PHNOM PENH: The Mekong River commission has announced that the United States had awarded a new grant of $773,570 to improve collecting and sharing data for water management and continued exchanges with the Mississippi River Commission.

U.S. Department of State Office Conservation and Water Director Diana Holland says that although small, this grant will provide strategic support to the important work of the MRC in the Mekong and wider region. She has added, “MRC was an ‘equal partner’ in their relationship. The Mississippi River Commission believes that we have much to offer, and we are anxious to learn from you”.

MRC Secretariat Chief Executive An Pich Hatda has said that the two agencies had a "common mission and shared commitment" to sustainable development. He has stated, “The Mekong is confronted with increasing risks from climate change, extreme floods, droughts, and development activities”.

The US has released a statement saying that running through to 2024, it would improve data sharing for impact monitoring, forecasting, infrastructure operations, basin planning, and reporting on the state of the Lower Mekong Basin. It says that it will also support disaggregated data collection and mapping on gender and vulnerability, including riverine communities to improve basin planning and operations, as well as early-warning systems.

The MRC and the Mississippi commission — supported by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — have already conducted several exchange visits contributing to better knowledge and practices in the fields of planning, disaster management and stakeholder engagement. Under the new grant, remote sensing and other technologies are expected to help the MRC implement its Procedures for Water Use and Monitoring along with sharing Lower Mekong conditions with the Cambodian, Lao, Thai and Vietnamese people.