Cambodia Participates in 11th GEF International Waters Conference in Indonesia

Vann Monyneath, Under Secretary of State at Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment, led technical colleagues to the 11th Global Environment Facility International Waters Conference, held in Bali, Indonesia, from October 19 to 22, 2026. Under the theme “Shared Waters, Transformative Solutions: Enabling Systems Change”, the conference provided a platform to exchange knowledge, experience and solutions to promote sustainable transboundary water resources management, according to a recent post on the Ministry’s Facebook page. The conference discussed the following key issues: • Shared responsibility: transboundary water resources management requires the international community, regions and individual countries to strengthen commitments and cooperation to address common challenges. • Sharing results and experience: exchanging knowledge and best practices helps build capacity and advance practical solutions. • Cambodia’s contribution: Cambodia shared progress on the Cambodia–Mekong Delta Aquifer (CMDA) project, focusing on a shared vision, priority setting, cross-sector cooperation and the preparation of a Strategic Action Plan (SAP) to strengthen cooperation between Cambodia and Viet Nam. • Commitment to the future: effective cooperation must connect knowledge and commitments with practical action to protect ecosystems and ensure sustainable use of water resources. • The conference also offered technical site visits to learn from regional water and coastal management initiatives, including Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, Lake Batur UNESCO Global Geopark and coastal ecosystem restoration. Shared water resources require shared responsibility. Strengthening cooperation from national to regional and international levels is key to protecting water resources for present and future generations. By Srey Pi.