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Livable, Resilient, and Water-Secure Cities Investment Program

Improves inclusive access to urban services, strengthens climate resilience, and enhances water security across 14 cities and 12 districts in Cambodia

Sectors
Urban development
Country
Cambodia
Partners
European Union
Agence Française de Développement
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Approval
Jump to: Financing Issue Solution ACGF Support

Financing

Total Project Cost

$763 million

ADB Financing

$743.3 million

Includes $3 million from the Urban Resilience Trust Fund (funded by the Government of the United Kingdom)

AIF Financing

$10 million

EU-ACGF Cofinancing

$10 million

AfD Cofinancing

$135 million

ISSUE

Rapid urbanization, climate vulnerability, and strained urban service systems.

Over half of Cambodia’s population is exposed to climate-related risks, with floods, droughts, and extreme heat placing growing pressure on cities—especially in the Mekong and Tonle Sap floodplains. Urban drainage and water systems are often overwhelmed, while poor planning and weak enforcement have led to unsafe development and shrinking natural buffers. Many urban households, especially the poor, lack access to reliable, safe water and sanitation. With the urban population expected to grow nearly 50% by 2040, Cambodia urgently needs climate-resilient, inclusive infrastructure to protect lives and livelihoods and ensure livable, competitive cities.

SOLUTION

A multi‑phase, climate‑resilient urban services program supporting inclusive, livable, and water‑secure cities.

Supporting with concessional financing from ACGF, ADB designed a comprehensive investment program to help Cambodia build resilient, well‑planned urban areas by strengthening water security, improving basic services, and reducing climate and disaster risks across 14 cities and 12 districts in the Mekong, Tonle Sap, and coastal regions. Using a multitranche financing facility, the program provides a phased approach that allows investments to align with institutional capacity, incorporate lessons learned, and scale up impact over time. To build climate- and disaster-resilient urban environments, the program supports improved urban planning, including strengthened regulatory frameworks, land-use planning, and climate‑informed decision-making. It will enhance drainage, sanitation, and flood risk management systems, reducing exposure to increasingly frequent river and flash floods. Investments will prioritize nature‑based and climate‑resilient solutions that safeguard communities, infrastructure, and local economies. To promote water security, the program will expand and modernize urban water supply systems—improving reliability, reducing overdependence on groundwater, and enhancing service delivery for households, including the urban poor. Support to both public utilities and private water operators will improve drinking water quality, expand coverage, and strengthen operational sustainability. The program also embeds targeted gender and social inclusion measures, ensuring women, poor households, and persons with disabilities benefit from safer, more reliable water and sanitation services. Through stronger institutions, upgraded infrastructure, and integrated climate adaptation measures, the investment program aims to reach more than 2 million people—helping Cambodia advance toward universal access to safe water and sanitation and more livable, climate-resilient cities.