In 2020, the Lower Mekong Initiative was upgraded and expanded to the Mekong-U.S. Partnership (MUSP). The MUSP Track 1.5 Policy Dialogue series is a flagship initiative of the Partnership and includes seven virtual and in-person dialogues from 2021 to 2023 focusing on key policy and sustainability challenges facing Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. This discussion will launch the summary report to share takeaways and policy recommendations from the 5th Policy Dialogue, which was held in Bangkok in December 2022 as a deep-dive on needs and opportunities related to food security, resilience and disaster risk reduction, and finance and governance for nature-based solutions.
Keynote Speaker
Robert F. Godec, U.S. Ambassador to Thailand
Robert F. Godec was confirmed as Ambassador to Thailand on August 4, 2022. This is his third ambassadorship; he previously served as Ambassador to Kenya from 2013 to 2019 and Ambassador to Tunisia from 2006 to 2009. Other recent positions include acting Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs and Senior Coordinator for Afghanistan in the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. See his full bio here.
Ambassador Chairat Sirivat, Ambassador, Mekong Cooperation Unit at Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand
Ambassador Chairat Sirivart joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1987 in the Division of International Economic Affairs and has served the Ministry for over thirty years as an expert diplomat. His previous posts included time in Italy, Kuwait, the United States, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates as well as high level positions within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thailand. He became an Ambassador with the Ministry in 2022 and joined the Mekong Cooperation Unit in 2023.
Discussants
Rithiny Teng, National Strategic Initiatives Manager, WCS Cambodia
Ms. Rithiny Teng works for WCS Cambodia’s program focusing on sustainable financing, especially related to REDD+ and climate finance, and protected area management across priority landscapes. Prior to this, she managed the USAID Keo Seima Conservation Project from 2018-2021 for improving biodiversity conservation, ecosystem health, and increasing sustainable economic opportunities and community livelihoods in the Eastern Plains Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary.
Sinsamout Ounboundisane, Laos Director & Fisheries Biologist, Fishbio
Mr. Sinsamout Ounboundisane is a fisheries biologist with more than 20 years of experience in research and community development projects in the Mekong region in relation to aquatic resources management and conservation. He holds a master’s degree in aquaculture and aquatic resources management from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Thailand. His expertise includes participatory research and management methods, fish surveys, and establishing Fish Conservation Zones.
Diep Bui, Co-Director, Keep Vietnam Clean
Diep Bui is currently Co-Director of Keep Vietnam Clean focusing on urban greenspace, climate-smart agriculture and waste management. In 2019, she was an Environmental Fellow of the Community Solutions Program, a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the United States Department of State and implemented by IREX. She was also selected to be one of the young emerging leaders to participate in the Global Leadership Forum 2019 – Collaborative Solutions for Social Impact, which is hosted by the Presidential Precinct and the University of Virginia.
Kathryn Bimson, Programme Officer for Water, Wetlands and Nature-based Solutions for Climate, IUCN
Ms. Kathryn Bimson has been working on wetlands in Southeast Asia for the last nine years, and is currently coordinating the regional implementation of a number of projects related to Nature-based Solutions and wetlands in the Lower Mekong Basin. Ms. Bimson also supports the Secretariat for the Indo-Burma Ramsar Regional Initiative, working closely with the governments of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam to strengthen the implementation of the Ramsar Convention in the region.
Moderators
Brian Eyler, Southeast Asia Program Director
Brian Eyler directs the Southeast Asia Program and the Energy, Water, and Sustainability Program. He is an expert on transboundary issues in the Mekong region and specializes in China’s economic cooperation with Southeast Asia. He spent more than 15 years living and working in China and over the last two decades has conducted extensive research with stakeholders in the Mekong region. See his full bio here.
Raphael Glemet, Programme Coordinator for Water and Wetlands and Nature-based Solutions, IUCN
Raphael GLemet is Programme Coordinator for Water and Wetlands and Nature-based Solutions at the IUCN Asia Regional Office in Bangkok as well as the regional focal point for the UNFCCC and the Ramsar Convention. He holds an MS in Wetlands Management and Engineering (University of Angers, France). He has 17 years of experience working on environmental conservation with governments, INGOs, and intergovernmental organizations.