Mekong-Australia Partnership

The Mekong subregion (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam) matters to Australia. Australia is working with Mekong partners to tackle shared development challenges and promote a peaceful, stable and prosperous region.

The Mekong-Australia Partnership (MAP) promotes cooperation and responds to transboundary challenges to support a more resilient Mekong subregion.

Australia and the Mekong subregion have a history of more than 70 years of cooperation and deep connections through our people.

At the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in March 2024, the Minister for Foreign Affairs announced a $222.5 million second phase of MAP (2024-29).

This builds on the $232 million first phase of MAP launched in November 2020.

Photograph of two smiling women participating in a traditional bamboo weaving workshop, surrounded by workers in bright green uniforms. Bamboo strips, woven baskets, plastic buckets, and craft tools fill workshop, highlighting hands-on cultural craftsmanship and collaborative activity. — Minister Aly meeting workers of the Australian joint venture 'Vietnam Housewares Cooperation' in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, July, 2026. Image credit: DFAT

What Australia is offering

Transboundary challenges require regional cooperation and collective decision-making. Australia is investing in institutions that support local voices and promote sustainable development.

We work with established regional organisations, national governments and civil society organisations.

Through MAP we are working with Mekong partners to:

Improve water security and climate change resilience
Counter and disrupt transnational crime
Enhance the economic resilience of the subregion and subregional integration
Build leadership and skills through scholarships and short courses
Support inclusive development, including considerations of gender and disability

How we are working with the Mekong subregion

Providing an additional 30 Masters Australia Awards scholarships per year, masterclasses and targeted training and dialogues.
Enhancing regional cooperation on transboundary water issues through support to the Mekong River Commission.
Building technical capacity and collaboration between Australian Government agencies and Mekong counterparts to counter transnational crime, including illicit drugs, illicit financial flows and sexual exploitation of children.
Partnering with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research to support fish migration around hydropower dams and irrigation infrastructure.
Establishing of portfolio of six new and expanded NGO partnerships, focused on climate resilience and water security, that will protect livelihoods and empower local communities to adapt to a changing climate.
Supporting UN Women to expand gender responsive procurement programs from Thailand and Vietnam to Cambodia and Laos.
Strengthening public financial management in Cambodia and Laos.
Supporting the long-term goal of ASEAN economic integration and promoting consistent standards across ASEAN.

Countries, economies and regions

Stakeholder engagement

Development

Travel advice

International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate

Passports

24-hour consular emergency helpline

Visas

Southeast Asia

Mekong-Australia Partnership

What Australia is offering

How we are working with the Mekong subregion

Documents