The first province-led sanitation industry conference
Cambodia’s first province-led sanitation industry conference was held in Kampong Cham in December 2019. Sanitation industry conferences are important market-building events—a rare forum that brings together local government and rural SMEs to talk toilets and share plans. In previous years, WaterSHED convened the event as a market facilitator.
Why is it now exciting that government is taking over? Sustainable sanitation requires that all functions and services provided by WaterSHED either become obsolete, or be delivered by local actors in the public and/or private sector. Organizing industry conferences is one of many functions that the government is now taking over, allowing WaterSHED to exit. Our aim is to leave behind a stronger local system, whereby an active provincial government coordinates and monitors WASH services and regulates the market.
Similar conferences were held in the provinces of Pailin, Tboung Khmum, Pursat and Battambang with minimal WaterSHED support.
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