Mekong River Commission

Donor Cooperation in 2004

Funding Agreements concluded in 2004
                          (in US$)

Following on from the past two financial years, the MRC has continued its stringent budgeting rules and maintained a surplus in the operating expenses budget. This vigorous financial control will be maintained throughout 2005.

The year 2004 was an exceptionally busy one in terms of operations as the Secretariat relocated from Phnom Penh, Cambodia to Vientiane, Lao PDR. This brought with it some additional expenses but, due to welcome assistance from our member countries' governments, this did not take a toll on our end of year result.

The relocation was very successful, on schedule and within budget. It had minimal impact on the operation of the Secretariat and the MRC's programmes.

Pledges and Commitment of Support
                       (in US$)

Since the move to Lao PDR, the MRC has engaged in a busy recruitment schedule - hiring around 55 new staff members. These included the Lao administrative staff (to replace the Cambodians who relocated from Phnom Penh) together with new riparian and international employees.

The Lao staff have participated both in on-the-job training with their counterparts from Cambodia, and in external training, which has been funded by UNDP working in conjunction with the Lao National Mekong Committee.

Throughout the year the Secretariat provided administration support to all the MRC programmes and ensured they performed to their best capacity.