UNESCO and Oxfam in Cambodia co-organized the launch on WWDR 2026 to present the key findings and recommendations of the World Water Development Report 2026 and promote dialogue on water challenges and opportunities in Cambodia. The launching event was presided over by H.E. Ngin Lina, Secretary of State and Chair of Gender Working Group, Ministry of Environment; and joined by H.E. Dr. Hean Vanhan, Secretary of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; H.E. Vann Monyneath, Under Secretary of State, MOE; Flavio Bonetti, UNESCO Representative to Cambodia; Mr. Reto Grüninger, Head of Cooperation, Swiss Cooperation Office and Consular Agency in Cambodia; Ms. Donna McSkimming, Asia Regional Manager. Oxfam; and Sophoan Phean, National Director, Oxfam in Cambodia.
The event gathered up to eighty participants from government, academic and research institutions, UN agencies, development partners, civil society, private sector, bank, youth and media. Its aims are to: (i) present the key findings and recommendations of the UN World Water Development Report 2026; (ii) promote dialogue on water challenges and opportunities in Cambodia; (iii) strengthen collaboration among government agencies, development partners, academia, bank, civil society, and the private sector; and (iv) highlight Cambodia’s progress and priorities toward achieving SDG 6. As per Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 data on water access, more than 33% of the country’s population used a safely managed water service in 2024. Cambodia has an abundance of water resources, including the Mekong River and Tonle Sap Lake, yet many areas face severe water scarcity during dry seasons, impacting the water and livelihood security of communities. In addition, real gender equality gaps remain in practice. Evidence shows that women and girls are disproportionately impacted by water insecurity. When it comes to decision-making processes on water and sanitation, women are underrepresented in key institutions like in the Farmer Water User Communities (FWUCs) and River Basin Committees (RBCs), which are mostly men-dominated. There is an urgent need to support and strengthen women’s leadership in the country’s overall water governance policies and practice at the national, sub-national and local levels. Cambodia’s National Water Resources Policy (2004), complemented by the 2007 Law on Water Resources Management and two sub-decrees (one on river basin management and one on Farmer Water User Committees), provides overarching principles for sustainable water use, water security, and equitable access by various sectors. These policies and legal frameworks, along with multi-sectoral collaborations, have underpinned Cambodia’s progress in achieving inclusive, affordable and sustainable water and sanitation for all.
H.E. Lina delivered an opening remark and her excellency highlighted that millions of women and girls, water defines the rhythm of life. It determines how far they must walk, how much time they must spend, and how safe they feel. It can dictate whether a girl attends school or stays home, whether a woman can pursue paid work or remains tied to unpaid labor. In many communities, women are the primary managers of household water, yet they are too often excluded from decisions about how water is governed, financed, and protected. This is not just a gender issue. It is a development issue. The World Water Development Report 2026 calls on all of us to move beyond recognition toward action. This means investing in gender-responsive water policies. It means ensuring women’s participation at every level—from community committees to national. It means collecting better data so that inequalities are visible and measurable. And it means addressing the structural barriers—legal, economic, and cultural—that limit women’s voices and opportunities. Cambodia has undertaken legal, policy and institutional reforms to allow for greater participation and decentralization of decision-making based on the principle of subsidiarity, which gender equity been mainstreaming. Following this principle, the people who rely on and use water resources should be involved in their governance at the most immediate or lowest appropriate level.
UNESCO Representative to Cambodia, Swiss Cooperation Agency in Cambodia and Oxfam in Cambodia together with government ministries have recognized water sector is important and expressed high commitment to continued support the sector. UNESCO in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, and other partners, are addressing data, knowledge and capacity gaps in transboundary groundwater governance and strengthen climate adaptation and water security in the lower Mekong basin. The projects have mainstreamed gender through analysis, capacity building for established gender focal points at national and aquifer levels, and development of groundwater gender action plans.
The panel group session provided perspectives from the panelists, representation of line ministries, development partner, civil society, private sector and researcher on how can some of the key WWDR 2026 findings and suggestions be used in Cambodia’s water sector development and climate resilience initiative.
Phnom Penh and deliberated on ways to further strengthen gender equality and inclusion across water and sanitation policies and practices in Cambodia.
H.E. Dr. Hean Vanhan concluded the event, expressing a congratulation to UNESCO and Oxfam in Cambodia for organizing a launch of this report in Cambodia, providing an opportunity for diverse stakeholders to come together to brainstorm the critical issues of water, gender equality and human development in Cambodia. His excellency also express sincere appreciation to all of you for your presence, your insights, and your shared commitment to one of the most vital resources for life and development—water. The report’s key findings and today’s discussions have reminded us that water is not only a natural resource, but a foundation for health, food security, energy security, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. The findings of this year’s report highlight both the progress we have made and the urgent challenges that remain to improve gender equality and women leadership in water and sanitation. They call on us to act with greater coordination, innovation, and resolve.
For Cambodia, a country deeply connected to its rivers, lakes, and seasonal cycles, the sustainable management of water resources is central to national development and community resilience. The report provides valuable knowledge and guidance that can support policymakers, practitioners, and communities in making informed decisions for a more water-secure future. Agriculture accounts for 70% of global freshwater withdrawals, primarily for irrigation to grow crops and support livestock. It is the largest consumer of water worldwide. Cambodia has put in place many reforms and practices to ensure equitable and efficient water resources management in agriculture and particularly in rice farming in the country. Key efforts focus on improving irrigation efficiency and promoting climate-smart technologies through initiatives like the Cambodia Water Security Improvement Project (CaWSIP-MAFF).
And this is where I want to like to emphasize the role of people, government, private sector, development partners and other stakeholders in bringing about change. A report like this alone does not create change—people do. It is through partnerships, shared responsibility, and sustained action that we can translate knowledge into impact. Let today not be the end of a conversation, but the beginning of renewed collaboration.
His excellency encouraged all stakeholders, government agencies, development partners, civil society, academia, and the private sector—to continue working together to strengthen water governance, invest in resilient systems, and ensure equitable access to safe water for all.