On 22 March 2026, Mae Fah Luang University (MFU), in collaboration with Oxfam, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and the Australian Government under the Mekong-Australia Partnership (MAP), officially launched the project, "Co-creation of Mekong Inclusive Water Governance and Climate Resilience for Chiang Rai Riverine Communities," to be implemented from January 2026- December 2028. The launch event brought together key representatives from international organisations, local communities, and the government sector, particularly the Office of the National Water Resources, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Department of Water Resources.
The project draws on lessons learned from the severe floods and landslides caused by Typhoon Yagi in 2024, which resulted in economic losses totaling 6.412 billion baht in Chiang Rai and exposed significant vulnerabilities in existing water management systems.
To address this, the initiative engages interdisciplinary expertise from academic institutions within and beyond the area. By partnering with civil society organisations and local media, the project aims to develop a proactive approach to water management that can effectively respond to emerging non-traditional security challenges.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Matchima Naradisorn, President of Mae Fah Luang University, stated that managing theses environmental challenges is complex and cannot be addressed by a single university, province, or organisation alone. “Overcoming these challenges requires collaboration across all sectors at the community, national, and international levels, particularly across borders. Through such collaborative efforts, we can build an inclusive, transparent, and equitable water governance system that can enhance long-term community resilience,” she noted.
The project has identified four pilot sites: Tha Ton village (Mae Ai District, Chiang Mai), Ban Karen Ruammit village (Mueang District, Chiang Rai), Pong Khong village (Chiang Saen District, Chiang Rai), and Pak Ing Tai village (Chiang Khong District, Chiang Rai). Each site presents a distinct set of challenges, enabling the project to generate practical models that can be adapted across the broader region.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Apisom Intralawan, the Project Leader, emphasised that water security is not only a technical matter; it is foundation of human rights and social justice. This project seeks to transform community-generated data, collected through citizen science, into a basis for dialogue and policy development. Ultimately, this ensures that voices from upstream to downstream communities are reflected in provincial development plans in a meaningful and lasting way.
The implementation plan will be carried out in three phases: building a data foundation through citizen science, integrating local wisdom with advanced GIS technology; developing community-based disaster risk reduction (CBDRR) plans while supporting livelihood opportunities to reduce economic vulnerability; and putting forward policy recommendations to provincial and river basin authorities.
Ultimately, MFU remain committed to collaborating across sectors to build a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future for the people of Chiang Rai and the Greater Mekong region. Through this project, the university continues to raise awareness about global water scarcity while preparing society to respond to the growing challenges of climate changes and environmental risks.
