CONTEXT
While the Tonle Sap (TS) Lake is one of the top four fishery production areas in the world and contributes to the majority of Cambodia’s freshwater fish production, the lake and its basin are under increasing pressure from climate change (CC), illegal over-exploitation of fisheries, deforestation, upstream dam-building etc, leading to high levels of poverty, food insecurity and environmental degradation, catastrophic health and education outcomes for women and children around the Tonle Sap Region.
The CAPFISH/ Foster Project (Lot 1) supports the economic empowerment of members of community fisheries (CFis) in floating villages in the Tonle Sap through interventions to diversify their livelihood by creating income generation opportunities through community-led entrepreneurship and employment in ecotourism, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy while also improving WASH, health and education outcomes.
APPROACH
WASH - Fishing communities in the Tonie Sap have increased access to safe water supply, hygiene and sanitation services. To respond to the pressing need for clean drinking water and adequate sanitation among fishing communities living in the West Tonle Sap, Consortium partners WW and TS implements low-cost, sustainable sanitation solutions (HPods) and clean drinking water systems (Water Kiosks)- with interventions to promote behavioral change and uptake for school children.
WASH MANAGEMENT - Strengthen waste management services: Building on its successful experience in Phatsanday, Oxfam partner FACT deploys innovative technology in delivering eco-waste management services in 5 communes of the target areas, where plastic, glass and kitchen waste, are converted into consumer products, organic fertilizer and construction material such as Eco-bricks.
EDUCATION - Vulnerable and poor girls and boys are provided with increased availability and accessibility to education to successfully transition through school. As such, School-feeding programs are implemented, transportation Solutions and scholarships are provided to support marginalized girls and boys who are at risk. Given that distance is one of the key barriers to school access, scholarships target those living more than 3 km from a secondary school. Children with special needs are a focus of the project in terms of screening and implementing inclusive classes.
GREEN ECONOMY
Green Business Hubs established to oversee community businesses. The Hubs will us a sustainable and inclusive business model Known as P4 (Producer, Public, Private Partnerships) in Eco-Tourism, sustainable rice farming in compliance with the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP); fish processing compliant with market standards and horticulture handling, processing, and storage. Connected Solar microgrids provide access to sustainable energy with the objective of reducing HH dependency on firewood and charcoal. In addition to the Tonle Sap Eco-Tourism Network (TEN) market access will also be supported by a green floating market, established in Prey Chas commune Battambang to enable local communities to sell their products (NTFPs: handbags crafted from water hyacinths, honey, sustainably farmed rice and crops and processed and fermented fish etc.) to diversify their income from fishing which continues to be under pressure.
Strategic partners
- Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
- Ministry of Environment
- Swiss Contact
- Sustainable Rice Platform
- Amru Rice
- IBIS Rice
- Women Organization for Change in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management (WOCAN)
- Gender Transformative & Responsible Business Investment in South East Asia (GRAISEA) II
- Impact-SME
Implementing partners
- Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
- Kampuchea Action to Promote Education (KAPE)
- Sansom Mlup Prey (SMP)
- Operation Enfants Du Cambodge (OEC)
- Teuk Saat 1001
- Okra Solar
- Culture and Environment Preservation Association (CEPA)
- Buddhism for Social Development Action (BSDA)
- Wetland Works
- Cambodian Disabled People's Organisation (CDPO)
- Fisheries Action Coalition Team (FACT)
- Aide et Action
- PAVILION