Sophearin Chea is the lead technical staff of the MRCS Planning Division. In particular, he leads the work on Mekong River basin development planning, including the preparation, update, and implementation support to the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)-based Basin Development Strategy, the implementation of MRC Procedures in close consultation with the lead technical staff of other MRCS Divisions.

Sophearin has more than 20 years of combined professional experience in water resources management, international affairs and diplomacy, development cooperation and civil engagement across national, regional and international levels with MoFA, Cambodia, World Bank, NGO Consortium, ASEAN Secretariat and MRCS. He has engagement experience with diverse stakeholders and high-level knowledge and understandings of socio-political spares in the Mekong countries, in policy, strategic and project planning and implementation. Previously, he worked as Regional Water Policy Consultant in the MRC Secretariat.  

Prior to joining the MRCS, Sophearin was Civil Society Coordinator and Expert on Social Accountability for the World Bank from 2015 to 2019 He was also with the MRC Secretariat as Program Officer for MRC’s Procedures and Policies from 2010 to 2015. From 2002 to 2010, he worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia in-charge of bilateral cooperation between Cambodia and other ASEAN countries, and some sub-regional groupings namely CLV, CLMV and ACMECS.  

He received his Bachelor of Law and a High-Ranking Civil Servant Diploma in Diplomacy in Cambodia, and a Master of International Affairs from Australian National University.