Building climate resilience for communities in Cambodia
Located in Southeast Asia, Cambodia is highly susceptible to the impacts of climate change. The country faces various challenges, including water pollution, strong winds, floods, and mangrove destruction—all of which pose significant threats to its coastal communities.
Unfortunately, Cambodia lacks the necessary capacity building and knowledge sharing to effectively address these challenges. This further increases the vulnerability of its communities, leaving them even more susceptible to the effects of climate change.
Addressing the challenges
UN-Habitat Cambodia recognized the urgent need to address these issues and sought assistance from Arcadis through the Shelter program. Our team provided technical advice in developing UN-Habitat Cambodia’s proposal and explored small-scale solutions to the problems faced by the cities of Kampot and Koh Kong in Cambodia’s coastal provinces. The goal is to assess the affected areas and find solutions that enhance climate resilience for the vulnerable communities.
The project also includes adapting climate-resilient structures to withstand extreme hydro-meteorological events, restoring coastal ecosystems while minimizing socioeconomic impacts, and strengthening the institutional capacity of the communities to manage the implemented climate adaptation measures.
This journey was more than just a professional endeavor. It was a profound encounter with the human side of resilience. During our fieldwork in a floating village, I was deeply moved by Vanna Sok, Program Manager of UN-Habitat Cambodia. His love for Cambodia radiated from his very core, reminding us of the voices that often go unheard. His words echoed within me: ‘If we don't help them, they will be permanently forgotten.
UN-Habitat has been developing a project proposal to enhance the adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities in Kampot and Koh Kong provinces. To develop the most suitable infrastructure in response to local needs—while minimizing environmental and social risks—we appreciate Arcadis experts visiting Cambodia and supporting us in designing solutions based on global good practices and lessons learned. Their technical assistance was vital in developing a practical and satisfactory project proposal.
Nature-based solutions
Considering the current situation and environmental challenges, the Shelter team—comprising colleagues from the Philippines, France, and the United Kingdom—identified the benefits of nature-based solutions. These include using existing wetland and riverside ecosystems to treat wastewater from the target communities. Additionally, they provided conceptual designs for resilient housing that can expand and adapt to growing families. These proposed target communities will also serve as models for effective wastewater management.
Consultations with locals revealed a strong desire for self-improvement and a resilient environment. The proposed interventions aim to support the communities by providing cleaner water, resilient shelters, and a sustainable environment. By meeting basic needs such as access to clean water and secure housing, the communities can achieve personal security, good health, property ownership, a sense of belonging, and the freedom to pursue a better future.