The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved $93.6 million in loans and grants to enhance access to safe water supply and basic sanitation in rural Cambodia. This initiative aims to benefit 88,000 families across 400 villages in 50 communes within nine provinces, supporting the Royal Government of Cambodia's efforts to provide secure and sustainable WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) services in rural areas.

A significant component of the program is the promotion of private sector involvement in water supply services, alongside integrating climate resilience strategies into WASH infrastructure. The program also includes a $3 million grant from the Japan Fund for Prosperity and Resilience in Asia and the Pacific (JFPR) and a $600,000 Technical Assistance grant from the Sanitation Financing Partnership Trust Fund to support sector reforms and improve service delivery.

ADB’s Country Director for Cambodia, Jyotsana Varma, emphasized that the program prioritizes remote areas and aims to ensure that water and sanitation services are affordable and sustainable. The program’s focus on climate resilience and environmental sustainability is expected to have a lasting impact on Cambodia’s rural communities.