Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen
This meeting takes place against the backdrop of important achievements and recent positive developments within the MRC. This sets the stage for the MRC to contribute to more effective Mekong water resource management and development.
The development partners welcome the opportunity to share the outcomes of their discussion yesterday.
Permanent location of the Secretariat – a welcome decision
We are pleased the permanent location of the Secretariat has been decided and understand it will be co-hosted in Phnom Penh and Vientiane. For reasons outlined in previous statements, development partners (DPs) would have preferred a single location. However, we understand this was a difficult matter that required compromise and applaud the Council members leadership. We stand ready to work with the MRC to make co-hosting effective to ensure a focus on the substantive issues within the MRC’s mandate.
Reform and renewal process – real achievements
DPs acknowledge the continued commitment of the MRC to reform and renewal.
Following the 2006 Organisation Review the MRC has: established Integrated Capacity Building Program; approved the Communication and Disclosure Policy; enhanced stakeholder engagement on hydropower, climate change and basin develop plans; and, accelerated the riparianisation process.
These and other achievements all point to a stronger organisation better prepared to serve the needs of people in the Mekong region. Therefore, DPs affirm their continued financial and/ or technical support for the MRC and its programs.
In light of this positive progress, the Joint Contact Group (JCG), set up to follow and advise on the implementation of the recommendations of the Organisation Review, held its last meeting this week. Future DP engagement in MRC reform and renewal will now be conducted through the existing governance structures.
The DPs thank the MRC for its collaboration on these matters through the JCG; this has further strengthened DP and member state relations.
DPs fully support the plan to riparianisation the Secretariat. In the implementation of this plan it is important to ensure that competent personnel with adequate gender balance are recruited and retained. In this respect, competitive salaries will be required. In order to ensure a smooth transition, it is essential that succession planning is given highest priority – especially for the Chief Executive Officer.
Relevance and influence – on the correct path
The MRC is increasingly engaged with Mekong governments, dam developers and civil society on hydropower. DPs welcome this proactive engagement. Given rapid water resource development in the Region, the MRC is now positioned as a key partner in Mekong water issues.
Proposed Mekong mainstream development attracts much attention and is firmly within the mandate of the MRC under the terms of its 1995 Agreement. However, its role is wider than the mainstream and we urge the MRC to continue its important work on fisheries, environment and capacity development for the entire Lower Mekong Basin. This focus on the wider Basin will position it well to assist with adaptation to the effects of climate change.
Looking ahead – next strategic plan and the MRC Summit
The next Strategic Plan (2011 – 2015) is an opportunity to adjust and align the MRC’s program with contemporary Mekong Basin challenges. A sound Strategic Plan (SP) requires a thorough and inclusive process involving all relevant decision makers in MRC member states. DPs look forward to hearing how the SP will be prepared and stand ready as ‘critical friends’ to assist in this process. In particular, we are keen to know the process to ensure maximum participation and subsequent ownership.
DPs recommend the new SP must articulate clear and measurable objectives, underpinned by an effective performance management system.
On-going work to define and agree on MRC, NMCs and NMCSs core functions will be a critical input to the SP. This work should be concluded soon and before the formulation of the SP begins.
A SP fully owned and endorsed by MRC members should be accompanied by increased financial contributions by the member states to the core functions of the Commission.
A strong SP will provide further incentives for more DPs to
move towards programmatic
multi-year support and to further align and harmonise their
assistance.
DPs welcome the proposed MRC Summit, tentatively scheduled for April 2010. The Summit is an opportunity to reaffirm MRC members’ political commitment to the institution and to applaud progress made to date on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the 1995 Agreement. Senior representation by DPs is possible - provided we have early and formal confirmation of the Summit’s date.
We look forward to a constructive discussion of these and other issues during the course of the day. Thank you for your attention.
This statement is supported by the Asian Development Bank, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, USA and the World Bank.