For Immediate Release
Press Release
Phnom Penh, December 4, 2023. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Cambodia announces the award of a new, five-year, $24 million environment project supporting efforts that preserve biodiversity, protect critical ecosystems, and enhance community livelihoods in Cambodia. This new project, USAID Conserve, will expand USAID’s support to communities living in and around protected areas in the provinces of Preah Vihear, Kampong Thom, Stung Treng, and Kratie, while also undertaking new initiatives for communities living around Tonle Sap Lake and along the coastal areas of Koh Kong and Preah Sihanoukville.
USAID Conserve will build upon USAID’s efforts to provide direct funding to community-based organizations through an $8 million grant facility, which will provide at least 250 direct grants to Cambodian organizations. USAID will expand its long history of supporting successful forest carbon financing projects through support for the Kingdom’s efforts to develop blue carbon projects in Cambodia’s flooded forests and coastal areas. USAID Conserve will also develop social and behavior change communications campaigns at the national, provincial, district, and commune levels focused on combating the illegal trade in wildlife.
“USAID Conserve reflects our commitment to localization of our development assistance,” stated USAID Mission Director Kerry Pelzman. “Through this activity, we will support community-driven efforts to develop local employment based on the sustainable use of natural resources and leverage private capital to invest in long-term solutions to the climate crisis. Under this approach, USAID Conserve will provide support to the commitment of the Royal Government of Cambodia to achieve carbon neutral status by 2050.”
USAID Conserve will be led by Tetra Tech ARD and implemented by a consortium of partners, including the Wildlife Conservation Society and Conservation International.
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For more information:
USAID/Cambodia
icambodia@usaid.gov
Matthew Edwardsen
Chief of Party, USAID Conserve
matthew.edwardsen@tetratech.com
