SEI and the Office of the National Water Resources of the Kingdom of Thailand (ONWR) has signed a five-year agreement to strengthen Mekong Region water governance. It will advance collaborative efforts in addressing critical water and natural resource challenges in the region.
Måns Nilsson, Executive Director for SEI and Dr. Surasri Kidtimonton, Secretary General of the Office of the National Water resources, Thailand.
SEI / Ulrka Lamberth
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will facilitate collaboration between the two institutions: the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), an international non-profit research institute that tackles climate, environment and sustainable development challenges, and the ONWR, Thailand’s central body responsible for formulating and evaluating national water resources management policies, strategies and master plans.
The MoU will enable ONWR and SEI to pool technical expertise, research capabilities, and innovative solutions to tackle pressing issues such as water scarcity, flood and drought risks, and climate adaptation. The collaboration aligns with Thailand’s national water management priorities and the ONWR’s sustainability goals.
SEI is a globally recognized research institute with extensive expertise in environmental and development issues, including water resources management and climate change adaptation. This MoU facilitates the transfer of knowledge and best practices to ONWR and Thailand’s stakeholders.
Måns Nilsson, SEI’s Executive Director
With the future in mind, this partnership's value is even clearer. Post-MoU, we've co-developed a 2025–2027 Action Plan featuring joint work on early warning systems, climate-smart water technologies, nature-based solutions, and regional youth leadership. This includes joint work on transboundary water resources management, early warning systems, nature-based solutions, and regional youth leadership.
Dr. Surasri Kidtimonton, ONWR Secretary-General
The collaboration will prioritize five critical areas:
This partnership with SEI will help ONWR strengthen their networks with international organizations, research institutions, and the private sector, unlocking new resources—both financial and technical—to advance Thailand’s water security.
Thanapon Piman, Senior Research Fellow at SEI Asia
The ONWR is Thailand’s command centre for management of the nation’s water resources and plays a crucial role in several transboundary water cooperation mechanisms, such as the Mekong River Commission (MRC).
SEI’s partnership with ONWR over the last years cuts across many areas of work, in particular through its programme, Sustainable Mekong Research Network (SUMERNET). Previous collaboration includes participatory flood risk management planning to protect vulnerable communities from floods in Ban Phai Municipality, Khon Kaen Province in northeast Thailand.
This MoU will strengthen SEI’s efforts to build the capacity of Thailand’s government officials, researchers, and communities through collaborative research and pilot projects, generating evidence-based solutions for basin planning and decision-making.
Thanapon Piman, Senior Research Fellow at SEI Asia
Sweden: Ulrika Lamberth, Senior Press Officer, SEI, [email protected], +46 73 801 70 53
Thailand: Rajesh Daniel, Head of Communications (Asia), SEI Asia, [email protected]
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Project / This project aims to build a regional Water Sector Youth Leadership Network (WSYLN) in in the Mekong-Lancang Region.
Past event / SEI and ONWR will sign an agreement to strengthen Mekong Region water governance on 3 June 2025.
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