Home - Cambodia-Mekong River Delta Transboundary Aquifer (CMDA)
Enhancing Sustainability of the Transboundary Cambodia-Mekong Delta Aquifer (CMDA)
The Cambodia-Mekong Delta Aquifer (CMDA) Project is a transboundary initiative between Cambodia and Viet Nam to address the increasing threats to groundwater resources in the Lower Mekong Basin. Implemented under the Global Environment Facility (GEF) International Waters (IW) program, with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as the Implementing Agency and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as the Lead Executing Agency, this project aims to improve governance, enhance water security, and promote sustainable groundwater management in the shared aquifer system.
The Cambodia-Mekong Delta Aquifer is a critical resource, supporting millions of people who depend on groundwater for drinking water, agriculture, and industry. However, this vital resource faces multiple challenges, including rapid groundwater depletion, land subsidence, contamination, and saline intrusion, all exacerbated by climate change and increasing water demand. The CMDA project seeks to establish a scientific, policy, and management framework for the sustainable and equitable use of this transboundary aquifer.
The Project Document (PRODOC) was signed by all parties on 23 November 2023. The IUCN project team started progressing the coordination in March 2024. The Inception Workshop was held on 26 June 2024 (online). The project is currently still in its Inception Phase prior to the start of the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) (Component 1).
CMDA Project Activities Summary