Additional Context: Wonders of the Mekong was a USAID-funded project entering its ninth year of implementation before it was abruptly terminated in early 2025. With plans to continue through 2029, this $29.7 million project conducted applied research, built capacity, and implemented outreach and communication strategies to highlight the natural, economic, and cultural capital of the Lower Mekong River .

In conversation with The Aid Report, Sudeep Chandra, co-director of the project, mentioned the loss of a comprehensive study of megafish in the Mekong, which was active across Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Without USAID — which supported coordination between research universities, governing bodies, and data hubs — a project like this will no longer be possible.

Devex Researcher Note: The Mekong River Commission is an intergovernmental body overseeing water governance across the lower Mekong River Basin, including Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. While bringing to the table various countries on issues related to conservation and energy infrastructure projects, among others, the body makes decisions through consensus, which are not legally binding to its member states.

Source: Wonders of the Mekong