Cambodia

For a detailed map of Cambodia, click on the red box above.

Oxfam Australia has been working with rural communities in Cambodia for more than 25 years to reduce poverty and build a better life for people. We work in three provinces –Takeo, Kratie and Stung Treng – to ensure communities have enough food for an active and healthy life and access to education, sanitation and healthcare. We also make sure marginalised groups have the opportunity to take part in decisions that affect their future.

Our focus

Sustainable livelihoods

More than 30 percent of Cambodia’s population lives below the poverty line. This percentage is even higher for Cambodians living in rural areas who are mainly subsistence farmers relying on agriculture, fishing and forests to meet their daily needs.

While rice is a staple food, most rural Cambodians cannot grow enough rice to feed their families throughout the year. To ensure they have enough food for an active and healthy life we are:

Establishing rice and buffalo 'banks' (see our story 'Banking on a buffalo')
Educating farmers about crop varieties and techniques
Repairing or building dams and channels so farmers can access enough water for their crops
Working with communities to set up fisheries and forestry management committees

Access to social services

Years of civil war and unrest have eroded Cambodia’s social services; many lack access to clean water, sanitation, healthcare and education. We are:

Improving healthcare, training health promoters, increasing people's access to basic medical treatment and raising awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention
Providing access to sanitation and clean water by digging wells, supplying hand pumps and building latrines
Teaching adults how to read and write by training teachers and running basic literacy programs
Helping children get an education by building schools and making them accessible by constructing and repairing roads and bridges

Safety from conflict and disaster

Cambodia is still recovering from the genocide perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge and the civil war that severely damaged the country into the early 90s. While conflict and violence have decreased dramatically, Cambodians continue to face natural disasters. We are:

Providing food to families facing food shortages as a result of floods or drought as well as seeds, livestock and farming tools so they can earn a living again
Facilitating cash-for-work and food-for-work programs in communities affected by natural disasters
Helping communities prepare for natural disasters by setting up village disaster management committees and funding flood and drought mitigation activities
Setting up rice banks – a store of rice people can 'borrow’ from if their crop is destroyed or damaged by flood or drought

Effective voice in decisions

Marginalised groups such as rural communities, ethnic minorities and women are often excluded from decision-making processes and their needs are neglected as a result.

We're equipping marginalised groups with the skills to identify their development needs and create their own solutions. We are:

Helping to create and train village development committees where local people play a central role in the development of their village
Consulting with commune councils (local councils) to enhance their participation and skills in local community development
Supporting women to take an active role in decision-making and speak out on issues that affect their lives

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Stories & photos

Saving the fishers

In the face of rapid fish decline and major dam developments, river communities in Laos and Cambodia are learning how to manage local fisheries to protect their livelihoods and food supply.