Background
The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (MOWRAM) is the national authority charged with formulating and coordinating Cambodia’s water-resource planning and river-basin management. MOWRAM has formal responsibility for national water-resource planning and oversight of river-basin management in Cambodia.
River-basin master plans organize prioritized infrastructure investments, water-safety measures, and climate-adaptation actions across defined basin areas to guide long-term resource allocation. The program announced on 30 June 2026 begins Phase 1 planning for 11 basins within the Tonle Sap basin group with objectives that include strengthening water security, increasing climate resilience, and preparing long-term investment plans for sustainable water resources.
Key Developments
On 30 June 2026 a kick-off meeting was convened at the National Mekong Committee conference hall to begin implementation of the resilient river-basin master plan project. The session was led by State Secretary Dr. An Pech Hatta on behalf of the Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology and included senior ministry officials, technical staff from the National Mekong Committee of Cambodia, representatives from the Tonle Sap Authority, Asian Development Bank (ADB) delegates, and multiple technical advisory teams.
Operational Implications
Phase 1 targets 11 river basins in the Tonle Sap cluster and will prioritize measures related to water safety and climate adaptation while producing investment plans for sustainable water-resource infrastructure. MOWRAM asked advisory teams to coordinate closely with stakeholders and with other ongoing projects to ensure the basin master plans are coherent and complementary with existing initiatives.
Institutional Role
The initiative positions MOWRAM as the coordinating agency for basin-level planning and stakeholder alignment across national and external partners. ADB participation and the inclusion of national authorities and technical advisers indicate a multi-party planning approach intended to integrate technical, institutional, and financing considerations into each basin master plan.
