Deadline: 10-May-24
Submissions are now open for the Mekong-ROK Cooperation Fund (MKCF) to support the implementation of cooperation activities initiated by the Mekong countries and the ROK under the Mekong – ROK cooperation framework.
Following the launch of the Mekong – ROK partnership in 2011, the MKCF was established in 2013 to encourage and support cooperation in six priority areas outlined in the Han River Declaration of 2011. It was agreed among five Mekong countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Viet Nam and Thailand) and the ROK that the MKCF will be financed through an annual contribution from the ROK to MI and will be managed by MI in accordance with the Terms of Reference (TOR) adopted at the 3rd Mekong.
The Fund provides a grant for projects that are of regional in nature. It can be implemented in a single country. However benefits should be shared among the countries in the Mekong region and the ROK. In other words, the regional project should address the needs of several Member States in the Mekong region. Such projects can consider national development objectives but are developed per regional development objectives as well.
Priority Areas
- The Fund provides grants to support catalytic and innovative activities in the seven priority sectors:
- Culture and Tourism
- Preservation and restoration of cultural heritage sites.
- Expansion of youth education in culture, arts, sports and creative economy.
- Cultural tourism development, including creative industries on art, music including cultural exchanges and cultural entrepreneurship.
- Human Resources Development
- Promote education and skill development in digital age
- Cooperative alliance among the Mekong countries for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)
- Career and Technical Education (CTE)
- Capacity building for MSMEs and entrepreneurs to enhance job opportunities and successful trade and investment environment in the Mekong countries
- Agriculture and Rural Development
- Development of regional agricultural value chain
- Strengthening regional agriculture supply chains
- Mekong Agricultural productivity improvement
- Rural finance and market development
- Infrastructure
- Capacity building in regional project management related to infrastructure (road, power communication etc.)
- Critical infrastructure development in rural areas for agriculture development
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
- Application of ICT for regional disaster risk management/climate change adaptation (e.g. early warning system)
- Estimation of crop production with ICT
- Development of regional agriculture market information system
- MSME Digitization and Fintech
- E-commerce & paperless trade and customs facilitation
- Environment
- Water resources management, rain water harvesting etc
- Promote the use of electric vehicle (EV)
- Sustainable management of natural resources
- Climate change mitigation and adaptation measures
- Sustainable transport and logistics
- Non-traditional Security Challenges
- Facilitation of safe labor migration within the Mekong region
- Disaster management for natural hazards Clearance of explosive remnants of war, illegal drug trafficking, human trafficking
- Prevention of in security areas to address transnational crime, terrorism and violent extremism
- Culture and Tourism
Funding Information
- The contribution of the Fund per project proposal is minimum of 300,000 USD and maximum of 1,000,000 USD.
- The fund encourages projects promoting 3-way (triangular) or 4-way (quadripartite) collaboration with other donors, including but not limited to the Mekong River Commission (MRC), Japan, United States (US), Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Canada etc. Extra budgetary funds should be leveraged, when needed, to facilitate such projects.
- The fund provides grants for joint activities with a regional or international entity, formalized through a cooperation agreement and is considered as regional.
- Activities which are not eligible for funding include construction of buildings and payment of rent or utilities.
- The time frame of the project should be 2-3 years.
Eligibility Criteria
- Government agencies/Autonomous Organization from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Viet Nam, Thailand (CLMVT) and organizations from the ROK.
- Non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and training institutes from CLMVT and the ROK.
- International Organizations, including UN Agencies, and other International Non Governmental Organizations having operating offices in the Mekong countries and ROK.
- Experience in implementing development projects for at least 5 years.
- Assistance to individuals will not be provided.
For more information, visit Mekong Institute.