Neighbours together / Don’t wait for rain

Research showed that (Climate Asia: Cambodia report)

• People were struggling with the effects of climate change, especially in rural areas where over half of the labour force works in agriculture.
• Over 80% felt changes impacted their ability to earn money and stay healthy.
• Many people changed jobs to cope rather than changing their farming practices.
• 75% of people were willing to make changes to their lifestyles to cope
• Over 90% felt confident their communities could work together and over half often talk about how to tackle problems and prepare for the future
• The majority felt they needed greater support from the government or NGOs because they don't have enough resources or adequate information
• Socially, many feel reluctant to discuss actions with others or try something new, especially the most vulnerable.

• To build confidence among people to try something new
• To explore options to address financial barriers to trying something new.

Targeting: People across the country facing high risk from multiple hazards, especially most vulnerable

Strategies: To demonstrate replicable and affordable techniques that ordinary people can do

• Media: National TV programme (25 min, weekly): Featured different region each week, pairing local experts with those facing problems to explain how simple steps could reduce risks.
• Community outreach - To reach people without access to television, the programme was screened in five priority areas across the country. At the events, there were facilitated discussions amongst the audience about problems and solutions seen in the show as well as live demonstrations of the techniques featured. Communities were also connected to experts who could support future changes.
• Capacity strengthening - Using insights from the research, a toolkit was developed for project partners and other organisations. Communicating Climate Change: What You Can Do, provides expert yet simple guidance on developing communication strategies. 48 participants from 33 NGOs working on climate adaptation projects in Cambodia were trained on technical skills on production processes, identifying and writing key messages, using social media analytics and learning more on access to information and media.

Watch

and

Listen

• Clip from episode on raised beds
• Full episodes: YouTube playlist of "Don't Wait for Rain" - with English