ADB Funds Water Resource Management Projects in Cambodia

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday announced that it has approved two projects with $173 million in loans and grants to accelerate climate-adaptive water resources management in Cambodia.

The first project is an $88 million Integrated Water Resources Management Project targeting river basins in Battambang and Pursat provinces in the Tonle Sap basin, the ADB said in an official release this morning.

The project will strengthen integrated, climate-adaptive, and eco-friendly water resources management, modernize irrigation systems, and reduce flood risks.

A grant of $4.3 million from the Asian Development Fund, which provides grants to ADB’s most vulnerable countries, is included to augment the capacity of communities in climate-resilient water management.

The Manila-headquartered bank will partially administer $80 million loan to be co-financed by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. The project will also promote climate-mitigative irrigation water management through attached technical assistance grant financed by the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific.

The second project is an $85 million additional financing for the ongoing Irrigated Agriculture Improvement Project to help the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology enhance water delivery efficiency and climate resilience across four irrigation systems in Battambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom, and Takeo provinces.

This project will share best practices with farmers to enhance climate resilience and water delivery efficiency of irrigation infrastructure. The project also supports operational capacity development for Cambodia’s National Water Resources Management Data Centre and associated National Water Resources Information System. It will also support preparatory work and design for future investments in flood and drought management.

Supporting Sustainable Water Management

ADB Country Director for Cambodia Jyotsana Varma said that the bank was committed to supporting Cambodia in building resilience against climate challenges and ensuring sustainable water management.

These two projects will modernize critical irrigation and flood management systems in regions facing severe drought and flood risks, and make investments to protect communities and ecosystems alike, Varma said.

“These projects will empower farmers with climate-smart irrigation practices to secure their livelihoods, enhance food production, and strengthen food security. ADB is proud to partner with Cambodia to address these urgent needs and lay the groundwork for a resilient future,” Varma added.

The country’s updated nationally determined contributions identify agriculture and water resources as the sectors most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

Frequent floods during the wet season affect 4 million people, or nearly one-fourth of the population with annual losses estimated at $250 million, which is over 1% of the country’s gross domestic product.

The frequency and severity of these extreme weather events is increasing with climate change. Estimates suggest that much of Cambodia’s agricultural land will face increased drought risks with rising temperatures and heat stress, even as losses in agricultural production over the past 20 years were primarily caused by flooding.