Projects > Cambodia Water Project

Cambodia Water Project

Aim:
The Cambodia Water Project is a five year program being undertaken by the Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI) in conjunction with the University of Sydney and the Royal University of Phnom Penh. It began in July 2006 and is scheduled to be completed in 2011. The program is funded by the Australian aid agency, AusAID.

The goal of the program is to improve the use and governance of water resources in Cambodia to increase agricultural production and sustainable use of natural resources. The goals of the program will be achieved through:

* Developing high quality data and knowledge in water resource research and management in Cambodia
* Improving water resource research and management capacity in Cambodia
* Dissemination of reliable and high quality knowledge and information on water resource management

Project rationale:
Approximately 85 percent of Cambodia’s population live and work in rural areas, and most depend on rice production as their primary source of livelihood. Many farm households, however, are entirely dependent on rainfall for food production. In terms of increasing agricultural productivity and improving rural livelihoods, therefore, one of the main challenges confronting Cambodian farmers concerns access to adequate water resources for irrigation and other household uses. Sound water management thus plays a fundamental role in underpinning rural development in Cambodia.

Although the concept and practice of irrigation has been used previously in Cambodia the concepts of watershed management such as Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), Participatory Irrigation Management and Development (PIMD) and Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT) are new to the country. As a result there is a marked need for improved knowledge on the dynamics, options and constraints of water resources management. This lack of experience also results in a similarly important need for increased capacity for improved governance and management of water resources at national as well as local level.

Researchers:
University of Sydney: Associate Professor Philip Hirsch, Dr Eleanor Bruce, Dr Melissa Neave, Dr Paulo Santos, Nathan Wales, Kate Griffiths

Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI): Cham Phalla, Kim Sean Somatra, Suon Vanny, Khiev Daravy, Mr Horng Vuthy, Mr So Sovannarith

Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP): Ham Kimkong

Links:

For the project website go to http://www.cdri.org.kh and follow the links to 'Major Research Project' and 'Water Management'

© 2005 Australian Mekong Resource Centre