In a significant push toward improving access to clean water and sanitation in Cambodia, over $20 million in loans have been disbursed under the Cambodia Microfinance Association’s (CMA) WaterCredit Adaptation Project (WCAD) since its launch in mid-2023. Of this amount, more than $6.2 million was disbursed in just the first five months of 2025—underscoring the strong demand for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) financing.
Backed by global nonprofit Water.org, WCAD project aims to empower Cambodian families—especially those in rural areas—with access to affordable financing for household water and sanitation improvements. Through a combination of technical assistance, capacity-building trainings, and stakeholder engagement, the project has enabled 18 banking and financial institutions (BFIs) to roll out targeted WASH loan products. As a result, approximately 135,000 people have already benefited from improved water and sanitation facilities.
While Cambodia boasts one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies, many households still face barriers to accessing clean water and sanitation due to limited financing options. But momentum is building. The Royal Government of Cambodia has set an ambitious goal of achieving 100% access to improved water and sanitation by 2030. As of 15 June 2025, 22 of the 25 provinces and the capital have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF), with Preah Vihear becoming the most recent to join the list.
At a ceremony marking Preah Vihear’s new ODF status, Minister of Rural Development H.E. Chhay Rithisen reaffirmed the government's commitment to the National Action Plan on Water Supply, Sanitation and Rural Hygiene. The nationwide coverage rate has now reached 91.98%, with 89.21% of the population having access to basic water services and 94.76% to basic rural sanitation.
Dedicated to bringing water and sanitation to the world, Water.org identifies access to affordable financing as one of the most persistent barriers to safe water and sanitation worldwide. To address this, the WaterCredit Initiative was created—connecting low-income families to small loans and practical resources that make household water and sanitation solutions possible. Globally, WaterCredit has already improved more than 79 million lives. CMA’s WCAD project represents Cambodia’s contribution to this growing movement.
As Cambodia moves closer to its sanitation and water access targets, WCAD continues to play a critical role—bridging financial gaps, strengthening institutions, and transforming lives one loan at a time.
Click on below link to watch the impact video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMdHlw91id0
