Energy political advocacy and research in the Mekong region

The Siemenpuu Foundation Mekong program is a cooperation programme together with the  Mekong Energy and Ecology Network (MEE Net) that was established in 2007. The programme started in 2009 and it operates in the six Mekong countries, in Burma, Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Vietnam and China.

The MEE Net is steered by a six member steering committee, with representatives form each Mekong country. The MEE Net coordination team is based in the office of Foundation for Ecological Recovery, Thailand, where the team has four people working full-time.

In 2010 Siemenpuu support is allocated to capacity-building of the MEE Net member organisations on energy policy issues by training activist researchers and supporting research projects in Vietnam and China. In its next phase the programme is designed to support energy policy related projects of the network members.

The Mekong programme allocation for 2010 is 108 000 euros.

History

Over the years Siemenpuu has funded about ten projects in the Mekong region. Many of the projects have dealt with energy policy issues. Two alternative approaches in the Mekong region were prepared when planning the cooperation programme: supporting projects under special theme and with the help of experts’ core group/working group, or more political work with a certain partner. The latter was chosen, the partner being MEE net.

In the Mekong region there are countries where the civil society is only just emerging, so the basic principles of the Foundation to support the strengthening of the civil society and protection of environment and human rights are in the focus in the region.

The Service Centre for Development Cooperation, Kepa (one of Siemenpuu’s founding organisations) also launched its programme in the Mekong region in 2007. It focuses on trade policy and development financing. Kepa has also cooperated with FER previously.