Cambodia Project

• Policies and programmes: Cambodia has implemented an effective National Biogas Programme since 2006, installing more than 25,000 domestic biogas units to date, and a National Biodigester Development Policy was issued in 2021. Biogas and composting of manure were listed in Cambodia’s NDC (2020), but no projects or programmes are in place to promote composting. Other improvements in livestock management (e.g. improved feed, breeding) were listed as adaptation priorities. These and other productivity-enhancing measures are promoted by the government on a relatively small scale, with larger investments significantly dependent on donor funding (e.g. ADB Cross-border Livestock Health and Value Chains Improvement Project, 2025-2029). Livestock sector development strategies did not address climate change issues and plans to increase animal populations and productivity would likely increase GHG emissions.

• Capacities: Prior to this project, the General Directorate for Animal Health and Production (GDAHP), which is responsible for livestock sub-sector management in Cambodia, had limited experience of integrating climate change issues in sub-sector strategy, plans, and activities. GDAHP staff had limited capacity to engage on GHG management and adaptation issues. Ministry of Environment (MOE) had previously relied on international consultants for inventory compilation, and previous NDCs were drafted with minimal input from GDAHP. The agriculture sector climate change action plan (2023) noted that evidence-based estimates of GHG mitigation potential in the livestock sector was not possible due to lack of data and related knowledge. Research institutions were also not engaged on this topic.

There were two sub-projects in Cambodia. The first, supporting GDAHP had two specific objectives:

1. Strengthen institutional and technical capacities for GHG inventory compilation, management, and reporting.

2. Strengthen capacities in the livestock sector to take effective actions in response to climate change.

The second, supporting RUA aimed to

1. Provide data that directly contributes to an improved national GHG inventory using the IPCC Tier 2 method for cattle and pig emissions;

2. Strengthen capacities for direct measurement of methane emissions from cattle.

GHG inventory improvement:

• The livestock GHG inventory (Tier 1 for all species, Tier 2 for cattle and pigs) has been improved. The improved Tier 1 inventory was reported in Cambodia’s 2024 BTR submission, and the Tier 2 inventories have been approved to be incorporated in the next submission.

• Compared to previous inventories compiled by international consultants, GDAHP’s new role in inventory compilation is strongly supported by MOE and FAO country office, which is delegated by MOE to compile the AFOLU inventory. GDAHP now has a team of people with the knowledge, skills, Excel-based tools, and SOPs required to update the inventory on a regular basis. GDAHP now also recognises the important role of the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) in data collection and research to support inventory improvement.

• The improved inventories show that total livestock emissions are 15% higher than previously estimated. This is due to higher emissions from cattle, while manure management emissions from pigs are 67% lower than previously estimated. These improved inventories have been directly used to support better targeting of policies and measures (see below).

Strengthened capacities for climate response:

• In 2025, for the first time, the GDAHP team was directly involved in technical analysis and policy discussions on Cambodia’s NDC 3.0 update (due to be issued later in 2025). The improved inventories were used as the basis for assessing technical options and national potential for GHG mitigation. Importantly, the team has now realised the significance of improved cattle feeding and marketing for balancing sector productivity targets and GHG management.

• Cambodia’s NDC 3.0 update also incorporates results on adaptation from the project’s assessment of livestock climate vulnerabilities and adaptation capacities. This assessment highlighted vulnerabilities in the growing commercial sector, and highlighted not previously recognized risks, and the roles that GDAHP and other stakeholders can play in addressing those risks.

• The project also supported GDAHP to provide training in composting to 388 farmers in 5 provinces. This is the first time GDAHP has implemented the national goal of promoting composting in practice. The initiative has provided valuable lessons for further development of policies and measures in support of this goal.

• GDAHP is in the process of revising its 10-year Strategic Plan, and the GDAHP team have formulated recommendations to incorporate lessons on GHG management and adaptation in the forthcoming plan.

• The GDAHP team have been discussing further climate-smart investments with development partners (e.g. GGGI, FAO) and at least one international company.

• Core staff at RUA have a better understanding of livestock GHG issues and the potential for further research to inform policy and practice on GHG management.

Strengthened capacity for GHG measurement

• Before the NZCSA Initiative, there was no livestock GHG measurement capacity in Cambodia. Through the NZCSA, four headboxes & associated calibration and measurement equipment have been developed in and with RUA. This has been matched with training of local RUA staff and students in use of the system. The international workshop held at RUA also enabled Cambodia to gain visibility as a regional location conducting GHG research and to contribute their knowledge and experience to the legacy documents for future users of this or similar systems.

• Project activities have directly contributed to strengthening national capacities to set policy frameworks that support agricultural growth needs, enhance climate mitigation targets, and clarify government roles in adaptation to climate change. Compared to the starting point for the project, significant advances have been made in individual and institutional capacities to manage climate change in the livestock sector. GDAHP, which is mandated to manage climate change issues in the livestock sector, now has a good foundation to actively perform their role. The GDAHP team have directly contributed to mitigation and adaptation priorities in the updated NDC 3.0, and the GDAHP team are engaged in discussions on their next 10-year strategic plan. As national policies and plans continue to evolve, individuals, teams within key institutions and their leaders, and collaborative partnerships between key institutions are in place to enable evidence-based, stakeholder-inclusive deliberation on policy priorities and measures.

• Strengthened GDAHP’s roles in promoting climate-smart investments and action: While the project directly engaged with small numbers of smallholders and actors in the private sector, the project’s focus was not on directly promoting uptake of climate smart practices. The capacity building activities and engagement with farmers, GDAHP staff have gained more specific insights into challenges faced by farmers and the private sector, which helps them set priorities for their next steps in supporting climate action. For example, beyond promoting biogas on commercial pig farms as a general activity, GDAHP now recognises the importance to commercial farms of value-adding to bioslurry so that biogas is financially viable. As a ‘gatekeeper’ for donor support to the sector, and having significant convening power, GDAHP is now better placed to understand how practical needs relate to policy and investment planning, and their potential roles in supporting effective climate action on-farm.