The USAID and Australia Mekong Safeguards Program supports policymakers, government regulators, major financiers, developers, contractors, and communities with technical assistance, knowledge, and tools to foster strengthened environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards in the energy, transport, and water sectors. Instrumental to Mekong Safeguards goals is ensuring all initiatives and activities contribute to shared USAID and DFAT regional priorities. Our activities achieve results through effective interventions leading to improvements in ESG standards and practices in infrastructure development projects, and with decision-makers and influential stakeholders demonstrating improved capacity to implement ESG standards. 

We work through four types of interventions:

• Improve regional and national policies and practices and development pathways.
• Provide direct technical assistance on energy and transport infrastructure projects.
• Develop tools and studies to increase knowledge of sustainable infrastructure planning.
• Collaborate with regional and local governments, civil society organizations, and private sector to strengthen standards and practices.