Sahakum Chhnaeum Project
The project focuses on strengthening the capacities of CSOs in institutional and organization management, business model development, sustainable agricultural production techniques based on market demand, market access, long-term political dialogue to advance farmers’ interests, and knowledge management and sharing through digital tools that are widely used and accessible to farmers.
Context
With financial support from the European Union (EU), a consortium led by Agronomes et Vétérinaires Sans Frontières (AVSF), in partnership with the Cambodia Agricultural Cooperative Alliance (CACA), and Rural Economic and Agriculture Development Agency (READA), is implementing a project called “Enhancing CSO Capacities for Sustainable and Inclusive Agricultural Development in Cambodia (Sahakum Chhnaeum project)”. Over 3.5 years, the project will strengthen 302 Farmers’ Organizations (FOs) across 12 target capital and provinces of Cambodia, focusing on improved governance, financial management, commercial negotiation, and policy engagement. It will also support farmers in adopting climate-resilient, socially inclusive, and environmentally sustainable practices, and promote digital tools for effective knowledge management, monitoring, advocacy, and dissemination of best practices.
Partners
AVSF has been working with farming communities in Cambodia since 1991, focusing on (i) Livestock Farming and Animal Health, (ii) Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Climate, and (iii) Producer Organizations and Markets. It has extensive experience in climate-smart and agroecological practices, certified agricultural products (organic, Fair Trade, GI), and linking farmers to domestic and international markets through grower groups and contract farming. AVSF also pioneered the Village Animal Health Worker system and advanced the One Health approach in Cambodia.
CACA, established in 2020, is the highest body and legal representative of Agricultural Cooperatives (ACs) and Agricultural Cooperative Unions (ACUs) in Cambodia, for protecting its members rights and interests, to provide technical advice, training service, auditing services, assist members in dealing with issue and obstacles relevant to ACs & ACUs activities and facilitate relationships between government agencies, or private sectors, development partners, and engages government decision-makers to contribute to national economic growth.
READA is a non-profit organization established in 2005 to promote sustainable agriculture, food safety and nutrition, gender equality, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), and resilient livelihoods. We build the capacity of ACs, producer groups, and value-chain stakeholders by delivering practical knowledge, skills, and access to services that enable communities to achieve long-term self-reliance. Our work focuses on climate-smart agriculture, safer food systems, environmental protection, gender equity, exercising their rights, and more incomes across the entire agricultural value chain.
Methodology
Sahakum Chhnaeum Project aims to enhance CSOs capacities to engage in policy dialogue, contributing to green, inclusive, and responsible agriculture through technical, economic, and environmental sustainability.
CSOs in Cambodia include associations/ NGOs, self-help groups, community-based organizations, federations, networks, ACs, ACUs, CACA, and community groups (forest, fisheries, water).
The proposed intervention adopts a participatory and inclusive approach that engages a wide range of stakeholders, including local authorities, relevant provincial departments, the private sector, financial institutions, national networking platforms, and development partners. This approach aims to empower CSOs to take ownership of their institutional and business development processes while strengthening and safeguarding their members’ interests and improving their income.
Expected Results
Result 1
Enhanced capacity of CSOs in their governance, financial management, commercial negotiation capacities.
Result 2
Improved Capacities of CSOs to support their member farmers in more Resilient Practices in terms of socio-economic and environmental sustainability.
Result 3
Strengthened capacities of CSOs to influence policy definition, reform and implementation by fostering effective partnerships with government bodies and other stakeholders at sub-national and national levels.
Result 4
Improved skills of CSOs in using digital tools and technologies for effective knowledge management, monitoring, advocacy, and dissemination of best practices for scaling-up.
👉 Read the project summary
A project made possible thanks to the support of :
