansion and ecosystem disruption, are increasing contact between people and wildlife and raising the risk of diseases spreading from animals to humans.
Across the countries consulted, stakeholders consistently emphasized the need for more data on emerging issues such as haze and heavy metal pollution, much of which is currently lacking. Data sharing remains a major challenge, not only between countries but also across sectors within countries, where institutional barriers limit access and coordination. Although there is strong technical understanding of cross-sector trade-offs and nexus thinking, this knowledge is often not reflected at higher decision-making levels, constraining resource mobilization and effective coordination. Stakeholders also saw these challenges as opportunities to enhance engagement across sectors and strengthen coordination at both national and regional levels.
Working together for inclusive benefits
With development resources steadily shrinking, the consultation highlighted the urgent need for better ways of working together. Dr. Chayanis Krittasudthacheewa, partnership research team lead and Deputy Director of SEI Asia, an international research institute on climate and sustainability, emphasized that regional partners should leverage their comparative advantages, knowledge, and connections to achieve tangible development outcomes and address the challenges faced by people on the ground. “We need to promote inclusive and multi-stakeholder engagement and partnerships to ensure that when it comes to decision-making and joint initiatives, we engage with different groups—not only those who have power, but also those who face government consequences, like communities and civil society,” she said.
Complementing the nexus study, the partnership research examined models in the GMS, their strengths, and how they tackle cross-sector challenges. At least six partnership types were assessed using metrics including economic, social, and environmental contributions, institutional capacity, financial viability, and nexus focus. Early findings highlighted challenges such as limited coordination, insufficient engagement of civil society and private sector actors, competing priorities, and the need for long-term sustainability.
The research also identified early opportunities for regional organizations like MI, including defining a regional research agenda focused on the nexus and cross-sector collaboration and promoting long-term, coordinated initiatives over short-term or ad hoc projects. “MI can play a facilitating role because it has connections with all regional cooperation mechanisms…to engage civil society in a meaningful way and ensure inclusive engagement in dialogue and joint initiatives,” Dr. Chayanis said.
Only the tip of the iceberg
The consultation provided participants with an opportunity to validate the initial findings of the two research studies and offer feedback to inform the development of strategic, evidence-based recommendations and future regional cooperation. Breakout sessions and interactive workshop activities facilitated close discussion with the consultants, while a poster gallery summarized information and insights on nexus and partnership. The event also created ample networking opportunities, allowing exploratory discussions on potential next steps. A panel dialogue on the second day further examined pathways to turn these initial ideas into concrete actions.
Closing the consultation, Mr. Suriyan noted that stakeholders are only scratching the surface of the challenges—“the tip of the iceberg”—but he was encouraged by participants’ enthusiasm to continue follow-up conversations and build connections to advance key takeaways. “Once ideas and commitment are there, resources will normally find a way. This workshop shows we are not working alone—we are co-investing in shaping a shared future and continuing to advance partnerships across the region,” he said.
The final studies, including recommendations, are being finalized, and will be presented and discussed further at the Mekong Forum 2026 in July under the theme “People, Partnership, Progress: Powering GMS Development through Nexus Solutions,” where scalable nexus pilots are also set to take the spotlight.
