ADB Approves $93.6M to Enhance Climate-Resilient WASH Facilities in Rural Cambodia

ADB Country Director for Cambodia, Jyotsana Varma, emphasized the program's focus on rural populations in remote areas, noting its importance in strengthening governance and community management of WASH facilities.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved $93.6 million in loans and grants to enhance climate-resilient and inclusive rural water supply, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities across nine provinces in Cambodia. This initiative will benefit 88,000 households in 400 villages within 50 communes, aiming to provide universal access to safely managed water and hygiene services while improving access to safely managed sanitation facilities.

The Rural Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene Improvement Sector Development Program will support the Cambodian government's efforts to ensure WASH facilities are not only accessible but also affordable for rural populations. A key aspect of the program is the increased involvement of the private sector in delivering water supply services and integrating climate change considerations into the planning, design, and implementation of WASH facilities to ensure their resilience.

ADB Country Director for Cambodia, Jyotsana Varma, emphasized the program's focus on rural populations in remote areas, noting its importance in strengthening governance and community management of WASH facilities. The program also seeks to decentralize functions and enhance coordination among stakeholders for more effective service delivery.

In addition to the loans, the program includes a $3 million grant from the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific, which will expand WASH facilities in provinces where rural residents face significant challenges in accessing safe water and sanitation. These provinces include Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Kampong Speu, Kampot, Kratie, Oddar Meanchey, Pailin, Preah Vihear, and Stung Treng.

Moreover, a $600,000 technical assistance grant from the Sanitation Financing Partnership Trust Fund under the Water Financing Partnership Facility will be utilized to strengthen the Cambodian government's capacity to implement key sector reforms.

As of 2022, access to safely managed water supply in Cambodia was at 29%, with only 20% of rural areas covered. Access to safely managed sanitation was 37% nationwide and 34% in rural regions. Additionally, about two million rural residents practiced open defecation, posing risks to land and water resources and contributing to waterborne infections.

ADB has been a long-standing partner in supporting Cambodia's WASH sector since 2005, benefiting over 1 million people, particularly in the provinces surrounding the Tonle Sap Lake. This new program continues ADB's commitment to improving the quality of life in rural Cambodia through sustainable WASH services.