Ex-Ante Evaluation (for Japanese ODA Loan)
Southeast Asia Division 2, Southeast Asia and Pacific Department
Japan International Cooperation Agency
１．Name of the Project（１） Country: Kingdom of Cambodia (Cambodia)（２） Project: Southwest Phnom Penh Irrigation and Drainage Rehabilitation
and Improvement Project (II)（３） Project Site/Target Area: Kampong Speu, Takéo, Kandal
Loan Agreement: April 27, 2023
２．Background and Necessity of the Project（１）Current State and Issues of the Irrigation Sector and Priority of the Projectin Cambodia
In the Kingdom of Cambodia (Cambodia), agriculture accounts for 22.8% ofthe GDP and 35% of the employed population (World Bank, 2022), and it is theprimary means of earning a living in rural and agricultural areas. The original
main method of cultivation in Cambodia is using rainwater. Of the rice paddies in
Cambodia, irrigation water is used in about 30% in the rainy season and only 9%in the dry season as of 2011(MOWRAM, 2012), presenting a challenge for
improving productivity. Many of the existing irrigation facilities were constructedby the Pol Pot regime (1975 to 1978). Many do not function adequately due todesign and construction issues as well as degradation, and operation isdependent on rainwater. There is an urgent need to repair and improve irrigation
facilities. The National Strategic Development Plan (2009 to 2013) sets one of its
key targets as improvement of agricultural productivity to eradicate poverty andachieve sustainable economic growth and sets forth a strategy of improving
agricultural productivity and expanding the irrigation area through repair andconstruction of irrigation facilities. The Government of Cambodia requested theSouthwest Phnom Penh Irrigation and Drainage Rehabilitation and Improvement
Project (the Project) from the Government of Japan in September 2012. This
Project was aimed at improving agricultural productivity in Southwest Phnom
Penh by repairing and constructing irrigation facilities in the area, thereby
improving the livelihoods of agricultural workers there. A loan agreement for
Phase I of the Project was signed in July 2014 (total project cost of 6,772 millionyen, Japanese ODA loan of 5,606 million yen).
After the Project was accepted, it became necessary to respond to asignificant increase in project costs due to exchange rate fluctuation and designchanges. Priority was given to starting the Project promptly, and the scope of theProject was adjusted to what was feasible within the ODA loan limit. Later,sudden exchange rate fluctuation arose when procuring construction work,
resulting in a shortage of project funds. Further reduction in the scope would
hinder the irrigation effects of the Project. Moreover, the Government ofCambodia has set promoting agriculture and agricultural villages as one target inits 4th Rectangular Strategy (2018 to 2023) and National Strategic Development
Plan (2019 to 2023), aiming to invest in improvement of agricultural productivity
and irrigation systems. With this continued focus on irrigation in government
policy, the Government of Cambodia requested an additional loan (this Loan)from the Government of Japan.
（２）Japan’s and JICA’s Cooperation Policy and Operations in the Irrigation
SectorJapan’s Country Assistance Policy for Cambodia (July 2017) states in thepriority area of support for agricultural development that Japan will work todevelop agriculture being the main industry in rural areas. The JICA Country
Analysis Paper for Cambodia (March 2014) also specifies development ofagriculture and agricultural villages as a priority area. This Project is consistent
with these policies and analyses. The Project may also contribute to SDG 1 (Nopoverty) and 2 (Zero hunger). As previous technical cooperation projects, JICA
carried out the Improvement Agricultural River Basin Management &Development Project (September 2009 to August 2014) and the Agricultural
Productivity Promotion Project in West Tonle Sap (October 2010 to March 2015).
The manuals created for those projects will be used in the current Project, andthe Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (MOWRAM) will play a centralrole, establishing and enhancing an irrigation association and supervisingagricultural business.
（３）Other Donors’ Activities
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) completed an Uplands Irrigation andWater Resources Management Sector Project to increase agricultural
productivity by repairing and improving irrigation and drainage facilities inKampong Thom and Battambang, supervising operation management, andestablishing and enhancing a farmers’ irrigation association. The ADB is also
currently carrying out an Irrigated Agriculture Improvement Project (2019 to2025) for the above two provinces as well as Kampong Cham and Takéo aimed

at modernizing irrigation systems and establishing a water resource information
system and national water resource data management center, but there is nooverlap with this Project.
In the Project for the Development of National Standard Design of Cambodia’s
Irrigation and Drainage (March 2022 to March 2026) that is a technicalcooperation project currently underway, seminars will be held with other donors
to discuss use of the design standards and collect information about otherdonors’ plans.
３．Project Description（１）Project Description
1) Project Objective
This Project will improve agricultural productivity in poor areas of agriculturalvillages in Southwest Phnom Penh by repairing and constructing irrigation anddrainage facilities, thereby improving the livelihoods of agricultural workers there
and advancing economic recovery from COVID-19.
2) Project Componentsa) Repair and construct irrigation and drainage facilities- Roleang Chrey area: Headworks, primary canal, secondary canal, tertiarycanal, drainage canal, irrigation association building- Kandal Stung - Bati area: intake weir, intake, embankment, adjoining
facilities*Cambodia made an agreement in June 2020 with an executing agency forwork on the primary canal, secondary canal, and tertiary canal in the Kandal
Stung - Bati area, funded by the Government of Cambodia.
b) Support establishment of a farmers’ irrigation association and farmers
irrigation group, strengthen the association, and provide farm operation
guidancec) Consulting services (detailed design, bid assistance, construction work
management (short list method), soft components (establishment of anirrigation association, farm operation guidance)
3) Project Beneficiaries (Target Group)
Roleang Chrey area and Kandal Stung - Bati area residents.
（２）Estimated Project Cost
11,670 million Yen (Japanese ODA loan: 2,482 million Yen)
（３）Project Implementation Schedule/Cooperation Period

July 2014 to February 2027 (151 months). Start of facility operation (February2026) is considered as the completion of the Project.
（４）Project Implementation Structure1) Borrower: The Royal Government of Cambodia
2) Guarantor: None
3) Executing Agency: Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology4) Operation and Maintenance System: Ministry of Water Resources andMeteorology, Provincial Department of Water Resources andMeteorology（５）Collaboration and Sharing of Roles with Other Donors
1) Japan’s Activity
In the Project for the Development of National Standard Design ofCambodia’s Irrigation and Drainage (March 2022 to March 2026) that is atechnical cooperation project currently underway, JICA is creating standard
design documents, standard design drawings, and standard design manuals for
irrigation and drainage facilities and improving the capacity of MOWRAM andProvincial Department of Water Resources and Meteorology (PDWRAM)
employees to create and use standard design drawings and documents.
Sharing the activities, progress, and lessons from this Project with the above
project may enable the creation of standard designs that are better adapted tocurrent circumstances.
2) Other Donors’ Activity
None.
（６）Environmental and Social Consideration① Category: B② Reason for Categorization: The project is not considered to be alarge-scale agricultural project under the Japan International Cooperation
Agency Guidelines for Environmental and Social Considerations (JICAGuidelines; published April, 2010) and is not likely to have significant
adverse impact on the environment. In addition, it has none of thesensitive characteristics under the JICA guidelines and is not located in asensitive area.
③ Environmental Permit: Cambodian law does not require creation of anEnvironmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for this Project.
④ Anti-Pollution Measures: During the construction, various measures will

be taken to satisfy emission standards and environment standards inCambodia with respect to air quality, water quality, and noise pollution.
Example measures are appropriate management of heavy machinery,pretreatment of wastewater, and restriction of operating hours. After theservice begins, water contamination will be prevented through activities
such as support for appropriate agricultural activities, adoption ofcomposting, and adoption of a checking system for the irrigationassociation.
⑤ Natural Environment: Target sites for the Project do not correspond tonational parks or other areas that are easily impacted or nearby areas,
and negative effects on the natural environment are expected to beminimal.
⑥ Social Environment: The Project involves acquisition of 8.97 ha of land
and involuntary resettlement of 41 households in the Roleang Chrey area
and acquisition of 4.54 ha of land and involuntary resettlement of 8households of unofficial residents in the Kandal Stung - Bati area. Landacquisition will be carried out in accordance with a simplified resettlement
plan created based on procedures in Cambodia and JICA guidelines.
Compensation will be provided based on the wishes of project-affected
residents and procedures for involuntary resettlement will be carried out.
No specific objections to the project have been raised by project-affected
residents.
⑦ Other/Monitoring: In this Project, MOWRAM and the Ministry of theEnvironment will monitor air quality, water quality, and agriculturalactivities during construction and service. In addition, an Inter-ministerial
Resettlement Committee will monitor land acquisition and involuntary
resettlement.
（７）Cross-Sectoral Issues
HIV/AIDS preventative education and other infection control measures will beimplemented for the construction workers. Monitoring will also be carried out toensure information can be obtained by any farmers with disabilities among those
who are a target of this Project and to ensure there is no discrimination against
farmers with disabilities during the selection of those involved in the Project.
When hiring staff for construction work and operations for the Project,reasonable accommodations will be taken for applicants and employees withdisabilities such as ensuring information can be obtained and ensuring safety.

For facilities that are expected to be used by general residents, measures will betaken such as installation of ramps and measures to prevent falls by people withvisual impairments.
（ ８ ） Gender Category: (GI) Survey and Analysis of Need for Gender
Mainstreaming<Details of Activities/Reason for Categorization>
Although gender mainstreaming needs were investigated including the needto promote participation by women in irrigation association activities, activities toaid in gender mainstreaming including specific indicators were not established.
（９）Other Important Issues: During investigations, JICA agreed to a requestfrom the Government of Cambodia to take contribution to economic recovery
from COVID-19 into account.
４. Targeted Outcomes（１）Quantitative Effects
1) Outcomes (Operation and Effect Indicators)
Reference(Actual value in 2011)

Target (2029)[3 years after project completion]

Irrigation area (ha)

840

4,060

Rice crop acreage (ha)

4,270

6,885

Rice yield (tons/year)

9,371

25,706

Per unit rice yield(tons/ha)

2.2

3.7 to 3.8

Indicator

Note: The above reference and target values are only for the two areas that are the target of
this loan.

（２）Qualitative Effects
Stabilization of the supply of water using irrigation, improvement in farmers’
livelihoods, economic recovery from COVID-19.
（３）Internal Rate of Return
Based on the assumptions listed below, the economic internal rate of return(EIRR) for the Project is 20.1%. The financial internal rate of return (FIRR) is not
calculated as only maintenance and management fees will be collected.
【EIRR】
Cost: Project cost (excluding tax), O&M cost
Benefit: Increase in agriculture productivity through irrigation
Project Life: 30 years

５. Preconditions and External Factors（１）Preconditions:
The necessary involuntary resettlement will be carried out appropriately
and smoothly by the Government of Cambodia.
（２）External Factors:
Construction work on the primary canal, secondary canal, and tertiary
canal in the Kandal Stung - Bati area will be carried out at the appropriate
time by the Government of Cambodia.
６. Lessons Learned from Past Projects and Application to this Project
It was learned from the ex-post evaluation for the Upper Indravati Irrigation
Project in India (carried out in fiscal 2003) that active participation by thebeneficiary farmers was essential. As such, in operation, maintenance, andmanagement of canals other than the main canal, quite early on before theprovision of water, ongoing support was needed to clarify the roles of those
involved, assist in the early stages of the irrigation association, reinforce theirrigation association system, and promote participation by farmers.
In this Project, JICA plans to support the establishment of an irrigation
association in the target areas through the implementation of soft components
related to the establishment of an irrigation association within the Project scope,
thereby achieving active participation by farmers in irrigation association
activities from early on and promoting manifestation of the effects of the Project.
７. Evaluation Results
The Project is consistent with the development issues and development
policies of Cambodia as well as the assistance policies and analyses of Japanand JICA. The Project will help increase agricultural productivity and improve thelivelihoods of farmers in the target areas by repairing and constructing irrigation
facilities in the areas, thereby contributing to the achievement of SDG 1 (Nopoverty) and 2 (Zero hunger). Therefore, the necessity for JICA to support theProject is substantial.
８. Plan for Future Evaluation（１）Indicators to be used
As indicated in Section 4.

（２）Plan for Future Evaluation
Ex-post evaluation: Three years after the project completion
END
Annex: Map of the Southwest Phnom Penh Irrigation and Drainage
Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (II)Annex
Map of the Southwest Phnom Penh Irrigation and Drainage Rehabilitation andImprovement Project (II)Roleang Chrey
area

Kandal Stung – Bati
area

Source: Created by the supervising consultant on the Southwest Phnom PenhIrrigation and Drainage Rehabilitation and Improvement Project