Development assistance in Cambodia
Data and Dialogue for Development in Cambodia (Ponlok Chomnes)
$5.8 million, 2019-23
Ponlok Chomnes aims to strengthen the capacity of Cambodian institutions to undertake quality research that informs public policy analysis and dialogue in Cambodia. This will be realised through a set of mutually reinforcing activities conducted under four program objectives to: i) increase understanding of Cambodia's knowledge sector; ii) strengthen the capacity and networking ability of established knowledge sector institutions; iii) support research by emerging knowledge sector actors; and iv) promote thoughtful and inclusive policy dialogue and analysis.
The program is managed by The Asia Foundation and is working with research organisations, universities, civil society organisations and government agencies to support their engagement in constructive policy discussions. It will also seek to leverage models and expertise from Australia and other Southeast Asian countries.
| Name of document | Year published | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Ponlok Chomnes Independent Strategic Review | 2022 | Evaluation |
Australia-Cambodia Cooperation on Equitable Sustainable Services (ACCESS)
$25 million, 2018-23
ACCESS aims to improve the sustainability, quality and inclusiveness of services for persons with disabilities and for women affected by gender-based violence (GBV). The program works in partnership with the Cambodian Government to support the implementation of the National Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women and the National Disability Strategic Plan. Activities include interventions at the national level and across 15 provinces in Cambodia. Stage 1 of ACCESS (2018-21) completed in September 2021, with Stage 2 currently underway (2021-23).
ACCESS reflects Australia's strong commitment to supporting human rights, gender equality and disability-inclusive development in our region. ACCESS works with the Ministry of Women's Affairs; Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth; the Disability Action Council; and the Ministry of Economy and Finance to plan and use resources more effectively for GBV and disability-related services.
ACCESS is strengthening the capacity of the Cambodian Government, civil society and private sector service providers to sustainably improve services for persons with disabilities and women affected by GBV. For persons with disabilities this includes physical rehabilitation and inclusive economic services. For women affected by GBV, ACCESS is targeting health care, legal protection, and other critical social services, while supporting a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach to service delivery.
Related documents*
| Name of document | Year published | Type |
|---|---|---|
| ACCESS Design Document | 2017 | Design document |
| ACCESS Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Framework 2019 | 2019 | M&E plan |
| ACCESS Inception Report 2019 | 2019 | Report |
| ACCESS Annual Progress Report Sep 2018- Jun 2019 | 2019 | Report |
| ACCESS Annual Progress Report Jul 2019- Jun 2020 | 2020 | Report |
| ACCESS Rapid Review Report 2020 | 2020 | Evaluation |
| ACCESS Annual Progress Report Jul 2020- Jun 2021 | 2021 | Report |
| ACCESS Stage 1 Impact Report | 2021 | Report |
| ACCESS end of program evaluation | 2022 | Evaluation |
Mekong Women's Empowerment Project (Empower)
$4.3 million, 2018-22 (contribution towards $10.3 million initiative)
The Mekong Women's Empowerment Program (Empower) is a women's economic empowerment project operating across 14 provinces in Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar. The program uses an innovative private sector approach developed by Marie Stopes: “MS Ladies” are selected who meet certain education criteria and have an existing women's health-oriented business that they wish to expand. In Cambodia, Empower operates in areas with high rates of poverty and limited access to high quality sexual and reproductive health services.
Related links
Health Equity and Quality Improvement Project (H-EQIP 1)
$50 million, 2016-22
Australia is collaborating with the World Bank and other development partners on the Health Equity and Quality Improvement Project (H-EQIP 1). H-EQIP 1 is providing performance-based funding directly to health centres and hospitals to help them deliver tangible improvements in health services. Through H-EQIP 1, and in partnership with the German Development Agency (GIZ) and the Cambodian Ministry of Planning, we are also identifying the poorest Cambodians (through the Identification of Poor Household Program) and reimbursing their essential health care costs.
Our support for H-EQIP 1 has enabled Australia to engage in policy dialogue with the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Health on reforming public financial management in the health sector and other service delivery sectors. This has resulted in increased investment by the Cambodian Government in healthcare, and measures which make more efficient and effective use of public health funding.
Australia previously supported the health sector through the Second Health Sector Support Program (2009-16).
Related documents*
Cambodia Agricultural Value Chain Program – Phase II (CAVAC II)
$89.9 million, 2016-22
The Cambodia Agricultural Value Chain program – Phase II (CAVAC II) built on the results and experiences of CAVAC I and Australia's long legacy of agricultural assistance to Cambodia. In response to the structural transformations taking place in the Cambodian economy, CAVAC transitioned from a smallholder value-chain program to one that focuses more directly on the competitiveness and diversification of the agriculture sector supporting Cambodia to boost its economic resilience.
CAVAC II built 10 irrigation schemes in the Cambodian provinces of Takeo, Kandal, and Prey Veng, and supported agricultural competitiveness activities nationwide. During the construction of irrigation schemes under the program, CAVAC II established Farmer Water User Communities to support the sustainable operation and maintenance of the schemes. CAVAC II supported these elected groups of farmers by providing capacity building and support for the development of systems for monitoring and collecting fees for water usage. CAVAC II did this work in conjunction with the Provincial Departments of Water Resources and Meteorology and the private sector.
To increase incomes, rice farmers need to increase the quantity or quality produced and to diversify crops. This was achieved through the introduction of modern farming techniques and supporting reliable access to inputs such as water, seeds, fertiliser and pesticides, as well as better opportunities for selling produce. The program linked farmers with businesses who supplied agricultural products and public sector services. In parallel, CAVAC II worked with public sector stakeholders including the Royal Government of Cambodia's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Supreme National Economic Council, the Council for the Development of Cambodia, and Provincial Departments to foster an enabling environment and attract more investment into higher value-added crops and agro-processing.
CAVAC II built partnerships where all players benefit from adopting private sector-driven innovations that eliminate the constraints to growth, expanded the market for their business, and increased famer income through supporting farming quality and efficiency.
Related documents*
| Name of document | Year published | Type |
|---|---|---|
| CAVAC II Investment Design Document | 2015 | Investment design |
| CAVAC II Mid-Term Review | 2020 | Independent evaluation |
3i: Investing in Infrastructure
$51.68 million, 2015-22
Investing in Infrastructure ('3i') was an innovative approach in the infrastructure sector. The program worked with the private sector to connect households and businesses to utilities and other services, and to support new opportunities for trade-related businesses and industries. 3i supported infrastructure investment in the electricity and water sectors.
The program focused on providing competitive grants to private companies to stimulate the expansion of piped, treated water and reliable electricity networks. In addition to co-financing construction, 3i provided technical support from project inception through to the completion of construction. 3i channelled resources through viability gap financing.
In the water sector, 3i provided technical support to i) strengthen management information systems to increase the accuracy of data inputs for planning purposes; ii) expand coverage of piped water through exploring new business models in the water supply sector to increase efficiencies and reduce the required investment of smaller water operators; iii) support the development of a national strategy that would enable Cambodia to meet the Cambodia Sustainable Development Goal #6 target of clean water and sanitation for all by 2025; and iv) provide technical training to all licensed water operators. 3i also supported Cambodian and Australian water associations (AWA) in their exchange of knowledge and technology.
The program supported the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MISTI) to develop: (i) a Provincial Investment Plan which assessed current coverage status of piped water supply, identified potential treated piped water sites with their respective cost estimates, and identified support necessary to stimulate infrastructure investment; (ii) a framework for developing a 'water fund' to serve as a multi-donor financing mechanism to support Cambodia achieve universal piped water coverage; (iii) a bulk water business model; and (iv) a small scale bundling model that used economies of scale to incentivise water provision to economically unviable small utility sites and promote access to reliable piped water for Cambodian rural communities.
In the energy sector, 3i supported policy initiatives within the Cambodian Government's Renewable Energy Technical Working Group (TWG) which was created by prakas (ministerial decision) of Ministry of Mine and Energy (MME), and funded four studies on wind energy, rooftop solar, waste-to-energy and off-grid electrification.
In the financial sector, 3i supported Cambodia to i) promote Public Private Partnership (PPP) and public investment planning; and ii) develop policy and regulatory recommendations to catalyse market growth in long term debt instruments.
Under urban infrastructure development, 3i supported i) efforts to enhance construction quality and safety in Cambodia; and ii) developing a strategy for smart city development promoting green and climate resilience investment in Preah Sihanouk province.
Related documents*
| Name of document | Year published | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 3i: Investing In Infrastructure–Investment Design | 2014 | Investment design |
| Scalability Review of Investing in Infrastructure | 2017 | Independent evaluation |
| 3i: Investing in Infrastructure Independent Review | 2022 | Independent evaluation |
Support to the Khmer Rouge Tribunal
$46 million, 2003-22
This initiative contributes to a multi-donor fund that supports the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), a Tribunal set up to bring those most responsible for the crimes of the Khmer Rouge regime to justice (the Khmer Rouge Tribunal). The ECCC is creating a public, detailed and independent record of the extensive, serious crimes of the Khmer Rouge regime. It is promoting the rule of law, fair trial rights and capacity-building within the Cambodian judicial system, by giving local judicial officials the opportunity to work alongside senior international lawyers and judges. It is also helping victims and their families come to terms with their suffering and establishing an important record of what happened.
Cambodia Rural Roads Improvement Project Phase II (RRIP II)
$22.6 million, 2014-2020
The Rural Roads Improvement Project Phase II, managed by the Asian Development Bank and Cambodian Ministry of Rural Development, aims to improve around 1,200km of rural roads across Cambodia. Co-financed by the ADB, Cambodian Government, Korea, France, Nordic Development Fund and Strategic Climate Fund, the project will ensure rehabilitated roads are climate resilient, providing 365 day access to schools, hospitals and markets on project roads. A 2015 assessment found that many rural roads are only accessible for around 200 days per year due to flooding and erosion.
Road safety in Cambodia is poor, and too many drivers, passengers and pedestrians are injured or killed each year. Through improved road quality and targeted road safety trainings, we expect to see a 20 per cent reduction in the road crash rate in project areas by 2020. At least 20 per cent of unskilled jobs under the project will go to women.
Related documents*
| Name of document | Year published | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Cambodia Rural Roads Improvement Program Phase II Mid-term review | 2018 | Review |
Related links
Asian Development Bank: Rural Roads Improvement Project Phase II
Identification of Poor Households Program (IDPoor)
$14.3 million, 2010-22
IDPoor is the Cambodian Government's means-testing system. IDPoor is critical for the efficient targeting of social assistance and services to the poor as Cambodia implements its National Social Protection Policy Framework and responds to COVID-19. IDPoor is enabling the Royal Government of Cambodia to rapidly roll out a large-scale, unconditional cash transfer (a first in Cambodia) to poor Cambodians in response to COVID-19. IDPoor plays a key role in Australia's support for making healthcare available to all Cambodians – it is relied on by the Ministry of Health to identify the poorest Cambodians who receive subsidised health care.
Related documents*
| Name of document | Year published | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Identification of Poor Households Program in Cambodia: Annual Progress Report 2016-17 | 2017 | Report |
| Identification of Poor Households Program Phase 2: Final Completion Report | 2016 | Report |
| Identification of Poor Households Program: Annual Progress Report 2014-15 | 2015 | Report |
| Identification of Poor Households Program: Annual Progress Report 2013-14 | 2014 | Report |
Related links
Identification of Poor Household Program website
Community Policing Initiative
$4.2 million, 2016-2019
The Community Policing Initiative works in partnership with the Cambodia National Police (CNP) which has committed to implement community policing as the foundation for service delivery by all 1,633 commune police posts in Cambodia. This initiative is assisting the CNP in strengthening community policing management and oversight; performance effectiveness of commune police officers; police and community relations; and sustainability of a community policing approach in Cambodia.
This initiative complements Australia's support for services for women affected by gender-based violence and supports CNP-Australian Federal Police relationships.
Clearing for Results Phase III (CFR-III)
$9 million, 2016-2019
Cambodia's extensive landmine and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) contamination is the result of protracted internal and regional conflicts from the mid-1960s through to the late-1990s. A baseline survey completed in 2013 found that over 1,900 square kilometres remained contaminated with landmines and other ERW.
Australia has been a long standing partner of Cambodia in reducing the impacts of landmines and ERW. We have provided over $90 million to mine action and victim assistance activities since 1994. Starting in 2006, Australia's contribution to the mine action sector has been through funding the Clearing for Results, a multi-donor program managed by UNDP in partnership with Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA).
The CFR-III (2016-2019) builds on the success of the previous two phases by continuing to clear and release contaminated land in Battambang, Banteay Meanchey and Pailin provinces and improve CMAA's capacity to better manage, monitor, regulate, and lead the sector. Australia's contribution of $9 million to CFR-III is expected to result in at least 27 square kilometres of released land over four years.
Landmines and explosive remnants of war have killed or injured nearly 65,000 people in Cambodia since 1979. The thousands of survivors require ongoing rehabilitation. Cambodia has integrated victim assistance into broader national disability policies and is in the process of integrating disability across all ministries and sectors. Accordingly, Australia previously supported Cambodia to meet its responsibilities under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities through a separate program–the Disability Rights Initiative Cambodia (DRIC)–and is now implementing the Australia-Cambodia Cooperation on Equitable Sustainable Services (ACCESS) program, which has a focus on disability-related services.
Related documents*
Related links
UNDP Clearing for Results phase 2
Cambodia Communications Assistance Project (CCAP)
$6.5 million, 2012-2019
Australia, through an Australian Broadcasting Commission program, is providing support to Cambodian provincial departments through the Cambodia Communications Assistance Project (CCAP) to enable them to reach Cambodia's rural population via government radio. This program provides a bridge for citizens to listen, raise issues, ask questions and request action relating to government services and information. It also provides a platform for the Cambodian Government to communicate directly with communities at the sub-national level. CCAP has a specific radio program We Can Do It!, focusing on ending violence against women.
Related documents*
| Name of document | Year published | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Cambodian Communications Assistance Project Independent Evaluation | 2014 | Independent evaluation |
| Cambodian Communications Assistance Project Phase 1 Completion Report | 2015 | Completion report |
Partnering to Save Lives Program
$19.75 million, 2013-2018
In 2013, we launched a partnership between CARE Australia, Save the Children Australia, Marie Stopes International Australia, the Australian Government and the Royal Government of Cambodia. Partnering to Save Lives improved reproductive, maternal and neonatal care, particularly in Cambodia's four remote north-eastern provinces, which have significant ethnic minority communities. The program also provided reproductive health information and services in other parts of the country, including to young women working in Cambodia's garment factories.
Related documents*
Related links
- Health assistance in Southeast Asia
- The Kingdom of Cambodia Health System Review
- Cambodia Demography and Health Survey 2014's Key Indicator Reports
- National Coverage and Health Service Utilisation by Health Equity Funds Members 2004-2015
Cambodia Rural Energy Project
$7.8 million, 2014-2017
Led by the Asian Development Bank, this project aimed to increase access to affordable and reliable energy for rural communities. It directly expanded supply of reliable grid electricity for up to 8,000 households in Svay Rieng province.
Given that cooking accounts for as much as 90% of energy needs in many Cambodian households, the program also worked with retailers, mostly women, to help sell 90,000 improved, energy efficient cook stoves.
Related links
Asian Development Bank: Cambodia Rural Energy Project
Disability Rights Initiative Cambodia
$10.4 million, 2014 – 2017
The Disability Rights Initiative Cambodia (DRIC) was a joint United Nations – Australian aid program to improve quality of life for people with disability in Cambodia. Closely linked to the Royal Government of Cambodia's overarching strategy for disability inclusion, the program helped ensure "people with disability have increased opportunities for participation in social, economic, cultural and political life through effective implementation of the National Disability Strategic Plan."
DRIC was implemented in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund. The program included four components:
- Supporting Government implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Supporting Disabled People's Organisations to raise the voice and protect the rights of people with disability
- Supporting rehabilitation systems strengthening
- Inclusive governance and inclusive community development
Related documents*
| Name of document | Year published | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Disability Rights Initiative Cambodia – Joint Programme Document | 2013 | Design |
| Disability Rights Initiative Cambodia Programme Factsheet | 2014 | Factsheet |
| Situation Analysis for Disability Inclusive Governance and Community Development in Cambodia | 2014 | Situation analysis |
| National Disability Strategic Plan 2014-2018 | 2014 | Strategic plan |
| 2015 Consolidated Narrative Annual Report | 2015 | Annual Report |
| Disability Rights Initiative Cambodia – Mid Term Review Report 2016 | 2016 | Independent Evaluation |
| Disability Rights Initiative Cambodia – Mid Term Review Joint-Management Response 2016 | 2016 | Management Responses |
Related links
Cambodia Emergency Flood Rehabilitation Project
$12.6 million, 2012-2017
The Cambodia Emergency Flood Rehabilitation Project, with an initial Australian contribution of $5 million, was initiated in the wake of serious damage to Cambodia's infrastructure during the severe Mekong region flooding in 2011.
The project restored critical public and social infrastructure assets necessary to restore livelihoods and access in affected provinces, and securing the social infrastructure services against future flooding. Project works included reconstructing flood-damaged national, provincial and rural roads, repairing flood-damaged irrigation schemes and strengthening emergency management capacity for natural disasters.
There was serious flooding again in late 2013, affecting different regions. Due to the continuing level of need and effective project performance, Australia entered into a second phase of this project, increasing its total contribution to $12.6 million.
Related links
- Asian Development Bank: Flood Damage Emergency Reconstruction Project
- Asian Development Bank: Flood Damage Emergency Reconstruction Project (Additional Financing)
- Government of Cambodia Ministry of Economy and Finance: Flood Damage Emergency Reconstruction Project
Ending Violence Against Women
$13.4 million, 2012-2017
The Cambodia Ending Violence Against Women (EVAW) program focused on changing attitudes and preventing violence so that women and girls can feel safe in their homes, workplace and communities.
Violence against women and girls is widespread, systemic and culturally entrenched in Cambodia. According to the most recent prevalence data, at least one in five women between the ages of 15 and 64 have suffered physical or sexual intimate partner violence.
The EVAW program support focused on three areas:
- Access to services – such as health, psycho-social counselling, shelter, education and legal services for women experiencing violence.
- Prevention – working with government, civil society and private sector on community and institutional attitudes.
- Justice – increasing opportunities to access justice for women who experience violence.
These focus areas were underpinned by support for institutional capacity building and coordination as well as research and evidence to support policy and future programming.
Program achievements include:
- The Second National Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women, the key whole-of-government policy on violence against women (VAW), was adopted by Cambodia in December 2014. It is now being used to drive whole-of-government policies and actions on violence against women.
- National data collection surveys funded by Australia – the Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey (CDHS) and the VAW Prevalence Study – were launched in late 2015 giving the Government of Cambodia and other stakeholders reliable information on the prevalence of VAW in Cambodia for the first time.
- Over the life of the program: 12,907 women and their families were provided with shelter, counselling, legal aid or peer support services; 18,337 people were trained or participated in community awareness programs; and 2,938 people were recipients of legal response activities.
- Nine documented practice guidelines and associated training manuals were developed, approved, published and implemented to provide information and advice to service providers delivering services to victims of violence. These included: Minimum Service Standards for Basic Counselling to Survivors of Gender Based Violence against Women; Referral Guidelines for Survivors of Gender-Based Violence against Women, and National Guidelines for Managing Violence against Women and Children in the Health System.
- A Community Alcohol Notification System (CANS) and Media Code of Conduct were also developed and implemented, helping to change community and institutional attitudes and prevent violence from occurring.
Australia worked closely with the Ministry of Women's Affairs as well as with UN agencies such as UN Women, UN Population Fund and the World Health Organization, other bilateral partners (Germany) and local and international NGOs such as The Asia Foundation, CARE Australia, Hagar and others to deliver the program.
Related documents*
Rehabilitation of Railway in Cambodia Project
$27.1 million, 2009-2015
Australia's support for the Asian Development Bank's US$143 million project to upgrade the national railway of Cambodia came to an end in 2015.
Regular freight services by rail are now operating between Phnom Penh and the seaport at Sihanoukville. In recognition of challenges associated with resettlement, Australia agreed that implementation of the Expanded Income Restoration Program under the project be allowed to continue until December 2014.
Related links
Asian Development Bank: Rehabilitation of the Railway in Cambodia Project
Southern Coastal Corridor Cambodia
$10.3 million, 2007-2015
The Southern Coastal Corridor Cambodia initiative, in partnership with the Asian Development Bank, upgraded the southern coastal road corridor from Kampong Trach to the Cambodia/Vietnam border, and the border post at Preak Chak. Australian funding financed consulting services including programs on HIV awareness and prevention, and mitigating social and environmental impacts.
All project works, including construction of the new 15km road, the agreed road maintenance contracts, and the works at the cross-border facility were completed. The original scope of the HIV and Trafficking Awareness and Prevention program was fully met, with 800 people (of which 70 per cent were women) benefiting. While economic impacts are not due to be assessed until 2020, early evidence suggests the project has helped significantly grow trade volumes between Cambodia and Vietnam, and promote private sector growth along the route.
Related links
Asian Development Bank: Greater Mekong Subregion Southern Coastal Corridor Project Appraisal
Cambodia Community Justice Assistance Partnership
In accordance with the recommendations of a 2012 evaluation and as agreed between the Governments of Australia and Cambodia in 2012, Australia's sector-wide assistance to the law and justice sector, delivered primarily through the Cambodia Community Justice Assistance Partnership, ended in June 2016.
Australia has continued assistance in this sector by strengthening Cambodian police engagement with communities, and supporting the Khmer Rouge Tribunal (the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia) seeking justice for crimes against humanity committed by former Khmer Rouge officials.