Nurture – Nurturing Climate Resilience in Cambodia

The provinces in the northwest of Cambodia are still very underdeveloped. The vast majority of the population lives from agriculture. This is the sector most affected by the consequences of climate change. Most households grow only rice. Outdated cultivation methods reduce the harvest. Smallholder family farms have so far benefited only to a limited extent from improved irrigation systems. During the long dry season, the fields lie fallow and households suffer from the lack of water, which affects well-being and hygiene. This is despite the fact that Cambodia actually has large potential water resources. There are lakes, rivers and seasonal rains. These are then so intense during the rainy season that the country is flooded. Due to climate change, the rainy season tends to be shorter, but has become more intense. Floods have become more intense in recent years and have led to major destruction. The poorest villages and families are particularly suffering from these new conditions. They do not have the resources to deal with disasters. There is a lack of knowledge on how to use water to expand and diversify agricultural production through small-scale irrigation farming. There is also a lack of know-how on how to increase agricultural production through climate resilient and diversified farming methods.

Integrated water resource management is the most important strategy applied to ensure year-round access to water for human consumption and for agricultural production. Caritas builds the capacity of rural communities that face water-related extremes and climatic stress. Adapted rice-varieties and diversification of livelihoods enhance productivity and income of smallholder farmers.

The communities develop systems to control excess rain and floods and preserve water for the dry season. Improved water infrastructure include dams, community ponds and canals that serve as irrigation systems.

Ecologically and socially sustainable water use schemes are promoted, and a strong focus is on ensuring the management, operation and maintenance of the hardware. Moreover, hygiene and sanitation components are given due attention to achieve behavior change among the target population.

Project Outcomes

• Vulnerable smallholder farmers have increased yields and reduced climate risks through better and more stable access to water for irrigation.
• Vulnerable smallholder farmers and their communities benefit from improved social accountability, planning and policies related to climate change adaptation.
• Vulnerable smallholder farmers adopt agro-ecological practices and diversify their sources of income.

Key Interventions

• Facilitate access to and use of agroecological practices
• Foster market-based climate-resilient agriculture solutions, through inclusive private sector development and entrepreneurship
• Build capacity of Farmer Water User Committee's (FWUCs) and stakeholders to run operations successfully, using the Integrity Management Toolbox
• Support sustainable land and water use practices through common cropping calendars
• Sustain operation and maintenance of existing infrastructure and establish sustainable financing mechanisms
• Strengthen participatory planning and decision-making on water, agriculture and climate in sub-national governance mechanisms

The biggest challenge in managing water is the lack of cooperation between communities along a water system. Caritas Switzerland together with the Water Integrity Network (WIN) has developed an approach that aims at improving water governance in Cambodia: The Integrity Management (IM) Toolbox for Irrigation.

The IM toolbox brings together community groups from catchment and command areas, the local government, line departments to re-create the accountability lines and clarify the roles and responsibilities of each party. The goal is to negotiate solutions to flooding (rainy season) and water scarcity (dry season) in a constructive and conflict-sensitive manner. The project also ensures diversification of crops and access to markets.

This project is being carried out jointly by Caritas Switzerland and the Swiss Church Aid (HEKS/EPER). Both organizations bring their strengths to a joint project team. Caritas specializes in improved water management. HEKS has years of experience in integrated ecological agriculture.
The consortium promotes dialogue between the authorities and the farmers so that they can have a say in their development in the future and demand that the government fulfils its obligations.