Cambodia is among the most climate-vulnerable countries in Southeast Asia. The country faces increasing threats from climate-related hazards such as extreme heat, floods and droughts, which are becoming more frequent and severe, disrupting lives and livelihoods, and slowing the country’s development progress.
As the impacts of climate change worsen, communities face growing challenges to maintain food security, income stability and access to essential services.
Recognising the urgent need for climate resilience, Caritas Australia has commenced a new five-year project designed to build long-term adaptation capacity and sustainable livelihoods in vulnerable communities in Cambodia.
The Improving Climate Resilience in Cambodia project partners with the Culture and Environment Preservation Association (CEPA) and Development and Partnership in Action (DFA), along with support from the Australian government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
Program snapshot
Over the next five years, the project will focus on achieving the following key outcomes:
Climate-smart practices and resilient livelihoods
Communities supported to adopt climate-smart agriculture and sustainable resource management techniques.
Women’s leadership and sustainable income generation
Support community members – especially women – to take on leadership roles in environmental protection, and establish income-generating opportunities through eco-tourism and cultural services.
Inclusive climate governance
Ensure that community voices, particularly those of the most vulnerable, are heard and reflected in climate policy recommendations.
Farmers in flood-prone areas adapting to climate change
Sry is a 29-year-old farmer and mother of three boys living in Stung Treng province near a river that often. As a Village Disaster Committee member, she has undertaken a series of training programs focused on vegetable cultivation and chicken raising. While she is primarily a chicken farmer, she also grows cashews, rice, and coconuts.
Sry works tirelessly every day of the week, beginning her mornings caring for her chickens, then moving on to household chores and working in her farm in the afternoons. Despite her dedication, making ends meet and the threat of flooding remain her greatest concerns.
Through the program, Sry gained valuable knowledge that has helped her better prepare for disasters such as floods, which she now shares with her community. The training has also improved her chicken-raising practices, including learning proper vaccination schedules. As a result, her income has increased by 50 percent, enabling her to better support her children’s education.
Sry says the program has helped her grow in both knowledge and confidence. She dreams of owning a large, well-managed chicken farm in the future and hopes her children will study as much as possible and graduate.
Nimol’s journey to environmental leadership
As a volunteer with the CEPA and the Mekong Youth Network, Nimol has developed leadership skills to inspire others in her community to protect their home from mounting environmental threats. The Mekong Youth Network empowers local youth like Nimol to better understand water governance, resource rights and legal frameworks related to water use.
As part of the project, Nimol was introduced to a workshop on fish conservation, waste management, river protection, and leadership skills.
Nimol is a youth leader who advocates for greater climate action. Photo: Kimheang Tuon.
'It opened my eyes,' she said. 'I began to understand how our everyday small actions impact the river and the environment. And I realised I had a role to play in changing that.'
Nimol and her youth network are now transforming their community through environmental and climate leadership. She participates in clean-up events, educates her community about responsible waste management, and inspires other youth to take action.
