Little is known about wood-based MSMEs in the Mekong region, their characteristics, the number and gender of people involved in the businesses, their supply chains and levels of compliance with regulations. This brief provides analysis, insights and recommendations to improve the position of MSMEs in the Mekong forestry sector. It describes the types of businesses, their size and prevalence in the Mekong countries, how they operate and how they have organised themselves. It also outlines the reasons and consequences for informality, while also looking at the participation and empowerment of women in these enterprises.