The Governments of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam signed the; “Agreement on the Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Basin” (the 1995 Mekong Agreement)

Article 3 of the 95 MA, Member Countries are committed: "To protect the environment, natural resources, aquatic life and conditions, and ecological balance of the Mekong River Basin from pollution or other harmful effects resulting from any development plans and uses of water and related resources in the Mekong Basin“ REGIONAL OBLIGATION

Lao PDR as well as other MC are a also a party to: The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is an international legally binding treaty. The Convention has three main goals: (i) conservation of biological diversity (or biodiversity); (ii) sustainable use of its components; and (iii) fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar), which is an intergovernmental treaty that embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their Wetlands of International Importance and to plan for the "wise use", or sustainable use, of all of the wetlands in their territories. INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATION (Reminder)

The cooperation between PP1 and PP2 is focusing on contributing to Output 3: Support to Regional Analysis and Upscaling Aim: Use the process of a developed pro-poor WSM from Nam Ton Pilot as an example for building the links between local and regional IWRM, as well as the MRC Procedures. Overall goal: (1) The watershed function of the Nam Ton pilot project area within the Lower Mekong Basin is secured and (2) livelihoods are improved in a sustainable manner Output 3: Support to Regional Analysis and Upscaling

Activities under output 3: Basin-wide analytical framework – outlining the modality on local watershed and regional cooperation through the Procedures concept, and IWRM Principles; and developing community toolbox – building in the concept of “we are all living downstream”. Development solutions – Documenting and disseminating good practices from Nam Ton Pilot Project. Upscaling - disseminating lessons learned through regional workshops, technical exchange visits (e.g., JRP); and disseminating the implementation of the IWRM and the MRC Procedures’ concept in Nam Ton to the Lower Mekong Basin Countries. Provision of Technical Assistance by MRCS – providing technical advices where needed

Local: The Nam Ton Project 'Policy' is to support irrigation and pro-poor development National: The national water policy is after the ecological and basic human needs are met - and Regional: The regional agreement that there must be connectivity with the Mekong... Ensuring sufficient water quantity and quality (incl. ecological good and services) and sediments flowing to the Mekong Compliance with PMFM and PWQ

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