Attachments
Country Acceleration Case Studies
To accelerate the achievement of SDG 6 targets as part of the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework, UN-Water is developing SDG 6 Country Acceleration Case Studies to explore countries’ pathways to achieving accelerated progress on SDG 6 at the national level. The case studies document replicable good practices for achieving the SDG 6 targets as well as look at how progress can be accelerated across SDG 6 targets in a country.
Three countries are selected every year, starting in 2022. The selection of the case study countries is based on country progress reporting on the SDG 6 global indicators. The case studies highlight achievements and describe processes, enabling conditions and key lessons learned in countries selected for their progress on SDG 6. For 2024, selected countries for case studies are Cambodia, Czechia and Jordan.
Read about how Cambodia significantly improved access to drinking water and sanitation through government commitment and an innovative licensing system for private operators.
Executive summary
Thirty years ago, Cambodia had very limited access to safe drinking water and open defecation was prevalent. Today, the situation has improved dramatically and the country is progressing on six indicators of SDG 6. In recent years, Cambodia managed to turn an ailing state-owned water utility into a well-managed one, double access to sanitation in rural areas, pull in private investment to the water sector and make piped water and sanitation attractive to the population, including in smaller cities and rural areas. It managed to rid cities of open defecation and is now making significant progress in rural areas. At the same time, Cambodia still faces many challenges, principally the need to expand wastewater treatment and to make the shift from ‘improved’ to ‘safely managed’ water and sanitation. The key factors and drivers identified include:
- Ambitious goals have been set and are pursued with determination. In 2010, the government set the goal to achieve 100 per cent coverage of improved water and sanitation in rural areas and achieve open defecation free status by 2025.
- Water contamination data is accessible to all. A database of wells is published online and easily accessible for the public. A simple colour-code is used. It is also applied to the wells on the ground.
- The government leads communications campaigns. Piped systems are presented as easier and cheaper, and toilets have become something of a status symbol. Households investment in sanitation and hygiene is increasing.
- The licensing system has been carefully designed. A 3-year license system was transformed into 20-year licenses, to ensure the cost recovery of the investment.
- Private investment is leveraged. The state-owned water utility of the capital city is highly profitable and raises financing from the stock exchange.
- The main utility has adopted a ‘Robin Hood’ approach. By investing first in central and wealthier parts of the capital city, Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) has managed to create the conditions to cross-subsidize poorer areas.
- Private water operators are in a federation. The Cambodian Water Supply Association (CWA) supports their development and experience sharing.
- Technical solutions are adapted to local contexts. Affordable, locally sourced and flood-resilient latrines play an important role in improving access to sanitation.
- ‘Community-led total sanitation’ and marketing approaches have been implemented. These initiatives have raised awareness of the importance of sanitation and hygiene and created public demand for change.