A four-year, $5 million climate change adaptation project in Kep and Preah Sihanouk provinces has officially concluded. Discussions are now underway to develop a follow-up plan aimed at further strengthening local communities’ resilience to climate change.
A closing ceremony for the “Climate Change Adaptation through Small-Scale Infrastructure Interventions in Coastal Settlements of Cambodia (CCA4CS)” project was held during a workshop late last week. The event summarised key achievements and outcomes of the project’s 2021 to 2025 implementation.
“The CCA4CS project has played a crucial role in building community capacity to adapt to climate change and to develop communities that are more resilient to climate-related risks… The workshop provided an opportunity to share best practices and lessons learned throughout the implementation process,” explained a Ministry of Environment statement.
The project was funded by the Adaptation Fund through the UN-Habitat program and implemented by the ministry’s National Council for Sustainable Development (NCSD).
The project activities, the ministry added, were carried out in close collaboration with provincial authorities and local communities in both provinces, who actively participated in implementation and maintenance to ensure sustainability of the results.
The closing workshop not only concluded the project but also served as an important forum to strengthen cooperation among stakeholders for the continued development of coastal communities that are climate-resilient and sustainable in the future.
The event was presided over by Pheav Sovuthy, ministry undersecretary of State, and attended by Long Dimanche, deputy governor of Preah Sihanouk province; representatives from the Kep provincial administration, Odicea Angelo Barrios, regional representative of UN-Habitat for Asia and the Pacific, and Sok Vanna, UN-Habitat representative for Cambodia.
In Preah Sihanouk province, the project achieved several key outcomes. They include the restoration of over 58 hectares of mangrove forest, rehabilitation of water gates and canals to prevent seawater intrusion, design and construction of seven model climate-resilient houses for poor and vulnerable families in Prey Nob district, installation of drainage and rainwater systems at Veal Renh Market in Prey Nop and the establishment of a weather monitoring station and wave-height measuring device connected to an early warning system in Ou Oknha Heng commune.
The seven model houses in Prey Nop were officially presented last week. Earlier, in June, 12 similar climate-resilient houses were gifted to vulnerable households in Kep province.
The homes were constructed using modern technical standards and are designed to withstand current climate change conditions. They feature strong, wind-resistant structures, ample natural light and excellent ventilation.
