From Rivers to Regional Halls: How Oxfam IP3 Brought Local Voices to ASEAN Climate Action
ASEAN Civil Society and Partnership Exchange Conference: Gender and Climate Change in Lao PDR. Photo: Oxfam
Text by: Kaneka Keo, Phetvilay Phommesay, Huyen Do
The climate crisis is not abstract; it is lived daily along rivers, in flood-prone homes, and within communities whose resilience is constantly tested. At the recent ASEAN Civil Society and Partners Exchange Conference on Gender and Climate Change in Vientiane, Lao PDR, diverse perspectives converged to demand a more inclusive, gender-responsive, and socially just climate agenda.
A powerful contribution came from Oxfam’s IP3 program, which bridged local realities with regional decision-making, ensuring that voices often unheard were amplified at the ASEAN level. The conference gathered 206 participants, 138 of them women, two preferring not to be identified, including representatives from 89 CSOs, 56 INGOs, and 56 government agencies. Nine ASEAN CSOs joined from across the region, with 11 participants (three men). This gathering forged consensus among stakeholders, underscoring civil society’s commitment to gender equality and Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) as central to climate action.
By fostering new connections and collaboration, the workshop extended its influence beyond the Mekong, amplifying collective voices and forging wider partnerships. It solidified a regional commitment to coordinated and responsive climate strategies across ASEAN.
Local Realities: Cambodia and Vietnam Speak Out
In Cambodia’s Ratanakiri province, riverine communities shared how declining ecosystems, floods, and water scarcity are reshaping livelihoods. Indigenous families, women, and vulnerable groups emphasized the need for dignity, clean water, and community-led adaptation. Their stories highlighted that resilience is not only technical but deeply cultural and social, tied to identity.
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“This conference was important because it featured many presentations and shared experiences on climate impacts across different contexts. Despite differences, we face similar challenges related to GEDSI and climate change. It was a powerful reminder that climate change is a shared challenge, as is the need for gender equality and social inclusion. Practical lessons were shared too like Brunei’s integration of climate topics into school curricula, zero-waste initiatives led by young women, and visits to disability centers that give hope and light to women with disabilities. These stories prove that inclusive solutions are not just possible; they are already happening.”
In Vietnam, the Hanoi Association of People with Disability (DP) showcased how GPS mapping of households with persons with disabilities transformed disaster preparedness. By integrating disability data into national monitoring systems, they demonstrated how inclusive technology can save lives during floods and typhoons.
“People with disabilities often have practical insights into infrastructure gaps, resilience strategies, and overlooked risks, especially in rural or flood-prone areas. They should not only be consulted but included in implementation teams at all phases. Consultation is good. Co-creation is better. Power-sharing is the best. ‘Nothing about us without us,’ resilience means nothing unless it includes those who depend on it the most.”
Regional Demands: Civil Society’s Call to Action
The ASEAN Civil Society Call to Action crystallized these experiences into regional priorities: mainstreaming GEDSI into climate governance and financing, ensuring meaningful participation of women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, and persons with disabilities in ASEAN climate coordination, investing in the care economy as critical climate infrastructure, and strengthening data systems with sex, age, and disability disaggregation to inform inclusive policies. These demands reflect a growing consensus: resilience cannot be achieved without equity.
The Joint ASEAN Statement on Call for Action emphasized advancing GEDSI across all climate change and disaster risk reduction efforts. It seeks to bring these commitments directly to ASEAN working groups on Gender, Environment, and Climate, as well as to national governments. By embedding inclusive, accountable, and coordinated actions into governance and financing, the statement strengthens resilience and equity across the region.
How Oxfam IP3 Weaves Local into Regional
Oxfam’s Mekong Inclusion Project Phase 3 (IP3) has been critical in translating local realities into regional climate resilience strategies. By amplifying diverse voices, Indigenous women in Cambodia, disability organizations in Vietnam, IP3 ensured grassroots testimonies shaped ASEAN-level dialogue rather than being sidelined.
These lived experiences were transformed into actionable recommendations aligned with frameworks such as the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) and the Gender Mainstreaming Strategic Framework, proving that resilience is stronger when communities lead and their leadership is recognized in policy spaces.
The ASEAN Government and CSO Partnership panel discussion. Photo: Oxfam
During a panel discussion, Ms. Kaneka Keo, Climate Resilience Lead of Oxfam IP3, emphasized the critical role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in reinforcing policy commitments and monitoring government pledges made at platforms such as the Conference of the Parties and the ASEAN Summit. While CSOs may not always sit at the negotiation table, their influence remains significant at the national level through strategic engagement. She highlighted the need for stronger capacity, collaboration, and evidence-based advocacy so CSOs can shape climate and GEDSI agendas where it matters most.
Solidarity Across Borders
By bringing together river defenders, Indigenous leaders, women’s groups, and disability advocates, Oxfam demonstrated that GEDSI transformation is not a tokenistic agenda, it is the foundation of climate resilience. The ASEAN stage became a platform where local realities informed regional commitments, proving that inclusive governance is both possible and necessary.
The journey from Cambodia’s Sesan Rivers and Hanoi’s flood-prone homes to ASEAN’s regional halls is evidence of the power of solidarity. Oxfam IP3 reminds us that climate resilience is strongest when built on diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and the voices of those most affected particularly women, Indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities.