In Cambodia, the private investor is granted a Private Water Operator (PWO) License to serve non-urban areas that typically cover at least one or two communes and encompass from a few hundred to 15,000 households. As of 2015, there are approximately 400 private operators in the country. Recognizing the private sector as an important driver of service expansion in the country, the Government of Cambodia has signalled continued support for PWOs. InfraCo Asia’s role in supporting the development of the water sector in Cambodia will help the PWOs grow and apply best practices to improve the quality of services to end users.

The Project

InfraCo Asia has provided a long-term loan to Khmer Water Supply Holding (KWSH) – the biggest Cambodia-based licensed private water operator – to expand the distribution network of potable water in 4 provinces of Cambodia.

PIDG Technical Assistance (PIDG TA) grants will be utilised to improve gender equity, and provide training for addressing gender based violence and harassment (GBVH) and health, safety, environmental and social (HSES) concerns.

Our Impact

Impact on people: The project will provide first time access to safe and adequate drinking water to people in semi-rural and rural areas (underserved users), mostly in the bottom half of the country’s income distribution.