Cambodia’s Climate Vulnerability

Cambodia is among the countries most exposed to the growing impacts of climate change. Floods, droughts, and storms are becoming more frequent and intense, disrupting lives and livelihoods. The 2024 INFORM Risk Index ranks Cambodia 58th out of 191 countries for disaster risk, highlighting the vulnerability of communities across the Mekong and Tonle Sap basins.

For families living in these areas, a single flood can destroy crops, damage homes, and undo years of progress, pushing them back into poverty. Strengthening community resilience is therefore essential—through greater investment in local preparedness, innovation, and sustainable, community-driven solutions.

A Strategic Initiative to Build Local Resilience

Since 2024, UNDP, together with the National Committee for Disaster Management and People in Need, has been strengthening community resilience through the regional project “Enhancing Integrated Water Management and Climate Resilience in Vulnerable Urban Areas of the Mekong River Basin,” funded by the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea.

The project empowers local leaders and communities to plan ahead, prepare, and respond more effectively to floods and droughts, contributing to Cambodia’s broader climate adaptation goals under its Nationally Determined Contributions. It combines training, participatory planning, and the provision of essential preparedness materials—boats, hand tractors, lifebuoys, water containers, and life jackets. Comprehensive needs assessments were conducted at the outset to identify the most underserved areas, ensuring that support is inclusive, equitable, and tailored to local risks.

Since the project began, over 150 local leaders and community members some of which are disaster management committee members have completed targeted disaster preparedness training. Today, seven in ten participants can clearly demonstrate improved skills in early warning, evacuation, and emergency response. Building on this capacity training, these trained committee members and local leaders in ten communes in Stung Treng and Kratié Provinces developed their first-ever Commune Climate Change Adaptation Plans, outlining concrete actions to reduce vulnerability and strengthen resilience.

Disaster management committee members are now applying their training, implementing tools like the Incident Command System, and conducting flood drills to test and refine emergency response protocols.

In one village, a flood simulation drill allowed residents to practice evacuation plans while disaster committees refined their response procedures. These exercises build confidence, reveal critical gaps, and strengthen community cooperation in the face of growing climate risks. By taking ownership and shifting from reactive to proactive approaches, communities are now better equipped to protect lives, safeguard livelihoods, and reduce recovery costs amid increasingly unpredictable weather.

Local leaders share the real impact: “I remember during a flood, a pregnant woman struggled to find a boat to reach the health center,” said a deputy district governor from Siem Pang, Stung Treng. “I had to call a relative to borrow one. Now, with the boat and materials we received, we use them to evacuate people and bring food to the communities during the recent floods. Our community is much better prepared.”

This project demonstrates that when communities are empowered with the right tools, knowledge, and ownership of their plans, they can respond swiftly and effectively to disasters. Its participatory, bottom-up approach provides a replicable model for other regions facing similar climate challenges. 

Looking Ahead: Sustaining the Momentum

While distributing flood preparedness materials is an important milestone, the work continues. Sustaining momentum means ensuring that training continues, tools are maintained, and communities retain ownership of their preparedness systems. Monitoring and evaluation guide improvements, but at its core, this initiative places leadership in the hands of local actors. From flood drills to community meetings, residents are not just beneficiaries—they are driving resilience in their communities.

A Personal Reflection

Being part of this journey has been both humbling and inspiring. Witnessing communities take charge of their future, despite immense climate challenges, is a powerful reminder of what is possible when local action is truly empowered.

The real success of this project is not found in the tools or plans alone, but in the growing confidence, capability, and connectedness of Cambodia’s frontline communities. As we move forward, I hope this model inspires similar efforts across the country and the region—because when people unite with the right support and shared purpose, they can build a future that is stronger, safer, and more resilient.