Background
Urban drainage management in Phnom Penh requires coordination between municipal authorities and national ministries to plan, operate, and maintain stormwater networks and associated conveyance infrastructure. The Phase II JICA technical cooperation project supports development of technical guidelines and human resources for management of urban drainage systems at national and subnational levels.
The third meeting of the Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) took place on 4 September 2026 and brought together representatives from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, the Phnom Penh administration, JICA, the Japanese Embassy, and relevant technical departments. The Joint Coordinating Committee is the formal forum used by project partners to review progress and coordinate activities among the Phnom Penh administration, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, and JICA.
Key Developments
On 4 September 2026 the JCC convened under the chairmanship of State Secretary Ros Vanna and with participation from the Deputy Governor of Phnom Penh and MIURA Yoshiko, Senior Representative of JICA Cambodia. The meeting focused on exchanging experience in drainage system management between Cambodian authorities and Japanese technical partners and on advancing project activities for Phase II.
Institutional Role
The Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) functions as the national lead for technical coordination on drainage policy and infrastructure standards, while the Phnom Penh administration manages urban operational aspects and local implementation. JICA provides technical cooperation and capacity-building support, and the Japanese Embassy participates in diplomatic and coordination roles related to the program.
Operational Implications
Project activities under Phase II are designed to generate technical guidance and training modules that local agencies can apply to operations and maintenance of stormwater networks. Continued JCC meetings establish a routine coordination mechanism for aligning national policy guidance with subnational operational needs.
