The World Bank has agreed to provide funding of $100m to Cambodia, with 60% to be spent on improving rural roads in order to resist harsh weather conditions, and the remaining 40% used for improving secondary schools.  

The majority of funding has been allocated for improving the rural roads, as the development works were not being executed effectively in rural areas because of poor road conditions.

Rural roads will be improved under the South East Asia Disaster Risk Management Project, which has been designed to improve connectivity of rural communities.

Under this project, around 250km of rural roads throughout six provinces along the Mekong and Tonle Sap will be rehabilitated and will be beneficial to nearly 3.5 million people living in Stung Treng, Kratie, Kampong Cham, Tbong Khmum, Siem Reap, Kandal and also for the motorists using this road. 

The project will see upgrading of existing roads in order to withstand flood and other natural disasters, reducing the costs required for reconstructing affected roads. 

The bank will also provide road asset management systems and strategies in order to support and help Cambodia in the climate resilient planning, implementation and monitoring rural roads. 

"Improving rural roads is central to poverty reduction in Cambodia since 79% of the population and 91% of the poor live in rural areas."

World Bank Cambodia country manager Inguna Dobraja said: “Improving rural roads is central to poverty reduction in Cambodia since 79% of the population and 91% of the poor live in rural areas. 

“Better and weather resilient roads will help students go to school, families visit health centres, and farmers from across Cambodia bring their products to markets."

In addition, the project will receive an additional $1m grant from the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery that will be used by the Ministry of Economics and Finance to develop a disaster risk financing instruments and mainstream resilience into public investment planning.  

The World Bank will provide $40m for the Secondary Education Improvement Project in Cambodia from the International Development Association, which is the bank’s fund for the poorest countries.

The project will be carried out over five years and will focus on strengthening school management and improve the qualifications of teachers.