Nexus for Development’s Pioneer Facility signed a half million dollar agreement with Khmer Water Supply Holding Co Ltd (KWSH) to support clean water access in rural Cambodia, according to a press release on Wednesday.

The Pioneer Facility signed the deal to provide $500,000 in debt funding to KWSH, a decision driven by KWSH’s track record in delivering piped water to rural Cambodia, where only 8.5 per cent of households are connected to the system.

KWSH has already connected over 13,000 households to piped water and has a long-term plan to provide clean water to over 60,000 households and 300,000 individuals in the Kingdom.

Through the agreement, Pioneer Facility is working with KWSH to directly finance the acquisition of two additional piped water stations with a combined connectivity potential of approximately 12,500 households.

The funds will be used to construct water treatment plants, hire staff, purchase new water sources and purchase and install equipment such as pipelines to households, according to the release.

Nexus for Development works as a hub for resource connectivity, bridging funding and technical gaps for social enterprises, small- and medium-sized enterprises and NGOs to deliver clean energy, clean water and sanitation solutions.

KWSH project manager Shivam Tripathi said the loan matched both impact and business goals at KWSH.

“The investment was able to help support our capital requirements necessary to expand our piped network activities and in turn increase access to affordable and clean tap water for rural Cambodians,” he said.