Mekong Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change Year Two Annual Report

The program's primary focus is on supporting the development of climate-resilient agriculture, water resources management, and ecosystem-based adaptation initiatives. The program's second year, spanning from October 2012 to September 2013, marked a significant shift from conducting scientific analysis to interpreting climate science for communication efforts and identifying implementing partners for the project's field activity phase. A series of workshops was held in November 2012 and March 2013 to communicate the results of the Climate Change Impact and Adaptation Study for the Lower Mekong, which was attended by over 120 participants from across the four Lower Mekong countries. The Climate Study, considered one of the most comprehensive downscaled climate studies ever conducted in the Mekong River basin, provided a model approach for climate change adaptation in the region. A peer review process was initiated to lend credibility to the study's academic and scientific standards, and to increase its utility as a reference for climate change adaptation policy, studies, and activities in the region. Several organizations with specific sectoral expertise were identified and requested to participate in the peer review process, and their comments were supplemented by written feedback received from panel members and the USAID Mekong ARCC Contracting Officer's Representative. With the Task 2 Climate Study nearing completion, the Mekong ARCC team selected sites for field activities and developed Requests for Proposals (RfPs) covering adaptation initiatives with communities in Thailand, Laos, PDR, and Vietnam. A rigorous proposal review process led to the selection of implementing partners to be recommended for award to USAID. These organizations proposed community and ecosystem-based adaptation initiatives in Chiang Rai and Sakon Nakhon, Thailand, Champasak, Laos, and Kien Giang, Vietnam. The Mekong ARCC Climate Study described the impacts on key livelihood sectors of the LMB, including agriculture, capture fisheries and aquaculture, livestock, natural systems, and health and rural infrastructure. The study generated a wealth of quantitative data that can be incorporated into a complementary assessment of economic impacts, one that assigns dollar values to values at greatest risk (VAR). World Resources Institute (WRI) initiated a preliminary VAR analysis to fill this role, which will assess the economic impacts of climate change on the Lower Mekong River Basin. The program's field activity phase is expected to begin in Year 3, with the selected implementing partners carrying out community and ecosystem-based adaptation initiatives in the selected sites. The Mekong ARCC team will continue to support the development of climate-resilient agriculture, water resources management, and ecosystem-based adaptation initiatives in the region, and will work closely with the implementing partners to ensure the successful implementation of the project's activities.