CO-Inclusion phase II Climate change alter the flow of Mekong river and the volume is decreasing rampantly. This has affected aquatic life, erosion control and ecological flow requirements including sedimentation.  Water serves the foundation for agricultural activities and therefore enhances food production. Cambodian inland water consists of Mekong River, the Tonle Sap (Great Lake) and the Tonle-Bassac River. The great Mekong River stretches across the country from north to south and forms a huge delta in the southeast region of the country.Recent development has led to a situation that the natural flow regime of the Mekong River is being threatened, which lead to unsustainable harvesting practices and might destroy Tonle Sap freshwater capture fisheries. This caused by the development of hydropowerdams (Chinese, Lao-Thai project on the Mekong stream, as well as Lower Sesan 2). The large-scale commercial crop farming in China, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand determine the water levels and quality of the rivers in Cambodia, andthus, affect the crops, fisheries and livelihoods. Efforts at both national and regional level are needed to sustain agricultural sector and food production in Cambodia.
Cambodia is undergoing a very rapid economic transformation and this is leading to agrowing demand for energy. While the benefits of this economic development are undoubted, there is a danger that Cambodia is on a unsustainable trajectory, both economically and environmentally. Many of the forms of energy currently used are polluting ordamaging to the environment. There are available alternatives, such as solar and wind energy in particular that are not being used to their potential.
In order to contribute to the promotion of sustainable, inclusive and equitable development of Cambodia,Oxfam in Cambodia propose to continue its water governance work from phase 1 with the continuation of new phase of investment of DFAT in Cambodia on the following project ideas:
Project priorities:
1. Invest in renewable energy:
- With ever increasingElectricity need Cambodia has potential of about 8100 MW for solar and 6,500 MW for wind but one of the constraint has been lack of enabling policy framework. So alternate energy discussion and specific policy measures need to be taken to account and anational target for renewable energy hasn#t yet been set. So to this end convening and joining the existing renewable energy dialogue forums to mobilize the likeminded agencies (including Private Sector) to influence RGC esp. Cambodian Electric Authorityto promote more favorable renewable energy policies and mechanism and ultimately influence RGC to see renewable energy as energy source to replace hydro-power and fuel.
- Testing and promoting model of renewable energy access for the poor. Especially, lookinginto women led rural energy enterprises by partnering with private sector.
- Working with Financial Sector (Banks) to build case on dis-investing hydro power and channel investment towards renewable energy.
- Supporting CSOs in conducting evidentbaseresearch and studies as basis for policy dialogue in promoting renewable energy.
2. Continue to strengthen and expand local women leadership in water governance and echo-system protection of Mekong River and its tributaries.
- Supporting the existing womenleadership initiatives in water governance and fishery protection along the Mekong in Cambodia.
- Supporting actions of women leadership initiatives in raising their voices and concerns on water issues
3. Continue to support RCC in coordinating networkof CSOsfor influencing policies at national level and represent in regional and global influencing arenas.
Projects to collaborate:
- PEM III # with similar target areas and nature of work and focus on conserving echo-system of Mekong.
- Fair FinanceAsia # Which conductstudy on Banks investment in the region on large scale infrastructure investment including hydro power dam. The opportunity is about influencing the financiers in the responsible hydro power investments and also provide access tocapitalfor RE investments. This will also enable Government to adopt tax incentives to deploy renewable energy in Cambodia.
Partnership and working approaches:
- Maintain the current partnership with NGOs who has field base activities in promoting women leadership in water governance
- Maintain the partnership with RCC for policy influencing at national level and regional networking.
- Exploring new partnership with bank and companies who invest in renewable energy
- More engaging with Cambodia ElectricAuthorities and MME on renewable energy policy dialogue.
- More engaging with Business Associations who has interest to promote renewable energy e.g. GMAC, Green Biz etc.