WFP Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific - 2016 SPRs RBB 2016 SPRs by project type | Page 73

Standard Project Report 2016
Enhancing Livelihood Resilience to Climate Change
in Chey Commune
In partnership with the Mekong Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change (Mekong ARCC) project of the United
States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the local non-governmental organization (NGO) Mlup
Baitong, WFP undertook a pilot project to enhance resilience to climate change in Chey commune, Kampong Thom
province. Based on the results of a participatory adaptation decision-making approach, Chey commune members
aimed to merge scientific projections and local knowledge in order to identify priority climate hazards and livelihood
vulnerabilities, and make informed investment decisions.
Rural farmers received training on agricultural techniques which enable higher harvest yields and are less
vulnerable to a changing climate. Study and exchange visits were conducted to motivate farmers to implement new
techniques and to spread knowledge and experiences among communities. Upon formulation of the adaptation
framework, WFP leveraged its food-assistance-for-assets approach to engage over 500 men and women from the
community in the construction of a 700 m canal and two dykes, to improve water storage and irrigation in the
commune. Further, community and household water reservoirs and solar-powered pumps helped manage water
resources in an effective and responsible manner. Villagers indicated that this not only helped them to manage the
lean season, but also helped them to improve their livelihoods and replicate more climate-resilient agricultural
techniques.
While the integrated approach yielded positive results at the commune level, the participatory approaches
facilitating a localised analytical perspective on climate change and adaptation options were found to align well with
the formal commune planning procedures. In collaboration with the National Committee for Sub-National
Democratic Development, a guidance booklet was developed to promote the integration of socially inclusive climate
change adaptation approaches in the commune investment plan. Once adopted, the booklet will support commune
leaders to guide the formulation of commune climate adaptation plans with broad community engagement. This
approach to translating high-level guidance into commune-level facilitation tools may potentially be replicated for
other development themes such nutrition, gender and protection.
Cambodia, Kingdom of (KH)
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Country Programme - 200202