USAID’s Real Impact series highlights examples of water sector projects around the world. Each case example provides from-the-field insights about successful approaches, challenges faced, and lessons learned.

In Cambodia, where 77 percent of the rural population lacks access to improved sanitation, people often think they cannot afford toilets. Providing access to affordable water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) products and services is critical in this country where, according to UNICEF and WHO, 8.6 million people practice open defecation, and research has shown that less than 10 percent of rural households properly wash their hands.