Project details
AUD 15,048
Raised from 4,686 people
Project background
In Cambodia, local media coverage on WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) related issues remains limited. WaterAid has been working in partnership with the Department of Media and Communications, Ministry of Rural Development, and Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council to design and implement a media engagement project.
WASH issues, including inclusive access to sanitation services and menstrual hygiene management, are still neglected in the country. This proposal builds on the partnership with national and sub-national governments and local Disabled People Organisations to implement activities in line with the government’s policy directions for inclusive WASH and universal access by 2025.
This project will support marginalised groups to develop innovative approaches to influence and change behaviour to address their WASH challenges through creative arts.
Project objectives
The project has four objectives:
- Creative campaigning on WASH issues among Cambodia’s young population. Promoting the role of media in increasing social awareness and behaviour change in WASH, including menstrual hygiene management.
- Integrating WASH into the health sector, with a focus on hygiene and healthcare facilities.
- Promote a more inclusive WASH sector, through collaboration with disability actors, government and private sector.
- Build a workforce of qualified, motivated and inspired leaders and technical personnel to deliver and sustain universal WASH access.

Project outcomes
- The WASH Journalist network produce quality news and stories about WASH issues.
- Cambodian youth are taking a lead on mobilising and campaigning for sustainable WASH service delivery and behaviour change.
- Parents and teachers are comfortable to share information with girls about menstruation and hygienic practices before their first period.
- The Department of Hospital Services standardise building briefs for healthcare facilities include user-friendly WASH.
- Partners are equipped to advocate for improvement in inclusive WASH access in public and private facilities.
- WASH professionals, with an increased proportion being women, have the capacity to deliver sustainable sanitation and hygiene services.
What's covered in project costs
Footprints funding will be used to fund:
- Innovative campaigns through arts, films and media, reaching over 5,000 people with inclusive WASH messages.
- Healthcare facilities with more user-friendly improved water, sanitation and hygiene facilities and staff with improved knowledge in inclusive WASH through training.
- The water young professional program graduating 60 participants – with at least 50% female.

Partners and community involvement
WaterAid will work with the following partners to make this project possible:
- Cambodian Disabled People’s Organisation
- Ministry of Rural Development
- University of Health Sciences
- Ministry of Health
- WASH Skills Development Organisation
- Centre for Sustainable Water
- Epic Arts
- Department of Hospital Services
- Journalist WASH network
Part of a larger strategy
This project represents the backbone of our current strategy in collaboration with the Cambodian Government and the most relevant area of work through which we are supporting the Government to speed its effort up to achieve universal access to WASH.
It builds on the partnership with national and sub-national government and local Disabled People Organisations to implement activities in line with the Government’s policy directions for Inclusive WASH and universal access by 2025.
This project will support marginalised groups to develop innovative approaches to influence and change behaviour to address their WASH challenges through creative arts, which is one of the strategic intents of WaterAid Cambodia.