The Royal Government of Cambodia has initiated a massive expansion in sewer coverage in urban areas of Cambodia with 10 cities in the process of installing wastewater management infrastructure.

This project supports the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Cambodia in setting up the policy framework and regulatory mechanisms to ensure sustainability of investments and to enhance the capacity of provincial authorities in operating the infrastructure.

This project under the Provincial Water Supply and Sanitation Project (PWSSP) enables coordination and cohesion across all activities nationwide, including policy development, infrastructure planning and management, and community engagement. Together, PWSSWP and these projects will support the Royal Government of Cambodia’s goals to achieve the Urban Planning and Management component of the Rectangular Strategy Phase IV, which aims to develop “cities and urban areas by enhancing the development and enforcement of laws, regulations, technology and construction standards that ensure quality, safety, beauty, efficiency and smart city principles.

The objectives of the project are:

1. Diagnose and consolidate the country-wide sanitation activities, leading to a centralized strategy (National Action Plan) supported by newly developed guidelines and policies to fill gaps in existing regulations and achieve proper implementation.

2. Use experience and assessment of existing wastewater utilities to develop a customizable guide (Performance Improvement Plan or PIP) for wastewater utilities to monitor and plan activities, including drafting two city-specific PIPs for Battambang and Siem Reap municipalities.

3. Develop and implement a national sanitation communication strategy, creating customized campaigns to implement in Battambang and Siem Reap municipalities targeting the training of provincial authorities and awareness raising of the general population.

Cambodia is experiencing rapid development, with estimated annual economic growth of 7% and GDP growth of 8.9% from 2018 to 2019. Coupled with a nearly 1% annual urbanization rate, this growth has generated increasing demand for improved and modernized public services. Sanitation in cities is rapidly developing in response, with significant investments from Asian Development Bank (ADB), French Development Agency (AFD), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and others primarily focused on provincial capitals and key corridor cities.

However, efforts remain fragmented and lack national cohesion. With only 12% sewer coverage in urban areas outside Phnom Penh and few operational treatment facilities, current projects primarily focus on developing infrastructure for collection systems, wastewater treatment, and fecal sludge management. These initiatives require substantial technical assistance for organization, planning, and supportive policies to ensure formalization and sustainability. Greater efforts are necessary to achieve effective decentralization.

System of National Accounts (SNAs) still lacks the tools and technical/operation knowledge to properly manage existing and newly built infrastructure. For example, regulations are not implemented on the ground and fee for service schemes to sustain Operation and Maintenance (O&M) are not being developed.

On 9 May 2024, after the MoU signing among Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT), H.E. Peng Ponea, Minister of MPWT and Chairman of the ceremony, received the “Guidelines for Operation and Maintenance of Sewerage Networks” from Ms. Helena McLeod, GGGI Deputy Director General. He then handed over the guideline to the Director General of the General Department of Sewerage and Wastewater Management.

The guideline, a joint publication between MPWT and GGGI, aims to ensure the sustainable use of sewerage networks. The Guidelines will serve as a reference document for operators with technical knowledge and skills to maintain the infrastructure.