Mekong Region Land Governance

19/12/2025

Today our teams finish up in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam.

As Phase III of the MRLG project comes to a close, here are some final stats for you on the strides made over the Project's life. While these numbers can't paint the full picture, or adequately encompass the hours of tireless work, and thousands of meaningful connections, they're a great metric to celebrate how far we've come together.

Our website will stay live for another two years, but all of our resources have also been moved to a permanent library on the Land Portal Foundation site.

You can find our website and publications here: https://www.mrlg.org/

And the Land Portal's MRLG repository here: https://lnkd.in/gYwfWDVT

Swiss Cooperation Mekong GIZ Laos

19/12/2025

“MRLG has left an impression as a long-term project on equitable land governance in the Mekong Region, developing multi-stakeholder collaboration at regional and national levels. In Vietnam, the project has enabled constructive engagement of CSOs, together with government agencies, in strengthening land rights of smallholder farmers, especially women and ethnic minorities through contributions to land-related policies and legal documents. Specifically, the Alliances have strengthened land policies for ethnic minorities, improved gender equality and transparencies in land use and management process, made compensation for state land acquisitions fairer in the Land Law. We should celebrate these key achievements from the efforts and collaboration between CSOs and government partners” - Le Thuy Le, National Land Governance Facilitator Vietnam

“MRLG has demonstrated strong long-term commitment to amplifying the voices of vulnerable groups and effectively channeling them into policy and law-making processes. Through its contributions to progressive legal frameworks such as the Land Law and Forestry Law, and by supporting their implementation in practice, MRLG has played a vital role in advancing transparent, equitable, and sustainable land and forest governance. The initiative has also strengthened legal awareness and fostered regional and cross-country cooperation on responsible land governance,” - Van Anh, Policy Advisor

Recently MRLG, in collaboration with the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Agriculture and Environment, held the closing workshop for MRLG’s team and network in Vietnam. The event brought together 60 participants from the MRLG alliance, academic institutions, relevant NGOs, government partners, and donors to celebrate key achievements and share forward-looking thematic ideas.

These discussions focused on strengthening the implementation of the 2024 Land Law, particularly through participatory monitoring and evaluation of land policies, continued legal awareness-raising for smallholders and ethnic minorities, and the promotion of secured forestland rights and sustainable livelihoods for forest-dependent communities by the alliance. The workshop clearly reflected the alliance’s strong commitment and enthusiasm to sustain and build upon MRLG’s achievements.

The workshop concluded with an inspiring call to action, encouraging all stakeholders to further strengthen their collaboration to amplify the voices, participation, and rights of smallholders in decision- and policy-making processes. Recognizing that smallholders are among those most affected by land governance in the context of socio-economic development and climate change, the workshop highlighted positive approaches such as reinforcing existing partnerships, enhancing legal enforcement, empowering smallholders, and systematically assessing the impacts of policies.

Thank you and best of luck to our colleagues in Vietnam!

18/12/2025

💡New publication | Social integrity and forest carbon markets in the Mekong

Carbon markets are controversial. But REDD+ and other projects in which forest carbon credits are bought and sold, have been underway in the Mekong region for over a decade. Yet questions of trust, rights and accountability - and the risks they pose - are impossible to ignore.

This new thematic study by Naomi Basik Treanor, Akiko Inoguchi, Khamla Insounanh and Donal Yeang examines forest carbon market frameworks in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Viet Nam, with a focus on what "social integrity" really means in practice. The paper, written as part of MRLG's cross-cutting work on climate change, explores how unresolved carbon rights, weak benefit-sharing arrangements, a lack of Free, Prior and Informed Consent, and fragile grievance mechanisms are undermining carbon markets.

Drawing on national legal and policy analysis, the study shows that without clear rules and strong governance, forest carbon markets risk opening too quickly - steering buyers away, but placing the greatest risks on Indigenous Peoples and local communities who steward some of the region’s most carbon- and biodiversity-rich forest landscapes.

The report outlines what is needed to move toward high-integrity forest carbon markets in practice: most importantly, recognition of customary rights to carbon, and sustained investment in the right institutions, at the right time.

➡️ You can read more here: https://www.mrlg.org/publications/social-integrity-and-forest-carbon-markets-in-the-mekong-region-a-legal-review-of-national-frameworks-in-cambodia-lao-pdr-and-viet-nam/


Swiss Cooperation Mekong , GIZ,German International Cooperation, GIZ Laos Land Equity International Pty Ltd, GRET, UN-REDD Programme (FAO/UNDP/UNEP), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Wildlife Conservation Society Cambodia

12/12/2025

“Over the past decade, MRLG has worked to strengthen customary tenure rights, advance community forestry, and promote responsible agricultural investment. This workshop was not just a conclusion, but a handover of momentum to national alliances and local actors.” — Mr. Sysomphorn Phetdaoheuang, Deputy Director General, Department for International Cooperation, Ministry of Planning and Investment

As the Mekong Region Land Governance (MRLG) project prepares to close on 31 December 2025, Lao PDR has established a robust policy foundation to recognize customary land rights and advance responsible agricultural investment.

At the final Project Management Committee meeting on 5 December 2025 at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Vientiane, stakeholders gathered not just to reflect—but to reaffirm their commitment to sustain the momentum.

✅ Key milestones now anchor this legacy: National Assembly Standing Committee Resolution No. 57, Prime Minister’s Order No. 20, Ministerial Instruction No. 1821, and the recently endorsed Procedural Guideline for implementing customary tenure recognition in state forest land—benefitting 275,000 households across 3,167 villages.

“Forest conservation and protection go hand-in-hand with the development of people’s livelihoods.” — Mr. Phavanna Sombanpheng, Department of Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment

A CT pilot in Koksavang village demonstrated how participatory planning, Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), and gender-responsive approaches yield land titles, land use certificates, and conservation contracts—all integrated into the national land database.

On responsible agricultural investment, Mr. Souvaanthong Namvong of the Department of Agricultural Extension and Cooperatives emphasized “Collaboration is key when policy, stakeholders, and grassroots voices unite, sustainable change becomes possible.”

Mr. Sengthong Soukhathammavong, National Land Governance Facilitator on RAI Laos, affirmed continuity: “As MRLG transitions out, Laos stakeholders reaffirm their commitment to advancing equitable land governance, community-led conservation, and inclusive agricultural investment. ”

Challenges remain—scaling FPIC, resolving land conflicts, ensuring women’s inclusion, and building local capacity—but the foundation is solid. With support from SDC, GIZ, and the Government of Luxembourg, MRLG leaves a legacy of trust, evidence-based reform, and regional solidarity across Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar.

More photos here: https://lnkd.in/gcD-ukN2

Swiss Cooperation Mekong, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Land Equity International Pty Ltd, GRET

26/11/2025

“MRLG’s greatest achievement in Cambodia was building a trusted, multisector platform. The alliances brought together diverse expertise – government engagement, research, grassroots community work – creating complementary strengths. This collaboration enabled policy influence, dispute resolution, and collective action, proving that when actors unite, progress follows.” Sophea Pheap, MRLG Cambodia National Facilitator

This week, Cambodian stakeholders gathered in Phnom Penh for the official Closing Workshop of the MRLG project. It marks the end of a decade-long initiative in the country, launched in 2014 during a challenging period for civil society and land rights. Antoine Deligne, MRLG Deputy TL recalls:
“2017–18 was a very difficult time in Cambodia due to the elections...MRLG was there at this critical moment to maintain engagement in the land sector. Despite the significant challenges this has been a successful collaboration and the Alliances need to continue this momentum and journey together.”

The event celebrated MRLG’s enduring impact and facilitated the formal handover to the Cambodia Customary Tenure Alliance and the Cambodia Alliance for Responsible Agricultural Investment. Milestones include supporting alternative dispute resolution; advancing community forestry; contributing to the shift from Economic Land Concessions (ELCs) to smallholder farmers, and promoting Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). With reps from all sectors, attendees charted a shared path forward – ensuring the momentum for equitable land governance, community-led conservation, and responsible agricultural investment continues beyond MRLG’s formal support.

Speakers shared powerful reflections:
“Expanding community forestry as a pathway to both conserve forests and secure community livelihoods will require continued strengthening of local recognition, technical support, market access for sustainable forest products, and meaningful inclusion of women and indigenous and local groups.” Micah Ingalls, PhD Ingalls, MRLG TL

“Although we may have different missions, we have a shared goal – improving livelihoods of our people to achieve and sustain biodiversity development, empowering community members to continue their customs and traditions to benefit from and use and own their respective areas.” H.E. Dr. Ken Serey Rotha, General Director, Ministry of Environment

“It’s really the actors that are at the center to take it forward – multisector platform, it has worked!” Reto Grüninger, Director of Cooperation, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation

With MRLG transitioning out, the momentum continues. The workshop affirmed the Alliances’ commitment to carrying forward this work through joint advocacy, donor engagement, and strengthened policy influence. This is not an end, but a new beginning for equitable and sustainable land governance in Cambodia.

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Land Equity International Pty Ltd GRET Kate

26/11/2025

📢 Sign-ups are still open! Join the “Land, Rights, and Voices: An Introduction to ASEAN Guidelines on the Recognition of Customary Tenure in Forested Landscapes”—a timely opportunity to deepen your understanding and strengthen your advocacy on indigenous peoples' land rights.

Developed by NTFP-EP Asia, in partnership with the Mekong Region Land Governance Project (MRLG), and Habi Education Lab, this course is tailored for practitioners and community partners working alongside Indigenous and local communities on land and resource governance.

🔹 Learn the core principles of the ASEAN Guidelines on Customary Tenure
🔹 Compare them with your national legal frameworks
🔹 Apply practical insights directly to your community work and policy efforts

📅 Course begins October 8, 2025
📧 Upon registration, you’ll receive email instructions to access the course via Habi Plus, Habi Education Lab’s learning platform.

Don’t miss this chance to amplify community voices and advance land justice across Southeast Asia! 🌏✨

👉 Secure your spot now—sign-ups are still open!
🔗 Register here: https://tinyurl.com/y2hhbwaa



with Swiss Cooperation Mekong, GRET, NTFP - EP Asia, Campbell, Pinto

21/11/2025

💡Why is good land governance important to you?💡

Missed out on the Mekong Regional Land Forum? You're in luck! Check out this video featuring some of our colleagues, and highlighting their connections to land governance work in the region.

If you want to revisit a session or any of the conference materials, head to the Land Portal Foundation site, here: https://lnkd.in/g8i-RBp4

Thank you again to all of our wonderful speakers, attendees, and team members who helped this event to be such a success!

Cooperation Mekong, GIZ Laos Land Equity International Pty Ltd, GRET Land Portal

17/11/2025

💡Why is improving land governance important to you?💡

Our team is still energised from the extremely positive response to the 4th Mekong Regional Land Forum! The three-day event provided an important opportunity for connection and reinforced many people's commitments to our strong professional community and to improving land governance and tenure security in the Mekong. We're very grateful for the deep level of engagement and thoughtful insights of our speakers and attendees.

Missed out? You're in luck! Check out this video featuring some of our colleagues, and highlighting their connections to land governance work in the region.

If you want to revisit a session or any of the conference materials, head to the Land Portal Foundation site, here: https://lnkd.in/g8i-RBp4

Thank you again to all of our wonderful speakers, attendees, and team members who helped this event to be such a success!

Swiss Cooperation Mekong, Land Portal, GIZ Laos, GRET, Land Equity International

06/11/2025

🎉As MRLG enters its final year, we’re reflecting on a transformative journey of partnership, progress, and shared vision.

💪The Mekong Region Land Governance project has, over more than a decade, dedicated itself to building strong, purpose-driven alliances to drive better land governance in the region. Bridging government institutions, civil society organizations, and local communities across the Mekong, we’re proud to have witnessed the development of a strong movement of land professionals. Together, we continue to work hard to protect land rights and improve land and forest governance in the face of mounting pressures like climate change and increasingly competitive investing landscapes.

🤝The actions of our team and our alliance members across all three phases of the project fostered inclusive, sustainable reforms – centered on recognizing customary tenure and advancing responsible agricultural investment – at local, national, and regional levels.

Over the coming weeks, we’ll share more milestones that shaped this regional effort – celebrating achievements, partnerships, and lasting impacts.

‼️As the project comes to an end, we’re moving all of our resources (think articles, publications, tools) across to their permanent home on the portal site. More information to come!

Find the publications mentioned in this post below:
🔗https://www.mrlg.org/news/asean-customary-tenure-guidelines-and-fpic-handbook-launched-in-key-country-events/
🔗https://www.mrlg.org/blogs/bridging-the-gap-between-policy-and-practice-mrlg-convenes-learning-exchange-in-yunnan-china-on-rai/
🔗https://www.mrlg.org/news/mrlg-and-partners-host-national-exchanges-on-social-integrity-in-forest-carbon-investments/
🔗https://www.mrlg.org/news/constructive-dialogue-is-foundational-to-effective-cooperation-for-a-sustainable-future/
🔗https://www.mrlg.org/news/reflections-from-the-2025-mrlg-regional-learning-exchange-on-customary-tenure-recognition-in-luang-prabang/
🔗https://www.mrlg.org/news/key-insights-from-pathways-to-responsible-agriculture-in-the-mekong-webinar/



Swiss Cooperation Mekong, Land Portal

23/10/2025

20/10/2025

👉🏼 Meet Nguyễn Văn Cường, MRLG Photo Competition prize winner for Vietnam. Cường is a public security officer in his community and was inspired to do photography after a fortouitous meeting with To B**h Ngoc, then communications and media officer with People and Nature Reconciliation (Pan Nature) in Vietnam, working in nature conservation and environmental protection. Ngoc encouraged Cường and took him along on Pan Nature's activities as a volunteer.

📷 Cường tells us how he took the photo: "The award-winning photo was taken on August 8, 2025 in Pha Luông village, Mộc Châu, Sơn La province during a PanNature reforestation activity. This photo shows young Hmong women carrying seedlings up the mountain to restore the forest. The path was steep and had just been damaged by landslides after heavy rains. Yet their eyes and steps were full of determination and optimism. I chose to capture this moment because it reflects both hardship and resilience while also holding the strength and hope of the people. living in the mountains. It is a spirit that can inspire even those living in the lowlands."

👏 Congratulations and sincere thanks to all photographers across the region who participated in the photocompetion!

Swiss Cooperation Mekong, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, GRET, Land Equity International Pty Ltd, Land Portal

17/10/2025

👏 Congratulations to Jerry Heilenmang, MRLG Photocompetition 2025 prize winner for Myanmar. Jerry is from Hakha, Chin State in Myanmar and works as a project assistant in an NGO. Photography has always been his passion and he loves capturing moments and building a personal collection of memories through his lens.

Jerry took the prize-winning photo during a site visit in Chin State and he shares: "While traveling, one particular scene immediately caught my eye, and I felt compelled to capture it. When I first looked at the photo, I was even more amazed than I had imagined—it perfectly reflected the moment and the feeling I experienced on that day."

👏 Thanks again to all the photographers across the Mekong Region who participated!

Swiss Cooperation Mekong, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, GRET, Land Equity International Pty Ltd, Land Portal Foundation