Why work in Cambodia?

4.8 million (29%) people in Cambodia don’t have access to safe water ²

5.2 million (31%) people in Cambodia don’t have access to adequate sanitation ²

Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia, despite its growing tourist industry. Still recovering from the Khmer Rouge regime, the country lacks skilled engineers and health professionals. Many of the rural communities we work with rely on Cambodia’s largest industry, agriculture, as a source of income. A lack of infrastructure and the effects of climate change, which has created severe droughts followed by extreme flooding, has hindered development. Nearly half of the population lives in poverty.

Cambodia has high rainfall and is prone to flooding, so although there's not a lack of groundwater, much of this is contaminated and not safe to drink. WASH solutions in Cambodia address these issues of water contamination and storage; and increasing sanitation facilites. 

² WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme 2021 report (based on estimates on the use of water sources and sanitation facilities)

What We Do in Cambodia

We work with village communities in rural areas around Siem Reap to build and repair shallow hand-dug wells, and provide biosand filters, latrines and hygiene training. We ensure villages have a sustainable source of water, which is protected from contamination.

Visit our Project Map to explore our individual Cambodian projects.

Background Cambodia 

Capital: Phnom Penh

Population: 16.2 million¹

Area: 181,035 km² 

Other Main Cities: Ta Khamu, Battambang, Serei Saophoan, Siem Reap

Major language: Khmer

Major religion: Buddhism

HDI Index: 146/189¹ (Medium Human Development)

Life expectancy at birth: 69.6 years¹

Under-five Mortality rate (per 1,000 live births): 29.2¹

[1] UNDP Human Development Report 2019