The Pandemic Fund

Cambodia faces a rising risk of disease outbreaks from its vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters, intensive agricultural and livestock production, and loss of forests and biodiversity.

To address this threat, the US$19.5 million Cambodia Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Project (CamPPR) focuses on enhancing surveillance systems, laboratory services, and human resources to combat zoonotic diseases such as African swine fever and avian influenza. CamPPR partners include the Cambodian Ministries of Health, Finance, Agriculture, and Environment, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, FAO, and World Bank. The Pandemic Fund grant is leveraging US$299 million in co-financing from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) and US$3 million in co-investment.

Strengthening surveillance systems is one of three project components designed to address critical gaps in the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) and Performance of Veterinary Services (PVS) assessments of Cambodia’s pandemic readiness. A new government task force is coordinating rollout of disease risk assessments, training in International Health Regulations (IHR), outbreak simulation exercises for key national and local personnel, and new technology to enable real-time data collection and improved data analysis and sharing. The project will also strengthen surveillance at Cambodia’s borders and support standardized risk communication protocols across sectors for an efficient response to public health threats in Cambodia and the region.

For the simulation exercises, veterinarians from national, provincial, and district teams were immersed in realistic outbreak scenarios, applying their skills to sample collection and investigation, field coordination, and reporting mechanisms.

“We had the opportunity to reflect on the mistakes made during previous outbreaks,” says Kuy Khechsim, Vice-Chief of the Investigation, Surveillance, and Control of Animal Disease Office at the Ministry of Agriculture’s General Directorate of Animal Health and Production. “Through this training, I gained a clearer understanding of necessary improvements and best practices. As a result, I now feel more confident and better prepared to respond effectively to future animal disease outbreaks.”