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.

Australia is a trusted and reliable partner – we will face current and future challenges together with our neighbours and partners. Australia and the Mekong subregion have a strong history of cooperation and deep connections through our people.

The $232 million first phase of the Mekong-Australia Partnership (MAP) was launched in November 2020 to bolster the subregion's resilience and support inclusive, sustainable growth.

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).

What Australia can offer

MAP responds to shared regional and transboundary challenges, and emerging needs. It supports locally-led activities. Australia engages pragmatically and flexibly in support of the subregion's priorities and where Australia can add value.

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

Sharing knowledge and skills in the Mekong subregion

Australia is strengthening Mekong resilience, development and integration. MAP works alongside Australia's other bilateral and regional programs in Southeast Asia, including Partnerships for Infrastructure, Climate Resilient Communities and the Southeast Asia Government-to-Government Program and with other development partners, including multilateral and civil society organisations.

MAP works together with partners to support regional architecture, including ASEAN and subregional bodies such as the Mekong River Commission (MRC) and ACMECS (Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy).

How we're working with the Mekong subregion

• Providing an additional 30 Masters scholarships per year, masterclasses and targeted training and dialogues.
• Enhancing regional cooperation on transboundary water issues through support to the Mekong River Commission (MRC).
• Building technical capacity and collaboration between Australia and Mekong partners to counter illicit drugs, illicit financial flows and sexual exploitation of children.
• Partnering with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) 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 and supporting domestic resource mobilisation with Cambodia and Laos.
• Supporting the long-term goal of ASEAN economic integration and promoting consistent standards across ASEAN.

Documents 

• 2024 Mekong-Australia Partnership Annual Report
• 2023 Mekong-Australia Partnership Annual Report
• Mekong-Australia Partnership Phase 2: Portfolio Design Framework
   
• Mekong-Australia Partnership - Key results for the period from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022 [PDF 524 KB]
• Mekong-Australia Partnership - Key results for the period from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022 [DOCX 32 KB]
   
• Mekong-Australia Partnership factsheet [PDF 1 MB]
• Mekong-Australia Partnership factsheet [DOCX 3.9 MB]