The Samkos REDD+ project protects over 280,000 hectares of forest in Cambodia by working with local communities on sustainable livelihoods and shared benefits. As part of this approach, the project invests in essential infrastructure, including clean water access, for the villages living alongside the forest.

Since 2023, the Samkos REDD+ project has constructed over 65 solar-powered water wells, bringing daily access to clean water to over 1200 families across 25. These shared wells have significantly improved the lives and well-being of the local communities. Each well, on average, provides daily water to 20 families, and each water tank can store up to 3000 liters of water.

The impact of water wells extends beyond being a source of clean water. While it continues to serve the local communities sustainably with water storage, it also greatly improves each family’s health and financial condition. Households spend less time collecting water, allowing more time for productive work; children are able to center on education, and parents may devote their time to generating a living and community activities.

Mrs Thoun Sreyoun, a member of the local community, shared, “The well does not only help with daily use but also aids my family expenses, as it supports watering agricultural crops near my house, especially for livestock farming without having to spend money on water like before.”

The well strengthened the water security throughout the year, especially during the dry season when nearby clean water sources were previously impossible. The REDD+ Samkos water well project has delivered each well to the water well management committees (local authorities, landowners & water user representatives), allowing them full responsibility for managing and maintaining the well independent of the project.

Our approach to helping the communities we’ve worked with is to provide development by way of infrastructure, the logic being that everyone in a village can benefit from new roads and water systems. By harnessing solar energy for clean water, the project is helping local communities build a more sustainable future – one well at a time.