Challenges
Rapid urbanization in Cambodia is creating severe housing challenges, with millions of new homes needed by 2030 amid rising land prices and expanding informal settlements.
Government policies aim to encourage private development, but prices remain out of reach for low-income families. Many families in informal settlements still lack access to affordable and resilient housing, and weak policy frameworks and regulations make it hard to develop low-cost housing.
At the same time, small and medium developers have little incentive to invest in affordable housing. Limited donor support and complex incentive processes have also slowed private sector participation. Infrastructure support, including land, water, electricity and roads, is often insufficient, leaving vulnerable communities without safe, resilient and affordable housing.
Weak policy enforcement and delays in infrastructure provision further block progress.
Rapid urbanization in Cambodia is creating severe housing challenges, with millions of new homes needed by 2030 amid rising land prices and expanding informal settlements.
Government policies aim to encourage private development, but prices remain out of reach for low-income families. Many families in informal settlements still lack access to affordable and resilient housing, and weak policy frameworks and regulations make it hard to develop low-cost housing.
At the same time, small and medium developers have little incentive to invest in affordable housing. Limited donor support and complex incentive processes have also slowed private sector participation. Infrastructure support, including land, water, electricity and roads, is often insufficient, leaving vulnerable communities without safe, resilient and affordable housing.
Weak policy enforcement and delays in infrastructure provision further block progress.
Solution
This project will support low-income and vulnerable families living in informal settlements in Battambang, Cambodia, by improving access to affordable, resilient and inclusive housing.
Our approach:
- Establish innovative partnerships with private developers to build low-cost, climate-resilient homes for vulnerable communities, piloting a small-scale demonstrative housing community.
- Conduct a comprehensive review of existing Affordable Housing Policy and formulate policy recommendations to address gaps in affordability, inclusivity and climate resilience.
- Organize multi-stakeholder dialogues, roundtable discussions, public events and high-level learning exchanges to advocate for integrating affordable and resilient housing solutions.
- Collaborate with the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the General Department of Housing to advocate for policy revisions that support small and medium-sized housing developers.
- Develop and promote an incentive package to encourage private sector participation in affordable housing construction.
- Create an IT-enabled housing proposal submission system to streamline processes and improve transparency.
- Construct demonstration housing units in partnership with private developers.
- Build and disseminate practical tools such as a housing model handbook and a mobile application to guide future housing initiatives.
- Organize training sessions and public awareness events to build capacity and inform communities about inclusive housing practices.
- Engage communities through structured consultations, workshops and app-based feedback mechanisms to ensure residents’ voices shape housing solutions. Feedback will be documented and shared with stakeholders to inform policy revisions and incentive packages.
- Raise awareness through public campaigns and workshops to promote inclusive, resilient housing practices and inform policy and private sector approaches.
Timescale: The project is expected to be completed within 24 months.
This project will support low-income and vulnerable families living in informal settlements in Battambang, Cambodia, by improving access to affordable, resilient and inclusive housing.
Our approach:
- Establish innovative partnerships with private developers to build low-cost, climate-resilient homes for vulnerable communities, piloting a small-scale demonstrative housing community.
- Conduct a comprehensive review of existing Affordable Housing Policy and formulate policy recommendations to address gaps in affordability, inclusivity and climate resilience.
- Organize multi-stakeholder dialogues, roundtable discussions, public events and high-level learning exchanges to advocate for integrating affordable and resilient housing solutions.
- Collaborate with the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the General Department of Housing to advocate for policy revisions that support small and medium-sized housing developers.
- Develop and promote an incentive package to encourage private sector participation in affordable housing construction.
- Create an IT-enabled housing proposal submission system to streamline processes and improve transparency.
- Construct demonstration housing units in partnership with private developers.
- Build and disseminate practical tools such as a housing model handbook and a mobile application to guide future housing initiatives.
- Organize training sessions and public awareness events to build capacity and inform communities about inclusive housing practices.
- Engage communities through structured consultations, workshops and app-based feedback mechanisms to ensure residents’ voices shape housing solutions. Feedback will be documented and shared with stakeholders to inform policy revisions and incentive packages.
- Raise awareness through public campaigns and workshops to promote inclusive, resilient housing practices and inform policy and private sector approaches.
Timescale: The project is expected to be completed within 24 months.
Results and benefits
The project will directly benefit low-income families and first-time homeowners living in Battambang’s informal settlements by providing access to affordable, resilient homes and fostering greater participation in housing decisions. Approximately 120 households will gain improved housing, while the broader community will benefit from strengthened policy frameworks, access to digital tools like the Housing Mobile App and knowledge shared through public campaigns, training sessions and workshops.
Community consultations, structured forums and app-based feedback will ensure that residents’ experiences inform policy recommendations, incentive packages and housing design. Local developers and stakeholders will acquire guidance on inclusive and climate-resilient construction practices, creating a foundation for scalable solutions. Practical tools, including the model handbook and mobile app, will enhance knowledge and support capacity-building for developers, staff, partners and communities.
The project will improve national policy frameworks and incentives for affordable and resilient housing development. It will also increase access to affordable and resilient housing for low-income families and first-time homeowners through strategic partnerships, private sector collaboration and enhanced government infrastructure investment.
The project will directly benefit low-income families and first-time homeowners living in Battambang’s informal settlements by providing access to affordable, resilient homes and fostering greater participation in housing decisions. Approximately 120 households will gain improved housing, while the broader community will benefit from strengthened policy frameworks, access to digital tools like the Housing Mobile App and knowledge shared through public campaigns, training sessions and workshops.
Community consultations, structured forums and app-based feedback will ensure that residents’ experiences inform policy recommendations, incentive packages and housing design. Local developers and stakeholders will acquire guidance on inclusive and climate-resilient construction practices, creating a foundation for scalable solutions. Practical tools, including the model handbook and mobile app, will enhance knowledge and support capacity-building for developers, staff, partners and communities.
The project will improve national policy frameworks and incentives for affordable and resilient housing development. It will also increase access to affordable and resilient housing for low-income families and first-time homeowners through strategic partnerships, private sector collaboration and enhanced government infrastructure investment.
Long-term impact
Low-income and vulnerable families will enjoy safer, more resilient and affordable housing, enhancing their security, dignity and quality of life.
Policy advocacy and private sector engagement will institutionalize improved practices and infrastructure support, enabling wider access to affordable housing. Tools such as the housing handbook and mobile app will facilitate replication and scaling of inclusive housing solutions, while community engagement ensures lasting ownership and empowerment.
Over time, these efforts will strengthen housing resilience, promote social inclusion and support sustainable urban development across Cambodia.
Low-income and vulnerable families will enjoy safer, more resilient and affordable housing, enhancing their security, dignity and quality of life.
Policy advocacy and private sector engagement will institutionalize improved practices and infrastructure support, enabling wider access to affordable housing. Tools such as the housing handbook and mobile app will facilitate replication and scaling of inclusive housing solutions, while community engagement ensures lasting ownership and empowerment.
Over time, these efforts will strengthen housing resilience, promote social inclusion and support sustainable urban development across Cambodia.
Scale-up
With increased co-funding, this project could benefit more vulnerable families in Battambang and Siem Reap, offering affordable, climate-resilient homes and fostering scalable, community-driven housing approaches. Please get in touch to request a detailed proposal.
With increased co-funding, this project could benefit more vulnerable families in Battambang and Siem Reap, offering affordable, climate-resilient homes and fostering scalable, community-driven housing approaches. Please get in touch to request a detailed proposal.
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When you co-fund a project, you help transform lives. By building housing, we build beyond the physical homes: adequate living conditions have a powerful impact on the livelihoods, health, education and more of households and communities.
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Half of the global population living in poverty resides in Asia and the Pacific. To help address these issues, Build Beyond funds locally led initiatives to transform lives through improved housing conditions.