Climate Resilience in Agriculture and Water

Purpose of Project

The aim of the project is to make Cambodia’s agricultural sector less vulnerable to changes in the availability of water resources resulting from climate change. It will also contribute to the broader goal of enhancing adaptive capacity to prevent food insecurity in Cambodia induced by climate change. The project will work to increase awareness of climate change, demonstrate climate resilient practices in agriculture and water resource management and integrate responses into provincial and commune development plans. The project is the first designed to respond to the priorities identified in Cambodia’s National Adaptation Programme of Action to Climate Change (NAPA).

Main Activities

• Pilot the integration of climate change responses into commune and provincial development plans in the two target districts in Kratie and Preah Vihear provinces.
• Develop and pilot technologies that improve access to water for household use and agriculture in a changing climate.
• Develop and pilot farming methods that are suited to changing climates in the two target areas.
• Bridge the gap between gender, agriculture and climate change at province, district and commune levels.
• Promote public awareness of climate change and adaptation in relation to water resources management and agricultural practices.
• Document case studies, best practices and lessons learned and share them through the UNDP Adaptation Learning Mechanism. This is a web-based global knowledge-sharing platform that is designed to capture and disseminate adaptation experiences.

Key Results

• Two target communes supported in mainstreaming climate change into Commune Investment Programs (CIP) 2011.
• Almost 100 provincial and district facilitation teams, line department staff and non-governmental organizations attended a project orientation workshop on climate change and its impact.
• Two Farmer Water User Committees in Teuk Krahom, Preah Vihear province, were formed to manage future water-related conflicts.
• Around 500 farmers, of which 250 were women, and commune councils were made aware of the impact of climate change on agricultural livelihoods through project knowledge sharing activities.
• More than 100 farmers, of which approximately 50 were women, participated in 30 demonstrations of climate resilient rice varieties. Farmers expressed an interest for more trials to take place.
• 120 farmers learnt improved farming techniques through Farmers’ field schools and Farmers’ Field Days.
• Farmers in 13 target villages assessed their climate change vulnerability and their responses were incorporated into project activities. 

Background

Cambodia’s National Adaptation Programme of Action to Climate Change (NAPA) was developed by the Ministry of environment and endorsed by the government in 2006. Under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which Cambodia joined in 2002, least Developed Countries such as Cambodia are encouraged to develop NAPAs. Support for developing these NAPAs is provided through the globalenvironment Facility, a multi-donor facility. Cambodia’s NAPA identifies priority interventions, designed to address the urgent needs for adaptation in key sectors, primarily agriculture, water resources, the coastal zone and human health.

The NAPA outlines 39 “no regrets” adaptation projects, 20 of which focus on issues of water resources and agriculture. The projects were identified on the basis of gap and policy analysis, a field survey, consultations, expert reviews and an inter-ministerial review. They are aligned with Cambodia’s development objectives, which are outlined in the rectangular strategy for growth, employment, equity and efficiency (2004) and the National Strategic Development Plan (2006-2010).

Promoting Climate-resilient Water Management and Agricultural Practices in Rural Cambodia is one of them. It is the first project to systematically address gaps in institutional and individual capacity in affected rural communities to manage agricultural water resources in a changing climate. It is also demonstrating resilient irrigation, fresh water management and farming options. As Cambodia has been undertaking a concerted effort of decentralization, these efforts are focusing primarily on provincial, district and communal planning systems. These include Commune Planning and Budgeting Committees, Commune Councils and Farmer Water User Committees.

The project is working in two contrasting agricultural districts, which were selected for their high vulnerability as well as for differences in agro-ecological and socio-economic circumstances. It is being implemented in partnership with the rural livelihoods Improvement Project, which is funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development and UNDP. lessons learned will be replicated in other high-risk areas in Cambodia, and made accessible to other countries in the region.