Mekong: the challenges of common management

The Mekong River is a common good and its fairly-shared management can be a source of peace and development. This delta is one the biggest water reservoirs in the world along with Amazonia. 80 million people directly or indirectly rely on this delta for their living. The Mekong’s efficient governance depends on the relations between the six countries sharing this regional main axis, through the Mekong River Commission (MRC). This commission not only deals with conflict resolution, arising from resources distribution, MRC also promotes a sustainable use of the river. With demographic needs and regional economic activities such as rice farming or hydropower production, more and more water is required. Fishing, which is also widespread in this region, undermines biodiversity. AFD has been supporting MRC since 2003, a unique cooperative space for basin countries.

© AFD2018