Combatting
Marine Plastic Litt-UNDP-KHM-00119646
B0396 -
Cambodia - Phnom-Penh
REPORTING
PERIOD 2020-
2024
Narrative
REPORT
DATE: 16-06-2026
1.
Executive
Summary
2.
Background
3.
Key Results
Achieved
Project level results
Overall, the project
demonstrated strong relevance and alignment with the UNDAF 2019–2023 Outcome 3
and the UNDP Country Programme Document (CPD) outputs, particularly in
advancing a cleaner, healthier, and more environmentally sustainable Cambodia
through integrated plastic waste management and circular economy approaches.
The project contributed meaningfully to strengthening enabling policy and
regulatory frameworks, piloting innovative circular economy solutions, raising
public awareness, and enhancing institutional and subnational capacities to
implement the 4Rs (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). Significant progress was
achieved in policy development, including the formulation of the National
Circular Economy Strategy and Action Plan (2021–2035), drafting of the
Sub-Decree on Plastic Management, and development of the EPR roadmap. At the
subnational level, targeted provinces and cities improved solid waste
management planning and implemented practical interventions such as household
waste segregation pilots, community engagement in coastal areas, and
school-based awareness initiatives. These efforts contributed to improved
environmental awareness and created enabling conditions for behavioural change
and waste reduction. The project also delivered tangible benefits to direct and
indirect beneficiaries, including improved access to safe drinking water for
students and teachers, reduced plastic bottle consumption, and
income-generation opportunities for waste collectors, particularly women and
vulnerable groups. Finally, the project has laid an important foundation for
Cambodia’s transition toward a circular economy and strengthened national
commitment to addressing plastic pollution.
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4.
Key Challenges
Encountered
Project level results
At the project formulation
stage, key risks and mitigation measures were identified in the Project
Document. The most significant early challenge was the COVID-19 pandemic, which
required a shift from physical activities to remote implementation, including
policy drafting and communication materials. Despite initial delays, the
project successfully delivered planned results. 1. Policies and regulations The
project supported the development of a draft sub-decree on plastic management
and a policy matrix, with the latter endorsed in 2023. The sub-decree remains
under inter-ministerial review due to its complexity and stakeholder impacts.
The project also introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), with a
recommendation to start with a voluntary scheme; however, private sector
engagement remains limited and requires further refinement. Continued support
will be needed to align with UNEA-5/14 requirements. 2. Environmental education
and awareness raising Initial communication approaches had limited reach, leading
to a shift toward strategic communication using social media, influencers, and
creative content. This significantly expanded outreach to around 2 million
people. Certification schemes effectively motivated businesses, while pagodas
and schools proved strategic for outreach. However, measuring actual behaviour
change remains challenging and requires stronger M&E systems. 3. Circular
economy business development A rapid assessment identified about 50 mostly
small-scale recycling businesses with limited capacity, highlighting the need
for stronger support and incentives. Innovation challenges tested circular
business models, but barriers such as consumer inconvenience and high costs
limited scalability. Successful pilots included plastic credit schemes and
plastic-asphalt use, which require further inter-ministerial coordination and
green procurement support. Hotel plastic reduction guidance has been
disseminated but needs stronger implementation. 4. Provincial plastic
management capacity Support to provinces included technical assistance,
equipment, and awareness activities. Water filtration and dispensers
effectively reduced PET bottle use and improved awareness, while waste
segregation bins were less effective due to mixed waste collection systems. Awareness
of regulations remains limited at subnational levels. The Borey pilot increased
awareness among 2,100 households, but follow-up is needed to ensure proper
waste collection and recycling systems. 5. Project management Implementation
through Letters of Agreement increased coordination workload for the PMU.
Capacity-building on M&E and reporting was provided, and a Telegram
coordination group was established to improve communication and tracking across
national and subnational partners.
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5.
Project Risks
and Issues
Issue 1: The previous annual spot check exercise conducted
to IP from 07 to 11 February 2022 identified two high risk items which caused
the issue for following activities. Actions taken: The UNDP and PMU teams
together addressed all the issues to ensure full compliance while minimizing
the delays of project delivery. The UNDP procurement team currently provides
back-up support to PMU for the procurement of items of high values Issue 2:
Challenges arose in relation to information flow, coordination, and synergy among
activities implemented by different departments and provinces. For example, MoI
and SRP both plan to conduct a training on solid waste management to local
authorities while GDEKI and PNH are both working on forming environmental clubs
in universities in PNH. Actions taken: To enhance information flows across all
levels, and to ensure coordination among project activities, GDEKI was also
included in the weekly team meetings to closely monitor each project activity
and identify such issue as soon as possible. Special meetings are arranged for
involved RPs in specific tasks to ensure synergy and avoid duplication. Issue 3
Lack of service providers who can supply the equipment related to waste
management which caused the delay for some procurement plans. Actions taken:
PMU and UNDP identified more service providers and re-announce in different
channels. PMU revised the equipment based on the needs and consultations with
stakeholders as well as seeking endorsement and approval from project board and
donor.
6.
Lessons
Learned
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The
project has notable lessons learned. First, it is important to take national
circumstances into consideration for regulatory measures to be effective: While
it is imperative to reflect global and regional best practices for proposed
regulatory measures, it is equally important to ensure the proposed measures to
reflect the Cambodia’s specific national circumstances and political economy
contexts. Awareness raising lays a key foundation for any regulatory measures
to achieve intended impacts. Strategic communication using various social media
such as FB and TikTok and engagement of monks and other influencers worked
effectively to outreach a wider segment of the society. Yet, additional efforts
are required to change the actual behaviors of the target stakeholders. While
the project identified several alternative businesses as possible solutions to
plastic challenges, additional technical and financial support for alternatives
and recycling business is conducive to the successful reduction of plastic consumption
and waste generation. In addition to regulations, awareness raising and
business support, provision of equipment served to reduce plastic use and waste
generation in target provinces. In particular, water filtrations systems
provided multiple notable benefits.
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7.
Conclusions
and Way Forward
Overall, the project has laid an important foundation for
Cambodia’s transition toward a circular economy and strengthened national
commitment to addressing plastic pollution. Building on the progress and
lessons learned, the following key actions are recommended to sustain and scale
up results: Strengthen implementation of policy and regulatory frameworks
Accelerate the adoption and enforcement of the Sub-Decree on Plastic Management
and further operationalize the National Circular Economy Strategy through clear
institutional mandates, implementation guidelines, and monitoring mechanisms.
Scale up Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and market-based instruments
Move from conceptual and voluntary approaches toward piloting and gradually
institutionalizing EPR systems, including incentives, levies, and partnerships
with private sector actors to ensure sustainable financing for waste management
systems. Focus on system-level interventions and scalability Prioritize
interventions with higher transformational potential, such as city-wide
segregation systems, infrastructure for recycling value chains, and
partnerships with industry, rather than isolated or low-impact distribution
activities. Strengthen subnational implementation capacity Continue building
capacity of provincial and municipal authorities to implement solid waste
management plans, enforce regulations, and coordinate with private sector and
community actors. Enhance behavioural change through targeted communication
Develop more sustained and evidence-based behaviour change campaigns,
particularly targeting households, schools, and tourism sectors, supported by
continuous engagement rather than one-off awareness activities. Expand
inclusive circular economy models Further scale up successful models involving
women, informal waste workers, and vulnerable groups, ensuring fair income
opportunities and social inclusion within recycling and waste value chains.
Improve monitoring and impact measurement Strengthen results-based monitoring
systems to better track actual environmental and behavioural impacts, ensuring
future interventions are guided by evidence and measurable outcomes. The future
efforts should build on the strong policy foundation already established, while
shifting greater emphasis toward scalable implementation, stronger enforcement,
and system-wide transformation of Cambodia’s plastic waste management and
circular economy landscape.
8.
Other
Reporting Requirements
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