Characterization of private sector actors as a means to promote sustainable natural resource management in the Mekong

This research looks at the important role played by private sector actors in shaping multi-level water governance landscapes within the broader context of agriculture, environment, and socio-economic development in the Mekong region. While private sector actors have become the major driving force behind rapid economic development in the region, current research in water governance and natural resource management treat it mainly as a homogenous group. The research highlights the need to understand private sector actors' various modes of operation, codes of conduct, and investment strategies, as means to identify potential entry points to promote appropriate and grounded governance systems and mechanisms, towards sustainable, equal, and just development