MekongELEVATE Research Partnership

MekongElevate is a four-year, multi-country initiative under the Mekong–Australia Partnership that seeks to strengthen the climate resilience of marginalised upland communities across Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. The program focuses on ethnic minority women, youth and people with disabilities who face heightened climate risks due to reliance on climate-sensitive livelihoods, limited access to climate-smart innovations, and inadequate safety nets.  

Through the MekongElevate Research Partnership, UTS-ISF is convening research partners from all three countries to collectively explore research objectives in two key areas: 

1. Increasing the adoption of proven climate-smart agriculture practices and related innovations that strengthen livelihood resilience in upland contexts; and
2. Strengthening safety nets to address unavoidable impacts from extreme weather events. 

The research partnership will generate cross-regional evidence that reflects shared and systemic challenges across areas of food and water, climate change adaptation, and social and economic inequality. It will also encourage strong collaboration between Mekong and Australian institutions and embed gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) throughout the research process. The research will support translation of evidence into practical action and policy impact at both the country level and across a complex regional context. 

MekongElevate is implemented by CARE Australia and CARE country offices and is supported by the Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Mekong-Australia Partnership.