Ms. Xiaojun Grace Wang with senior representatives from the country delegation
22 April 2025 – Every day, tens of millions of people depend on the Mekong River for water, energy, and food. Behind this lifeline is the tireless work of thousands—across farms, power stations, research centers, and communities—ensuring these essential resources flow across Southeast Asia.
Yet this vital ecosystem is increasingly under pressure from the compounding effects of climate change, unsustainable agriculture, and rapid urbanization. These challenges are deeply interconnected—and so must be the solutions.
That message resonated throughout the 3rd Mekong-Korea International Water Forum, held in March in Daejeon, Republic of Korea, under the theme “Water Security and Climate Resilience in the Mekong Region.” The event convened policymakers, researchers, and development practitioners to explore integrated approaches to resilience.
The United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) participated under the banner of the PLINK initiative/ROK-UNOSSC Facility Phase 3, launched in 2021 in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Korea. Focused on the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus, P-LINK supports countries in the Mekong region to co-create and scale sustainable solutions.
- Partnerships from day one: “We don’t just talk about partnership. From day one, we work with countries and communities to co-create tangible solutions. Those solutions can scale quickly, precisely because they are designed with and for the people most affected.” — Ms. Xiaojun Grace Wang, Director of the UNOSSC Trust Fund
- Integrated planning: “P-LINK is unique in that it connects science and policy across borders. The goal is not only to transfer technology but to establish adaptive governance systems that reduce risk, embed foresight, and enhance community resilience.” — Dr. Hwanil Park, Senior Research Fellow at STEPI
- Solutions across borders: “P-LINK creates space for communities and institutions to learn from one another across borders. By sharing experiences with peers facing similar challenges, countries are not only solving local problems—they’re building a regional knowledge base that strengthens resilience for everyone.” — Ms. Yejin Kim, UNOSSC Project Manager
- Project spotlight: Innovation into impact: A P-LINK pilot project in Thailand uses digital tools to detect water leakage. The project improves water efficiency, empowers women, and encourages local and national ownership. Similar Trust Fund projects in Eswatini and Haiti are enabling communities to better harvest and manage water, while also strengthening food systems and local resilience.
What’s Next: Strengthening Regional Resilience
The P-LINK initiative is charting the way forward by:
- Piloting community-driven WEF Nexus solutions that are context-specific and scalable
- Sharing knowledge through forums, publications, and digital platforms
- Aligning policies with Mekong governments to support long-term sustainability
Through initiatives like P-LINK, UNOSSC is demonstrating how South-South and triangular cooperation can drive systemic change in the face of climate disruption—rooted in local wisdom, powered by innovation, and sustained by collaboration.
