Over the past few years, Cambodia has put a lot of emphasis on integrating climate change in the development planning process, at the national, sectoral and sub-national level, as well as piloting potential approaches, mostly in adaptation. As this initial phase is coming to a close, the emphasis is shifting towards full-scale implementation of the climate change response, including mitigation aspects as mentioned in Cambodia’s INDC.

At this critical stage, partnerships with public and private entities involved in the climate change response need to be refined, project and programme concepts need to be developed into concrete full proposals, and Government must put in place the required capacities to manage the gradual up-scaling of the response.

GCF is expected to be a major financing partner for Cambodia, and there is a need to ensure that GCF resources are programmed in a strategic manner, taking into account comparative advantages and synergies with other financing partners, both public and private. GCF being a new entity, the Royal Government of Cambodia requires initial support to develop the procedures and human resources required to adequately manage the partnership with the GCF, and coordinate inputs from various stakeholders.