A structuring project for access to water in Cambodia

In the Stung Sen basin in Cambodia, the rural communes of Reaksa and Tang Krasov face major water-related challenges.

  • Limited access to drinking water
  • Lack of sanitation facilities
  • Inadequate hygiene practices
  • High health and environmental risks

To address these challenges, in November 2022 HAMAP-Humanitaire launched a multi-year project in partnership with:

  • The local NGO Rain Water Cambodia (RWC)
  • The local authorities
  • The Rhin-Meuse Water Agency
  • Toulouse Metropole
  • The David Hadida Foundation

An integrated approach built on three strands

An integrated strategy

The project rests on three complementary pillars:

  • Building infrastructure
  • Strengthening local capacity
  • Raising awareness of hygiene practices

These activities aim to:

  • Give communities greater independence
  • Improve the management of resources
  • Contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Infrastructure for lasting access to water

Installing supply systems

In Tang Krasov:

  • A borehole 70 metres deep
  • A 45 m3 water tower
  • 7,884 metres of pipework
  • A hybrid solar-powered pump
  • 141 households served (more than 700 people)

In Reaksa:

  • 800-metre extension of the existing network
  • 14 additional households connected

The system was designed to be:

  • Affordable
  • Economically viable

Improving sanitation

  • Construction of 150 family latrines
  • Priority given to vulnerable households
  • Training in use and maintenance

Objectives:

  • Reduce health risks
  • Prevent contamination of the environment

Strengthening local governance

Structured community management

In Tang Krasov:

  • Creation of a water management committee
  • 20 members trained in administrative and technical management
  • Monitoring, billing and reporting handled locally

A gradual handover is under way to:

  • The Stung Sen Basin Drinking Water Association (AEPSS)

Stronger coordination

  • 6 review meetings with the local authorities
  • Participation in working groups on water resource management

Awareness raising and community mobilisation

Large-scale activities

  • Information campaigns among households
  • Launch workshops and community meetings
  • Training sessions in villages and schools

More than 11,000 people reached, including:

  • Pupils and teachers
  • Community representatives
  • Service users

Monitoring, evaluation and continuous improvement

A structured framework

  • Baseline survey of 130 households
  • Quarterly coordination meetings
  • Technical monitoring of the installations

Technical and external support

  • Involvement of 3 engineering students (Arts et Metiers d'Angers)
  • Independent external evaluation

Objectives:

  • Measure the impacts
  • Identify areas for improvement
  • Strengthen local capacity

Concrete and lasting results

The project has delivered:

  • A significant improvement in access to drinking water
  • Better access to sanitation
  • The adoption of safer hygiene practices
  • Stronger local skills

Beyond the infrastructure, the project rests on:

  • Community participation
  • Training of local actors
  • Sustainable governance

Development prospects

Towards an extension of the network

HAMAP-Humanitaire and Rain Water Cambodia are considering a new phase:

  • Extension of the network in Tang Krasov
  • Target: 75% of households connected, against 25% today

Expected benefits

  • More subscribers
  • Optimised volumes of water distributed
  • A gradual reduction in costs for users
  • Stronger economic viability of the service