Strengthening climate-resilient water, sanitation and hygiene in healthcare facilities in Cambodia

Climate change is impacting vital water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services around the world. This learning brief explores our framework to assist healthcare facilities in Cambodia to strengthen climate-resilient WASH, so that communities have reliable access to these essentials in the face of climate events. 

Cambodia is ranked the 12th most vulnerable country to climate change in the world by the Global Climate Risk Index 2020. In Kampong Chhnang, a province situated in the Central Plain region along the Tonle Sap, communities experience extreme weather events like droughts, strong winds and floods.

This study assessed the climate-resilience of WASH services in three healthcare facilities in Kampong Chhnang. The results showed a focus on emergency response rather than system strengthening and climate preparedness, leading to a reactive approach to planning. Additionally, the results identified a gap in understanding of how the broader ecosystem and catchment influence health and wellbeing through water pollution impacts and unsafe waste disposal. 

The climate-resilient WASH (CR-WASH) framework was developed to assist healthcare facilities to move away from ad-hoc emergency response and towards preparedness for future climate events. Contextualised for Cambodia, the tool provides a structured process for WASH, health and climate actors and governments to assess the climate resilience of WASH services and identify opportunities to access sustainable financing for improvements.

This learning brief documents the highlights, lessons learned and recommendations for using the CR-WASH framework in healthcare facilities. The framework complements the World Health Organization's WASH FIT tool.

Top image: Sokha drinks water in front of the Thlork Vien Health Centre, Chhouk Village, Thlork Vien Commune, Samaki Meanchey District, Kampong Chhnang Province, Cambodia, July 2020.