Search Climate Insights Directory

This case study describes the implementation of an Okra Solar mesh-grid system in the remote villages of Steung Chrov, Ta Daok, and Prek Spean in Cambodia. The project aimed to provide a commercially sustainable alternative to national grid extension and diesel mini-grids for low-density, remote populations.

This research paper examines arsenic contamination in Cambodian rice, finding that the increasing use of groundwater for dry season irrigation facilitates the uptake of naturally occurring arsenic into rice grains. While arsenic in drinking water is a known issue, the document highlights a significant lack of awareness and data regarding rice as an exposure pathway. It identifies Kandal and Prey Veng as high-risk areas and notes that Cambodian rice can have higher arsenic levels than rice from Thailand or Viet Nam. The authors recommend improving surface water irrigation and diversifying crops to reduce reliance on contaminated groundwater.

This research paper, published by the Stockholm Environment Institute, synthesizes two studies commissioned by SNV Netherlands Development Organisation to evaluate the impact of health-focused marketing messages on the purchase of clean cookstoves in Cambodia and Kenya. Both studies concluded that health messaging had a minimal effect on stove purchases, with price and functional benefits remaining the primary drivers of adoption.

This 2015 report by the Stockholm Environment Institute evaluates a health promotion campaign for the ACE-1 clean biomass cookstove in Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia. The research found that while positive health messaging increased awareness of the dangers of traditional stove smoke, it did not significantly drive sales. Instead, sales were primarily driven by the persuasiveness and personality of individual sales agents and the functional benefits of the stove (such as fuel savings and phone charging). The high cost of the stove ($100) remained the primary barrier, with all buyers utilizing installment plans. The report concludes that functional benefits and agent trust are more critical for adoption than health-based messaging alone.