Drought Mitigation Advisory Consultations in Kampong Thom and Prey Veng Province

Abstract

Cambodia’s freshwater fisheries play a critical role in ensuring national food security and supporting rural livelihoods. However, these systems are increasingly exposed to climate-related risks, including unpredictable rainfall patterns, floods, and prolonged droughts. Such challenges threaten not only fishery productivity but also the resilience of communities that depend on these resources. To address these vulnerabilities, innovative digital solutions have been introduced under the AoW2-S4I project. In 2024, a Digital Climate Advisory System (DCAS) was piloted in Kampong Thom, demonstrating the potential of real-time climate data to strengthen Community Fish Refuge (CFR) management and enhance adaptive capacity. Building on the success of this pilot, the program is scaling up the innovation to support District Technical Working Group (DTWG) engagement, coordination, and knowledge exchange on CFRs, Community Fisheries (CFis), and Farmer Water User Groups (FWUGs) in Prey Veng and Kampong Thom. This expansion leverages a mobile application developed in partnership with the private sector, designed to facilitate timely access to climate advisory services and improve decision-making at local levels. Cambodia’s rice-fish farming systems, which integrate aquaculture and crop production, are also highly vulnerable to climate shocks. Strengthening local capacities to anticipate and respond to these challenges is essential for sustainable and inclusive agricultural development. Digital tools developed under the AoW2-S4I project aim to enhance coordination and knowledge sharing among key stakeholders, including CFis, CFRs, FWUGs, and rice-fish system actors. These tools provide advisory content on flood and drought mitigation, tailored to the local context and designed to be actionable for both community members and technical teams. This report documents the consultation process undertaken to validate and refine the advisory content within the mobile application. The consultation seeks to ensure that the information provided is relevant, practical, and aligned with the needs of local communities and technical stakeholders. By integrating feedback from these consultations, the program aims to strengthen the effectiveness of digital climate advisory services and contribute to building resilient freshwater fisheries and rice-fish farming systems in Cambodia.