First Meeting of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Task Force on Gender

The First Meeting of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Task Force on Gender convened virtually on 5 June 2025, organized by the GMS Program Secretariat. Mr. Asadullah Sumbal of the GMS Secretariat delivered opening remarks on behalf of Mr. Alfredo Perdiguero, Head of the GMS Secretariat, underscoring the GMS Program’s strong commitment to advancing gender equality and social inclusion as core elements of regional cooperation.

Ms. Chieko Yokota, Gender Specialist, Gender Equality Division, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department, Asian Development Bank, facilitated the meeting. Task Force members, representing GMS member countries, were briefed on the objectives of the GMS Gender Task Force, which are aligned with the gender equality agenda of the GMS Strategy 2030 and outlined in the GMS Gender Strategy and GMS Gender Strategy Implementation Plan (GSIP) 2025–2030, as well as the statements establishing the Task Force.

During the meeting, members reviewed and provided comments to the Gender Task Force’s terms of reference and the 2025 and 2026 Working Plan, and discussed next steps. Following alphabetical order, Cambodia has been proposed as the next Chair, with the upcoming in-person meeting scheduled for September this year, to be held either in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap.