In 2016, Cambodia faced one of its most severe droughts in half a century. Temperatures exceeded 40°C, reservoirs dried up, and entire communities struggled to secure water for daily survival. In Banteay Meanchey province’s Tomnobdach village, 600 families relied on a single dirt hole as their only free source of water.

As 69-year-old Chhorm Yuth recalled, “We use only five litres of water for taking a shower each day because we are poor.”

This real story — recorded in Cambodia’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Process document — became a human symbol of how climate extremes devastate vulnerable populations.

NAP Project Response

The Cambodia NAP Process Project, led by the National Council for Sustainable Development (NCSD) with support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), GIZ, and UNDP, learned directly from these experiences. The Tomnobdach crisis underscored why Cambodia’s adaptation planning must reach the commune level, where climate impacts are felt first.

Through the NAP process:

• Local vulnerability assessments were carried out in drought-prone provinces such as Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, and Kampong Thom, identifying communities at highest risk.
• Commune and district planning guidelines were revised to integrate climate risks and promote climate-smart water management (e.g., small-scale reservoirs, groundwater recharge systems, and drought-resistant crops).
• Partnerships with programmes like ASPIRE and the Strategic Programme for Climate Resilience (SPCR) mobilised funding for water-harvesting infrastructure and farmer training.

Results and Impact

By 2020, these measures had led to:

• The introduction of small irrigation systems in five drought-affected communes.
• Enhanced climate-risk mapping that guided the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in prioritising investments.
• Increased awareness among local officials and villagers about water conservation and climate-resilient livelihoods.

Lessons Learned

• Local stories like Tomnobdach help policymakers understand the human face of climate change.
• Evidence-based vulnerability data and local participation are essential to design practical adaptation solutions.
• Combining local wisdom with national planning creates stronger, more sustainable resilience.