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Cambodia
EXAMPLES OF OUR IMPACT
- USAID provides life-saving antiretroviral therapy to over 90 percent of those who need it.
- USAID-supported small businesses have increased sales by 100-340 percent.
- Grade repetition rates decreased in 64 percent of USAID-targeted schools, and dropout rates decreased in 61 percent of targeted schools.
USAID/CAMBODIA SITE
www.usaid.gov/kh/
CONTACTS
Mission Director
Flynn Fuller
USAID/Cambodia
U.S. Embassy Phnom Penh
Tel: 855-23-728-300
Desk Officer
Deidra Winston
Tel: (202) 712-5377
Email: DWinston@usaid.gov
More than 54 out of 1,000 children under five die in Cambodia each year, and infant mortality rates are 45 per 1,000 live births, higher than in neighboring Vietnam or Thailand. USAID's programs help to improve the quality and accessibility of maternal, newborn, and child health services and provide relevant training to caregivers, policymakers, and community volunteers. (Photo: USAID)
Overview
Cambodia is transforming in remarkable ways. The country is at peace after decades of conflict, and a majority of Cambodians are optimistic about the future. However, important challenges remain. Parliamentary elections in 2008 were freer than any held in Cambodia. Yet political power remains unevenly spread, and opposition parties are disorganized, divided, and subject to manipulation. Cambodia has reduced HIV/AIDS infection by half and treated the majority of affected people. Yet maternal mortality remains high, infectious diseases are serious concerns, and the health and education systems are underfunded. Each year, 250,000 young people enter the workforce, but not all find jobs. In each of these areas, U.S. assistance makes significant contributions to Cambodia's development.
Programs
Governing Justly and Democratically
USAID engages with the government and civil society to help combat corruption, improve the legal system, strengthen key political and civil liberties, protect human rights, and involve youth and women in the democratic process. By informing and fueling the public debate about transparency and accountability, USAID is laying the groundwork for reform and building the political will for change. USAID's efforts to strengthen good governance include activities to improve elected officials’ accountability and responsiveness to their constituents.
USAID helped the government establish a national task force on trafficking that increases coordination and transparency across all government agencies and civil society. The task force launched two well-regarded training videos that emphasize a rights-based approach to victim support and highlight best practices in victim care. USAID assistance was also instrumental in creating a criminal case database that tracks trafficking-in-persons crimes and improves understanding of the problem in Cambodia.
Investing in People
Cambodia's maternal mortality rate is the second highest in East Asia, malnutrition in young children and expectant mothers is endemic, and, while Cambodia has achieved reductions in child mortality, newborn deaths remain high. USAID is improving maternal and child health by helping the Cambodian government to develop and implement national policies, strengthen national systems, improve clinical skills, expand community outreach and health financing for the poor, provide community education, and improve access to quality services.
USAID's programs have helped to sustain the reduction in new HIV infections and to provide life-saving antiretroviral therapy to over 90 percent of those who need it. Tuberculosis (TB) affects 64 percent of the population. Mission support of the National TB Control Program has helped increase detection rates of new TB cases and resulted in high treatment success rates. USAID's health system strengthening program has worked to improve the quality of services and reduce financial barriers to access among the poor. USAID is the key donor organization in preventing the supply of counterfeit and sub-standard medication and in combatting the growing problem of drug-resistant infectious diseases.
Because Cambodia's school drop-out rate is high, USAID is focused on improving education quality and increasing access for marginalized populations. USAID is also developing the lower secondary life skills curriculum and teacher training materials, strengthening the leadership and management of the education system, providing school improvement grants, and awarding student scholarships. Approximately 61 percent of USAID-targeted schools report reduced dropout rates, and 64 percent report a reduction in students repeating grades.
Economic Growth
USAID has improved the investment environment and enhanced the competitiveness of small- and medium-sized enterprises, which employ most of the population. USAID works in 14 provinces and seven value chains: swine, aquaculture, brick/tile, wild honey, resin, water and sanitation, and eco-tourism. USAID has helped more than 5,500 family businesses increase their sales by 100-340 percent, and nearly 25,000 mostly poor households now have affordable, clean water piped directly to their homes.
Under the new Feed the Future and Global Climate Change Initiatives, USAID is enhancing agricultural production, developing post-harvest management capacity, increasing access to food, and improving natural resource management and resilience to climate change. USAID will also strengthen the ability of the public and private sectors to address food security and climate change challenges.
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