Cambodia and UNDP Pledge Stronger Long-Term Partnership on Environment and Natural Resources

The Ministry of Environment and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Cambodia have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their partnership and long-term cooperation in protecting the environment and natural resources and promoting sustainable development in Cambodia. The commitment was made during a partnership dialogue between the Ministry of Environment and UNDP Cambodia held at the Ministry on Aug. 31. The forum reflected Cambodia’s commitment to advancing its environmental diplomacy priorities in line with the Royal Government’s Pentagonal Strategy-Phase 1 and the Environmental Circular Strategy. Mr. Enrico Gaveglia, UNDP Resident Representative in Cambodia, emphasised the importance of cooperation in environmental protection, green development and climate change response. He reaffirmed UNDP’s strong commitment to supporting Cambodia’s programmes and investments aimed at promoting environmentally sustainable development. H.E. Dr. Eang Sophalleth, Minister of Environment, thanked UNDP for its contributions to sustainable development in Cambodia and described the dialogue as an important initiative to build a stronger, comprehensive and long-term partnership between the Ministry and UNDP. He stressed the need to accelerate the transition from policies to concrete action in areas including environmental sustainability, natural resource management, climate change and sustainable development. “We must work together to turn Cambodia’s environmental and climate commitments into concrete investments and lasting results for people, nature and future generations,” he said. Through their strategic partnership, the Ministry of Environment and UNDP Cambodia have been advancing key national environmental priorities under the Pentagonal Strategy-Phase I, the Environmental Circular Strategy 2023-2028, the Cambodia Climate Change Strategic Plan 2014-2023 and its second phase, CCCSP 2024-2033. Their cooperation also supports Cambodia’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 2.0) and third NDC (NDC 3.0), contributing to environmental sustainability, sustainable livelihoods, climate resilience, biodiversity conservation and inclusive socio-economic development. At present, the Ministry and UNDP are implementing 15 ongoing projects covering a wide range of areas, including climate change, the National Adaptation Plan, biodiversity conservation, protected area management, sustainable landscape management, the circular economy, waste management, chemical management, forest and ecosystem restoration, carbon markets under Article 6, environmental governance, nature-based solutions, sustainable finance and implementation of five international environmental conventions. In addition, 20 projects and initiatives are currently being developed or implemented between the Ministry of Environment and UNDP, with total funding of approximately US$47.25 million. Of this amount, about US$40.04 million has been approved or partly contracted since July 2025. During the dialogue, the Ministry of Environment also planned to prepare specific proposals for submission to UNDP to mobilise further support for priority environmental and climate programmes under their cooperation framework for the coming years. By C. Nika