Water Governance in Cambodia: The Results of the High-Level Policy Dialogue on Water Governance, 20 November 2025
This report presents the results of the High-Level Policy Dialogue on Water Governance, convened in Phnom Penh on 20 November 2025 by the Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (MOWRAM). The dialogue addressed Cambodia’s pressing water security challenges, including clima...
The Role of Community Fish Refuges (CFRs) in Promoting the Integration of Water, Land, and Aquatic Food Systems: A Case Study of the CFRs in the Mekon...
This working paper examines the role of Community Fish Refuges (CFRs) in promoting the integration of water, land, and aquatic food systems in Cambodia, drawing on six case studies in the Tonle Sap floodplain and Mekong Delta. Situated within rice-field and floodplain landscapes, CFRs function as dry-season refuges, wet-season spawning grounds,...
Strengthening Community Fish Refuges for Climate-Resilient Food Systems and Integrated Water-Fisheries-Agriculture Governance in Cambodia
Cambodia’s inland fisheries contribute an estimated 8–12 percent of the national gross domestic product (GDP), while Community Fish Refuges (CFRs) contribute 30 percent of Cambodia’s inland fishery production and provide the primary source of animal protein for most rural households.Evidence from six CFRs in Kampong Thom and Prey Veng province...
Economic Reintegration of Returnees and Border-Province Development Strategies in the Post-Conflict Period
Reintegration must move beyond employment numbers towards productivity and income recovery:Large-scale job matching initiatives have absorbed many returnees, but employment alone does not ensure durable reintegration. Income has declined, vulnerability remains high, and skills mismatch persists. Policy must shift toward job quality, productivit...
Strengthening Water Governance in Cambodia: Responding to Climate Risks, Altered Hydrology and Institutional Fragmentation
Good water governance requires transparency, accountability, participation, responsiveness, and the rule of law, ensuring water is allocated fairly, used efficiently, and protected for future generations through effective institutions and policies.Growing pressures, including floods, droughts, pollution, competing demands, and climate change,...
Decentralised Food System Governance at the District Level in Cambodia: Studying the Performance of District Technical Working Groups in Boeng Sneh (M...
This working paper examines decentralised food system governance at the district level in Cambodia through an assessment of District Technical Working Groups (DTWGs) established in Boeng Sneh (Mekong Delta) and Boeng Ream (Tonle Sap). These floodplain ecosystems are critical for rice production, fisheries, and rural livelihoods but face increas...
The Role of Home-Based Parental Involvement in Student Learning in Cambodian Secondary Schools
This study investigates the influence of home-based parental involvement on secondary school students’ academic achievement, accounting for factors including gender, grade, repetition, siblings, parental literacy, working in paid jobs, family resources, school type, and location. It focuses primarily on four activities at home, namely (a) discussin...
STEM Teachers’ Continuous Professional Development: Opportunities, Challenges, and Policy Implications in Cambodia
As Cambodia aims to become an upper-middle-income country by 2050, STEM education is recognised as a pivotal element in this transformation. However, significant challenges impede educational development, including a shortage of qualified STEM teachers, insufficient training, and limited resources. In this regard, this study addresses the press...
Community-Based Water Management in Cambodia: A Comparative Study of Farmer Water User Communities (FWUCs) and the Indigenous Metuk System
This working paper examines community-based water management in Cambodia through a comparative analysis of Farmer Water User Communities (FWUCs) and the indigenous Metuk system in the Tonle Sap floodplain. Drawing on qualitative case studies from Kakaoh Commune in Kampong Thom Province and Santey Village in Siem Reap Province, the study analyse...
Managing Fieldwork in Urban Cambodia: Lessons Learnt from the Survey Project “Assessing MSME Market Dynamics and Resilience in Phnom Penh: Challenges...
This report shares fieldwork experiences from a large-scale survey conducted in Phnom Penh in early 2025, focusing on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Khan Meanchey. With over 14,000 businesses surveyed, the project aimed to gather reliable data to support policy decisions and project planning, particularly by capturing information a...