The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), known for its rapid economic growth, faces significant challenges like poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation, which have been further intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. This situation underscores the importance of regional cooperation. Predominantly agricultural and home to numerous small-scale farmers, GMS faces challenges like food insecurity and the impacts of climate change.

Recent years have seen an increase in climate-related hazards like floods, droughts, and landslides. The Mekong River Commission reported significant economic losses and impacts on millions of people due to a severe dry spell in 2020. Predictions indicate temperature increases and more severe natural disasters in the future, including increased evapotranspiration and extreme temperatures, especially during the dry season. Sea-level rise, causing saline intrusion into freshwater sources, further aggravates these challenges. The agriculture sector is particularly vulnerable, with potential increases in floods and droughts threatening food security, crop yields, and livestock. Small farmers are especially at risk due to their reliance on rainfed agriculture and limited resources.

In response, Mekong countries have initiated various measures, including policy frameworks and strategic plans, to mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts. These include promoting water conservation, sustainable agricultural practices, and establishing research centers for climate-smart agriculture (CSA). CSA practices, focusing on productivity, resilience, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, have shown positive results in rebuilding ecosystems, sustainable agriculture, and water resource management. However, challenges like funding, knowledge transfer, and private sector participation remain in scaling up CSA strategies.

Addressing these gaps is crucial for wider adoption of CSA practices and enabling farmers to adapt more effectively to climate change. Within this context, the project aims to enhance the resilience of agricultural value chains in Lower Mekong Countries by ensuring that there are suitable and context-specific CSA approaches, capacitated technical manpower, accessible climate finance services, and increased collaboration among key actors in the value chain.