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.

This agreement was signed in late 2024 with the Royal University of Agriculture in Cambodia. Had it continued, it would have supported students to participate in long-term monitoring and research on fisheries trends, water quality, and river health, which were an integral part of the project. The agreement also comprised educational exchanges between U.S. and Mekong universities, with plans to develop a shared curriculum and a field station for use by both groups.

The agreement had also launched the Center of Excellence for Aquatic Sciences and Sustainability, or CE FASS, which aimed to build local research capacity, provide training for students, conduct data collection, and communicate research findings in collaboration with the University of Nevada, Reno. This work is no longer funded. At the time of termination, six Cambodian nationals had been named to run the center.

Source: Wonders of the Mekong