UN Analysis Final.pdf - United Nations in Cambodia

SITUATION ANALYSIS OF 

YOUTH IN CAMBODIA 

“Youth are not the creators of problems within society; rather, 

it is society that brings about the problems being faced by youth 1” 

United Nations Country Team May 2009 

1 

A youth at a focus group discussion in Phnom Penh

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

III 

ii 

Situation Analysis of Youth in Cambodia

FOREWORD 

The Kingdom of Cambodia is an overwhelmingly youthful nation. Two out of every three people are 

aged below 25 and more than 30 percent are aged between 10-24 years; giving Cambodia one 

of the biggest youth populations in Southeast Asia. Such an abundance of young people brings with 

it both enormous possibilities as well as complex development challenges. 

Cambodian young people are a dynamic and promising economic, social and cultural force. Young people 

offer new perspectives, new ideas and a willingness to build a brighter future 

But their daily struggles to survive, to complete basic education, to maintain good health, to find a decent 

job, to support their families, to live free from physical and mental harm and to participate fully in society 

are real and urgent. 

Today’s young people are facing a unique array of hurdles. Cambodia is undergoing rapid economic growth 

and with it, tremendous social change. The country is also recovering from three decades of civil war and 

isolation which has left an indelible mark on the fabric of Cambodian society. The generational divide 

between young and old is vast and young people are often feared or misunderstood. 

Yet the challenges which young people face are daunting. 300,000 job seekers leave school each year, 

and there are simply not enough jobs for them. Migration for economic and educational opportunities is 

transforming the composition of village life and sending more and more young people into urban centres, 

exposing them to new risks and vulnerabilities. High-risk behaviour, most especially among marginalized 

and vulnerable youth, is exposing young people to sexual reproductive health risks, HIV and AIDS, 

gender-based violence and drug abuse. 

Following traditional values, the voices of youth are rarely considered or incorporated into development 

planning, even though young people constitute a third of the workforce and will continue to be the drivers 

of growth now and into the future. Active steps should be taken now to encourage young people’s 

participation in decision-making at all levels. 

This Situation Analysis of Youth is the first time that all available data on youth has been compiled and 

evaluated. It is regarded as a first step to assist policy makers, non-governmental organizations and youth 

themselves to develop a wide-ranging and inclusive National Youth Policy which will address the specific 

needs of young people in the areas of health, education, participation, employment and well-being and 

can guide further investment and interventions. 

Positive trends in primary enrolment and an overall improvement in health and education indicators 

demonstrate that with investment and a pro-youth approach, the situation for Cambodia’s young people 

can be improved. Young people are Cambodia’s greatest resource for the future. They require our 

assistance and our support to nourish and guide them successfully into adulthood. 

Douglas Broderick 

Resident Coordinator 

United Nations in Cambodia 

1 

UN defines children, adolescents, youths and young people as children 0-18 years, 

adolescents 10-19 years, youth 15-24 years and young people 10-24 years of age. 

Situation Analysis of Youth in Cambodia 

iii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

The United Nations Country Team (UNCT) would like to thank the interagency working group of UN 

agencies who maintained oversight of this analysis. In this context, the contribution and support 

of the United Nations Youth Focal Point network and the United Nations Youth Advisory Panel 

throughout the research process is acknowledged. This report is a positive example of the important 

role young people play in dialogue and analysis of Cambodia’s development priorities. 

The UNCT would particularly like to thank the Cambodian Development Research Institute (CDRI) for 

undertaking this valuable research and for the dedication shown by its staff, especially Dr Rebecca F. 

Catalla (Research Adviser) and Mr Kem Sothorn (Research Associate). Our gratitude goes to the civil society 

organizations that assisted in arranging the focus group discussions with young people and their parents 

in the study provinces. In addition we would like to express gratitude to the representatives of the Royal 

Government of Cambodia for their input to the analysis and recommendations of the report. 

Last but not least, this analysis of youth was only made possible through the generous participation of 

young Cambodian women and men, and their mothers and fathers. We thank all the participants for 

their valuable contributions. 

Disclaimer: This report constitutes a compilation of existing data and new research and does not reflect the 

official position or policies of the United Nations system. 

iv 


CONTENTS 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 

CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 

1.1 Background and Rationale of the Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 

1.2 Defining the Concept of Youth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 

1.3 Objectives of the Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 

1.4 Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 

1.5 Limitations of the Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 

CHAPTER 2 – YOUTH DATA AND TRENDS AT A GLANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 

2.1 A Profile of Cambodia’s Youth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 

2.2 Trends in Key Areas Affecting Youth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 

CHAPTER 3 – MAPPING CURRENT DONOR-SUPPORTED AND GOVERNMENTAL YOUTH PROGRAMMES . . 23 

3.1 International Covenants and Conventions on Youth and Young Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 

3.2 National Legal Frameworks in Support of Cambodian Youth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 

3.3 Policy and Programming Implications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 

CHAPTER 4 – YOUTH AND EDUCATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 

4.1 Youth Education-related Policies and Support Programmes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 

4.2 Current Situation of Youth and Education: Challenges and Perceptions from Young People . . . . . 42 

4.3 Health and Civic Education Programmes for Youth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 


CHAPTER 5 – YOUTH AND EMPLOYMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 

5.1 A Review of Youth-Related Employment Policies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 

5.2 Statistical Profile of Youth and Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 

5.3 Youth Health and Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 

5.4 Prospects for Youth Employability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 


v


CHAPTER 6 - YOUTH AND HEALTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 

6.1 Health Policies and Programmes Supporting Youth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 

6.2 Current Situation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 


6.4 Research Gaps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 

CHAPTER 7 - YOUTH AND VULNERABILITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 

7.1 National Policies and Programmes in Response to Young People’s Vulnerability . . . . . . . . . . 80 

7.2 The Situation of Youth as a Vulnerable Population Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 

7.3 Research Gaps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 

CHAPTER 8 – YOUTH PARTICIPATION AND RIGHTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 

8.1 Policies and Programmes Supporting Youth Participation in the Development Process . . . . . . . 89 

8.2 Current Situation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 

8.3 Opportunities for Youth Participation and Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 


CHAPTER 9 – CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 

CHAPTER 10 - REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 

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APPENDICES 

& ANNEXES 

APPENDIX A– CHAPTER ANNEXES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 

Cambodian Youth Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 

Annex 1-1. Youth Situation Analysis Research Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 

Annex 1-2. Youth Situation Analysis Field Research Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 

Annex 1-3. Youth Situation Analysis Research Coordination Matrix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 

Annex 3-1. UN Agency Youth Programmes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148 

Annex 3-2. Donor Involvement in the Cambodian Education Sector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 

Annex 3-3. Mapping of Current NGO Programmes/ Activities Supporting Youth, by Province . . . . . 159 

Annex 3-4. Mapping of Current NGO Programmes/ Activities Supporting Youth, by Region . . . . . 169 

Annex 3-5. Concentration Indices of Youth Programmes in Cambodia – Principle Components Analysis 172 

Annex 3-6. Concentration Index Map in Tabulation format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 

Annex 3-7. Concentration Index Maps for Education and Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 

Annex 4-1. Distribution of NGOs and Project Interventions on Education, by province . . . . . . . . 178 

Annex 4-2. Education Sector: Key Goals and Targets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 

Annex 4-3. Scholarship for Poor students - Child Protection Programmes (2005-2006) . . . . . . . . 179 

Annex 4-4. Key Policy, Strategy and Targets for Education Sector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 

Annex 4-5. Age specific enrolment rates 5-19 years by sex, Cambodia 2004 (%) . . . . . . . . . . . 181 

Annex 4-6. Population 5 years and above, by educational attainment, sex and stratum, 

Cambodia 2004 (‘000) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 

Annex 4-7. Average annual educational expenses by level, stratum, sex and expense category, 

Cambodia 2004 (Riels) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 

Annex 5-1. Youth labour force, by gender and strata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 

Annex 5-2. Employment Rate (10 years and over), by age, sex and stratum, 

CSES 2003-04 (12 months data 2004) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 


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Annex 5-3. Employment, by level of education of youth (age 15-24 years) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 

Annex 5-4. Youth labour force, by gender and level of education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 

Annex 5-5. Employment, by sex of youth (age 15-24 years) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 

Annex 5-6. Employed Population (10 years and over) by Employment Status 

(based on primary occupation), sex and stratum, CSES 2003-04 (12 months data 2004) . . 185 

Annex 5-7. Percentage of Employed Population (aged 10 years and above) by branch 

of economic activity or industry group, sex and stratum, Cambodia 2004 . . . . . . . . 186 

Annex 5-8. Percentage of Employed Population (aged 10 years and above) by occupation, 

sex and stratum Cambodia 2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187 

Annex 5-9. Economically active population, by level of education and age group . . . . . . . . . . 187 

Annex 8-1. Children and Youth-Led Organisations in Cambodia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188 

APPENDIX B– INVENTORY OF STUDIES, DATA, SURVEYS, RESEARCH REVIEWED FOR THE YOUTH 

SITUATION ANALYSIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .203 

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ACRONYMS 

& ABBREVIATIONS 

ACLEDA 

ADB 

BPfA 

CARE 

CBOs 

CCs 

CDC 

CDHS 

CDRI 

CEDAW 

CESSP 

CGA 

CLS 

CMDG 

CNCW 

CoM 

CRC 

CSES 

D&D 

DFID 

EBEP 

EC 

ECE 

EED 

EFA 

EIC 

EMIS 

ESP 

ESSP 

EU 

FGD 

Association of Cambodian Local Economic Development Agency 

Asian Development Bank 

Beijing Platform for Action 

CARE Cambodia 

Community-based Organisations 

Commune Councils 

Council for the Development of Cambodia 

Cambodia Demographic Health Survey 

Cambodia Development Resource Institute 

Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women 

Cambodia Education Sector Support Project 

Cambodia Gender Assessment 

Child Labour Survey 

Cambodia Millennium Development Goals 

Cambodian National Council for Women 

Council of Ministers 

Convention on the Rights of the Child 

Cambodia Social Economic Survey 

Decentralisation and Deconcentration 

Department For International Development 

Expanded Basic Education Programme 

European Commission 

Early Childhood Education 

Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst/ Evangelical Development Agency 

Education for All 

Economic Institute of Cambodia 

Education Management Information System 

Education Strategic Plan 

Education Sector Support Project 

European Union 

Focus Group Discussion 


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FRESH 

FSW 

GDPs 

GMAGs 

GMAPs 

HCP 

HIV/AIDS 

HSS 

ICHA 

ICT 

IDU 

ILO 

IOs 

IPEC 

JFPR 

JICA 

KHANA 

KIIs 

LMI 

LNGOs 

LPPs 

LSS 

MAFF 

MDGs 

MIME 

MoEYS 

MoH 

MoI 

MoLVT 

MOPS 

MoSVY 

MoWA 

MoWRAM 

MSM 

MSME 

NACD 

NCHADS 

NGOs 

Focusing Resources on Effective School Health 

Female Sex Workers 

Gross Domestic Product 

Gender Mainstreaming Action Groups 

Gender Mainstreaming Action Plans 

Health Coverage Plan 

Human Immunodeficiency Virus/ Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome 

HIV Sentinel Surveillance Survey 

Ministry’s Interdepartmental Committee on HIV/ AIDS 

Information Communication Technology 

Intravenous Drug Use 

International Labour Organisation 

International Organisations 

International Programme on the Elimination of Child labour 

Japanese Fund for Poverty Reduction 

Japan International Cooperation Agency 

Khmer HIV/AIDS NGO Alliance 

Key Informant Interviews 

Labour Market Information 

Local Non-governmental Organisations 

Local Planning Processes 

Lower Secondary School 

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries 

Millennium Development Goals 

Ministry of Industry, Mine and Energy 

Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport 

Ministry of Health 

Ministry of Interior 

Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training 

Moving Out of Poverty Study 

Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation 

Ministry of Women’s Affairs 

Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology 

Men who have Sex with Men 

Medium and Small Micro-Enterprises 

National Authority for Combating Drugs 

National Center for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology and STDs 

Non-Governmental Organisations 

x 


NIS 

NOVCTF 

NPDC 

NSDP 

NSSF 

NYP 

ODA 

ODs 

OJT 

OVC 

PAP 

RGC 

RHAC 

RHIYA 

SEILA 

SESDP 

SIDA 

SMEs 

STD 

STIs 

TVET 

TWG-G 

UN 

UNCT 

UNDP 

UNESCAP 

UNESCO 

UNFPA 

UNGASS 

UNCDF 

UNICEF 

UNV 

USAID 

VDPs 

WB 

WFP 

YRBS 

YSA 

National Institute of Statistics 

National Orphans and Vulnerable Children Multi-sectoral Task Force 

National Plan on Drugs Control 

National Strategic Development Plan 

National Social Security Fund 

National Youth Policy 

Overseas Development Assistance 

Operational Districts 

On-the-Job Training 

Orphans and Vulnerable Children 

Priority Action Programme 

Royal Government of Cambodia 

Reproductive Health Association of Cambodia 

Reproductive Health Initiative for Youth in Asia 

Seila Programme 

Secondary Education Sector Development Project 

Swedish International Development Authority 

Small and Medium Enterprises 

Sexually Transmitted Disease 

Sexually Transmitted Infections 

Technical and Vocational Education Training 

Technical Working Group on Gender 

United Nations 

United Nations Country Team 

United Nation Development Programme 

United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific 

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation 

United Nations Population Fund 

United Nations General Assembly Special Session 

United Nations Capital Development Plan 

United Nation Children’s Fund 

United Nations Volunteer 

United States Agency for International Development 

Village Development Plans 

World Bank 

World Food Programme 

Youth Risk Behaviour Survey 

Youth Situation Analysis 


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GLOSSARY OF 

KHMER TERMS 

Angkar GgÁkar Organisation 

Cham cam One of minority groups in Cambodia 

Mekong emKgÁ Name of Cambodian river 

Mith Samlanh mitþsMlaj; Name of an organisation in Cambodia working with street children 

Neary Rattanak narIrtn³ A comprehensive strategic policy focusing on gender and women 

Riel erol Cambodian currency unit 

Tonle Sap Tenøsab Name of Cambodian river 

CAMBODIAN PLACE NAMES 

Boeung Kok bwgkk; A lake in Phnom Penh 

Cheung Kor eCIgeKa Village in Sihanouk vills town 

Laak l¥k; Village in Ratanakiri province 

Neak Loeung GñkelOg Village in Prey Veng province 

Poi Pet e):ayEb:t International border gate located in Banteay Meanchey province 

Sangker sEgá Village in Svay Rieng province 

xii 


EXECUTIVE 

SUMMARY 

With young people in the age group 10-24 comprising 36 percent of the population, Cambodia 

has one of the youngest populations in Southeast Asia. Although the number of young people 

leaving school and looking for work exceeds 250,000 annually, unlike many countries in the 

region, Cambodia has yet to reap a demographic dividend that often comes with a large young work force. 

Despite recent rapid economic growth, there simply are not enough jobs for youth, resulting in continued 

pressure on public services and resources in areas of education and health. 

The health, education and employment issues confronting Cambodian youth today are highly inter-related. 

For example, youth employment is inextricably linked with access to education and skills training, and 

access to health services and information is directly correlated with income. The children of poor and 

very poor households are more vulnerable to problems associated with poverty and social exclusion. 

Without policies aimed at disrupting the intergenerational disadvantages of poverty, such patterns are 

self-perpetuating. 

There is a need for a comprehensive multi-sectoral national youth policy to address these inequalities 

and to help guide public and private sector investment in the areas of education, vocational training, 

health services and information. The present analysis identifies the human, financial, and organizational 

barriers to the fulfilment of young people’s rights nationally, with special attention given to the most 

vulnerable of young people. 

The study profiles Cambodian youth nationally based on data from the Cambodia Socio-economic Survey 

(CSES) 2003/04. An inventory of previous and current youth surveys and studies helps identify main gaps 

in data and analysis, while a national mapping exercise identifies geographical and sectoral coverage and 

gaps in youth programmes. Researchers also conducted focus group discussions with youth and parents 

and interviewed key informants in a small sample of six specifically selected villages to add qualitative texture 

to the statistical analysis and desk exercises. 

A DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF YOUTH 

Cambodia’s youth (aged 15-24 years) comprised 26 per cent of the total population in 2004, while 51 per 

cent were male. Eight-in-10 (83 per cent) reside in rural areas, with the densest concentrations in the Plains 

and Tonle Sap regions, at 43 per cent and 28 per cent, respectively. Ethnically, 96.2 per cent of youth are Khmer, 

2.2 per cent are Cham; and the remainder are indigenous groups, as well as Chinese, Vietnamese, and Lao. 

Most (74.2 per cent) belong to households with at least five members; and 35 per cent live below the poverty 

line (CSES 2004, MoP 2006). Interestingly, a higher proportion (82.1 per cent) of the 15-17 age group are in 

large households compared to the 18-24 cohort (70.3 per cent). More of the young women than men aged 

15-17 and 18-24 are either married, living together with a partner, divorced or have been widowed. 

2 

Statistics cited and tables presented in this section are derived from 

the youth profile in Appendix A . 


1

With regarding to education, 15-17 year olds are more likely than their older counterparts to have received 

primary level schooling. By gender, more young women than young men have reached primary levels of 

schooling, but young men are more likely to have had a secondary education. More than 8-in-10 (83.4 per 

cent) of 15-24 year olds are literate. Literacy rates are 87.9 per cent and 78.9 per cent for males and females, 

respectively. Younger adolescents are more likely to be literate than their older counterparts. 

Cambodia’s 15-24 year-olds comprise about 32.4 per cent of the country’s labour force, equally divided 

between the younger (15-19) and older (20-24) age groups, reflecting the high birth rates of the 1980s and 

90s. In 2004, more than two-thirds (69.8 per cent) of youth were in agriculture; a decline from 83.5 per cent 

in 1999. For male and female youth (15-19 years old) labour force participation rates are comparable, but 

this changes with apparently fewer females economically active as they reach the ages of 20-24 years. 

Due in part to their low level of educational attainment, unemployment is high among Cambodia’s youth. 

Unemployment is highest in the capital, Phnom Penh, at 20.1 per cent for those aged 15-24, This could be 

due to youth migration because of a lack of employment opportunities in rural areas and poor returns from 

agricultural production. 

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONTEXT 

The challenges and opportunities that young men and women currently face in Cambodia must be 

understood in terms of rapid economic growth characterised by modest reductions in poverty and 

increasing inequality. 

Economic growth was rapid between 1997 and 2007, averaging 8.2 per cent annually. This growth has 

been largely fuelled by garment manufacturing and tourism, both of which employ large numbers 

of youths. Garment manufacturing grew at an average annual rate of 44 per cent, while tourism grew 

at 34 per cent yearly during the 1994 and 2004. 

The majority of Cambodians (60 per cent) continue to work in agriculture, where growth has averaged 

3.3 per cent per year – far below tourism and manufacturing; and today it represents less than 33 per cent 

(a decline from 46 per cent in 1994) as a share of the economy. Additionally, investment in agriculture 

has been low considering its importance to rural livelihoods, with public investment equalling only 

0.55 per cent of GDP. Land tenure is generally insecure and landlessness is increasing. 

With economic gains has come a decline in poverty from 45 per cent 1993/4 to 35 per cent a decade later. 

Rural poverty has remained high; falling from 43 to 34 percent while in Phnom Penh poverty fell from 11 

to 5 percent. As poverty rates have fallen, inequality has increased over this time period; the Gini co-efficient 

for national consumption increased from .034 to 0.40. Inequality rose sharply in rural areas but remained 

constant, albeit higher, in urban areas. Inequality rose from 0.26 to 0.36 in rural areas while remaining 

at 0.43 in urban areas. 

Rural-to-urban migration is having a profound impact on the social fabric of Cambodian society and 

its youth. While migration represents new job opportunities, it also removes young people from the 

safe haven of family and community, and exposes them to possible high-risk behaviour associated 

with dislocation in urban areas. For those who remain in rural communities, opportunities are limited. Some 

worry about the paucity of female marriage partners; others experience dwindling land resources, insecure 

land tenure and idiosyncratic economic shocks which result in the sale of assets including land. 

2 Situation Analysis of Youth in Cambodia

EMPLOYMENT 

The single most important issue confronting youth in Cambodia today is employment. The labour force is 

increasing by as many as 300,000 per year, and will increase to as many as 400,000 per year in the near future. 

The garment, tourism, and construction industries are not growing sufficiently quickly to absorb so many 

new labour market entrants. As a result, the Government’s Rectangular Strategy, as outlined in the National 

Strategic Development Plan (NSDP) 2006 – 2010, details steps to develop the agricultural sector as a “third 

engine” of growth. On-farm employment is, however, constrained by insecure land tenure, lack of affordable 

credit, fragmented inputs and services, a lack of infrastructure, and poorly functioning markets. Off-farm 

employment seems to have great potential but more effort is needed to stimulate Small and Medium 

Enterprise (SME) development and agri-business investments. There is a need to attract foreign investment 

in agri-business and to strengthen the business-enabling environment. 

Moreover, as the economic structures of the region change, there is need for Cambodia to not only absorb 

the growing labour force, but to prepare young people for the next generation of jobs. For example, as 

Cambodia’s agricultural sector intensifies and diversifies, there will be a greater reliance on machinery and 

transport that will require skilled mechanics for maintenance and repair. There is also a need to match 

these opportunities with affordable credit to support SME start-ups. Even in the face of immediate needs, 

such medium and long range planning is critical. 

EDUCATION 

Education promotes economic growth though increased productivity, the acquisition of new skills and 

attitudes, and through the accumulation of knowledge itself. The role of education in reducing poverty 

and income inequality is also well established. In this sense, illiteracy is one of the strongest predictors of 

poverty, while unequal access to educational opportunity is one correlate of income inequality (World Bank, 

2006a). Complementing the findings from a previous Cambodian Development Research Institute (CDRI) 

poverty study, this research found that investments in girls’ education could yield some of the highest 

returns of any development investment, such as fostering more young female participation in the 

development process and welfare, and reducing some of the most pernicious effects of poverty. In focus 

group discussions (FGDs) with young women aged 20-24, a majority consistently said that, with even a 

few years of formal education, they could better plan their families and have fewer children, have better 

knowledge of how to provide children with better nutrition, ensure they are immunized, and procure 

appropriate medical care for their children. Education therefore can also be an important vehicle for 

improving health and promoting preventive health practices. 

The Education Strategic Plan (2006-2010) outlines the Government’s efforts for promoting the National 

Plan for Education for All 2003-2015. to achieve the Cambodia Millennium Development Goal (CMDG) of 

ensuring access to nine years of basic education for all young people. In support of this goal, significant 

progress has been made in increasing the number of primary and lower secondary schools, and improving 

enrolment levels in lower secondary education, and adult literacy (among those aged 15-24). A key 

indicator of progress in this regard is that national expenditure on education has steadily increased since 

2000. Budgets have been primarily allocated for primary and lower secondary education for schools and 

materials, and teacher training. Policies have also been adopted to encourage greater participation by girls 

and disadvantaged youth (e.g., those with disabilities, ethnic minorities) in education. 


3

The ratio of primary-to-secondary schools climbed to 7.6 in 2005. By 2004, only 14 districts were still without 

a lower secondary school, while 45 districts lacked an upper secondary school. This is important, as one of 

the key indicators concerning access to education is distance to school, which varies considerably 

according to sector and income quintile (e.g., 7.66 km for the lowest quintile and 3.09 km for the top quintile). 

This implies costs in terms of time and transportation for the poorest families. Infrastructure has also improved 

in many schools. For example, parental perceptions about school have improved recently, due to factors 

including improvements in access to school, free registration and a pro-poor education policy. 

Despite these achievements, there is wide variability in terms of educational quality, efficiency and coverage. 

Access to education at all levels continues to be unevenly distributed in rural and remote areas, where many of 

Cambodia’s poor and very poor reside. Costs, including informal fees, are still a barrier and vulnerable groups 

tend be over-aged or late school entrants. High rates of illiteracy are still evident in the 15-24 age group, 

especially among girls. Young men and women from the poorest two quintiles face considerable challenges 

with regard to secondary education. Although increases in secondary enrolment are evident across gender, 

location and socio-economic groups, gaps have increased between urban and rural areas and between the 

poorest and richest quintiles. High dropout rates and poor retention remain serious concerns. As a result, 

overall educational attainment remains low and it will be difficult to achieve universal basic education 

by 2015. 

Not only is there a need for more classrooms, but there is also a need for more relevant curricula – teaching 

that is tied to the employment opportunities of the future. This suggests a need to improve the quality of 

education by focusing on the quality of the teacher in the classroom, curricula, instructional materials, school 

and system accountability and education administration. The curriculum needs a review and re-formulation 

to include more science and mathematics, which promote problem solving skills that can help workers to 

make decisions and to work together in teams, as well as more practical courses that build and strengthen 

agricultural and vocational skills (e.g., carpentry and basic machinery). 

Measures to address these challenges to increasing the participation of the poor and girls include focusing 

resources on school facilities in poor rural communities; targeting subsidies for school attendance for very 

poor and girls; community participation in school decisions; subsidies and incentives for secondary and 

tertiary education; adapting curricula to local needs; media/public information campaigns on the inclusion 

of girls, the disabled and other vulnerable young people. 

HEALTH 

The broad and sweeping social and cultural transformations accompanying Cambodia’s rapid economic 

development have shaped young people’s exposure to and capacity to deal with risk situations. The 

rural-to-urban migration of young people for employment and education contributes to their exposure to 

sexual reproductive health risks, including increased risk-taking behaviour associated with HIV infection, 

and other health development risks, including drug abuse and gender-based violence. Additionally, 

access to information and communication technology is influencing changes in attitudes and introducing 

new lifestyle possibilities throughout the country. 

Behaviour of concern includes tobacco use (by 13.6 per cent of 15-24 year-old males and 0.8 per cent of 

females) and alcohol consumption (20.9 per cent of males and 7.4 per cent of females). Many youth say 

they first consumed alcohol as early as 12 years of age. Young people report that they start to drink early due 

in part to peer pressure and/or emerging new lifestyle behaviours modelled by adults. 


The production, sale and use of drugs are becoming increasingly complex and appear to be spreading 

throughout the country. While data are difficult to come by, more than 80 per cent of known drug users 

are below 26. Most drug users are unemployed, sex workers and workers in labour-intensive industries, 

including construction, garment manufacturing, and truck/taxi driving, as well as street children. 

Cambodia has achieved important success in HIV prevention in recent years. Estimates in 2006 suggested 

that HIV prevalence among female sex workers attending antenatal centres was at 12.6 per cent, down from 

21.4 per cent in 2003. Among young pregnant women aged 15-24, the figure was 0.41 per cent in 2006. Nearly 

half of new infections are now occurring in married women, most of whom are infected by their husbands. 

Knowledge of at least one modern contraception method is almost universal; about 99 per cent of people 

between the ages of 15 and 49 (compared to knowledge of a traditional method which is 47.5 per cent). 

However, modern contraceptive method use among young females is very low (about 2.5 per cent). 

Attitudes about exposing young women to discussions of sexuality are changing and appears to be 

increasingly accepted by parents and others in the communities. 

Health knowledge and key health indicators show strong improvement. These promising trends, however, 

do not appear to apply to marginalized groups, street youth or other disadvantaged youth. The Government 

and NGOs need to continue to develop advocacy and awareness for health education programmes at 

the individual, household and community levels. Local authorities, Community Based Organisation (CBOs), 

pagodas, schools and social service providers plus medical practitioners all have important roles to play in 

this regard. Meanwhile, knowledge and awareness of prohibited drugs is quite high. 

VULNERABILITY 

A broad definition of vulnerability can be derived from the Government’s policy statement on Alternative 

Care for Children (MoSVY 2006): Children exposed to one or more vulnerability situations have been 

categorised into children in need of special protection and children at risk. Children in special need of 

protection and at risk include orphans, abandoned children, children infected with or affected by HIV or AIDS, 

abused children (sexually, physically, emotionally), street children, children in conflict with the law, child 

victims of exploitation (whether sexual or any form of harmful labour), children with disabilities, children 

addicted to drugs, and children whose basic physical needs are not being met. 

Vulnerability can be a function of poverty and social exclusion, physical and mental ill health, and violence 

and abuse. Vulnerability can also be assessed as a function of migration, where children of poor households 

are increasingly exposed to problems associated with homelessness, violence and abuse. 

Vulnerability as a function of poverty and social exclusion: Young people living in poor households 

constitute 26 per cent of the country’s population, of which about 35 per cent live below the poverty line. 

Because their livelihoods are mostly dependent on rain-fed agriculture, these youth often experience food 

insecurity. They tend to receive less education and have little or no access to vocational training. They live 

in households that are routinely in debt and have high dependency ratios. These households have dwindling 

land resources and poor employment prospects. Issues associated with social exclusion, including disability, 

ethnicity, and the remoteness of communities exacerbate tendencies toward vulnerability and poverty. 


5

Vulnerability as a function of physical and mental ill health: The number of street children (estimated at 

10,000 to 20,000) is increasing at a rate of 20 per cent per year. They are among the most vulnerable groups in 

Cambodia, due to their exposure to a wide range of physical and mental health problems, lack of access to 

basic needs (clothing, food), and a multitude of dangers (sexual exploitation, violence and substance abuse). 

Children of chronically ill parents, including parents with HIV or AIDS, are especially vulnerable to becoming 

single or double orphans which has consequent impacts on household income and access to education. 

According to 2005 Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey (CDHS) data, 9 per cent of children under 18 

(or about 55,000 young people) have lost one or both parents. It has been estimated that in 2005, 20.7 per cent 

of orphans in Cambodia had lost parents due to AIDS-related illnesses. 

Vulnerability as a function of violence and abuse: Young people may be experiencing more violence and 

abuse than any other group in Cambodia. Poverty, mental illness, alcoholism and gambling are all associated 

with domestic violence, which has either a direct or indirect effect on young people. Domestic violence is a 

contributing factor to downward household mobility due to property damage and the costs associated with 

injury and productivity losses. 

Vulnerability as a function of migration: Young men and women leaving rural communities for urban 

employment are exposed to a wide range of issues and problems, including alcohol and drug abuse, gang 

violence, crime, rape and gang membership. Some tend to adopt risk behaviours that expose them to 

problems associated with HIV and other STIs. Young people who migrate across borders are even more 

vulnerable to being cheated and losing their rights, becoming subject to arrest, or working in jobs that 

entail health risks with no consequent health care (i.e., spraying insecticide in Thailand). Some are exposed 

to drug use to induce long working hours, while some women are subject to sexual exploitation and 

forced prostitution. 

PARTICIPATION AND RIGHTS 

The voice of youth is not incorporated into planning processes and young people are rarely called upon 

to participate in village meetings, they can therefore often feel ignored. Youths are however, called upon to 

participate as labourers once decisions have been made. There is consequently a need to mainstream youth 

participation in the development planning process at the local level. This should be incorporated as a key 

feature of a National Youth Policy (NYP). 

Youth opportunities for volunteerism are key components in the formation of social capital and the 

strengthening of reciprocity. However, many youths tend to equate volunteerism with work without salary. 

There are indications that volunteerism can work when there is appropriate support from organizations such 

as NGOs and community institutions (pagodas and schools). When opportunities to volunteer are coupled 

with vocational or skills development, youth will have better prospects for decent employment and increased 

civic engagement. 

There is also a widespread lack of community services for youth. Parents and village leaders often view 

opportunities for team sports and other activities as a waste of time and scarce resources. Youth could 

benefit from such activities if there is strong support from the community. The attitudes and beliefs of 

elders and community leaders need to change to incorporate an understanding of the value of greater 

youth participation in social and civic affairs. 

Youth voices in rural Cambodia are not yet well incorporated into local development planning. 


I 

INTRODUCTION 

1.1 BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE OF THE STUDY 

Cambodia is undergoing rapid demographic change. As of 2004 , 60 per cent of the population was 

below 25 years of age. This situation has had major implications for Cambodia’s socio-economic 

and political development, including labour market opportunities, access to public and family 

resources for youth, and the political future of a country in which the majority of the population have no 

experience (or even knowledge) of the Khmer Rouge regime or the country’s recent conflicts. At the 

current pace of job creation, Cambodia will not have the capacity to compensate for the increasing 

numbers of young people entering the workforce annually (currently 300,000 per year, projected to increase 

to 400,000 per year by 2040). With the real risk of significant unemployment and underemployment, 

Cambodia faces the challenge of preventing increasing numbers of young people from entering both 

the informal and illegal economies. Additionally, as neighbouring economies grow, so too will transnational 

migration. A recent study by CDRI (2007) showed that cross-border demand for unskilled labour has increased, 

particularly in Thailand, and more recently in Malaysia. The recent trend of migrating to Malaysia has been 

spearheaded by the Khmer-Muslim community, and is likely to increase significantly in the future; however, 

migration to Malaysia is primarily conducted illicitly through Thailand. 

With only half of young people completing primary school, and only a quarter proceeding to lower secondary 

school, there are few options for non school-going youth. Medium and Small Micro-Enterprises (MSMEs) are 

widely considered as the engine of growth for Cambodia’s future. However, there remain real questions as to 

whether the current education system and business environment are structured to support these initiatives. 

Further complicating the picture, Cambodia’s young population is also challenged by such risks as HIV, sexual 

exploitation, violence and abuse. 

1.2 DEFINING THE CONCEPT OF YOUTH 

The UN General Assembly defines ‘youth’ as individuals aged between 15 and 24 years, and young people 

between 10 and 24 years (UN General Assembly, 1995). Cambodia’s Youth Department at the Ministry of 

Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) defines youth somewhat more expansively as those between the ages of 

14 and 30, although the concept is said to be a relatively new cultural import to the country (Bearup 2003) . 

This study, however, adopts the UN General Assembly definition . 


7

FIGURE 1-1. STATISTICAL CONCEPT OF YOUTH AND CHILD LABOUR 

Overlap in concepts of youth 

and child labour 

Clear concept of youth 

and child labour 

Young people 

Child labour 

Youth 

Child labour 

10-24 age 

group 

10-14 age 

group 

5-17 age 

group 

15-24 age 

group 

5-14 age 

group 

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 

The Youth Situation Analysis broadly aims to identify the human, financial and organisational barriers to 

the fulfilment of young people’s rights, with special focus on those most vulnerable and excluded from 

society. The findings are expected to guide the priorities of the development community, while empowering 

young people to advocate for their rights. In effect, the study shall offer a basis for developing a multi-sectoral 

Coordinated Response Strategy for youth. 

The study specifically seeks to: 

a. Establish a Cambodian youth profile, including key indicators such as: number, gender, geographic 

distribution (including rural/ urban), ethnic background, religious affiliation, employment, educational 

attainment and vocational training, language(s) spoken, details of family structure, number of children 

and/or pregnancies, marital and HIV status. 

b. Analyse the current situation of young people and identify critical needs, major challenges and barriers 

to the fulfilment of their rights. 

c. Map current youth programmes (both donor-supported and governmental), including support and 

funding, in order to identify the main gaps and overlaps. 

d. Analyse links between key elements, such as population growth, employment patterns and economic 

and social development, between gender, sexuality and ethnicity. 

e. Compile an inventory of past, existing and ongoing studies, surveys, data and research on young people 

in Cambodia, and identify main gaps in data and analysis. 

f. Analyse the main areas requiring concerted efforts and greater investment for young people, and 

propose priority actions. 


1.4 METHODOLOGY 

The present youth situation analysis is based on both primary and secondary data sources including: a 

literature review; a mapping of current programs; existing studies; a 2003 national youth profile; and meetings 

with key informants and youth focus groups. Table 1-1 identifies the distribution of youth across Cambodia. 

TABLE 1-1. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF YOUTH POPULATION 

AGE GROUP 

Geographic location 

10-14 15-17 18-24 

Male Female Male Female Male Female 

Ref 

Region 2 

Phnom Penh 67,989 67,267 47,473 53,904 115,426 119,309 

Plain 400,933 384,143 236,929 215,609 441,189 447,564 

Tonle Sap Lake 287,427 278,506 164,349 148,001 299,092 294,386 

Coastal 68,918 66,714 36,025 35,523 75,444 73,010 

Plateau and Mountainous 99,619 96,348 58,572 51,601 118,576 116,592 

Residence 2 

Urban 134,346 132,017 85,382 90,184 187,157 174,670 

Rural 790,539 760,962 457,966 414,454 862,569 876,191 

FIGURE 1-2. DATA COLLECTION FRAMEWORK 

SECONDARY DATA ANALYSIS 

Literature Review: Concept, 

Definition, Methodology 

Mapping current 

programmes, existing 

studies, and gaps 

Youth Profile using 

national dataset 

CSES2003/04 

CDRI research team 

on Youth Situation 

Analysis 

Consultation process with 

UNCT of Youth Situation Analysis 

Management Structure 

(Management team, Youth working 

group, and Peer review) 

PRIMARY DATA COLLECTION 

Design of Focus Group 

Discussion and Key 

Informant Interviews, etc. 

Data from the 

note-taking, 

Data Cleaning 

Data Analysis, 

Report writing 


9

FIGURE 1-3. YOUTH SITUATION ANALYSIS MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE 

MANAGEMENT TEAM 

(Final decisions regarding 

the study taken by the management team; 

Regular updates provided to the UNCT 

through the monthly meetings with 

the Steering Committee and the Resident 

Coordinator/RC, as appropriate) 

COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVE: 

UNICEF, UNFPA, 

THE WORLD BANK AND ILO 

PEER REVIEW 

(Validation mechanism to ensure inclusiveness, and solid 

methodology; intervenes at key points of the process) 

YOUTH REPRESENTATION 

Facilitators 

UN Resident Coordinator 

STEERING COMMITTEE 

UN YOUTH FOCAL POINTS: 

Thematic Panels 

YOUTH WORKING GROUP 

(Oversight of the process 

and substantive details) 

UN Resident Coordinator 

Youth focal points from UN agencies 

YOUTH FOCAL POINT 

Secondary data: Included all available survey and administrative data. This analysis reviewed the current 

UNV study on youth and their role in society and national development, as well as surveys conducted by 

employers’ associations and trade unions on gaps in skills, qualifications and future demand. The study 

drew upon the latest national dataset of the Cambodia Socioeconomic Survey 2003/04 to obtain a national 

profile of youth. 

For the purpose of mapping current donor-supported and Government youth initiatives, the CDRI study 

team reviewed programme and project materials describing initiatives by the Royal Government (RG), 

International Organizations (IOs), International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs), and Local 

Non-Governmental Organizations (LNGOs). 

Primary data collection: The overall objective of the primary data collection was to understand how 

the situation of Cambodian youth – and especially the most vulnerable – is changing in today’s society. It 

also sought to tap youth perceptions of social change and their current and anticipated living situations, 

and it strives to give voice to youth observations and concerns about employment, health, education, 

participation in community development, and the challenges they face, as well as their potential involvement 

in development. 


Focus Group Discussions: The key themes that guided the focus group discussions (FGDs) included 

employment, education, health, human security, rights and participation, changing values and attitudes, 

and expectations for the future. Gender was an overarching, crosscutting theme, as the FGDs explored 

differences in gender perspectives, especially around social change (see Appendix A/Annex 1-2 for themes 

and questions). 

The FGDs were held in five zones (Phnom Penh, Mountain/Plateau, Tonle Sap, Plain, and Coastal) using 

trained facilitators. The sessions averaged three hours. Demographic information was collected from all FDG 

participants. Classrooms and school grounds were the most frequent settings for the FGDs. 

Key Informant Interviews (KIIs): These were held with village chiefs, parents, NGOs and other civil society 

organizations including: 

Action Aid International Cambodia 

Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) 

Aide et Action- Asie du Sud-Est (AEA ASE) 

Asia Regional Cooperation to Prevent People Trafficking (ARCPPT) 

Association Angkor-Belgique (AAB) 

Association of School Aid in Cambodia (ASAC) 

Australia Cambodia Foundation 

CARE International Cambodia 

Caritas Cambodia 

Centro Italiano Aiuti all Infanzia (CIAI) 

Christian and Missionary Alliance (CAMA Service) 

Concern Worldwide 

Diakonia 

Don Bosco Foundation of Cambodia 

East West Management Institute (EWMI) 

Enfants & Development (E&D) 

Enfants d’Ángkor (EDA) 

Enfants du Mekong (EdM) 

Enfants Refugies du Monde (ERM) 

EveryChild Cambodia 

Family Health International (FHI) 

Food For the Hungry International Cambodia (FHI) 

Foundation for International Development/ Relief (FIDR) 

Friends International 

German AgroAction (DWHH/ GAA) 


11

International Organisation for Migration (IOM). 

Intervida World Alliance (INWA) 

Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC) 

Japan Team of Young Human Power (JHP) 

Jesuit Service Cambodia (JS/JRS) 

Kokyo naki kodomotachi Children Without Borders (KnK) 

Maryknoll Cambodia 

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) 

New Humanity (NH) 

NGO Forum of Cambodia 

Oxfam Quebec 

PACT Cambodia 

Partners for Development (PFD) 

Plan International Cambodia 

Population Services International/ Cambodia (PSI Cambodia) 

Pour un Sourire d’Enfant (PSE) 

Save the Children Australia (SCA) 

Save the Children Norway, Cambodia Office (SCN-CO) 

SHARE Village Focus International 

Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) 

World Education 

World Vision Cambodia (WVC) 

Youth with a Mission (YWAM) 

Site selection and sampling: YSA fieldwork took place in six provinces/municipalities. In each province, 

one village/community was selected. CDRI coordinated with an NGO (or NGOs) working with youth in a 

particular province to help coordinate site selection and organize the logistics associated with fieldwork. 

The three provinces of Banteay Meanchey, Ratanakiri, and Svay Rieng were covered during the first phase 

of fieldwork. 

Additionally, targeted FGDs were conducted in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville in order to 

address special issues pertaining to vulnerable and marginalized children. For example, in Phnom Penh an 

FGD was convened with young Cham males, female garment workers, street youth and/or youth involved 

with substance abuse. In Siem Reap, FGDs were convened in a fishing village with young Vietnamese men and 

women. In Sihanoukville, an FGD was convened with young people involved with informal labour markets. 

These three areas were covered in the second phase of the fieldwork. 

There were three types of interaction at the community level during this study: FGDs; key informant 

interviews; and semi-structured individual interviews. Table 1.2 summarizes the interactions held for 

this study. 


Table 1-2 Activity/sample summary 

Interaction 

Number 

per village 

Villages in Sample 

Total per Village 

Specifically 

Targeted a/ 

Total Sample 

FGD 6 6 36 6 42 

KII 4 6 24 3-5 27-29 

Individual 

Interviews 

2-3 6 12-18 4-5 16-23 

Phnom Penh = 3; Siem Reap = 2; Sihanoukvile = 1, depending on available resources 

Six FGDs took place at the village level, to give a total of 36 village FGDs. As gender was a critical crosscutting 

theme, FGDs were arranged according to the sex of the participants for two age groups, for young people and 

their parents. The specific groupings were as follows: 

Young males, aged 15-18 (open to any male member of the community of this age). 

Young females, aged 15-18 (open to any female member of the community of this age). 

Males, 19-24 (open to any male member of the community in this age group). 

Females, aged 19-24 (open to any female member of the community in this age group). 

Fathers with children 15-24 years of age. 

Mothers with children 15-24 years of age. 

Data Entry and Analysis: Quantitative data were analyzed using STATA software computer package. Qualitative 

information on perceptions and opportunities of the youths were encoded in Microsoft Word and grouped 

thematically according to the FGDs by region. 

Human Subject Considerations: Guiding principles for data collection with youth included: informed consent; 

the right of youth to withdraw or refuse to answer any question at any time; confidentiality and anonymity in 

reporting of all data (nothing would ever be attributed to an individual); and parental consent for youth under 

17 years of age. 

1.5 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY 

Several limitations characterize this study: 

As noted earlier, the focus of this study was on youth aged 15-24. While conforming to UN 

definitions, it excludes those aged 25-30 who, within the Cambodian context, are also considered 

‘youth’. 

Data from the Cambodia Socio-Economic Survey (CSES) 2007 were not yet available at the time of 

this study, so we relied upon 2003-4 data. Additionally, it proved difficult to obtain data on sensitive 

issues such as drug use and abortion. 

The lack of youth-specific data proved to be a challenge, so the study used population data, 

extracting youth-specific information where possible (e.g. CSES 2004, the Cambodia Inter- 

Censal Population Survey 2004, the 2005 CDHS, and the 2001 Child Labour Survey). The lack of 

such national data often precluded analysis by gender, age or geography. Additionally, data 

limitations did not allow for exploration of youth-specific issues such as early marriage, drug use, 

abortion and violence. 


13

The FGD methodology proved difficult for younger participants – aged 15-19 – due to their 

hesitancy to respond to questions and relatively greater difficulty articulating issues of concern. 

There are very limited data on young people aged 10-14. 

Time and resource constraints limited the mapping exercise, as it was able only to assess the 

number of interventions at the provincial level. 

Secondary sources were limited, in that it was often difficult to determine which initiatives were 

still operative. Moreover, the assessment refers only to the number of interventions, rather than 

to their scope, scale or impact. 


II 

YOUTH DATA 

AND TRENDS AT 

A GLANCE 

2.1 A PROFILE OF CAMBODIA’S YOUTH 

Cambodia has one of the youngest populations in Southeast Asia, with young people aged 10-24 

making up 36 per cent of the total population. Cambodia’s youth – defined in this study to be those 

in the 15-24 age group – comprised 26 per cent of the total population in 2004 (Ministry of 

Planning 2006). There were slightly more males (51 per cent) than females (49 per cent). More than 8-in-10 

(83 per cent) live in rural areas with the largest concentration being in the Plains and Tonle Sap regions 

at 43 per cent and 28 per cent, respectively. Ethnically, 96.2 per cent of them are Khmer, about 2.2 per cent 

are Chams and the remainder make up the indigenous groups, Chinese, Vietnamese and Lao. The majority 

(74.2 per cent) belong to households with at least five members, which may partly account for the 

fact that some 35 per cent of the youth population lives below the poverty line (CSES 2004, MoP 2006). 

Table 2-1 Cambodia youth population in 2005 and trends over 1998 and 2015 

Females 1,000s Males 1,000s 

Age Group 

Projected 

Projected 

Change 

Change 

change 

change 

2005 over 1998 

over 2015 2005 over 1998 

over 2015 

Ref. 

(%) (%) (%) (%) 

10-14 921 11 -12 953 9 -12 1 

15-19 839 20 -4 879 29 -6 

20-24 755 88 19 755 108 22 

25-29 484 2 69 443 1 90 

Total 7,108 13 22 6,699 14 24 

Table 2-2. Total youth population by age group 

Sex 

Age group 

10-14 15-17 18-24 

Total Youth age 

15-24 

Male 924,885 543,348 1,049,726 2,517,959 2 

Female 892,978 504,638 1,050,861 2,448,477 2 

Ref. 

Nearly 10 per cent of 15-19 year old females and over half (54.3 per cent) of those aged 20-24 are married, 

compared with 1.6 per cent and 36.2 per cent, respectively, of males in the comparable age groups This 

reflects the relatively early age of female marriage, especially in the rural areas where marriages are still often 


15

arranged. Youth interviewees for this study, particularly in Phnom Penh, Poipet and Sihanoukville, indicated 

that they generally do not favour early marriage. Cohabitation is also an extremely rare behaviour, occurring 

in less than 1 per cent of either age group or gender. 

Older youth are more likely than their younger counterparts to be employed. In terms of income status, older 

youth seem somewhat better off than their younger peers. Moreover, females appear to be doing marginally 

better than males, although the differences are not significant. Thirty-two per cent of youth live below the 

poverty line. 

Income and education are closely correlated, and we also see an increase in access to primary education 

among younger youth compared with those aged 20-24. Moreover, younger youth are more likely to be 

literate (84 per cent) than older youth (76.3 per cent). By gender, more young women have reached 

primary levels of schooling, but young men are more likely to have had a secondary education. One factor 

contributing to this gender disparity is the lack of secondary schools in rural areas and the reluctance of 

many families to send their daughters to urban centres for education. 

Figure 2-1. Youth education by age group and gender 

60.0 

58.3 

50.0 

40.0 

32.3 

43.8 

39.3 

46.8 

41.8 

50.4 

32.0 

30.0 

20.0 

10.0 

9.5 

16.9 

11.5 

17.5 

0.0 

15-17 18-24 Male Female 

Primary Secondary & Higher Do not know 

Table 2-3. Literacy by age group, sex and sector (%) 

Male Female Both Sexes 

Urban Rural Total Urban Rural Total Urban Rural Total 

15-19 92.1 84.5 85.8 90.1 80.4 82.1 91.1 82.6 84.0 

20-24 91.4 80.1 82.1 86.0 67.6 70.6 88.8 73.7 76.3 

15-24 92.8 87.0 87.9 88.0 76.8 78.9 90.8 81.9 83.4 

15 & over 91.7 83.3 84.7 76.9 61.6 64.1 83.8 71.6 73.6 

7 & over 88.9 80.8 82.1 78.6 65.3 67.4 83.5 72.7 74.4 


Cambodia’s male and female 15-24 year-olds comprise a third of the country’s labour force, with the 15-19 

age group making up 16.4 per cent. In 2004, more than two-thirds (69.8 per cent) of both age groups were 

employed in agriculture (a decline of nearly 15 per cent compared to 1999), and there were comparable 

increases in employment in manufacturing and trade (Figure 2-2). 

Figure 2-2. Total number of employed youth population, by sector and age group 

Number ('000) 

2,500.00 

2,084.90 

2,000.00 

1,517.50 

69.8% 

1,500.00 

83.5% 

1,000.00 

1999 2004 

500.00 

0.00 

15.7% 

8.1% 

13.6% 

5.9% 

1.7%0.3% 0.8% 0.6% 

TOTAL Agriculture Industrial Service (Trade) Service Service (Public 

(Manufacturing) 

(Transport & administration) 

Communication) 

Male and female youth labour participation rates are comparable for those aged 15-19. However, for 

older female youths are less likely to be employed, perhaps due to marriage and child raising practices. 

Not surprisingly, those who enter the labour force at youngest ages are also the most educationally 

disadvantaged. Moreover, the relatively low educational attainment of youth predisposes them to 

unemployment (Table 2-4). 

Unemployment is highest in Phnom Penh, at 20.1 per cent for all those aged 15-24 years, and could be due to 

their migration in this capital city because of lack of employment opportunities in rural areas and poor returns 

from agricultural production. 

Table 2-4. Youth labour force by level of education (%) 

Age group None Primary Lower Secondary Upper Secondary Total 

15-19 13.4 42.2 34.5 10.0 100.0 

20-24 18.9 36.2 25.4 19.3 100.0 

25-29 23.7 37.0 22.4 17.0 100.0 

15 & over 91.7 83.3 84.7 76.9 61.6 

7 & over 88.9 80.8 82.1 78.6 65.3 


17

able 2-5. Youth unemployment by sex and region (%) 

Criteria Total Male Female Phnom Penh Other Urban Rural 

Unemployment using “strict” definition 

15 - 19 1.4 1.3 1.4 6.2 2.7 0.9 

20 - 24 1.6 1.9 1.2 7.8 1.4 0.8 

15 - 24 1.5 1.6 1.3 7.2 2.1 0.9 

Unemployment using “relaxed” definition 

15 - 19 7.9 7.3 8.5 24.8 10.1 6.2 

20 - 24 6.5 5.4 7.6 16.6 7.1 5.1 

15 - 24 7.2 6.4 8 20.1 8.6 5.7 

Note: “Strict” definition counts only those actively seeking employment; “Relaxed” definition measures those not working but available for work 

2.2 TRENDS IN KEY AREAS AFFECTING YOUTH 

a. Education 

Poor and marginal youth still face extremely limited access to secondary education. Newly constructed 

schools for young people and poor children have made access to primary schooling relatively 

equal, but considerable differences remain for lower and upper secondary schools (less than 

5 per cent of villages have an upper secondary school). Most families are now able to send 

their children to primary school, given that the mean distance to the nearest primary 

school is 2.25 kilometres for those in the poorest quintile, which is not significantly different from 

other quintiles. However, the average distance to the nearest lower secondary school for the 

poorest household is 7.66 kilometres, which is more than twice that for the wealthiest 

children (World Bank, 2006). CSES 2004 also reveals that the mean distance to the nearest upper 

secondary school is 16.9 kilometres for the poorest quintile villages, compared to 7.34 kilometres 

for the richest. 

Those who are poor, rural and (especially) female are more likely to be illiterate: CSES 2004 indicates 

that Cambodia has high illiteracy rates among young people aged 15-24 compared to the rest of 

the region. Additionally, vulnerable youth are much more likely to be over-aged or late school 

entrants. Late school entry may be related to structural factors such as child labour or malnutrition 

(e.g. in Ratanakiri and Poipet). While there have been substantial strides in reducing the gender 

and urban-rural gaps in education, the country’s poorest have not benefited as much. In FGDs 

with female youth aged 20-24, the majority consistently said that, with even a few years of formal 

education, they could better plan their families and have fewer children, have better knowledge 

of how to provide children with better nutrition, ensure they are immunized and procure 

appropriate medical care, thereby reducing child mortality. Barriers appear to be both financial 

and social. For example, parents in Svay Rieng, Siem Reap, Poipet and Sihanoukville reported that, 

while they would like to send both their male and female children to school, they were more 

inclined to support their male children’s education since their daughters were more likely to be 

needed for housework. 


Few youth go on to university education. According to Education Management Information System 

(EMIS) 2006, only 1.4 per cent of youth aged 19-22 are enrolled in tertiary education. 

b. Employment 

Cambodia’s labour force youth participation rates are among the highest in the region. In general, 

those aged 15-19 and 20-24 are more likely to be working in rural than urban areas, reflecting lower 

secondary school matriculation and higher farm labour rates. 

Cambodia’s young labour force generally suffers from low and poor levels of education when viewed 

against the requirements of an increasingly developed economy and external competitiveness 

(Lundström and Ronnås 2006). 

Wage employment is less likely for women than for men, suggesting that females are more likely 

to be employed in the informal economy, even taking the growing garment industry into 

consideration. 

The unemployment rate in Phnom Penh for those aged 15-19 was 6.2 per cent, with little gender 

difference (CSES 2004). At 0.8 per cent, unemployment rates in rural areas are much lower: 

There is a mismatch between education and labour needs, even among those who have benefitted 

from education and training, (ILO 2007). 

c. Health 

The incidence of unplanned pregnancy in the 15-19 age group has become a concern. Approximately 

8 per cent of Cambodian women aged 15-19 have become mothers or are currently pregnant with 

their first child (CDHS 2005). About 23 per cent of young married women had given birth by age 19, 

with early childbearing more common in rural (8.3 per cent) than urban (6 per cent) areas. Early 

child bearing is most pronounced in Mondulkiri/Ratanakiri (21.8 per cent) and Odar Meanchey 

(15.4 per cent), while the provinces of Preah Vihear/Stueng Treng (13.4 per cent) and Kratie (12.9 

per cent) have the lowest incidence (CDHS, 2005). 

Abortions among women aged 15-49 years appear to be increasing. The percentage of abortions 

among women aged 15-49 increased from 5 per cent in 2000 to 8 per cent in 2005 (CDHS 2000, 2005). 

Among women aged 15-34, the most common place to get an abortion was at private clinics 

(35.3 per cent), followed by other homes (33.7 per cent), private homes (11.5 per cent) and public 

health facilities (10.8 per cent). The proportion of women who received help for abortion from a 

trained professional was 87.3 per cent among urban women and 76.1 per cent among rural women 

(CDHS 2005). 

Basic contraceptive awareness is widespread. About 97.3 per cent of those aged 15-19 indicated 

knowing at least one modern method of contraception (CDHS 2005). Among older youth the 

rate approaches 100 per cent. However, in practice, contraception use is low among currently 

married females. For example, among those aged 15-19, 20.8 per cent reported currently using 

any method and 13.7 per cent reported currently using any modern method; among those aged 

20-24 the rates were 34.6 per cent and 23.3 per cent, respectively. 


19

Both young males and young females have a good understanding of sexual and reproductive 

health and related infections. Youth interviewees learned about these issues from sex education 

and awareness campaigns in schools, and from NGOs in their villages. They also received training 

not only about sexual and reproductive health but also on HIV. The youths’ other sources of 

information on sexual and reproductive health are television, village information boards, village peer 

educators (where there are such programmes) and community libraries. 

Tobacco use. Overall, 7.3 per cent of Cambodian youths aged 15-24 were current smokers (13.6 

per cent males and 0.8 per cent females). Moreover, rural youths smoke more than those who 

live in cities. The proportion of youths consuming tobacco was found to be highest in Ratanakiri, 

at 34 per cent. 

Smoking increases with age. The prevalence of smoking among the 20-24 year olds was 12.5 per cent 

(males 24.0 per cent; females 1.1 per cent). 

In the are of alcohol use, out-of school youth were more likely to drink than in-school peers 

(15.9 per cent and 12.1 per cent, respectively) (MoEYS 2004). Young people who consume alcohol 

started on average at age 12. The 2004 Youth Risk Behaviour Survey (YRBS) also found that 

45 per cent of young people in Ratanakiri and 40.9 per cent in Mondulkiri use alcohol. Young people 

indicate that the factors that influence alcohol use include: new lifestyles and exposure to new 

environments within society; peer pressure or the influence of their seniors; lack of family 

encouragement or poor environment within the home (e.g., domestic violence, family members 

seen as alcohol or drug users); and access to money among those who are economically better-off 

(Mith Samlanh-Friends 2002). 

The prevalence of drug use among Cambodian adolescents aged 11-18 was 0.9 per cent (1.6 per cent 

and 0.3 per cent for males and females) (MoEYS 2004). Likewise, 2.2 per cent of urban youth and 

0.5 per cent of the rural youth report using drugs. As with tobacco, drug use starts on average 

at age 12; and 95 per cent of those reporting ever having used drugs, say that they did so in the 

previous 12 months. 

Injury as a serious health issue is underscored by the fact that among 15-to-17 year-olds it has 

surpassed communicable and other non-communicable cause of death, to become the major 

killer of young people (NIS/ NIPH 2008). Specifically, among 15-17 year–olds, suicide appears to be 

the leading cause of death, while vehicle-related injury and death predominate among older youth. 

d. Vulnerability 

Large family size contributes to poverty (an issue more pronounced in rural than urban areas). 

Cambodia has a high dependency ratio (89.6 per cent in rural areas, compared with 69.1 per cent 

in urban areas), which has a depressing effect on per capita income. The number of elderly or 

disabled people who are unable to work also raise the dependency ratio, which limits financial 

capital for activities like education. 

The mental health needs of youth often go undetected. As noted previously, the NIS/NIPH survey 

(2008) observed suicide to be a leading cause of death among 15-17 year-olds. FGD findings suggest 

that mental health issues stem from violence in the home, a perceived lack of caring from the family, 


feelings of isolation that result from migration for work, and the increased of vulnerability of migrants 

who may enter into abusive relationships in exchange for friendship or food and shelter. 

Parents living with HIV and AIDS also contribute to young people’s vulnerability. The death of parents 

can place the onus of responsibility on adolescents and/or young adults. Approximately 55,000 

children, or 10.9 per cent of all orphans, were orphaned by AIDS-related illnesses in 2001, increasing 

to an estimated 20.7 per cent by 2005 (World Bank 2006). Risk perception of HIV is low among 

youth in Cambodia, increasing their risk of infection. 

Sexual abuse appears to be increasing. The proportion of homicides associated with rape has 

increased from 2003 to 2004 (ADHOC 2005). The victims include sex workers, garment workers 

and working in beer halls and karaoke establishments, the latter two occupations mainly employing 

young women (MoWA 2008). Perpetrators have included young urban men, male university students, 

some members of the police and gang members, who engage in bauk or gang rape. Failure to report 

such events is common due to the shame and stigma associated with it, distrust of the judicial 

system, costs of prosecution, unofficial ‘compensation’ settlements between perpetrators and 

victims, and fear of retaliation from the perpetrator (LICADHO 2006). 

Arrest increases vulnerability. Children and youths who have been arrested are often detained with 

adults, despite legal provision on separation of untried and convicted youth offenders from 

adults (CDC 2003). The Youth Rehabilitation Centre is the only alternative for incarcerating 

juveniles. Those who land in prison are often abused and, without any form of legal or social 

protection, may languish in jail, and receive beatings or worse at the hands of the police or adult 

inmates (Egger 2005). 

Rural-to-urban migration is common among youth. Those aged 15-25 made up a disproportionately 

large number of migrants in the five years before the 2004 Cambodia Socio-Economic Survey 

(Maltoni 2007). Rural-to-urban mobility in this age group is shaped by push and pull of factors 

such as loss of land or loss of access to other livelihood resources, a desire to seek a better life, and 

the presence of family members in places where work may be found. Females in the 15-19 age 

group are more likely to migrate than their male counterparts, though gender differences decline 

after age 20. 

Young migrant workers fall prey to serious difficulties when working near cross-country borders. 

Fitzgerald and So (2007) found that many young migrants reported being cheated out of wages, 

or entering another country illegally and running into difficulties when they returned to Cambodia. 

FGD participants also validated these issues. 

e. Participation and rights 

The needs and perspectives of youth are yet to be reflected in government policies and programmes. 

Such a lack of recognition appears to stem from an age or knowledge hierarchy (Brown 2008) in 

which community leaders feel that young people have little to contribute (Yong 2005). 

Additionally, Cambodian parents are wary and discouraging of civic engagement by their children, 

since this implies political involvement, which historically has been associated with risks (KYA 2008) 

6 

In a 2006 study, ILO found the average age of beer promotion girls to be 22.7 years. 


21

as well as the failure of the education system to impart the values necessary for the development 

of skills among young people to help build and participate in modern democratic societies and 

ensuring good governance. 

The lack of youth voices is accentuated at the village level because young people are only called 

upon to carry out the decisions of their elders. Youth feel confident about their ability to contribute 

to development, but their social environment and the conservative beliefs of the local authorities 

and community elders prevent them from doing so. 

Youth perceptions of volunteering vary depending on locale, with those in rural areas tending to 

have a more positive view. In Svay Rieng province, many school-going youth report having acquired 

support from a local NGO, Open Forum of Cambodia, to volunteer as journalists for a community 

newsletter, and as assistants in community development work such as road construction and 

rehabilitation. Other youths reported volunteering to assist with village traditional ceremonies, 

weddings, merit making and other religious events. In Ratanakiri, youth who belong to ethnic groups 

are also positive about volunteering. This is because they believe that their participation enhances 

their awareness and helps their community. In Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, on the other hand, youth 

tend to speak disparagingly of volunteering. 

Youth-focused NGOs teach skills to young people as they contribute as volunteers to their communities. 

EveryChild-Cambodia (2006), for instance, identified 84 children and youth-led clubs and organizations 

across the 24 provinces and municipalities of the country (although some are local offices or divisions 

of NGOs that facilitate programmes for children and youths). The activities of these associations 

include leadership training, home-based care (for people living with HIV and AIDS), primary health 

care and child rights promotion, monitoring child abuse, capacity building for club members and 

holding literacy classes. 

There is evidence that youth are not totally excluded from the political process. Yong (2005) found 

young people’s political expressions evident in media campaigns, lobbying political leaders, organizing 

and taking part in the demonstrations and public forums organized by youth-focused NGOs. 

Additionally, there are opportunities for youth to participate in sports, which they enjoy. However, 

many parents regard this activity as a waste of time, since they believe that it does not contribute to 

family income and it takes away time from assisting with household chores. The low value adults 

accord to sports is reflected in the paucity of sports and recreational facilities at the village level. 

From the current situation analysis it appears that youth voices are often excluded, their interest in 

contributing to their communities is frequently discounted, their opportunities for educational 

advancement beyond the primary school are limited, and their participation in recreational activities 

is viewed by their elders as a waste of time. In the following chapters we will look more closely into 

these issues and their consequences for Cambodia. 


III 

MAPPING 

DONOR-SUPPORTED 

AND GOVERNMENTAL 

YOUTH PROGRAMMES 

3.1 INTERNATIONAL COVENANTS AND CONVENTIONS ON YOUTH AND YOUNG CHILDREN 

The United Nations formally recognized the vital role of young people in the development of society 

through the Declaration on the Promotion among Youth of the Ideals of Peace, Mutual Respect and 

Understanding between People in General Assembly resolution A/RES/2037 (XX) of 7 December 1965 

(United Nations 2007). Three decades later, the General Assembly, in resolution 50/81 of 14 December 1995, 

in paragraph 8(a) of the World Programme of Action for Youth, said: “every State shall provide its young 

people with opportunities for obtaining education, for acquiring skills, and for participating fully in all aspects 

of society.” 

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), adopted unanimously by the UN General Assembly in 1989, 

is another covenant that supports young people. The Convention requires states to adopt all appropriate 

measures – legislative, administrative, social, economic, budgetary, educational or other – and to allocate 

the resources necessary to ensure its effective implementation. The Convention recognises the obligations of 

other parties (i.e., parents and families, civil society and the international community) for the provision of care, 

food and warmth, or for loving stimulus, basic education and health care (ILO 2002). 

In its commitment to standardize labour, and to also protect young workers, the Cambodian Government 

ratified a number of fundamental ILO conventions: Forced Labour Convention (No. 29); Abolition of 

Forced Labour Convention (No. 105); Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise 

Convention (No. 87); Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention (No. 98); Equal Remuneration 

Convention (No. 100); Discrimination Convention (No. 111); and Minimum Age Convention (No. 138). In November 

2007, the country ratified the Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour (Convention No. 182) (ILO 2007). 

Cambodia is also a signatory to the 1990 UN Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant 

Workers and Members of Their Families, although it has yet to ratify it (Lee, n.d.). 

Bilateral treaties and memorandums of agreement also underpin particular issues that affect youth. To 

promote safe migration for work, Cambodia has mutual labour cooperation agreements with Malaysia, 

the Republic of Korea and Thailand. Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in 

the Employment of Workers signed in May 2003, the Thai Government has accepted and legalized the status 

of Cambodians who are working in Thailand illegally (Lee, n.d.). Both countries also set up an Inter-Ministries 

Working Group for Cooperation to issue identification cards to Khmer migrant workers in Thailand, which 

allows them to apply for a work permit. Cambodia’s official mutual agreement with Malaysia, Recruitment 

Procedures for Cambodian Nationals for Employment in Malaysia (1997/1999), has allowed the country, 

since 1998, to officially send its workers to Malaysia, the majority of whom are women, who work as domestic 

workers, factory workers and shop assistants. Another related agreement is the Coordinated Mekong 

Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking (COMMIT), an MoU, signed in 2004 by Cambodia and five countries 


23

in the Mekong region (China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam), which recognises the special 

vulnerability of women and children to trafficking and enables the six countries to actively work together to 

stop the rising trend of human trafficking in the region (MoT 2006). 

As part of its efforts to address the illicit drug use problems in the country and in the Greater Mekong 

Sub-region, Cambodia is a signatory to an MoU on Drug Control, together with China, Laos PDR, Myanmar, 

Thailand and Viet Nam. The programme accompanying this MoU aims to: expand the work to develop 

the capacity to reduce demand among groups practicing high-risk behaviour; take action against 

amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) abuse in the East Asia and Pacific Region; reduce HIV vulnerability from 

drug abuse; and improve regional responses to the combined problems of drug abuse and HIV 

vulnerability (Burrows 2003). The RGC also participates in the bilateral and trilateral annual sub-regional 

MoU ministerial meetings with Viet Nam and Laos PDR on drug control and cooperation, and in 

provincial level meetings among border provinces of Cambodia, Thailand, Viet Nam and Laos PDR 

(National Authority for Combating Drugs 2005). 

International agreements also provide a strong basis for integrating gender into relevant national 

policies and programmes for the above covenants. These include the Convention on the Elimination of 

All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA), and the 

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Across all these conventions, there are provisions that ensure 

young women’s rights to education, reproductive health, participation in decision-making and governance, 

ownership of property, and protection against violence, sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse. 

These international frameworks also lend support to male and female children and youths within their own 

country, to develop relevant contextualised policies and strategies . 

3.2 NATIONAL LEGAL FRAMEWORKS IN SUPPORT OF CAMBODIAN YOUTH 

The National Strategic Development Plan (2006−2010) (NSDP) sets out measures to implement the 

Rectangular Strategy and to meet the Cambodian Millennium Development Goal (CMDG) targets for 2010. 

Cambodia has yet to have a youth policy, although MoEYS has created a Youth Department to be responsible 

for a youth policy and strategy. Because the Prime Minister’s cabinet has assigned the Youth Department 

to formulate a youth-focused national guideline, efforts have been made towards the creation of a national 

youth council or a national authority on youth (Wallquist 2002). A national youth policy is expected to be 

formulated by the end of 2009, with the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) as one of the driving 

forces supporting the Department of Youth. This report and other available youth-focused reports 

are expected to contribute to the development of such a national policy. 

Several legislative frameworks lend guidance to the formulation of a national policy and reinforce the need 

for youth participation in all social, economic and political activities. Article 34 of Cambodia’s Constitution, 

for example, provides that Khmer citizens of either sex who are at least 18 years old shall enjoy the right to 

vote and to stand as candidates for election if they are at least 25 years old. Article 31 also states that the 

Kingdom of Cambodia shall recognise and respect human rights as stipulated in the United Nations Charter, 

the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the covenants and conventions related to human rights, women’s, 

and children’s rights. Section 8 on Women and Child Labour of the Labour law of Cambodia further provides 

a legal framework for the protection of young workers and youth. However, ministerial orders are needed 

to tighten provisions, specifically on the different types of work that are hazardous and prohibited for 

children, the special conditions for apprenticeship, special dispensations for work by children, and allowable 

light work. 


Cambodia also has a national policy on migration. Contained in the Sub-decree 57 on Sending Khmer Migrants 

to Work Abroad, this policy document provides guidelines to recruitment agencies on how to recruit and 

send Cambodians for overseas work. Only 5 out of 22 articles, however, explicitly or implicitly refer to 

the worker, reflecting broad provisions that are open to interpretation and amount to little protection for 

employees (Lee, n.d.). 

3.2.1 GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES’ YOUTH-RELATED POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES 

A. Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport 

MoEYS takes the lead in fulfilling the Government’s Education for All (EFA) National Plan 2003- 

2015 “to ensure that all Cambodia’s children, youth and adults have equitable access to 

formal and non-formal basic education” (MoEYS 2002). EFA has six core goals, representing 

strategies that seek to address gender and poverty-linked disparities, (MoEYS 2003a): 

Ensure that, by 2015, all children, particularly girls, children in difficult circumstances and 

those belonging to ethnic minorities, have access to and complete free and compulsory 

primary education of good quality. 

Ensure that the learning needs of all young people and adults are met through equitable 

access to appropriate learning and life skills programmes. 

Achieve a 50 per cent improvement in levels of adult literacy by 2015, especially for women, 

and equitable access to basic continuing education for all adults. 

Eliminate gender disparities in primary and secondary education by 2015, with a focus on 

ensuring girls full and equal access to and achievement in basic education of good quality. 

Expand and improve comprehensive early childhood care and education, especially for the 

most vulnerable and disadvantaged children. 

Improve all aspects of the quality of education and ensure the excellence of all, so that 

recognised and measurable learning outcomes are achieved by all, especially in literacy, 

numeracy and essential life skills. 

MoEYS’ Education Strategic Plan (ESP) and Education Sector Support Programme (ESSP) support 

the implementation of the EFA. Policy objectives of the medium term ESP/ ESSP focus on assuring 

equitable access to basic and post basic education; enabling quality and efficiency improvement; and 

capacity building for decentralisation. The ESP aims at developing an inclusive, easily accessible, and 

high quality service that is available to all, as a means of enabling economic growth, improved 

employment prospects and income-generating opportunities. It also views education as necessary 

to realising improved family health and nutrition, and family planning. The ESSP, on the other hand 

prioritises programme strategies and activities focused on the long-term goal of achieving Education 

for All by 2015 (MoEYS, 2003b), particularly in reaching equitable access to nine years of quality basic 

education by 2010 and in responding to critical capacity building needs. A basic principle it adopts is 

that programmes are planned and implemented through governmental and ministry systems to 

strengthen appropriate MoEYS directorates and departments at central and provincial levels. 

7 

The Labour Law passed in October 1998, mainly provides for a standard legal working week of 48 hours, not to exceed eight hours per day. 

It also stipulates time-and-a-half for overtime, and double time if overtime occurs at night, on Sunday, or on a holiday. 

The minimum allowable age for a salaried position is set at 15 years or at 18 years for anyone engaged in work that may be hazardous, 

unhealthy, or unsafe. 


25

The Government devotes sizable resources to education, especially for primary and lower secondary 

education. As a result, MoEYS investment in school facilities and instruction materials over the past 

several years has contributed to notable improvements, in both literacy and primary school matriculation. 

However, the quality of schools varies widely across regions (CSES, 2004). Moreover, as primary school 

becomes the norm throughout Cambodia, demand for more advanced education will increase, 

creating twin pressures for improved quality at the primary school level and expanded opportunities 

at secondary school and beyond. 

B. Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training 

The government agency mainly responsible for labour issues and youth employment is 

the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MoLVT). Its strategic framework is centred 

on institutional and capability building, development of national policy and legislation, 

and the enforcement of sectoral programmes on labour. In operationalizing the National 

Strategic Development Plan (NSDP), MoLVT training strategically focuses on four main areas: 

(1) job creation; (2) improved working conditions; (3) implementation of social safety nets 

for labour law; and (4) human resource development (MoLVT 2008). 

Through MoLVT, the Government has paid a considerable amount of attention over the years 

to the enforcement of labour legislation that applies to the formal economy. For instance, 

the number of inspections and registrations of employer and employee organizations has 

increased. The RGC also established a Labour Advisory Committee and an Arbitration 

Council in accordance with the labour law. MoLVT also ensures the enforcement of the 

fundamental ILO conventions that the Cambodian Government has ratified. In partnership 

with the ILO, it has paid special attention to the child labour problem in Cambodia and is 

the lead Ministry in the implementation of the National Plan of Action on the Worst Forms 

of Labour in Cambodia. 

The Law on Social Security Schemes for Persons Defined by the provisions of the Labour Law, 

passed in September 2002, entitles workers and employees in the private sector to be given 

compensation for old age, disability and survivors’ benefits, as well as workmen’s 

compensation. The law has been promulgated but is yet to be implemented since it requires 

a sub-decree on the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), which now appears to have been 

passed on to the Council of Ministers (CoM) for consideration (Tola 2006). 

C. Ministry of Health 

In the fourth legislature of the Royal Government of Cambodia, the Ministry of Health (MoH) – 

together with line ministries and their development partners – is charged with improving the 

country’s health by enhancing health services, especially reproductive, maternal and infant 

and child health services. The core strategies as reflected in its 2008-2015 Health Strategic Plan are: 

(i) further improve coverage and access to health services; (ii) strengthen the delivery of quality 

basic health services; (iii) strengthen the delivery of quality care; (iv) improve the attitudes of 

health providers sector-wide to become more responsive; (v) develop a culture of quality in public 

health and service delivery and their management; (vi) increase the number of midwives; 

8 

Descriptions of specific programmes relating to youth are found in Chapter 4, Youth and Education. 


(vii) ensure regular and adequate flow of funds to the health sector; and (viii) organizational and 

management reform of structures, systems and procedures in the oH are to respond effectively 

to change. 

The RGC, through the MoH, also developed and adopted a number of laws and health policies 

designed to benefit youth. These include the abortion law, the law against drug abuse, the national 

policy on safe motherhood, the national policy on birth spacing, the national policy on STI and 

HIV and AIDS, the national policy on primary health care, a national strategic plan for a 

comprehensive response to HIV and AIDS, and a national reproductive health programme. While 

these laws and broad programmes contain general provisions that do not necessarily mention 

youth, they are also expected to benefit this population. One that clearly targets youth is the 

National Strategic Plan for Reproductive and Sexual Health 2008-2012, which aims to attain a 

better quality of life for all women and men and adolescents by providing effective and appropriate 

sexual and reproductive health programmes. More recently, in the MoH’s 2008-2015 Health 

Strategic Plan, a cited programme priority area relates to adolescent/youth health under the Plan’s 

Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health focus area. 

The MoH works in close collaboration with line ministries and development partners to realise its 

Health Strategic Plan: 

For planning and financing with the Ministries of Planning (MoP) and Economy and Finance (MEF) 

For maternal and child health with MoEYS; MLVT and the ministries of Women’s Affairs; Social and 

Veterans’ Affairs; Information;, and Rural Development 

For environmental health and the control of important infectious diseases such as malaria and HIV 

with MoEYS; and the ministries of Information; Interior; Defence; Environment; Industry, Mines and 

Energy; Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Culture and Religious Affairs; Tourism; and Rural 

Development, including the National AIDS Authority. 

For advocacy and other work on issues (e.g., controlling the marketing of breast milk substitutes, 

and tobacco-related and other legislation, taxation and revenue implications) with the Ministry 

of Interior, particularly local authorities, and the ministries of Information and Commerce. 

D. Ministry of Interior 

The Ministry of Interior (MoI) enforces laws through its police power at the provincial, district 

and commune levels in each of the country’s 24 provinces and municipalities. Within the MoI 

are several programmes and activities that directly and indirectly respond to youth-related 

concerns. Its Anti-Drug Department, for instance, has responsibility for gathering all information 

that can facilitate the detection and prevention of the illicit trafficking of drugs, and for coordinating 

all domestic and international operations to suppressing the illicit trafficking of drugs. Operating 

directly under the Commissariat General of the National Police, the Department has nine offices 

and 24 provincial units. Lending support to this unit in the MoI is the Secretariat of the National 

Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD), which also resides the Ministry. In September 2005, NACD 

published its Five-Year National Plan on Drugs Control (NPDC) 2005-2010, which aims to minimize 

drug-related harm to individuals, families and society. A structure for implementation, monitoring 


27

and reviewing this plan is in place and includes opportunities for agencies, including NGOs, to 

work with the Committees overseeing the strategy. The NPDC 2005-2010 has identified youth as a 

‘high risk’ group. 

The MoI is also tasked with the prevention, investigation, and suppression of trafficking in the 

country and works with local authorities, the military police, the border police and international 

authorities in raising awareness of relevant trafficking laws and in providing training to specialized 

police officers. Consequently, within MoI is found the Department of Anti-Human Trafficking and 

Juvenile Protection (DAHTJP), which has the mandate to prevent and enforce measures against 

sexual exploitation, human trafficking, rape and immoral acts. Its structure comprises a central 

level office and five operational bureaus, one of which works on Juvenile Protection. It presently 

has an awareness-raising programme on trafficking that is being carried out in schools in 

Phnom Penh. 

Another critical programme over which the MoI has the key implementing role, and which impacts 

upon youth, is the country’s Decentralisation and Deconcentration programme. Led by the 

Department of Local Administration (DOLA), this programme derives its mandate from the 

Strategic Framework for Decentralisation and Deconcentration Reforms of the RGC and the April 

2008 Organic Law. The Organic Law is “to provide a coherent legal foundation for democratic 

sub-national governance based on the principles of democratic representation, participation, 

public sector accountability and effectiveness, and poverty reduction” and shall detail the roles, 

functions and responsibilities of national, provincial/ municipal, district and commune levels of 

the government. It is through this important programme that the participation of youth 

can be made visible, if they are mobilized and encouraged to express their voices through the 

governance structures that have been and are being set in place. 

E. Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation 

MoSVY implements, manages and leads programmes that relate to the protection and 

rehabilitation of vulnerable groups of Cambodian society, including victims of trafficking, 

particularly children and women, street children, orphaned children, persons with a disability, drug 

abusing children and adults, those who violate the law, and children and women affected by HIV 

or AIDS. Within the Ministry, a Directorate of Technical Affairs provides oversight for policy, planning 

and programming on Child Welfare, Alternative Care and Child Protection. It chairs the National 

Orphans and Vulnerable Children Multi-sectoral Task Force (NOVCTF) and coordinates the response 

to orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) through its Directorate of Technical Affairs. The 

Directorate consists of: the (i) Department of Child Welfare; (ii) the Department of Youth 

Rehabilitation; (iii) the Department of Social Welfare; and the (iv) Department of Rehabilitation. 

The Department of Child Welfare is responsible for 20 State orphanages in 17 provinces and 

cities and regulates all NGO-run residential alternative care services. In 2006, the Ministry adopted 

the Policy on Alternative Care for Children and the Minimum Standards of Care for Children in 

Residential Care. It is in the process of developing Minimum Standards of community/family-based 

care to promote quality care in pagodas and group homes, kinship care and foster care. It also 

9 

NGO Statement to the 2006 Consultative Group Meeting on Cambodia, Phnom Penh: NGO Forum on Cambodia, March 2006, p.8 

10 

Parts of this description on MoSVY have been taken from NOVCTF’s Orphans, Children Affected by HIV and Other Vulnerable Children 

in Cambodia: A Situation and Response Assessment (June 2008) and MoT’s 2006 Training Manual on Child Safe Tourism. 


links up with NGO efforts in community-based care, so that both Government and development 

partners strengthen community-based support structures that are culturally appropriate and 

effective in meeting the basic needs of OVC. In collaboration with UNICEF, the Ministry operates 

a Child Protection Network (CPN) in selected communes in six districts of Prey Veng and Svay Rieng 

provinces. The CPN has a community-based, multi-disciplinary approach to child protection with 

a strong focus on child rights and child participation, and has coordination meetings at the 

commune and provincial levels, in which children and local authorities participate. 

MoSVY also plays a critical role in the fight against trafficking in women and children through an 

anti-human trafficking office under its Department of Social Welfare. In 2005, the Ministry 

implemented a project on the rehabilitation, reintegration, and follow up of 1,858 victims. 

The activities have included: (i) repatriation and reintegration of Cambodian children and women 

victims from Thailand to Cambodia; (ii) receiving Cambodian children and women from Thailand; 

(iii) repatriation of 10 Vietnamese victims from Cambodia to Viet Nam (also under the support of 

a government budget); (iv) receiving and reintegration of street children affected by trafficking and 

begging from Viet Nam; (v) cooperating with other NGOs to tap into their (a) vocational training 

centres, (b) healthcare centres, (c) counselling, employment placements and (d) reintegration and 

rehabilitation services to women and children affected by sexual abuse. MoSVY continues to 

implement reintegration and follow-up on the living conditions of its clients in communities to 

ensure that they all receive support and improve their living conditions, and to raise awareness of 

its work. It currently has a transit centre in Poipet supervised by MoSVY’s Anti-Trafficking and 

Reintegration Office (ATRO). ATRO’s Child Protection Border Team intercepts, interviews, and refers 

unaccompanied children deported by Thai police, referring them to the Poipet Transit Centre for 

assistance by NGOs. It also provides temporary accommodation to children and women victims 

who are repatriated from Thailand to Cambodia. 

MoSVY has been working with the Child Safe Tourism project of the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) since 

August 2005. One of its key activities was a 2005 study on tourism business establishments (hotels, 

guesthouses, restaurants and other tourism establishments) and their workers in Phnom Penh, 

Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. Information gathering was, however, limited to legitimate (registered) 

establishments and focused on employer-employee relationships characterised by regular wages. 

F. Ministry of Tourism 

Policies and programmes that impact upon Cambodia’s youth at MoT largely relate to its ongoing 

Child Safe Tourism Programme, which targets children under 18 years of age. It is intended to 

address the negative effects of tourism growth and development in the country through 

prevention and protection measures in tourism areas/communities. The programme has two 

objectives: to increase knowledge and understanding of sexual exploitation of children arising 

from tourism; and to improve child sex tourism prevention and protection measures in tourism 

establishments and services in targeted tourism hubs. This initiative is being implemented done 

through the Child Safe Tourism Commission, which was established through a ministerial order 

(Prakas) comprising of senior officers and officials of the Ministry. The programme is being 

undertaken in collaboration with MoSVY, MoLVT and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MoWA), 

as well as travel agencies, trade unions and employers’ associations. 


29

G. Ministry of Women’s Affairs 

The Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MoWA) is the national machinery for promoting the status of 

women, including girls and young women. The Ministry published its first Five Year Strategic 

Plan, Neary Rattanak I (Women are Precious Gems), in February 1999, its 2005-2009 Neary Rattanak 

II in 2004 and has been recently finalising its 2008-2013 Five Year Strategic Plan or Neary Rattanak III. 

The strategic plans have formed part of Cambodia’s national development plans, such as the 

second national socio-economic development plan, the Rectangular Strategy of 2004 and the 2006 

National Strategic Development Plan. They have focused on: (i) enhancing the participation of 

women in economic development, especially in micro and small enterprises; (ii) the right to legal 

protection to enable women to avoid domestic violence, trafficking, rape and all other forms of 

violence; (iii) women’s and girls’ right to healthcare to address serious problems such as maternal 

and infant mortality, nutritional issues and HIV and AIDS; (iv) women’s and girls’ right to education, 

literacy and skills training; and (v) the substantive participation of women at all levels in the 

institutions of governance. 

The Ministry has been implementing two Laws to provide legal protection to women and young 

people. The Law on Prevention of Domestic Violence and Victim Protection was ratified by the 

National Assembly in 2005, while the Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual 

Exploitation was passed in 2008. A Technical Working Group led by MoWA has been established 

for the purpose of working on anti human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation under 

a MoU with neighbouring countries. In 2008, MoWA also commenced the development of a 

‘Toolkit for Working with the Young to Address Gender-Based Violence’. The goals of this toolkit 

for young people are to: (i) raise awareness and understanding of gender and rights issues; 

(ii) promote a commitment to rights and individual responsibilities; (iii) help youth gain 

confidence and self protective skills; (iv) encourage young people to critically analyse the world 

in which they live; and (v) apply the learning to their own relationships and lives to contribute to 

the reduction of violence in the future. Additionally, MoWA has paid attention to gender roles in 

the national education curriculum, although violence against women is not specifically addressed. 

In 2008, with technical assistance and support from the German Development Cooperation, 

UNFPA and UNIFEM, MoWA piloted awareness-raising initiatives in schools through forums on 

gender-based violence for young people. The initiative has been very well received by youths, 

and the Ministry is looking to further enhance and extend relevant activities nationwide. 

MoWA is also committed to work towards the economic development of women, especially 

the young and vulnerable, through various activities. Working skills provision and access to social 

services are the main emphases in this area. Young and vulnerable women who work in garment 

factories and in rural areas generally benefit from related programmes. MoWA is also working 

towards defending the right of female employees through advocacy and policy interventions. 

It has similarly paid particular attention to the promotion of health among vulnerable women, 

youths and children. For instance, a range of activities have been implemented in collaboration 

with MoH and its NGO partners. The Ministry likewise works in partnership with MoEYS to improve 

women and girls’ access to education The programme mainly focuses on female youth, 

particularly in improving their access to secondary education. Scholarships for the poor and 

additional training programmes for young women have been increasingly provided. 


3.2.2 DONOR-ASSISTED PROGRAMMES 

Programmes to support youth inclusion and to mainstream them in development efforts have also 

become the focus of various donors through overseas development assistance (ODA), with some sectors 

and sub-sectors receiving greater attention than others (Table 3-1). 

The education sector, in the area of promotion youth access to education, for example, has received significant 

interest from major donors and development institutions. Approximately 14 major international or multilateral 

donors are involved in this sector at any given point, with total donor assistance exceeding one quarter of 

a billion US dollars as of September 2006. The health sector has similarly attracted attention in relation to 

areas that impact on the youth, among which are: sexual and reproductive health, including HIV and sexually 

transmitted infections (STI); tobacco, alcohol and drug use; primary health care; and accidents, injuries 

and suicide prevention. Interest and support has also grown for skills-building for livelihoods and income 

earning among youth as labour market programmes supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) 

and other donors gain momentum. Similarly, youth-focused assistance has become visible in the areas of 

gender, governance and administration, and community and social welfare. Greater efforts and funding support 

are needed, however, to benefit youth, as most ODA projects on different sectors and sub-sectors tend to 

indicate general populations rather than targeting Cambodia’s young population. 

Table 3-1. Youth-specific ODA projects, by sector, subsector and status a/ 

# Donor Official Title Programme Number Start Date 

Health sector (8 projects) 

1 EU/EC 

2 EU/EC 

3 UNFPA 


5 Japan 

6 Japan 

7 WFP 

8 Belgium 

Rural Cambodian Youth Sexual 

Reproductive Health (RCYSRH) 

Prevention of road traffic injuries 

in Cambodia 

Increased Awareness & 

Empowerment of Pop. Women & 

Youth 

Increased Awareness of Women, 

Men & Youth about RH 

The Project for Improving 

Maternal and Child Health 

Services in Prey Veng Operational 

District 

The Project for Improving 

Maternal and Child Health 

Service in Rural Area 

Support for Mother-and-Child 

Health 

Primary health services to 

mothers and children in Kg Speu 

Completion 

Date 

Budget 

Project 

Status 

SANTE/2006/100443 1-Aug-2006 20-Mar-2009 1,485,000 EUR On-going 

ONG- 

PVD/2006/119595 

1-Jan-2007 1-Jan-2010 737,019 EUR On-going 

CMB3R33 1-Jan-2008 31-Dec-2010 3,528,860 USD On-going 


28-Feb-2008 27-Feb-2009 172,413 USD On-going 

21-Dec-2006 20-Dec-2009 137,062,000 JPY On-going 

10170.2 1-Jan-2008 31-Dec-2010 10,061,052 USD On-going 

EMB4244 1-Jan-2003 31-Dec-2007 On-going 

11 

Taken from The UN Secretary General’s Database on Violence Against Women in 

http://webapps01.un.org/vaw/ countryInd action?countryId=297 

12 

Ibid 


31

Education sector (9 projects) 

1 EU/EC 

Improving Livelihoods of 

Young Cambodians in Difficult 

Circumstances through 

Prevention and Sustainable 

Social Reintegration (Skills & 

knowledge provision) 

ONG-PVD/2005/ 95812 1-Jan-2006 31-Dec-2011 1,262,814 EUR On-going 

2 EU/EC 

Improving Access to Quality 

Primary Education for 

Cambodian Street and Outof-School 

Children, Cambodge 

ONG- 

PVD/2006/118613 

1-Jan-2007 31-Dec-2011 750,000 EUR On-going 

3 

4 Japan 

5 Spain 


7 EU/EC 

8 EU/EC 

9 

Netherlands 

Basic Education and Vocational 

Training for Young Detainees 

Project for Empowering 

Adolescents in Koh Kong 

Province, the Kingdom of 

Cambodia 

Vocational training and labour 

integration of the indigenous 

youth in Ratanakiri 

Increased Awareness of 

Women, Men & Youth about RH 

Child Friendly School 

Development (CFSD) Project 


Improving Access to Quality 

Primary Education for 

Cambodian Street and 

Out-of-School Children, 

Cambodge 

Women Living with Children in 

Prison 

Community and Social Welfare sector (6 projects) 

1 ILO 

2 Australia 

3 Australia 

4 Finland 

5 UNICEF 

6 Australia 

Support to Cambodian 

National Plan of Action on 

the Elimination of the Worst 

Forms of Child Labour 

SCA Child Protection 

Implementation - NGO 

Cooperation Agreements 

World Vision Child Protection 



Prevention of trafficking in 

women and children 

Country Programme Action 

Plan 2006-2010, Child Protection 

Programme 

SCA Child Protection 



PKP/KH/5/07 1-Sep-2007 31-Aug-2008 6,548 USD On-going 

6-Dec-2007 5-Dec-2008 210,835 USD On-going 

0751 21-Nov-2007 12-May-2009 298,878 EUR On-going 


Netherlands 

ONG- 

PVD/2006/119209 

ONG- 

PVD/2006/118613 



PKP/KH/7/07 1-Nov-2007 31-Oct-2008 13,200 USD On-going 

CMB/04/P51/USA 30-Sep-2004 30-Apr-2009 4,750,000 USD On-going 

37919 1-Jan-2007 30-Jun-2009 1,034,643 AUD On-going 

37923 2-Oct-2006 30-Jun-2009 1,032,611 AUD On-going 

72801602 1-Jan-2000 31-Dec-2009 3,447,644 EUR On-going 

YS304 1-Jan-2006 31-Dec-2010 15,977,160 USD On-going 

37919 1-Jan-2007 30-Jun-2009 1,034,643 AUD On-going 


HIV and AIDS sector (6 projects) 

1 UK 

Empowering Community Participation 

in Advocating Vulnerable 

Children’s Rights 

CSCF 436/ MIS Code 

144683012 

1-Jun-2008 30-May-2013 463,336 GBP On-going 

2 UNESCO 


“Love and Relationship” Film 

Festival Addressing Perceptions 

of Gender and Raising Awareness 

of HIV 

Increased Awareness & 

Empowerment of Pop. Women & 

Youth 

406GLO0082.4 1-Nov-2008 31-Dec-2009 25,948 USD On-going 



5 EU/EC 

6 USA 

Increased Awareness of 

Women, Men & Youth about RH 

Increasing the Relevance and 

Effectiveness of HIV and AIDS 

Prevention and Care among 

Youths Through a Cambodia- 

Thailand Partnership 

Improved Health Services in HIV 

and AIDS and Infectious Diseases 

as well as in Maternal, Child and 

Reproductive Health 

Water and Sanitation sector (1 project) 


Gender sector (1 project) 

1 EU/EC 

Country Programme Action Plan 

2006-2010, Seth Koma 

(Community Action for Child 

Rights) Programme 

Utilising the Buddhist monks 

and school students to prevent 

sexual abuse and child labour 

Governance & Administration (8 projects) 

1 EU/EC 

Promote human rights to reduce 

trafficking and sexual/labour 

exploitation of women and 

children 


SANTE/2003/ 45809 1-Feb-2004 31-Dec-2007 2,420,269 EUR On-going 

442-009 1-Sep-2002 30-Sep-2011 

247,418,852 

USD 

On-going 

SK301 1-Jan-2006 31-Dec-2010 15,877,600 USD On-going 

DDH/2006/128535 9-Jun-2006 8-Dec-2008 99,973 EUR On-going 

DDH/2005/113980 22-Dec-2005 22-Jun-2008 51,103 EUR On-going 

2 EU/EC The ChildSafe Network Project EIDHR/2008/164770 18-Nov-2008 30-Jun-2012 150,000 EUR On-going 

3 EU/EC Children’s Legal Protection DDH/2003/075495 29-Dec-2003 31-Dec-2007 1,141,000 EUR On-going 

4 EU/EC 



7 UK 

8 UK 

Providing Legal Advocacy, 

Representation, and Education 

to Sustain Children Rights and 

Prevent Child-Related Crimes in 

Cambodia Justice System 

Increased Awareness of Women, 

Men & Youth about RH 

Country Programme Action 

Plan 2006-2010, Seth Koma 

(Community Action for Child 

Rights) Programme 

Empowering Community 

Participation in Advocating 

Vulnerable Children’s Rights 

Preventing Violence against 

Children in Cambodia 

DDH/2007/144489 5-Dec-2007 5-Dec-2010 99,999 EUR On-going 


SK301 1-Jan-2006 31-Dec-2010 15,877,600 USD On-going 


144683012 


144683013 

1-Jun-2008 30-May-2013 463,336 GBP On-going 

31-Jul-2008 30-Jun-2013 497,190 GBP On-going 

13 

Generated from ODA database of Cambodia in http://cdc.kjmer.biz 


33

3.2.3 NGO PROGRAMMES FOR YOUTH 

The national programme mapping by NGOs and international organisations (IOs) working on youth 

promotion and protection activities is of importance to policy planning and intervention. Although MoEYS 

has been designated by the RGC to establish a National Youth Programme, there has been slow progress 

toward its formulation as the Ministry lacks technical and financial resources. At the Inter-ministerial level, 

cooperation and collaboration remain uncertain. 

Youth employment is an issue of national consequence not only for its intrinsic importance but also because 

the lack of proper investment in youth schemes will prevent Cambodia from attaining its poverty reduction 

goals by 2015, as laid out in the targets of the CMDGs. The growing number of NGOs and IOs working in 

the area of youth development primarily compensates for the absence of a National Youth Programme. 

The present analysis mapped NGO and IO work drawing upon the Cooperation Committee for Cambodia’s 

inventory of all NGOs and IOs working on youth concerns. Difficulties were encountered, however, in defining 

the organizations’ programme provinces because of a lack of clarity regarding whether the reported initiatives 

were still being implemented. 

To produce an aggregated picture of all programmes focused on youth, a Principle Components Analysis was 

run on existing data on programmes by province and area of intervention. This analysis generated a resulting 

factor score index from which a concentration index of 0 to 1 was produced, (Appendix A/ Annex 3-5 for details). 

The index reflects the density and concentration of programmes by areas of intervention and by province. 

Figure 3-1 presents a concentration index map of youth programmes in the country. 

The major findings from the mapping of NGO and IO youth-related programmes were: 

NGO and IO programmes for youth tend to concentrate in areas that are easily accessible, with Kep, 

Stung Treng, Odar Meanchey, Mondulkiri, Ratanakiri, Sihanoukville, Svay Rieng, Pailin, Preah Vihear 

and Pursat receiving less support. This suggests that while infrastructure has improved 

throughout the country in the past few years, many NGOs and IOs have not expanded their reach. 

In the area of health (particularly sexual and reproductive health (SRH); HIV and AIDS and STI; primary 

healthcare and nutrition; and tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse), the least concentration of interventions 

occurs in Kep, Odar Meanchey, Stung Treng, Ratanakiri, Sihanoukville, Pailin, Kampong Chhnang, 

Mondulkiri, Svay Rieng, Preah Vihear, Kampot and Prey Veng. No NGOs or IOs work on SRH in Kep, 

Stung Treng, Sihanoukville and Kampong Chhnang. Efforts in SRH do not focus directly on youth. 

NGOs and IOs have invested resources in both preventative and curative care for those affected by HIV and 

AIDS and STI, to cover all provinces and towns in Cambodia. Programme concentration in this area has 

shown fruitful outcomes in the reduction of the incidence of HIV and STI by 2008. Most provinces and towns 

throughout the country also have primary healthcare and nutrition programmes or projects, except in 

Odar Meanchey, suggesting that this province could have been unintentionally overlooked by the NGOs 

and IOs. This mapping could help promote increased intervention from development partners for 

more equitable distribution of programme and project resources across provinces. 

14 

Directory of International Development Assistance in Cambodia 2005-06 and the Directory of Cambodian NGOs 2006-07 

15 

PPrinciple components analysis (PCA) is a tool of exploratory multivariate data analysis, especially when the intent is to gain an overview of 

and an insight into the relationships between a set of variables and evaluate units (e.g., programmes) with respect to those variables 

(The Sage Encyclopedia of Social Research Methods, volume 2, edited by Michael S. Lewis-Beck, Alan Bryman and Tim Futing Liao). 

16 

Appendix A/ Annex 3-6 also presents the resulting indices in tabular form and Annex 3 -7 presents this mapped out. 


FIGURE 3-1. CONCENTRATION INDEX MAP OF YOUTH PROGRAMMES IN CAMBODIA 

Otdar Mean Chey 

Stueng Traeng 

Banteay Mean Chey 

Preah Vihear 

Siem Reab 

Rotanak Kiri 

Bat Dambang 

Krong Pailin 

Kampong Thum 

Kracheh 

Mondol Kiri 

Pousat 

Kampong Chhnang 

Kampong Cham 

Kaoh Kong Kampong Spueu 

Phnom Penh 

Prey Veaeng 

Kandal 

Svay Rieng 

Kampot Takaev 

Krong Preah Sihanouk 

Krong Kaeb 

Most concentration 

Good concentration 

Average 

Leas concentration 

Leas concentration 

Tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse programmes are also being covered by NGOs and IOs in provinces and 

towns throughout Cambodia. This is because these issues have recently been highly publicised by donors 

and other development partners. The six variables concerning education for youth examined in this study 

were vocational/skills training, non-formal education, scholarship/fellowship, primary education, secondary 

education and tertiary education. Kep, Odar Meanchey, Stung Treng, Svay Rieng, Preah Vihear, Mondulkiri, 

Ratanakiri, Pursat, Kampong Chhnang, Prey Veng and Koh Kong have a lower concentration of education 

programme interventions. This implies that these provinces and towns need more attention as a priority of 

future investment. 

NGO and IO education programmes focus on primary rather than lower or upper secondary education. NGOs 

and IOs work to support primary education in almost all provinces and towns, except in Kep and Stung Treng 

provinces. The mapping activity did not find any NGO or IOs supporting secondary and tertiary education. 

The highest dropout rate in Grades 1-6 is approximately 20 per cent (Koh Kong, Pursat, Ratanakiri, Pailin, 

Mondulkiri, Stung Treng, Preah Vihear, and Odar Meanchey). School retention and re-entry initiatives in 

these provinces, especially, need to be a priority if Cambodia is to reach its education-related MDGs. The 

lack of NGO and IO initiatives in a number of the areas in highest need is an issue that needs to be better 

understood and addressed. 


35

Vocational/skills training programmes are well covered by NGOs and IOs throughout the country’s 

provinces and towns, and are an advantage, as investments on such programmes will help poor households 

acquire income-earning skills. These vocational/skills trainings are critically needed to prevent young people’s 

migration to find jobs in the urban centres and in other countries. 

One way to close the gender disparity gap in education is to provide scholarships or fellowships to female 

students. While scholarship and fellowship programmes have been covered throughout provinces and towns 

by NGOs and IOs, this effort needs to be continued and further expanded in order to scale-up the number of 

young beneficiaries in rural areas. 

Civic engagement and citizenship, democracy, human rights and advocacy, combating child and sexual 

exploitation, protecting child rights and juvenile delinquency, and domestic violence/ gender-based 

violence are also well covered by NGOs and IOs in many parts of Cambodia. However, several provinces and 

municipalities, such as Krong Kep, Stung Treng, Ratanakiri, Mondulkiri, Kratie, Krong Preah Sihanouk, Pursat 

and Kampong Speu, receive less attention with regard to these programme areas. Resources will need to be 

redirected to support programmes or projects in these provinces. 

3.3 POLICY AND PROGRAMMING IMPLICATIONS 

This chapter attempts to identify the strengths and weaknesses of existing Government programmes 

and donor support to institute youth participation as a right in all social, economic, and political activities. 

Overall, governmental development programmes have youth as a focus in development programmes, 

although efforts tend to remain limited. In most cases, however, Cambodia’s youth are not targeted and are 

simply assumed to be part of the larger populations that are expected to benefit from such programmes. This 

may be due in part to the lack of recognition of young people’s critical roles in the advancement of society. 

The Government has implemented many regulatory mechanisms and social safety nets towards creating an 

active youth labour force. Policies and programmes in accordance with these mechanisms, however, should 

address the long-term as well as the immediate problems of youth and employment. For the most part, 

emphasis should be placed on programmes and actions that will reduce unemployment and promote 

the integratability of youth as the most productive labour force and engine of growth for economic 

development. 

The Decentralisation and Deconcentration framework, aligned with the four pillars of RGC’s Rectangular 

Strategy: (good governance, including deepening democracy and participation; economic development; 

social transformation; and justice) has opened up opportunities for the participation of youth and 

marginalized groups, Under this framework the Commune Councils can be strengthened to become more 

effective service delivery protagonists and advocates for their local constituents. Including youths as 

members of the Commune Councils, and thus local authority decision-making, will begin to address some 

roadblocks that undermine their political participation. 

Youth-related, gender-responsive policies have not received the attention they deserve. Gender equity 

issues affecting youth should be taken into account and be accorded high priority in future long-term 

and strategic planning by MoWA and related ministries. Research into gender gaps and gender-related and 

crosscutting issues pertaining to youth and all aspects of their human development should be examined in 

all sectors of development – economic, labour and employment, education, health, and social services – to 

inform policy decisions and programming among government line ministries and departments. 


The national mapping activity of NGO and IO work found that there are significant gaps in geographical 

coverage in terms of density and concentration of programme and project interventions. This suggests that 

despite important recent achievements in expanding the reach of improved transport and communication 

networks, more distant and remote areas continue to lag behind more accessible rural and urban areas, 

particularly with respect to health and education services. One reason for this is that NGOs and IOs may prefer 

to concentrate their efforts and resources in more accessible areas, since on a per unit cost basis, it is probably 

more efficient to serve densely populated areas. Such a trend could also be explained by Government policies 

that do not locate health posts and school facilities in remote areas where population is scattered. However, 

this will also depend on the objective of the intervention. If the overall objective is to reduce poverty among 

youth, then more interventions will have to be set in place in regions where young people are frequently 

vulnerable, particularly in relation to access to employment, education and health. 

There appears to be a time lag between infrastructure development and the targeting of development 

interventions. Once road access to certain areas has been improved, for example, it takes time to plan a 

particular intervention and mobilize resources, implying a need for more forward-looking interventions 

that anticipate improved access. This in turn suggests the need for better information and coordination at 

appropriate levels of administration. The Government may need to take a more pro-active role in terms of 

encouraging NGOs and IOs to intervene in poorly served areas. 

NGOs, IOs, and government agencies each have comparative advantages. For example, NGOs generally have 

an advantage in terms of their flexibility to target and contact hard-to-reach groups, while IOs may have an 

advantage in terms of resources and technical capacity. The Government often has an advantage in terms of 

the scope of information and coverage, access to information, and institutional mandates for action. Each of 

these development players needs to coordinate and consult with one another in order to most effectively 

provide complementary packages of inputs and services for youth. This is important in terms of poverty 

reduction, as poorly-served these areas tend to have higher poverty rates than many areas that have 

abundant interventions. Moreover, in light of increasing spending on health, subsidies would have an important 

impact on poverty reduction. In terms of targeting, education support interventions from NGOs and IOs tend 

to focus on primary education than on lower and higher secondary education. This seems appropriate now 

because there is a real need to ensure that more students enrol in and complete primary education, which in 

turn will stimulate more demand for lower secondary education. 

If youth are to become an engine of growth for the country, much needs to be done to ensure that their 

participation in community development planning at the village, commune, municipal, and district 

levels is expanded. A mechanism to ensure youths’ voices are heard in decision making and development 

planning at these levels should be enshrined in the National Youth Policy being formulated by the RGC. Capacity 

building for youth in development planning can start at the village level by fostering youth representation 

in the governance activities of the Village Development Councils, and not merely confining them to voting 

during election periods or contributing their labour in the building of community infrastructure. With 

support from NGOs and IOs, the same type of political involvement and capacity building should also 

be replicated at the commune, municipal, district and provincial levels, and by establishing a village development 

youth council or some form of formal youth organization at all levels. In this way, youth will be able to 

represent themselves in governance and be trained at an early age to participate in the development process, 

including running for elective positions in government. Creating village-level youth associations and 

incorporating them into commune, municipal, district and provincial levels can also be a big move towards 

real political empowerment for youth. 


37


IV 

YOUTH AND 

EDUCATION 

“MY PARENT ASKED…WHAT IS MY EDUCATION WORTH SINCE IN OUR HOUSE WE HAVE 

NOTHING TO EAT?” – POOR YOUNG FEMALE, SIEM REAP PROVINCE 

Education is generally viewed as one of the most powerful weapons against poverty and vulnerability 

(Anand and Sen 1994; Sen 1999). It is also seen as a unique means for empowering marginal youth 

toward better prospects for enhancing their lives. Both theory and empirical evidence suggest that 

education is vital to economic growth and poverty reduction (World Bank 2007a). 

In recent years, education in Cambodia has improved substantially. Enrolment rates have increased and 

socio-economic gaps have been gradually reduced in rural and urban areas, at the same time as significant 

improvements have been made in facilities and teaching materials. However, early school leaving remains a 

significant problem, and the poorest are most likely to leave school for jobs that trap them in a persistent cycle 

of poverty. 

The availability of education is not the only issue; so is the quality of information. Schools that teach life skills, 

enhance civic engagement, provide for health education and link education with employment opportunities 

appear to have the most positive impact. This study argues for a more relevant education policy that is 

inclusive of vulnerable youth and caters to employment and labour market needs. 

4.1 YOUTH EDUCATION-RELATED POLICIES AND SUPPORT PROGRAMMES 

4.1.1 REVIEW OF EDUCATION POLICY FOR YOUTHS AND YOUNG PEOPLE 

In recent years, the Government has made efforts to simultaneously improve the quality of education and 

minimize the inequality in access to education for young people, through the establishment of a realistic 

pro-poor national education plan. The Education for All (EFA) National Plan 2003-2015 aims to encourage 

equal education provision to young people. The Education Sector Support Programme (ESSP) involves major 

reforms designed around 12 priority action programmes (PAPs. However, they are designed to address overall 

access, rather than specific gender imbalance in terms of access for girls. Significant outputs, strategies and 

priorities to address challenges in the education sector are explicitly articulated in the Education Strategic 

Plan (ESP), 2006-2010, which operationalizes the 2003-2015 National Plan on Education for All and reflects 

the CMDGs of ensuring access to nine-year basic education for Cambodian people (Box 4.1). This programme 

has made significant strides in realizing its major priorities of increasing the number of primary and lower 

secondary schools, expanding enrolment levels in lower secondary education (enabling the completion of 

basic education up to standard 9), and increasing literacy levels for 15-24 year olds. 


39

BOX: 4.1 FOCUS OF ESSP 2006- 2010 

The ESSP lays out policy priorities that 

diverge from previous policy formulations 

for basic education in three main respects: 

increased emphasis on demand-side 

interventions 

greater importance placed on 

improving education quality 

stronger focus on lower secondary 

education 

These efforts notwithstanding, access to education is 

still geographically limited and is shaped by wealth 

status. Rural youth and other indigent populations 

of young people are still most likely to be excluded. 

Additionally, the quality of education still needs to be 

standardized to meet international criteria. 

4.1.2 EDUCATION EXPENDITURE AND SUPPORT 

A critical factor in achieving poverty reduction through 

education and ensuring wider access has been a 

significantly increase in education’s recurrent budget 

share in recent years. The increase has generally been seen 

to be more pro-poor and to some extent well distributed. 

Government spending on education doubled from the 

1990s reaching 18.9 per cent in 2006. The World Bank 

(2006) suggests that this prioritized government spending 

has resulted in the balance of benefit accruing to the poor. 

Due to MoEYS investment in school facilities and instructional materials over the past several years, a notable 

transformation has taken place in various levels of education. Systems performance, however, varies widely 

across regions in terms of quality, efficiency and coverage 17 . National data on education sector performance 

indicates that improvements in primary and secondary completion are still insufficient and that more effort is 

required to reach the target indicator by 2015. This poses a major challenge for Cambodia, especially in terms 

of maintaining the gains achieved at the younger grades while expanding capacity in the middle school years, 

for as primary school capacity increases, so too will demand at the secondary school level. Additionally, while 

expanded capacity is critical, so is assuring the quality of education. 

On recognising the requirement for human capital in response to economic and social development, 

stakeholders have made major efforts and investment in education, and promoted access to education for 

young people (Table 4-1). 

Table 4-1. Trends in education support from development partners to the sub-sector 

Education Sector 

2007 2008 2009 2010 

USD ‘000 

Non-Formal and General Education Development 26,020 36,299 26,877 20,746 

Trained Educational Development on Technical, Higher 

Education and Scientific Research 

6,837 6,235 5,596 2,933 

Youth and Sport Development 2.749 2,651 331 331 

Strengthening Good Governance 97 244 14 14 

Education Service Management and Support 3,181 2,671 428 195 

Other 5,721 11,053 1,286 540 

Total Expenditure from Development Partners 44,605 59,153 34,514 24,760 

Source: MoEYS 2008 

17 

For CSES 2004, Cambodia was geographically divided into four major natural endowment zones: the ‘Plains’ area 

(Phnom Penh, Kandal, Kompong Cham, Svay Rieng, Prey veng and Takeo) Tonle Sap area, the coastal zone; and the plateau zone. 


Approximately 14 major international and multilateral donors are involved in the education sector at any 

given time (Table 4-2). As of September 2006, total donor assistance to the sector exceeded US$ 250 million. 

Support from major donors in 2006 increased by 58.6 per cent over the previous year 

Table 4-2. Development partners in the education sector 2005, 2006 

Donor 

Amount reported a/ 2005 2006 

USD '000 

AUF 3,115 345 382 

ADB 44,670 9,613 14,865 

Belgium 10,763 2,560 4,460 

DFID 4,936 664 1,503 

EC 28,681 3,174 8,787 

France 20,061 2,421 2,196 

JICA 17,439 1,981 4,342 

Sida 1,315 70 152 

UNICEF/Sida 53,824 6,423 6,033 

UNESCO 974 203 191 

UNFPA 10,102 1,233 993 

USAID 9,679 3,300 3,000 

World Bank 29,800 2,450 5,450 

WFP 21,099 5,233 10,578 

Total 256,458 39,670 62,932 

Figures represent totals of multi-year projects, converted to US dollars at current exchanges rates 

Source: Cambodia Education Sector, Donor Performance Report 2005/2006, September 2006, p 14 

BOX 4-2: CESSP- WORLD BANK-SUPPORTED PROJECT FOR GREATER ACCESS TO 

EDUCATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 

The Bank’s most recent Cambodian Education Sector Support Project [CESSP] is a specific investment loan 

that supports greater access to education services with a focus on poor and underserved communes. Key 

indicators of progress include student enrolment and progress improvements and increases in education 

quality, as measured by increases in net primary enrolment rates and improved student achievement scores in 

Khmer and mathematics for grades three, six and nine. CESSP consists of three components, operating from 

2005 to 2010. Partner coordination with MOEYS, ADB, UNICEF, USAID, Belgium and several NGOs is regularly 

maintained. This is a standalone project, with ring-fenced financing managed by a PIU employing Bankspecified 

financial controls and reporting procedures. 

Source: Donor Performance Report 2005/2006 

It is worth noting that most NGO- supported education interventions concentrate on major urban areas 

suggesting the benefits of education and improved access to it have not reached young people in rural 

and remote areas. Appendix A/ Annex 4-1 provides statistical data on the number of development partners 

and education projects by province. 


41

4.2 CURRENT SITUATION OF YOUTH AND EDUCATION: 

CHALLENGES, AND PERCEPTIONS FROM YOUNG PEOPLE 

4.2.1 EDUCATION ENROLMENT RATE 

Young people’s access to primary and secondary education: Enrolment has increased significantly in rural 

and urban areas, including Phnom Penh, during the last decade, resulting in considerably higher literacy 

rates among young people across gender and socio-economic groups, particularly at the primary level 

(Figure 4.1) 18 . A focus on primary and lower secondary education, backed with rising public spending and 

more pro-poor development interventions by the Government and stakeholders, has resulted in more schools 

and trained teachers, lower direct costs to households and, to some extent, improvement in education quality 

and increasing primary enrolment rates, which have risen particularly quickly for young women and men 

from the bottom quintile (World Bank 2006). 

Poor and marginal youth still face tremendously limited access to secondary education: Newly constructed 

schools for poor young people and children have made access to primary schooling relatively equal, but 

considerable differences can be seen between lower and upper secondary schools. Findings from FGDs with 

youth and parent groups consistently suggest that, with the increased number of schools, most families 

are now able to send their children to primary school. CSES 2004 data substantiates this in its findings that 

the mean distance to the nearest primary school is 2.25 kilometres for those in the poorest quintile, which is 

comparable to other income strata. The same cannot be said for secondary education. 

FIGURE 4-1. NET ENROLMENT RATE, BY EDUCATION LEVEL AND REGION The average distance, for instance, to 

100 

the nearest lower secondary school for 

the poorest household is 7.66 kilometres, 

90 

which is more than twice the 3.09 

80 

70 

60 

50 

40 

30 

20 

10 

0 

kilometres for the wealthiest quintile 

(World Bank 2006). For upper secondary 

schools the differences are even greater: 

16.9 kilometres and 7.3 kilometres for 

the poorest and wealthiest quintile 

villages, respectively. Additionally, few 

villages have any secondary school 

(fewer than 6 per cent, even for the 

wealthiest villages). 

Distance is one of the main barriers to 

school attendance, especially for poor 

Primary Lower Secondary Upper Secondary or indigent families in Ratanakiri and 

Phnom Penh 

Source: CSES 2004 

Other Urban Rural 

Siem Reap. FGDs with parent groups 

suggest that poor or female-headed 

households, in particular, are reluctant 

to send their children to school or to 

let them continue their education to lower or upper secondary level. due to the time required and 

transportation costs. 

18 

Cambodia’s education structure consists of the following: Pre-school education lasts three years and caters to children aged 3-5. 

It is not compulsory. Primary education is for children aged 6-11. The primary education program Primary education lasts six years and is 

the first stage of basic education. General secondary education is divided into lower secondary and upper secondary school. Lower 

secondary is for Grades 7-9 and, in principle, compulsory for students aged 12-14. Upper secondary school is not compulsory and includes 

Grades 10-12. Post secondary education includes technical/vocational and higher education. 


There are an estimated 7.6 primary schools for every secondary school. However, there appears to be a slow 

and steady increase in the availability of secondary schools (World Bank 2006). Compared with 1998, when 32 

of Cambodia’s 183 districts did not have a lower secondary school and 81 did not have an upper secondary 

school, in 2004, only 14 districts were still without a lower secondary school and 45 districts lacked an upper 

secondary school (Figure 4-2). 

Some poor, especially female, youths still miss out and are illiterate, mostly in rural and remote areas: 

CSES 2004 indicates that Cambodia has high illiteracy rates among young people aged 15-24 (Figure 4-3). 

Additionally, evidence from the field study suggests that vulnerable youths are much more likely to be 

over-aged or late entrants to secondary school, due to factors including child labour or malnutrition 

(for example, in Ratanakiri and Poipet). Box 4.4 shows that the Education Sector Support Programme (ESSP) 

has a policy to achieve equitable access to education and enhance enrolment rates. 

While the attention paid to formal education has appeared to have impact on reducing illiteracy, informal 

educational opportunities, such as those targeting adults and out-of-school youth, are also worthy of 

additional attention. There remains the significant challenge of creating gender balance in education. 

Parents in Svay Rieng, Siem Reap, Poipet and Sihanoukville, for instance, reported that while they would 

like to send both their sons and daughters to school, they prefered to send sons, since their daughters 

were needed at home to perform chores. 

Complementing the findings of a FIGURE 4-2. NUMBER OF SCHOOLS BUILT FROM 1999 TO 2005 

previous CDRI poverty study, the present 

field research found that investment 

70000 

in girls’ education could yield some of 

the highest returns of any investment, 

such as fostering more young female 

60000 

50000 

participation in development and 

welfare, and reducing some of the most 40000 

pernicious effects of poverty. The World 

Bank Equity Report (2007b) also notes 

that educated girls and women are more 

likely to send their children to school 

and to keep them there longer, and 

30000 

20000 

10000 

are more receptive to the adoption of 

environmentally friendly technology. 0 

1999-00 2002-03 2004-05 

Primary Low er Secondary Higher Secondary 


43

BOX 4-3: POLITICAL STABILITY AND GRADUAL ECONOMIC GROWTH CONTRIBUTE TO 

AN INCREASED NUMBER OF SCHOOLS AND MORE YOUNG PEOPLE ATTENDING SCHOOL 

Currently we have seen many more new schools built up everywhere even in some remote areas in our 

country and many more young people are able to be in school. More children in school mean more human 

resources for our country development. An important factor for this change is education from other 

sources to the parent in our community. People are now more alert and see the importance of sending 

their son or daughter to school. – FGD with male youth 20-24, Svahoul Village, Siem Reap) 

Parents now also have more intention to send their children to school with both and what is seen as a 

reasonable fee policy together with government subsidies - Scholarship for the poor. 

In our community, most parents now gradually change their mind and perceptions on their children‘s 

education. They tend to push their children more than before – and there are good schools and education 

is free even the poor could access– FGD in Kratie with male youth. 

Source: CDRI 2006b 

FIGURE 4-3. INCREASES IN LITERACY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE AND IN-SCHOOL STUDENTS, 

BY GENDER AND LOCATION 

86 

80 

84 

82 

80 

78 

70 

60 

50 

40 

30 

76 

20 

74 

72 


Male 

Female 

10 

0 

Phnom Penh Other Urban Rural 

Male 

Female 

BOX 4-4: TO ACHIEVE THE POLICY OF EQUITABLE ACCESS TO EDUCATION SERVICES, 

MOEYS HAS EFFICIENTLY IMPLEMENTED STRATEGIES INCLUDING: 

The abolition of unofficial contributions form parents. 

The provision of school operation budgets. 

The strengthening teaching and learning management. 

The provision core textbooks to students, free-of-charge. 

Continuous teacher development. 

Scholarships for poor students, especially girls, which is combined with re-entry and 

equivalency programmes for drop-out students. 

Source: Education Sector Performance Report 2005 


4.2.2 YOUTH AND EDUCATION ATTENDANCE, HOW IT IMPACTS ON YOUTH LIVELIHOODS 

Table 4-3. Young people aged 5-24 currently attending school, by level and region (%) 

Level 

Regions 

Phnom Penh Other Urban Rural 

Primary 46.2 66.5 80.1 

Lower Secondary 22.6 19.3 13.9 

High school 15.6 10.9 4.0 

Technical/Vocational 2.4 1.0 0.2 

Under Graduate/ Graduate 9.9 1.1 0.3 

Other 1.7 0.1 0.2 

Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 


4.2.3 EARLY SCHOOL-LEAVING: A MAJOR BARRIER TO YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES 

One of the biggest problems cited in relation to education in Cambodia is high attrition rates 19 for Grades 

1-9 (MoEYS 2008). The National Strategic Development Plan Progress Report for 2006 notes that “these 

unwanted trends arise from a high level of repetition and drop-out at these two levels.” 20 Because of 

this, MoEYS has focused on a large school facilities development programme to respond to incomplete 

primary schools and to bring educational service delivery opportunities closer to children’s homes. 

The school curriculum is also being revamped in order to improve the relevance of education, particularly in 

the area of life skills, and to discourage school dropout. School re-entry schemes are also being piloted on a 

small scale. Major reasons for leaving school early include (in descending order of importance): not wanting to 

be in school; having to help with household chores; having to contribute financially to the family; poor school 

performance; and distance to school. 

4.2.4 FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO YOUTH SCHOOL DROPOUT: FIELD FINDINGS 

Household factors: School attainment and learning are related to household income, birth order, and, 

importantly, the education level of parents – especially mothers’. 21 Catastrophic family health problems, the 

loss of a parent, and other shocks or risks faced by families can also affect school attendance and progress. 

These factors, which are linked to HIV and AIDS, are increasingly disrupting children’s school participation. 

My father got sick and died last year; after his death only my mother supported the whole family. She sold our 

remaining farmland to repay debt and buy food…we are now very difficult, my brother, sister and I could not 

go to school anymore… we have to work to support the family – Individual interview with a street youth, 

Poipet 

Although direct school-related household costs have been reduced since the introduction of the Priority 

Action Programme (PAP) in 2000, they remain substantial for poor and very poor households. The average 

Cambodian family includes 5.7 and 5.3 children in urban and rural areas, respectively, 22 so the cost of sending 

all five children to school is beyond the means of many families, as it could consume between 75 per 

cent and 100 per cent of their income, depending on their poverty status (World Bank 2006). Under these 

circumstances, difficult decisions are made about which children remain in school. 

19 

Survival rate in this context refers to the number of pupils who complete their education. 

20 

Drop-out rate: the number of pupils who leave school before completing their education. 

21 

SIndividual factors that are powerfully linked to school retention include aptitude, motivation, gender, the presence of physical 

or mental disabilities, and access to early childhood nutrition and stimulation programmes. 

22 

http://www.moc.gov.kh/national_data_resource. 


45

I have three children. I usually spend around,3500 riels to buy my children’s score…but not knowledge for 

my children…Moreover if our children do not buy goods from their teacher at school, they are stared at 

when seen buying from others…the food corner at school is mostly full of teacher’s goods… so we have 

to give a lot of money to our children to attend school…. Over the past four or five years, there has been 

an increase in extra classes that students have to take to pass the exams… Before, students took extra 

classes only during their exam year, but now we have them even at primary level – FGD with mothers group, 

Svahoul Village, Siem Reap 

Earning income is getting harder and harder but food and consumer goods are getting more and more 

expensive. Soon, we will hardly earn enough to buy enough rice to eat. We have to pay a lot of money for 

our kids’ education and will less afford this in the future and we are even doubtful about their future 

prospects with education... – FGD with fathers’ group, Ratanakiri 

It is not so important for children to have high education…all we want is just to let them be able to read, write 

and do some calculation…though they may have good education they still work as waiter or waitress… 

we are poor and to get work for children, we need social network so they may not need high education. 

FGD with mothers’ group, Phnom Penh 

In addition to tuition, there are additional school-related costs including uniforms, pocket money, transport 

and supplementary tutoring. In the face of tough financial decisions it is usually the males who remain in 

school: 

We prefer to support our sons to continue their education for as long as possible, despite our limited 

capacity, because we believe that our sons can do almost anything. They can work far away from home 

with less insecurity and can find higher positions than our daughters… the girls however,have at least some 

chance to work in a garment factory or at least to do housework, which cannot be done by the boys…. FGD 

with parent groups 

Demand for child labour: Children contribute about 28 per cent of total household income, according to the 

Child Labour Survey (CLS) of 2001. The majority of the interviewed youths reported that providing labour for 

household needs is a factor contributing to their dropping out of school. It also interferes with schooling by 

reducing the time available for school activities and diminishing school performance as a result of physical 

exhaustion. 

Being born into a poor family pushes us to have very limited choices, we need to help our parents eke out a 

living which is why we have to quit our schooling at a very early age...we really regret that our student life is 

over…we do not expect to have better life with our current job since we know nothing… – FGD with males 

aged 20-24, Sangke Village, Svay Rieng 

Because we are poor, our children quit school at an early age or after only one or two years to help the family 

earn extra money for living… Living in poverty without good knowledge results in our kids remaining 

shortsighted and powerless… – FGD with fathers’ group, Svahoul Village, Siem Reap 

Forms of child labour across all six study areas included income-earning for subsistence–oriented 

productive or trading activities, and household productive tasks (e.g., caring for younger siblings, cooking, 

cleaning, getting water), many of which are necessary in order to free parents to work, which may include 

prolonged absences elsewhere in Cambodia or in Thailand. Children may also follow their parents when 


they migrate for work. Many youths reported that it is essential for them to work to reduce the vulnerability of 

their individual families. These issues were frequently reflected in focus group comments: 

When we were in school we had high hopes that in the near future we would find a very good job with good 

pay because of our precious knowledge. But now everything has changed because we had to leave school 

and come to work here to help our parents and family... – FGD with female youth 20-24, Poi Pet, Banteay 

Meanchey 

We are not happy that we did not have a chance to stay long in school. It is difficult for those who have 

little knowledge to make money. For example, if we cannot read or write we cannot work in jobs such as in 

garment factories; we totally lose hope and do not know what else to do besides rice farming and selling our 

labour… – FGD with female youth 20-24, Cheung Kor village, Sihanoukville 

Girls’ Employment: According to the 2001 CLS, 87 per cent of girls aged 15-17 were working at the time of 

the survey, compared to 81 per cent of boys (Understanding Children’s Work, 2006). From age 12, household 

work is significantly more likely to interfere with girls’ education than boys’. Children who work more than 

14 hours a week – who are more likely to be poor, rural and female – start to fall behind in grade attainment 

compared to their peers who only attend school (Ragatz 2005). 

Discussions across the six study provinces among youth aged 15-19 and 20-24 years yielded similar and 

consistent responses to the effect that females were more likely to be engaged in both productive and 

domestic work than the males. They strongly argued that girls seem to have more demanding work than 

the boys. The burden of housework and productive work is a particular problem for rural households. 

In principle, men and women have equal rights to education; but families hardly decide in favour of their 

daughter’s education when school is far away from home… Many households here are still poor and both 

men and women have to work... the young women need to work hard to sustain the livelihood of the family... 

– FGD with mothers’ group, Ratanakiri 

We really want to pursue our education just like other girls from rich families, but it seems totally impossible 

since our family is very poor and need our support in making money. We at least have to help our family 

with housework such as caring for our little brother or sister or looking after the animals…those who have 

a good education can find a good job in garment factories in Phnom Penh…It is difficult for us even to go to 

search for work since we can hardly read or write… – FGD with female youth (age 20-24), Sangke Village, 

Svay Rieng 

Field observations also suggest that young women drop out of school to migrate for work to supplement 

family income. Many young people and youths seek employment in urban Poipet. Information gathered 

reveals, however, that only a small proportion of them get decent jobs, while large numbers work under 

difficult and vulnerable conditions. 

To reduce the direct costs of education and to mitigate the loss of income due to time spent at school, MoEYS 

has launched a significant initiative to provide targeted ‘scholarships’ to encourage poor children – particularly 

girls – to remain in school (Box 4-5). 


47

BOX 4-5: INTERVENTIONS TO REDUCE GIRLS’ DROP OUT RATE 

To address high drop out and illiteracy rates of girls and women, MoWA has focused on non-formal 

education, including literacy, childcare and vocational training for women. MoWA also promotes 

equal participation by girls and boys in primary and secondary schools, and schooling for more female 

students at all levels. MoWA has worked with MoEYS in the development of textbooks, and with MoSVY in 

preparing training courses at Women in Development Centers, and proposed dormitories for girls. 

Source: Education Sector Performance Report 2005 

Physical factors: A range of community factors also impact on student retention rates, including the 

availability of roads, public transport, water, and electricity, which affect the cost of making education 

accessible to all children. 

Physical infrastructure in the village, including schools, pagodas and roads, has been slightly improved 

over the past two or three years. Its impact on the improvement of the villagers’ livelihood is doubtful 

– Male youth group, Svahoul Village, Siem Reap 

No ethnic female young in the village has completed secondary level…sometimes they are not able to attend 

the class because the school is located far away from home and the road is bad…More girls give up their 

schooling than boys because the school is far away from home and they fear for their security…we want 

more schools built in our province – FGD with female youth (age 20-24) Ratanakiri 

Quality of education: Discussions with stakeholders and FGD for this study consistently suggested that 

the quality of education currently provided falls short of acceptable standards, particularly in rural areas such 

as Ratanakiri, Banteay Meanchey. Poor quality in education results from scarce resources, insufficiently trained 

teachers and principals, inadequate professional development opportunities, and weak local capacity to 

take responsibility for school improvements at facility, district and provincial levels. Teacher quality and 

attendance at schools are indispensable elements for student achievement. 

We are not angry that the teacher does not come to teach regularly or that they take some money from the 

students in classes. We always acknowledge that the teacher has a very low salary...how can they live with 

this,…it is not enough…the teachers have to travel far, they need to spend on gasoline, and now everything 

is so expensive…so they have to do this… – FGD with female youth (15-19), Ratanakiri 

Expanding access without ensuring minimally adequate quality is a formula for low efficiency in education, 

which possibly leads to high grade repetition and large numbers of students dropping out before completing 

basic education (World Bank 2006). 

4.2.5 THE LACK OF QUALITY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF EDUCATION PUTS 

CAMBODIA AT AN ONGOING DISADVANTAGE 

Low retention and high dropout rates increase the vulnerability of young people in rural areas and 

continue to put the nation at a comparable disadvantage. Those who leave school early tend to work for 

subsistence-level pay and in unskilled jobs. Moreover, they are unlikely to access new work opportunities 

that will demand skilled workers in either rural and urban areas, as has recently been reported by the MoLVT. 


Limitations in human capital are fundamentally inadequate for sustained economic growth, stable 

democratic institutions and poverty reduction in Cambodia . Poverty, economic shocks, and schooling 

quality force many young people to leave school without acquiring the basic skills they need for work and life. 

Allowing these youths to remain illiterate or semi-literate and unskilled throughout their lives is costly to 

them, their families and to the nation as a whole. 

The provision of education is one of the best options to link youth to decent employment opportunities, lift 

their future livelihoods and reduce their vulnerability. To include and reintegrate early school-leavers, MoEYS 

now operates adult literacy programmes that teach not only reading, writing and arithmetic, but also job and 

life skills relevant to local contexts (ESSP 2006) (Box 4-6). The balance and sequencing of education policies 

across the three dimensions – post primary education opportunities, tools to enhance education decision 

making, and second-chance education options – as well as prioritization among them (basic skills rather than 

post-basic skills) depends on the state of the education system (how it performs in preparing youth for work 

and life), its level of development, its overall development priorities, and the priorities of its young people. 

In this context, vocational training programmes for out-of-school youth can be also more cost effective when 

training is targeted and tailored to the needs of the local labour markets. Vocational training is most effective 

for higher earners than lower earners illustrating the complementarity of vocational and academic skills. 

BOX 4-6: YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT-OF-SCHOOL AND EQUIVALENCY PROGRAMMES 

To appeal to out of-school youth, there is need to take into account why young people have dropped out 

or never attended school, the challenges they will face in order to stay in a programme, and how they can 

be integrated into the formal education sector or find employment. All these vary by age, skill and the local 

environment. Equivalency, literacy, and job training programmes may serve different youth populations, 

but their common aim of providing competencies for work and life requires a more integrated approach: 

literacy and equivalency programmes that include life skills and vocational training, and vocational 

training programmes that also include life skills. Equivalency systems use more practical curricula, more flexible 

schedules, and less formal instruction methods than regular schools. They depend on a strong partnership 

between the formal education sector, private providers of programmes, and prospective employers. 

Without this partnership, the graduates of equivalency systems will be left holding diplomas that allow neither 

reintegration into the regular school system nor employment in jobs requiring a certain level of competency. 

The mode of delivery must take into account why young people have dropped out. Knowing that even small 

costs can be a barrier to enrolment for the poorest, successful programmes provide textbooks, notebooks 

and pencils. 

Successful equivalency programs that hope to reintegrate people into the formal education system often 

use teaching methods that are similar to those recommended above for formal schools - student-centered 

learning, regular assessment and remedial sessions to involve students in their learning progress. Programmes 

for older youth, however, often use very different approaches. 

Source: ESSP 2006 


49

“We want to learn skills from vocational training and education so that we can earn extra income to support 

our families and ease our parents’ worries. The vocational training should cover (1) agricultural techniques 

such as animal rearing, farming, (2) sewing skills for young women which could help them get work not far 

from their villages and (3) English for some kind of job in Siem Reap town” – FGD with male and female 

youth, Svahoul Village, Siem Reap 

Programmes also tend to be more effective when they include On-the-Job Training (OJT) and employer 

sponsorship. Thus, vocational programmes for youth are most likely to improve the employment and 

earnings prospects of participants when training is provided as part of a comprehensive package that 

includes employment services, counselling and life skills. 

4.3 HEALTH AND CIVIC EDUCATION PROGRAMMES FOR YOUTH 

4.3.1 YOUTH AND HEALTH EDUCATION 

Good health is essential to an educated and economically productive work force (World Bank 2006). 

According to the CDHS 2000, young people of poor and very poor families are at increased risk of malnutrition 

and disease. As health impacts upon education, the converse is also true. For example, in comparison with 

their peers, better educated women are more likely to delay marriage and childbearing, have fewer children 

and healthier babies, enjoy better earning potential, and have stronger decision making and negotiation skills 

as well as higher self esteem (World Bank 2007a). 

BOX 4-7: YOUTH RECEPTION OF HEALTH EDUCATION 

The local NGO, Reproductive Health of Cambodia (RHAC) has come to educate youth on reproductive 

health and HIV. RHAC’s education programme focuses on how to protect against HIV infection, through 

measures such as having only one partner and always using a condoms. At the time of this study, we 

observed young men and women learning together, which initially inhibited the women; however, over 

time they were empowered to speak and indicated the burdens and negative economic consequences of 

large family size and the desire to limit families to between two and four children. 

The young women’s group expressed the opinion that the reproductive health and HIV and AIDS education 

carried out by RHAC is very beneficial but too short; they want the programme to be available in the class. 

Source: Field Research 2008 

To date, the potential benefits of health education are yet to be fully realized. With the training of teachers, 

there is evidence that students can receive the added information that will benefit their health and nutrition 

and in turn improve academic functioning. 

As a key player in the ‘National Response to HIV/AIDS’, MoEYS has implemented since 1999 an HIV programme 

that aims to prevent students, out-of-school youth and the MoEYS labour force from being infected and 

affected by HIV. Among the top priorities of the Ministry’s Interdepartmental Committee on HIV/AIDS (ICHA) 

to strengthen this programme are: developing policies; setting up systems; mainstreaming HIV responses 

in the education sector; integrating HIV information into the national curriculum; and training pre- and 

in-service teachers and education officers. 


4.3.2 YOUTH AND CIVIC EDUCATION 23 

CDRI’s 2007 ‘Moving Out of Poverty Study’ (MOPS) suggests that poor governance and weak institutions 

have contributed to rising inequality and unequal access to infrastructure and social services, which has the 

consequence of halting economic growth and poverty reduction. Compounding the problem, the present 

situation analysis suggests the education system has failed to impart the values necessary for the 

development of the skills required to build democratic institutions and ensure good governance. 

We have little knowledge about this issue [democracy] because we have not heard so much about this and 

we have rare communication with the higher level (local authority)… we have the opportunity sometimes 

to participate in meetings but we did not talk at all. Old people will not be interested in what we raise… 

– FGD with male youth (age 20-24) Sangke Village, Svay Rieng 

We realise that the contribution of youth to our community’s development is very important…being able 

to express our ideas could help us improve our capacity and know more about development, sometimes we 

have some good ideas but do not have good opportunity to express them, so we keep them in our minds… 

– FGD with female youth, Siem Reap 

Commune Council members complain that it is difficult to encourage old or young people to participate in 

development schemes: 

It is difficult at the moment to persuade people, especially youth, to participate in the development of 

the commune… . They are busy with their daily activities and they are simply reluctant to join meetings 

or participate in commune development activities… . The Commune Council always faces problems in 

disseminating information on development to young people when they remain uninterested… 

– Commune chief in Cheung Kor Commune, Sihanoukville 

Achieving a truly democratic society can only be attained through a well-informed citizenry. The comments 

above suggest missed opportunities to integrate civic education into education programmes. 

Constructive participation and the development of democracy depend on a minimum quality education 

as well as free and unlimited access to knowledge, thought, culture and information (USAID 2002). 

Increasingly, the democratic process in Cambodia is calling for a more pluralistic and open society, whereby 

different groups, including youth, could play a more challenging role in public decision-making and in 

the development process, which eventually affect their own future. This constitutes an important step in 

enhancing youth participation because unless decisions impacting upon young people’s lives are subject 

to close examination by those they affect, they are unlikely to be sustainable. 


Develop a more responsive education policy for youth: Based on the present situation analysis, the education 

investment and assistance from donors and the Government appears to expand young people’s schooling 

opportunities, but they do not close the economic gap. A pro-poor education policy needs to address 

the educational disparities of the poor, those young people living in rural areas and the educational 

disadvantages of females. 

23 

The issue of youth and civic engagement is discussed in Chapter 8. 


51

Improve the relevance of education to employment opportunities: Education contributes to worker 

productivity and is fundamental to the creation of a competitive knowledge-based economy. Currently, there 

is a mismatch between present and future economic needs and what young people are learning. Both early 

school-leaving and the relatively low quality of education for those who remain are disadvantageous to 

Cambodia’s competitive future. Therefore, priority needs to be given to school retention, expanded access to 

lower and upper secondary schools, practical education oriented to employment needs and life skills training. 

Additionally, there should be opportunities to integrate education with work experience so that young people 

can apply what they are learning in the classroom to the workplace. Additionally, OJT programmes could 

provide young people with voluntary as well as paid experiences that would expand their civic engagement, 

teach principles of democracy, provide them with experiences where they would have a voice in the 

community, and provide opportunities to contribute and teach practical skills. Even if today there are not 

the jobs for an educated population, without education the future for both youth and the nation itself is not 

bright. Education must extend past primary schooling through upper secondary school and beyond. 


V 

YOUTH AND 

EMPLOYMENT 

NO MATTER HOW HARD WE WORK, OUR SALARY FROM THE GARMENT FACTORY IS BARELY 

ENOUGH AT PRESENT FOR OUR MONTHLY EXPENSES…WE ARE IN DEBT ALMOST EVERY 

MONTH BUT THIS JOB SUITS US SINCE WE KNOW NOTHING… – FGD WITH FEMALE YOUTH 

WORKING IN GARMENT FACTORIES, PHNOM PENH 

Cambodia has experienced strong economic growth, averaging 8.2 per cent per annum between 

1997 and 2007 (CDRI 2008). This growth has brought about changes to the structure of the economy. 

However, much of the growth has been concentrated in a few sectors: garment manufacturing, 

construction, transport and tourism and restaurants. The agriculture sector still absorbs more than 60 per cent 

of the labour force despite its comparably slower growth rate at 3.4 per cent between 1994 and 2004. Overall, 

most of the increased demand has been in the urban areas, accelerating the rural-urban divide. Recently, 

employment is estimated to have grown at a rate of 3.3 per annum from 1997 to 2007. Currently 300,000 

young people are entering the labour market annually – a number that is expected to rise to 400,000 over 

the years ahead (UNDP and ILO 2007). Without sustainable growth unemployment will become an increasing 

problem. 

Without a coordinated response, Cambodia will likely suffer not only huge youth unemployment, but a 

paucity of decent work opportunities and high levels of economic and social uncertainty. Recently, the 

Government and other stakeholders have worked to address the problem of youth unemployment both 

through policies, such as employment legislation for youth, and enhancing social protection. The youth 

employment challenge is enormous. With economic and political stability bringing in more investment for 

rural and agricultural development, as noted previously, education will be key to the opening door to decent 

employment. 

5.1 A REVIEW OF YOUTH-RELATED EMPLOYMENT POLICIES 

The Government has implemented many regulatory mechanisms and social safety nets in support of an 

active youth labour force. The National Strategic Development Plan (2006−2010) sets out measures to 

implement the Rectangular Strategy and to meet the Cambodian Millennium Development Goal targets 

for 2010. Towards this aim, MoLVT strategically focuses on four main areas: (1) job creation; (2) improved 

working conditions; (3) implementation of social safety nets in conjunction with the labour law; and (4) 

human resource development (MoLVT 2008a). 


53

5.1.1 LEGISLATION AND INSTITUTIONAL MEASURES 

Cambodia has ratified several International Conventions, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child. 

It is also a signatory to several fundamental ILO conventions, and it has a law of Social Security Schemes for 

Persons Defined by the Provisions of the Labour Law as discussed in Chapter 3. 

The Government has also paid considerable attention to the enforcement of labour legislation that applies 

to the formal economy; for instance, the number of inspections and registration of employer and employee 

organizations have increased. The RGC also established a Labour Advisory Committee and an Arbitration 

Council in accordance with the Labour Law. To date, over 500 enterprise level unions, 16 federations of trade 

unions and 1 confederation of trade unions, with over 200,000 members, have been registered. As part of 

its commitment to child and youth protection, focus was placed on the establishment of Child Protection 

Networks, which have benefited many districts, communes and villages (Nhean 2004). 

As the government structure addressing youth employment, MoLVT is responsible for labour issues. Its 

strategic framework focuses on institutional and capacity building, development of national policy and 

legislation and enforcement, and the sectoral programme for labour. Other ministries also have roles. 

MoEYS implements programmes under the Education for All framework, including the equivalency 

programme for out-of-school youth, formal education covering primary, secondary and tertiary education, 

non-formal education and vocational training. MoI enforces the laws through its police power and 

coordinates the policies and programmes to the provincial level. MoWA is responsible for programmes 

relating to female youth. Similarly, provincial and district structures were set up to localize the implementation 

of youth-related interventions, including youth and employment. 

5.1.2 SOCIAL PROTECTION PROGRAMME ON YOUTH AND EMPLOYMENT 

Three ministries are working to generate potential employment opportunities for youth and poor people 

in Cambodia. These are MoLVT, MoSVY 24 ; and MoWA. Vocational training by these agencies has been 

conducted through their municipal/provincial centres in active collaboration with NGOs, donors and 

other development agencies such as ADB, the World Bank and UNESCO. The trainings are based on labour 

market needs, and have been designed jointly to upgrade skills development and to develop the National 

Employment Policy, which, in accordance with the Policy of Vocational Training and Skills Development, 

is aimed at helping needy people find suitable jobs and helping enterprises to find qualified manpower. 

NGOs and development agencies also have specific capacity building programmes that work through 

vocational training and micro-finance for poor households to increase their income-earning activities. 

Table 5.1 presents a summary of the major programmes currently operating in Cambodia. 

Despite the limited coverage of social protection and employment programmes for youth, local and 

international NGOs have programmes/projects focusing on this specific issue. The detailed coverage of 

these programmes may be viewed in Appendix A/ Annexes 3-4 and 3-5 of this report. 

24 

Vocational training is being offered to disabled persons and street children, but this programme is not large-scale 


Table 5-1. Labour market programmes (2005-2006) 

Programme 

Institution/ 

Agency 

Beneficiaries 

(Number) 

Expenditure 

(Million US$) 

Vocational Training (MoLVT) MoLVT 13,000 0.78 

Vocational training for orphans and widowed and 

female-headed households 

MoWA 2,447 0.11 

Vocational training (SESDP) MoLVT/ADB N/A 1.08 

Food for Asset (Food for Work) WFP 11,504 0.14 

Total 25,504 1.97 

Source: ADB 2006 

5.2 STATISTICAL PROFILE OF YOUTH AND EMPLOYMENT 

In recent years, youth population has increased remarkably. The Ministry of Planning (MoP) (2006) indicates 

that those aged 15–24 represented 26 per cent of the population in 2004, and that large numbers of them are 

entering the labour force as a result of a baby boom in the 1980s. A common issue among this group is rising 

unemployment. Because Cambodia’s poor and very poor youth cannot afford to be unemployed, they work 

for low pay, with little or no social or safety protection and on short-term or informal contracts. The findings 

presented below suggest that measures must be taken to ensure that youth do not add to underemployment 

in the countryside or to higher rates of urban unemployment, but that they should contribute instead to 

growth and development through productive employment. 

5.2.1 EMPLOYED YOUTH 

Youth labour force participation rate: Cambodia’s labour force participation rate is one the highest in the 

region. A large proportion of youths born in the 1980s began to reach working age in the mid-1990s. As large 

numbers of young people began entering the labour force, the economy came under enormous pressure to 

create new jobs. Tables 5.2 shows labour force participation by age and gender. Some 75 per cent of all those 

aged 10 and older were economically active in 2004. 

Table 5-2. Total and economically active population by age group- CSES 2003-04 

Age 

Group 

Total Men Women 

Total 

Population 

Active 

Population 

Activity 

Rate 

Total 

Population 

Active 

Population 

Activity 

Rate 

Total 

Population 

Active 

Population 

Activity 

Rate 

0- 14 1,817,863 874,591 48.1 924,885 454,441 49.1 892,978 420,150 47.1 

15-19 1,705,251 1,241,165 72.8 875,578 634,646 72.5 829,673 606,519 73.1 

20-24 1,443,322 1,206,606 83.6 717,496 624,888 87.1 725,826 581,718 80.1 

25-29 815,318 708,957 87.0 388,058 367,958 94.8 427,260 340,999 79.8 

Total 5,781,754 4,031,319 69.7% 2,906,017 2,081,933 71.6% 2,875,737 1,949,386 67.8% 



55

Table 5-3. Youth labour force participation, by level of education 

Age group 

No or only 

some education 

Primary not 

completed/ 

class 1-5 

Primary 

completed/ 

class 6-8 

Lower secondary 

completed/ 

class 9-11 

Upper secondary 

completed/ 

class 12-13 

Post secondary 

education 

10-14 11.3 78.1 10.4 0.2 - - 

15-19 13.4 42.2 34.5 8.9 1.0 0.1 

20-24 18.9 36.3 25.4 11.6 5.7 2.0 


Cambodia is largely agricultural, with 60 per cent of its labour force in farming (Table 5-4). Industry accounts 

for an additional 13 per cent of employment, while the service sector employs approximately 27 per cent. We 

find that those who are younger tend to be employed in agriculture while those aged 20-24 are more likely to 

work in manufacturing even if the majority of them still work in agriculture. Compared to their 15-19 year-old 

counterparts, this latter age group are equally active in trade, transport and communication, as well as public 

administration. 

The increased number of young people making up the manufacturing sector points to the migration of young 

workers to urban areas. 

Table 5-4. Employment distribution by sector for young people aged 10 and older 

Total Male Female 

Agriculture 60.3 61.4 59.2 

Industry 12.5 11.7 13.4 

Services 27.2 26.9 27.4 

Total 100 100 100 


Table 5-5.. Total number of employed population by sectors and age group (1,000) 

10-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 Total 

Agriculture sector 

Agriculture 683.5 813.5 641.8 386.6 2,525.3 

Industrial sector 

Manufacturing 36.0 137.4 189.2 82.5 445.1 

Service sector 

Trade 97.0 148.0 136.4 86.5 467.8 

Transport and 

communication 

0.5 2.8 3.5 1.4 8.2 

Public 

administration 

0.1 1.6 10.7 14.1 26.5 

All sectors 817.0 1,103.1 981.8 571.1 3,472.9 



YOUTH WORKING HOURS 

Based on the 2004 CSES, young people aged 15-19 work between 15 and 44 hours per week, suggesting 

that they are engaged in part- or full-time employment, in both the formal and informal sector. While males 

are more likely than females to be working fewer than 45 hours/week, the converse is true for employment 

of more than 55 hours per week. For those over 24 working an average of 9.5 hours per day, six days a week 

is the norm, suggesting that they primarily work in low-paying, unskilled jobs, and that a large number 

perhaps work in the informal economy. 

Table 5-6. Distribution of employed population by age group, and average number of hours worked per week 

Hours worked 

15-19 20-24 

Male Female Both Sexes Male Female Both Sexes 

1-14 18.4 16.4 17.4 8.4 10.9 9.6 

15-29 28.8 23.0 25.9 14.7 14.5 14.6 

WAGES AND EARNINGS 

Young people aged 15-19 in Phnom Penh earn on average between 200,000 and 299,000 Riels per month 

(US$50-US$75), which is significantly higher than their peers in other urban or rural areas (Table 5-7). 

Moreover, those who are 20-24 years old have higher wage earning potential in Phnom Penh compared 

to elsewhere in the country. 

Table 5-7. Earnings by geographical location and age group 

‘000 Riels/ 

Month 

Phnom 

Penh 

Other 

Urban 

10-14 15-19 

Rural 

All areas 

Phnom 

Penh 

Other 

Urban 

Rural 

All areas 

Less than 50 - 26.0 62.5 59.7 3.5 10.1 22.8 19.5 

50-99 36.0 37.9 18.2 19.5 9.2 26.8 18.9 18.6 

100-149 - 14.4 9.2 9.2 8.9 26.7 14.2 14.9 

150-199 - 10.2 8.0 8.0 25.5 9.7 16.3 16.7 

200-299 30.9 11.5 1.3 2.4 40.1 22.4 23.0 24.8 

300-499 - - 0.7 0.6 8.0 3.9 3.9 4.3 

500 & over 33.1 - - 0.7 4.9 0.3 0.8 1.2 

Table 5-8. Earnings by geographical location and age group 

‘000 Riels/ 

Month 

Phnom 

Penh 

Other 

Urban 

20-24 25-29 

Rural 

All areas 

Phnom 

Penh 

Other 

Urban 

Rural 

All areas 

Less than 50 3.8 9.7 15.8 13.0 4.0 7.9 17.6 13.3 

50-99 3.6 20.8 13.6 12.9 7.3 11.1 15.7 13.2 

100-149 8.7 18.1 13.0 13.0 9.6 20.3 18.9 16.9 

150-199 16.4 10.0 17.5 16.4 13.8 14.5 11.8 12.6 

200-299 29.2 27.5 31.1 30.3 24.6 26.0 23.8 24.2 

300-499 23.3 8.3 7.3 10.1 25.6 8.9 8.9 12.8 

500 & over 15.0 5.6 1.6 4.4 15.1 11.3 3.4 7.1 



57

The implications of this data are that a large proportion of youth with low skills and poor educational 

backgrounds will have very limited opportunities to work as wage labourers in either the formal or informal 

economies. In addition, rural youths are likely to suffer more from having low-paid jobs and remaining at risk 

from having to migrate to urban and border areas. 

Overall, the employment prospects for males are better than for females, and this is true even in the garment 

industry, which disproportionately employs females,the difference is almost 7 per cent. (table 5-9). Available 

jobs for male youths are predominantly found in construction or selling their labour. Demand for female 

workers appears to lie more in the area of unpaid jobs as family helpers, which puts them at the bottom in the 

conventional occupational ladder, and, at the same time, in terms of income and status in the labour market. 

Table 5-9. Labour force by gender, location and employment status 

Employees 

Employers 

Own Account 

Workers 

Unpaid family 

helpers 


Both sexes 20.0 0.1 34.4 43.3 2.3 100 

Male 23.3 0.1 39.7 34.8 1.2 100 

Female 16.6 0.1 28.8 52.0 2.5 100 

Phnom Penh 

Both sexes 48.0 0.1 27.1 22.9 1.9 100 

Male 56.3 0 23.5 18.7 2.4 100 

Female 39.1 0.1 31 27.4 2.4 100 

Other Urban 

Both sexes 26.3 0.2 34.5 36.5 2.6 100 

Male 32.6 0.3 36.3 28.8 2.1 100 

Female 19.5 0 32.6 44.7 3.1 100 

Rural 

Both sexes 16.7 0.1 35 46 2.3 100 

Male 19.1 0.1 41.7 37.1 2 100 

Female 14.3 0.1 28.2 55 2.4 100 


Other 

Total 

5.2.2 UNEMPLOYED YOUTH 

Unemployment in Phnom Penh in 2004 among 15-19 year-olds was 6.2 per cent, with little gender variation 

(CSES 2004). The rates were slightly higher for those aged 20-24, nearly 8 per cent (9.3 per cent for males 

and 6.5 per cent for females). Interestingly, unemployment rates in rural areas are much lower at 0.8 per 

cent overall. The relatively higher unemployment rates of youths in Phnom Penh and other urban areas may 

reflect rural-to-urban migration in search of employment. Likewise, in low technology agriculture, there 

appears still to be room for ‘one more pair of hands’. 

When considering youth unemployment, its definition becomes important. Specifically, in the strictest 

definition (“not working even for one hour last week and seeking work”), youth unemployment appears to 

be low. However if a more relaxed definition (“those not working but available to work”) is used, a somewhat 

different picture emerges (Table 5-10). Using this definition, the highest rates of unemployment appear to 

also occur among educated youth. 


Table 5-10. Youth unemployment rates 

Criteria Total Male Female Phnom Penh Other Urban Rural 

Unemployment using ‘strict’ definition 

15 - 19 1.4 1.3 1.4 6.2 2.7 0.9 

20 - 24 1.6 1.9 1.2 7.8 1.4 0.8 

15 - 24 1.5 1.6 1.3 7.2 2.1 0.9 

Unemployment using ‘relaxed’ definition 

15 - 19 7.9 7.3 8.5 24.8 10.1 6.2 

20 - 24 6.5 5.4 7.6 16.6 7.1 5.1 

15 - 24 7.2 6.4 8 20.1 8.6 5.7 


5.3. YOUTH HEALTH AND EMPLOYMENT 

Economic shocks and poverty are key factors that push young people into work. Limited education, 

poor knowledge and lack of skills additionally place youth, particularly from the rural poor, in extremely 

vulnerable working conditions. As found by this study, destitute households expect their children to engage 

in income-generating work to supplement earnings. Youths sell their labour, migrate, and work for low pay 

in hazardous conditions as means of accessing employment opportunities. FGDs for this study reveal that 

low education and lack of a social network pose major barriers, and leave them trapped in hazardous 

work conditions, as they are exposed to workplace toxin/chemical hazards that have long-term health 

repercussions. This study found that youth and work-related vulnerability occurs in various forms and impacts 

upon this population group in a variety of different ways. 

Losing a job or being jobless, whether short or long term, can impact badly on young people’s livelihoods. In 

Poipet, young people said that, despite their hard work, their jobs remain largely uncertain and render their 

future hopeless. Many live in social environments that expose them to drug use, potential HIV infection and 

youth gangs. Of particular concern are those who work along the borders or in Thailand as cart pullers. 

The impairment to physical, mental, and social health as a consequence of long and harsh working conditions 

at this critical stage of life has permanent effects on the quality of adult life (MoLVT 2008b). The lack of 

adequate hygiene and sanitation in young people’s work places and living quarters pose health-related 

problems that are exacerbated by a lack of access to health services. 

Health conditions of people working in Thailand are very bad…they work extremely hard... and the owner 

forces them to use drugs in order to accelerate their physical strength…most of them want come back 

to work in the country... – Discussion with Banteay Meanchey Provincial Department of Labour and 

Vocational Training 

While at work we need to work very hard, every day we don’t have enough food to eat so our health rapidly 

goes down. We finally quit the job and become jobless…there is nothing else we can do.... – Street Youth 

in Poipet 

Field interviews with young people disclosed that available health services for workers are considerably 

limited. The expense of healthcare is, likewise, a barrier for them when viewed against the current inflation 

rate and increasing food prices, as their salaries are no longer sufficient to meet monthly and other expenses. 


59

These force them to work much harder to supplement their incomes to support themselves and their 

families in rural areas. Heavy work, together with difficult working conditions and unhygienic living situations, 

worsen their already poor health status. Proper health services have not reached the youths working in garment 

factories, construction, and other sectors. Improved access to health services is critically important to youth. 

Working in garment factory is very hard and difficult. The smell from the clothes makes it very difficult for us 

to work and is even dangerous to our health... Most women workers here have stomach ache because they 

do not eat regularly. Our health is weaker and weaker through time because we need to work overtime for 

additional income. Since everything is much expensive now than before, our monthly salary cannot meet 

expenses so we have to work harder so we can send some money to our family in the village... – FGD with 

female youth working at garment factory, Sihanoukville 

Once employed, missing work due to illness can result in reduced income or job loss, which often has broader 

repercussions, since extended families often depend on remittances from their relatives working in urban 

areas or abroad. The death of a family member, especially if the family member is young, also has a devastating 

impact as it represents the loss of productive labour. A number of families reported falling deeper into 

poverty when their children are not able to find a job or fall sick. 

We can get about 8000 riels from our heavy work a day long…and it is a very difficult and dangerous job…if 

we have work accident we have to pay with our own money or borrow from friends or relatives, today’s job is 

barely adequate just for ourselves... – Young construction worker, Poipet 

Efforts towards the provision of better working conditions for marginal youth are therefore strategic measures 

to reduce their vulnerability, as they would serve as a safety net in current working conditions. Reducing 

the vulnerability of marginal youth at work can only make them more capable and transform them into 

productive members of the labour force, and ultimately lessen the helplessness of families in the face of 

economic shocks. 

5.4 PROSPECTS FOR YOUTH EMPLOYABILITY 

5.4.1 FOCUS ON AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT 

According to the World Bank’s 2006 Poverty Assessment Report, the number of working-age adults for whom 

agriculture is the primary sector of activity grew by about 2.7 per cent annually over the previous decade 

1993-2003, to 4.9 million in 2003. Cambodia’s high demographic growth rate and limited production and 

service sectors have left agriculture to absorb a growing national labour force. 

Annual public investment, inclusive of both donor and government funds in agriculture sector, has grown in 

recent years but remains very low at about 1.4 per cent in agricultural GDP (or about 0.5 per cent of the total 

GDP) (World Bank 2006). With the substantial growth in GDP 25 in the last decade, there is a need to change 

the nature of growth in order to absorb young labour force entrants, and focus should be placed on 

agricultural development and investment. There is every reason to believe that agriculture will remain 

the mainstay of the Cambodian economy for the foreseeable future. 

25 

As the third engine of economic growth, agriculture’s share was 31 per cent of the GDP in 2004 


However, despite the prominence of agriculture as the main source of employment and livelihood, this is 

being undermined by land concentration and the loss of land. Distressed poor families sell their farmland 

for short-term gain but without a means of on-going support. For example: 

My son got seriously ill last year, and we had shortage of food; I had to mortgage our rice field to get 80 

dollars…up to now I have no money to get it back…I am so worried that my land will go to the creditor... 

– FGDs with mother group, Sangke Village, Svay Rieng 

With low rice yields, the loss or lack of agricultural land, the reduction in natural resource stocks and little 

improvement of agriculture infrastructure in rural communities, a number of youths migrate to urban areas or 

the border to seek jobs. This indicates that agriculture alone will not be able to support local livelihoods, and 

the lack of improvements in the sector will ultimately impact upon youth in negative way. 

We move to work in Poipet as cart puller because of poverty in the village, have no agricultural land, some of 

us have less agricultural land and there are even too many members in the family… Any year when there is 

not much rain for farming, our parents cannot afford to feed us… Our family usually in debt…we eat only 

twice per day…there is almost no job for us in the village besides farming, that is why we decide to come 

to work here even as it is hard and dangerous…but we have no other choice... – Discussion with group of 

youth cart pullers, Poipet 

While a considerable proportion of youth is employed in garment factories, it is unlikely that the sector will 

be the primary economic engine of the country. Rather, there is need for the Government to reverse the 

less-than-positive trends in the agriculture sector in order to ensure rural livelihoods, especially among youth. 

Growth will have to be based on raising productivity, particularly in agriculture, in which a large proportion 

of the young population is concentrated. 

5.4.2 PROMOTE LOCALLY AVAILABLE JOBS FOR MARGINAL YOUTH: 

FOCUS ON SME AND AGRO-INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT 

Creating jobs for youths in rural communities needs to extend beyond farming. We envision two potential 

scenarios for promoting locally available jobs for youth, namely: (1) small and medium enterprise (SME) 

development; and (2) agro-industry development. 

SME DEVELOPMENT FOR EMPLOYMENT CREATION 

SMEs dominate economic activities in Cambodia and account for a substantial part of total employment. 

Increasingly the key to the development of Cambodia, SMEs make up approximately 99 per cent of all 

enterprises and almost half of all employment (RGC 2005). Because of their importance to economic growth 

and poverty reduction, the Government has emphasized the important role SMEs play through various 

policy documents, including the Second Socio-Economic Development Plan and National Poverty Reduction 

Strategy. Despite progress in recent years, SME development faces considerable challenges (Box 5.1). 


61

BOX 5-1: CONSTRAINTS TO SME 

DEVELOPMENT AND POLICY 

RESPONSE 

An analysis of the SME sector shows that the 

major obstacles for its development relate first to 

an inadequate legal and regulatory framework. 

Thus, many of the necessary institutions, laws 

and regulations needed for an efficient private 

sector are currently missing or being developed. 

Furthermore, some of the existing institutions 

and regulations need reforming to improve the 

enabling environment for businesses. Secondly, 

there is limited access to finance. The primary 

cause of poor access to finance relates to the lack 

of suitable collateral, uncertain land titles, the lack 

of a comprehensive legal framework and poor 

contract enforcement, as well as a lack of diversity 

in financial institutions. There is also a lack of 

support services in the form of private sector 

business development services (BDS) or the 

provision of public goods and services. 

Given these constraints, the Framework sets out a 

vision for the SME Sub-Committee that promotes 

a positive business environment, which will lead 

to a competitive SME sector, contribute to the 

creation of quality employment, and improve 

the range of goods and services available to 

the people of Cambodia. The vision is to be 

implemented through market-based solutions 

that draw on the experience of other countries, 

particularly those in the region facing similar 

problems. 

In order to implement the Government’s 

‘Rectangular Strategy’ and achieve a conducive 

business environment, the SME Development 

Framework focuses on three key areas: (i) 

regulatory and legal framework; (ii) access to 

finance; and (iii) SME support activities. Several 

issues are identified and discussed within each 

of these three key areas. The discussion includes 

background information and the constraints and 

objectives faced by SMEs. For each sub-topic, the 

discussion then shifts to actions to be taken in two 

phases: Phase I: 2005-07, and Phase II: 2008-10. 

Source: MIME 2005: Cambodia Small and Medium 

Enterprise Development Programme 

Increasing demand for skilled labour, especially for 

SMEs, has been found across study areas. However, 

in most of the areas we assessed, youth have limited 

aspirations concerning future employment opportunities 

in their villages, citing the lack of locally available job 

opportunities. Again and again, the lack of education 

and skills are seen as major employment barriers that 

trap young people in menial jobs and in poverty. 

Some see expanding vocational training as one means 

of addressing this problem. Currently, the capacity of 

vocational training institutions is a limitation to scaling 

up the required skills among youth. For those who are 

able to access such training, vocational centres are able 

to successfully link the young graduates to the labour 

market and with micro-financing schemes. 

Every year thousands of youth apply for our vocational 

training programmes in Poipet, Sihanoukville and 

other Don Bosco centres. Most of them come from 

rural areas, particularly from poor families…however, 

our centres have limited capacity to take in all of 

them…with limited funds we accept only a proportion 

of the applicants…we are always happy that our 

students could get jobs with good salary after 

completing the study and could contribute to 

improving their livelihood and to development as a 

whole… if we could, we would expand our programme 

in the future and more evenly distribute this to include 

the more unskilled, low educated or the poor youth... 

– Vice Principal of Don Bosco Vocational Training 

centre, Sihanoukville 

AGRO-INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT 

AND JOB CREATION 

As The World Bank (2006) has proposed, there is a need 

to increase the focus on agro-industry and agribusiness, 

and on rural livelihood improvement. Under the 

2006-2010 NSDP, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food 

and Fisheries (MAFF) prepared the Agriculture and 

Water Resources Strategy in response to the emphasis 

on strengthening the agriculture sector. One subprogramme 

is on agriculture and agribusiness support 

(value chain). 


MAFF sees that increasing production and diversifying agriculture will serve as a basis for downstream 

value-added processing (Technical Working Group on Agriculture and Water 2007). There are also 

opportunities for profitable development in the agribusiness value chain. For instance, ‘upstream’ marketing 

facilities such as transportation must be improved. This implies opportunities for the private sector and 

also for farmers and other people in rural areas to work cooperatively to add value to agricultural production. 

Thus, the policy and the current pattern of growth in agro-industry and agribusiness offer considerable 

openings for improving the livelihood of rural youth. At the same time, this will offer locally available on-farm 

and off-farm jobs and can be a source of cash income for young and adult workers. 

Findings from FGDs and informal discussions with youths and their parents in Cheung Kor Village, 

Sihanoukville, substantiate the prospects for agro-industry and agribusiness. In this study area, an oil palm 

plantation has employed local people, especially youth, from surrounding villages with daily wage rates 

estimated at between 5,000 and 10,000 Riel. With jobs being available, the majority of youths are able to 

work close to their villages. Some families also reported that their livelihoods were much improved after 

the agro-industry development in their area. The downside to this development, however, is that some 

young people are reluctant to continue their education, due to their ability to earn income for their families 

and eventually drop out of school for full time employment in the plantation. 

5.4.3 SCALING UP SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR YOUTH 

FGDs across the study area expose the importance of vocational training provision to poor and marginal 

youth. Vocational training programmes may be a cost effective way of reducing youth vulnerability and 

linking them to employment opportunities. Priority should be given to marginalized youths, especially those 

who are out-of-school. 

ADB (2006) points out that the expenditure on labour market programme stands at USD 2.21 million, with 

a total of 41,951 beneficiaries and is financed by international donor agencies, NGOs and the Government. 

In practice, the majority of the donor funds for this programme are channelled through NGOs and other 

development agencies in close collaboration with central government. The beneficiaries are mostly youths, 

including female heads of households. Currently, total social protection expenditure on this concern is 

far below the demand coming from the increasing youth population and those who require such skills 

provision (World Bank 2006b). Limited opportunities from vocational training programmes are a key 

constraint to promoting youth employability towards stimulating economic growth in the country. 


Despite the significant progress in its economic development in the last decade, Cambodia remains among 

the poorest countries in Asia. This can be seen as the foremost challenge for the country and for creating 

broad-based economic development to provide employment to enable the rapidly increasing labour market 

to move out of poverty. Enhancing Cambodia’s human resources, particularly youth, is crucial for the country’s 

economic future. 

An important observation of this study is the mismatch between the supply and demand of the young 

labour force, resulting in continuing poor youth employability. To better integrate youth into the labour 

market attention needs to be paid to the following: (i) agricultural development; (ii) improving locally 

available jobs for youth that focus on SME development and agro-industry; (iii) skills promotion and 

(iv) scaling up social protection programmes for youth. For relevant interventions to take place, more 


63

collaborative and active implementation among stakeholders (the Government, private sector and 

development agencies) is required in the areas that promote decent jobs and equal access for Cambodian 

youth. 

Another important issue to take into account relates to youth employment policy. A responsive government 

policy to enable a suitable labour market environment for youth is now critically needed. Skills development 

must be an integral part of the broader employment and development strategies. The challenge for 

government policy is to develop and foster institutional arrangements through which government ministries, 

employers, workers and training institutions can respond effectively to changing skills and training needs, 

and play a strategic and forward-looking role in facilitating and sustaining technological, economic and social 

advancement. 

5.5.1 RESEARCH GAPS 

The findings of this study point to the need for further research on several areas that relate to youth and their 

employment, particularly: 

A comprehensive study that can support the formulation of a solid and youth-responsive employment 

policy. Such a study should explore how to best enhance inter-ministerial collaboration and strengthen 

the links between education, vocational training, labour market entry and lifelong learning for male 

and female youth. This study could also define the role of the Government and its development 

partners in promoting such a policy. 

The gathering of accurate information on youth living standards in relation to their incomes and 

consumption and the cost of living for youths employed in different types of jobs. A survey would 

identify living standards in different areas of the country, this would allow only limited interpretation 

in detail by locality, of the results. 

Widespread poverty and vulnerability, combined with data constraints, make it difficult to measure 

the extent of youth and employment vulnerability. A more in-depth study should be undertaken on 

youth employment and vulnerability that also examines this issue’s larger context. 


VI 

YOUTH AND 

HEALTH 

Growing up in a developing nation like Cambodia creates both opportunities and challenges for 

young people, and a number of these challenges relate to health (UN Report on Situation of Youth, 

2003). Social and cultural transformations have shaped young people’s exposure to, and capacity 

to deal with, risk situations. Increased materialism and urbanization have brought with them economic, 

social and cultural shifts (Jourdan 2008). A critical factor is the continued development of information 

communication technology (ICT), which provides access to hitherto unavailable information, and can 

influence young people’s perceptions and expectations particularly in relation to social, emotional and sexual 

health issues. Increasing numbers of young people find themselves in vulnerable environments, especially 

those who migrate from rural to urban areas seeking employment or education and find themselves living 

without family and social support (UN Economic and Social Council, 2000). Such environments have been 

shown to contribute to risks including HIV infection, alcohol and drug abuse, accidents and injury, sexual 

exploitation and gender-based violence. Additionally, smoking, lack of exercise and involvement in criminal 

behaviour are reported to be problems for some youths. The development of unhealthy behaviour during 

adolescence can have both immediate and lifelong consequences, and many global and regional reports 

have called for attention to youth health issues (World Report on Youth 2005). 

6.1 HEALTH POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES SUPPORTING YOUTH 

A number of laws and policies that are supportive of young people’s health have been developed and 

adopted by the MoH and other relevant ministries and agencies. These include the abortion law; the 

women and family law; the law against domestic violence; the law against trafficking and sexual exploitation; 

the law against drug abuse; the national policy on safe motherhood; the national policy on birth spacing; 

the national policy on STI and HIV and AIDS; the national policy on primary health care; the national 

population policy; and the national strategic plan for a comprehensive response to HIV/ AIDS. 

The National Birth Spacing Policy was established in 1995, while the Safe Motherhood Policy was adopted 

in 1997, giving high priority to safe motherhood and including action plan directives to reduce mortality 

and morbidity and improve women’s health. The policies aim to enhance maternity care services, 

including birth spacing services, antenatal care, delivery services, essential obstetric care, the treatment 

of complicated abortions and the prevention of sexually transmitted infections and HIV and AIDS. The 

key strategic documents are the National Strategic Plan for Reproductive and Sexual Health 2008-2012 

and the National Strategic Plan for Reproductive and Sexual Health 2006-2010, the overall goal of both 

being to attain a better quality of life for all women, men and adolescents through the provision of effective 

and appropriate sexual and reproductive health programmes. Four priority objectives were set out within 

the plan: (i) improved policy and resource environment for reproductive and sexual health priorities 

(e.g. maternal and newborn health, STIs and HIV and AIDS, and family planning); (ii) increased 


65

availability and strengthened delivery of quality reproductive and sexual health services; (iii) strengthened 

community awareness of reproductive and sexual health needs and rights and increased demand for services; 

and (iv) an expanded evidence base to inform policy and strategy development. 

In September 2005, the National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD) published the Five-Year National 

Plan on Drugs Control 2005-2010 (NPDC 2005-2010) (http://www.nacd.gov.kh). The Plan aims to minimize 

drug-related harm to individuals, families and society. A structure for implementation, monitoring and 

reviewing this strategy is in place and includes opportunities for agencies and NGOs to work with the 

committees that oversee the strategy. NPDC 2005-2010 has identified youth as a ‘high risk’ group. 

In 2005, MoEYS, in collaboration with the National Centre for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology and STD (NCHADS)/ 

MoH, established the Programme on Life Skills for HIV and AIDS Education. It targeted in- and out-of-school 

youth, and piloted its first phase in two provinces (Siem Reap and Kampong Speu), subsequently expanding 

to 12 provinces in 2006/07. The Programme aimed to mainstream and strengthen the life skills of primary 

students (Grades 5-6) and secondary students through classroom teaching and a peer educator approach. 

Through the peer education-based approach, the Programme also targeted out-of-school youths aged 

13-19, including street children, especially in Phnom Penh. However, there has been little if any monitoring 

or implementation data on these programmes and it is difficult to assess the reach, content or quality 

of what was being delivered to adolescents. 

The Second Expanded Basic Education Programme (EBEPII) 2006-2010 was instituted in line with the 

Ministry’s strategic priorities outlined in the current Education Strategic Plan and the Education Sector 

Support Programme 2006-2010.. EBEPII mainly focuses on the integration of life skills associated with 

HIV and AIDS, drug abuse, early sexual initiation and reproductive health into the new curriculum. It will 

also integrate these life skills modules into community-based vocational skills training programmes 

within the framework of local life skills in collaboration with MoLVT. EBEPII will advocate for the use of 

these materials by the MoEYS Youth Department in its regular outreach activities with out-of-school 

youths aged 10-24. Key objectives of the programme are implementation and prevention activities for 

both in- and out-of-school young people, with an emphasis on the development of positive attitudes 

and behaviour change, and the necessary involvement of local communities. 

6.2 CURRENT SITUATION 

While there are no nationally available baseline data about the health behaviour and status of young 

Cambodians, smaller surveys suggest that sexual and reproductive health issues, including sexually 

transmitted infections and HIV and AIDS, unplanned pregnancy and unsafe abortion, are all areas of concern 

for adolescent/youth health. Other causes of morbidity and mortality include traffic accidents and 

injuries, drug abuse and gang violence. Negative lifestyle factors such as tobacco use, excessive alcohol 

consumption, drug abuse and poor use of leisure time undermine the ability of youths to move towards 

independent and responsible adulthood and full participation in society (World Youth Report 2007). 

The major challenges to youth health include: sexual and reproductive health issues, including sexually 

transmitted infections and HIV and AIDS, unwanted pregnancy, pregnancy-related illnesses and unsafe 

abortion; mental health (suicide); accidents, including drowning, traffic accidents, falls, injuries from 

sharp objects and animal bites; and violence. 


6.2.1 SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH 

Age at first marriage 

The age at first marriage is linked to women’s reproductive health and maternal mortality. The average 

age for first marriage in Cambodia is relatively young compared to other countries in the region (UNICEF 

2005), at 20 for women and 22 for men. They are slightly higher in urban areas, 21 for females and 24 for males 

(CDHS, 2005). According to CDHS 2005, the median age of first marriage for women has decreased about 

half a year over the past generation. 

Unplanned pregnancy 

According to CDHS 2005, approximately 8 per cent of Cambodian women aged 15-19 have become mothers 

or are currently pregnant with their first child. About 23 per cent of young married women have already 

given birth by the age of 19 (Figure 6.1). Early childbearing is far more common in rural areas, where 8.3 

per cent of 15-19 year-olds had given birth, compared to only 6.0 per cent in urban areas (CDHS 2005). 

FIGURE 6-1. PERCENTAGE OF CURRENTLY MARRIED WOMEN AGED 15-19 WHO HAVE BEGUN CHILDBEARING, 2005 

25 

22.7 

20 

Percent 

15 

10 

12.2 

5 

0 

15 

Source: CDHS 2005 

2.1 

6.1 

Age 

In geographic terms, the percentage of young married women in mountain/forest or remote regions 

who have begun childbearing increased between 2000 and 2005 (Figure 6-2). The highest proportion 

was found in Mondolkiri/Ratanakiri, where childbearing increased from 19.8 per cent in 2000 to 21.8 

per cent in 2005. Other increases over the same period were measured in Odar Meanchey (6.5 per cent to 

15.4 per cent), Preah Vihear/Steung Treng (7.1 per cent to 13.4 per cent) and Kratie (7.8 per cent to 

12.9 per cent). Increases also occured in provinces within the Tonle Sap zone, including Kampong Chhnang, 

Kampong Cham and Siem Reap. 


67

FIGURE 6-2. TRENDS IN CHILDBEARING AONG CURRENTLY MARRIED WOMEN AGED 15-19, 2000 TO 2005 

25 

20 

Percent 

15 

10 

2000 

2005 

5 

0 

Phnom Penh 

Kampong cham 

kandal 

Prey Veng 

Source: CDHS 2000 & 2005 

Svay Rieng 

Takeo 

Banteay Meancheay 

Battambang 


Kampong Thom 

Pursat 

Siem Reap 

Kampong Speu 

Zone/Provinces 

Krong Pailin 

Kratie 

e Otdar Meancheay 

Preah Vihear/Stung Treng 

Mondolkiri/Rattanakiri 

Kampot/Krong kep 

Sihanouk Ville/Koh Kong 

ABORTION 

Data on abortions has not been disaggregated well enough to identify adolescent and young women 

within the overall figures, which relate to women aged 15-49. According to CDHS 2000 and 2005, the 

percentage of abortions among women aged 15-49 increased from 5 per cent in 2000 to 8 per cent in 2005. 

The proportion of women aged 15-19 who reported having had an induced abortion was less than 1 per 

cent in 2005. However, under-reporting of such behaviour is common. The most common place to get an 

abortion for women aged 15-34 was at private clinics (35.3 per cent), followed by other homes (33.7 per 

cent), private homes (11.5 per cent) and public health facilities (10.8 per cent). Given the lack of regulation of 

private providers, this is a cause for concern. The percentage of women who obtained an abortion from 

a trained professional was 87.3 per cent among urban women and 76.1 per cent among rural women 

(CDHS 2005). The fact that almost 1-in-4 women did not use an untrained provider is an issue requiring 

further study. 

6.2.2 YOUTH AWARENESS OF HEALTH-RELATED ISSUES 

Contraceptive knowledge and use 

In general, knowledge of family planning methods among married women is good, particularly among 

young married women aged 15-24. However, less is known about those who are unmarried. About 97.3 per 

cent of those aged 15-19 know at least one method of contraception and exactly the same percentage know 


of modern methods (CDHS 2005). Those aged 20-24 had even better knowledge, at 99.2 per cent and 99 

per cent, respectively. In practice, however, the use of contraception among married women remains low, 

with 20.8 per cent of the 15-19 age group reporting the current use of any method, and 13.7 per cent 

reporting the use of a modern method. The proportions are higher among the 20-24 age group, with 

34.6 per cent reporting using any method and 23.3 per cent reporting using a modern method. The most 

popular method of contraception by young married women is the pill, followed by withdrawal and 

injectables (Table 6-1). Information does not appear to exist on unmarried people’s knowledge and use 

of contraceptives. 

Table 6-1. Contraceptive method use by currently married women aged 15-24, 2005 (%) 

Contraceptive method 15-19 20-24 

All married women 100.0 100.0 

Contraception 20.8 34.6 

Daily pill 7.0 10.7 

Monthly pill 0.6 1.6 

IUD 1.7 1.0 

Injectables 1.6 6.3 

Male condom 2.8 3.0 

Rhythm 1.2 3.3 

Withdrawal 5.9 7.9 

Other 0.1 0.6 

Not currently using 79.2 65.4 

Source: CDHS 2005 

KNOWLEDGE OF SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH 

According to FGD participants, both young males and females have a good understanding of sexual and 

reproductive health and related infections. Youth interviewees stated that they learned from sexual education 

and awareness campaigns provided by NGOs in their villages, and in school. They mentioned training 

provided by the Reproductive Health Association of Cambodia (RHAC) on sexual and reproductive health 

and HIV and AIDS. Some also cited other sources of information such as television, village and community 

library information boards, the latter being supported by the NGO, Open Forum of Cambodia. FGD 

participants also cited peer educators in their villages as another information source. 

Besides learning from school, I received training on sexual and reproductive health from a local NGO, called 

RHAC, through its staff, who often come to my village. The training conducted in the village gathers all the 

youth and sometimes both parents to participate in the training also. I have also learnt through the 

community library in the village and from the TV in my house... – FGD, 15-19 year old female, Sangker 

village, Svay Rieng 

Although there has been improvement in terms of increased awareness of sexual and reproductive health 

among young people, the depth of penetration across the country is not clear. Key informants suggest that 

where there are no NGO or governmental programmes, awareness is much more limited. They also observed 


69

that while awareness-raising efforts of locally based organizations, and the dissemination of public information 

on sexual and reproductive health, HIV and STI among young people have been significant achievements, 

they need to be expanded. 

It is most likely that many rural youths have limited access to information on reproductive health. 

Consequently, they may have incomplete knowledge and understanding of important issues such as 

sexuality, contraception and safe sex. 

PERCEPTIONS ABOUT MARRIAGE AND FAMILY PLANNING 

The majority of the young FGD participants knew that early marriage or pregnancy for women between 

15 and 18 can have health consequences for both mothers and children, and negatively impact upon 

employment opportunities. There was a range of opinions on the appropriate age for marriage for young 

people. However, there was a general consensus that the ideal family size would be between two and three 

children. They reasoned that, with a fairly small household, parents have enough time to work to earn income, 

while mothers and children can enjoy good health. 

GENDER AND CULTURE-RELATED ISSUES 

Historically, culture and tradition limited the amount of sex information provided to those who were not 

married, especially females. Elders felt that sex was not a topic fit for conversation; and if it was to be discussed 

at all, it was the role of parents. 

Slowly, traditional attitudes have shifted and there is now awareness that sex education is important for 

young people. Young unmarried people, especially girls, are allowed to talk more openly within the family, 

and have the opportunity to participate in community meetings to discuss issues concerning their health, 

such as sexual and reproductive health, family planning and abortion. 

Unlike our old generation, the young people in modern society have a lot of opportunities to learn about sex 

and reproductive health from many sources of information, such as school, TV and radio. More practically, 

some non-governmental organisations send their staff to educate people in the village, especially youth, 

about HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive health. Elders from previous generations heard mostly from their 

parents only. Sometimes because the household is very busy with farm or business activities, children in the 

household have no chance to learn about this... – FGD with mothers’ group, Sangker village, Svay Rieng 

KNOWLEDGE OF OTHER IMPACTS ON HEALTH 

In 2006, through its Reproductive Health Initiative for Youth in Asia (RHIYA) project, UNFPA-Cambodia 

conducted a youth reproductive health survey that targeted 10-24 year-olds and posed several questions 

on knowledge and experiences related to illicit drug use. The survey found that awareness of prohibited 

drugs among young people was very high (over 90 per cent of males and females aged 10-14, and over 

98 per cent in the 15-24 age group). 


However, the MoEYS 2004 Youth Risk Behaviour Survey (YRBS) among young people aged 11-18 found that 

only 43 per cent reported receiving education about drugs, nationwide. Interviewees said they learned 

about drugs from school (38 per cent), other organizations (2.7 per cent) and other sources (1.8 per cent). 

Only 40.6 per cent of the males and 42.5 per cent of the females reported awareness of drugs. Out-of-school 

youths had significantly lower awareness of illicit substances (10.2 per cent) compared to their in-school 

peers (78.8 per cent). About 43 per cent of the respondents aged 11-18 said that the best way to avoid 

using drugs was to avoid making friends with drug users. Some 37.1 per cent suggested that young 

people should not try drugs, and 28.1 per cent proposed that they should stay away from drug users. 

Clearly there are some major discrepancies in the research in this area. 

6.2.3 YOUTH AND HIV AND AIDS 

Cambodia has made significant inroads in its efforts to prevent and fight HIV in recent years. Based on its 

periodic HIV Sentinel Surveillance (HSS) from 1995 to 2006, NCHADS reported in 2007 that the prevalence 

of HIV among the adult population (aged 15-49) had gradually decreased from 1.9 per cent in 1999 to 

0.9 per cent in 2006, after peaking at 3.3 per cent in 1998. HIV prevalence is higher in urban than rural areas 

(Figure 6.3). The NCHADS estimate is higher than the 2005 CDHS estimate of 0.6 per cent, which NCHADS 

attributes to the fact that the 2005 CDHS covered only formal households and excluded non-household 

women at high risk of HIV infection. The Asian Epidemic Model developed by NCHADS in 2007 predicted 

that the prevalence of HIV in adults aged 15-49 is expected to decline from 0.9 per cent in 2006 and to stabilize 

at 0.6 per cent after 2010. 

Although HIV prevalence among Cambodian adults has declined remarkably, issues relating to specific 

population groups must still be considered. Groups at high risk of HIV infection are female sex workers (FSW), 

men who have sex with men (MSM) and intravenous drug users (IDU). Data on the prevalence of HIV among 

these groups gathered by HSS 2006 and NGOs (on women attending antenatal centres) showed that HIV 

prevalence among the FSWs stood at 12.6 per cent, down from 21.4 per cent in 2003 (NAA 2008). The 

National AIDS Authority (2008) notes that 7.2 per cent of this proportion consists of people younger than 25. 

The prevalence of STIs among MSM was 9.7 per cent in Phnom Penh and 7.4 per cent in the provinces 

(UNICEF 2008a). Consistent condom use by this group is apparently low and many MSM have multiple 

sexual partners, including females. Stigma and discrimination result in many MSM being unable or unwilling 

to access health services, including voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) and prevention services, 

particularly young MSM (UNESCO 2008, cited in UNICEF 2008a). The 2003 KHANA study on MSM in 

Phnom Penh, Battambang and Siem Reap supports this observation, finding that condom use by MSM 

was low and inconsistent, and that their knowledge of safe sex practices and HIV and AIDS was uneven, 

placing many young men at risk of HIV infection, as well as the young women who have sex with them. 

HIV prevalence rates among pregnant women aged 15-24 attending antenatal clinics has remained fairly 

stable between 2003 and 2006; at an estimated 0.36 per cent and 0.41 per cent, respectively (HSS 3003 and 

2006). Recent research has found that approximately 43 per cent of new infections are occurring in married 

women aged 15-49. Most are believed to have been infected by their husbands (NAA, 2008). HIV prevalence 

rates for youth are not available in HSS 1995-2006 or CDHS 2000. However, the 2005 CDHS gives an estimate 

of 0.2 per cent for youths aged 15-24. Figures for females and males in this age cohort were 0.3 per cent 

and 0.1 per cent, respectively. 


71

FIGURE 6-3. TRENDS IN HIV PREVALENCE AMONG POPULATION AGED 15-49, 1995-2006 

3.0 

2.5 

2.0 


Urban 

Rural 

Percent 

1.5 

1.0 

0.5 

0.0 

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 

Source: National Centre for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology and STD (NCHADS) 

YOUTH AWARENESS OF HIV AND AIDS 

Knowledge of HIV among Cambodian people is high. According to the 2004 Cambodia Socio-Economic 

Survey (CSES), about 90 per cent of Cambodians have heard of HIV. The same survey estimated that 

knowledge of HIV among youths aged 15-24 was also high, ranging from 88 per cent to 98 per cent across 

all areas of the country. CDHS 2005 revealed similar results (98.3 per cent of men and 98.7 per cent of 

women aged 15-24 have heard of HIV). The 2006 RHIYA Cambodia Endline Survey, covering 2,056 young 

people aged 10-24 across its seven target provinces, showed similar findings, with almost 100 per cent of 

both young males and young females saying that they have heard about HIV and AIDS. 

However, the same cannot be said of young people belonging to Cambodia’s local ethnic groups. These 

groups comprise of upland ethnic minority and indigenous people, the majority of whom live in remote rural 

or mountainous regions. Figure 6-4 shows that, the proportion of young males and females from ‘other’ local 

ethnic groups who have heard of HIV is comparatively lower than those of other ethnicities in the same age 

cohort (CSES 2004). Poverty also limits awareness of the impact of HIV and AIDS. For example, most homeless 

or street youths, young migrants seeking jobs and young female sex workers face risk of infection due to their 

limited access to information, or the relationships they may establish to satisfy their need for intimacy and a 

feeling of belonging, or for food or protection (Mith Samlanh-Friends 2002). 


FIGURE 6-4. PERCENTAGE OF YOUTHS WHO HAVE HEARD OF HIV AND AIDS, BY GENDER AND ETHNICITY 

100 

90 

80 

70 

60 

50 

40 

30 

20 

10 

0 

15-19 

20-24 

15-24 

Total 

Male 

Female 

Total 

Male 

Femal 

Total 

Male 

Percent 

Female 

Total 

Male 

Femal 

Total 

Male 

Female 

Total 

Male 

Femal 

Khmer Cham Other Local Chinese Vietnamese Other 

Group 

Source: CSES 2004 datasets 

6.2.4 TOBACCO USE 

Smoking is a risk factor associated with serious diseases, and it is recognised as the single most preventable 

cause of death in the general population. According to CSES 2004, smoking is more prevalent among 

young men than young women, and across ages. Overall, 7.3 per cent of Cambodian youths aged 15-24 

were current smokers (13.6 per cent males and 0.8 per cent female). A higher proportion of rural youths 

(8.1 per cent) smoke cigarettes than urban youths (6.9 per cent) or youths in Phnom Penh (1.7 per cent). 

More significantly, male youths in rural areas (15.1 per cent) smoked cigarettes more than their urban 

counterparts (12.9 per cent) or young males in Phnom Penh (3.2 per cent). Female youths in rural areas 

(0.8 per cent) also smoked more than those in other urban areas or in Phnom Penh, where almost no 

smoking was noted (Figure 6-5). 

Among adolescents aged 15-19 years, 2.9 per cent of males and females reported having smoked a cigarette. 

Of these, 5.1 per cent of the males and 0.6 per cent of the females indicated they smoke on a daily basis. 

By strata, the proportion of smokers among 15-19 year-old adolescents in rural areas was found to be higher 

(3.3 per cent) than in urban areas (2 per cent) or Phnom Penh (0.9 per cent). Some 5.6 per cent of males in 

rural areas said they had smoked compared to 3.8 per cent of males in urban areas and to 2 per cent in 

Phnom Penh. While 0.7 per cent of females in rural areas were smokers, almost no females in urban areas 

or Phnom Penh smoked. 


73

FIGURE 6-5. PROPORTION OF CAMBODIAN YOUTHS WHO ARE CURRENT SMOKERS, BY AGE AND REGION 

30 

25 

20 

15-19 Years 

20-24 Years 

15-24 Years 

15 

10 

5 

0 


Phnom Penh 

Percent 

Urban 

Rural 


Phnom Penh 

Urban 

Rural 


Phnom Penh 

Urban 

Rural 

Source: CSES 2004 datasets 

Clearly, smoking increases with age. A large proportion of those aged 20-24 were smokers. Figure 6-5 

shows that 12.5 per cent of 20-24 year-olds are smokers, although not shown on the graph, there is a 

significant difference between the proportion of males and females smoking (24 per cent and 1.1. per cent, 

respectively). By region, the largest percentage of smokers were rural males (26.7 per cent), followed by 

urban males (24.5 per cent) and Phnom Penh males (4.5 per cent). Among females aged 20-24, 1.2 per cent 

and 1.3 per cent of rural and urban areas smoke, respectively. 

The MoEYS YRBS in 2004 revealed prevailing trends in tobacco use among youths aged 11-18. Nationwide, 

about 5 per cent (9.2 per cent males and 1.3 per cent females) in this age group have tried smoking, and 

more than half reported smoking on a daily basis. Out-of-school youths are more likely to smoke than 

in-school youths (9.2 per cent, compared with 0.6 per cent). On average, most started smoking when 

they were 15 years old. 

6.2.5 ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION 

The 2004 YRBS also focused on youth consumption of alcohol, drinking behaviour and the home 

environment. Its findings revealed that 14.2 per cent of young people (20.9 per cent males and 7.4 per cent 

females) aged 11-18 reported having drunk alcohol. Among youths consuming alcohol, out-of-school youths 

(15.9 per cent) were more likely to have had a drink than their in-school peers (12.1 per cent). Half of the 

youths, most of whom were out-of-school, had had at least one drink in the previous 30 days. Young people 

on average, started to consume alcohol when they were 12 years old. 


FGD findings for this study showed that new lifestyles and exposure to new environments are the most 

likely links to behavioural change and alcohol consumption tendencies in young people. It is also believed 

that peer pressure and the influence of their seniors contribute to the increased number of young people 

who started to drink early. Some 15-18 year-old male FGD participants, for example, started using alcohol 

at 15, apparently because they saw their brothers or friends drinking. Many said that alcohol consumption 

was a pathway to increased popularity and a good time. This behaviour is also apparently shaped by family 

factors (e.g. domestic violence, family members seen using alcohol or drugs) and the excessive availability of 

income in wealthier families (Mith Samlanh-Friends 2002). Youths report that alcohol-related violence is not 

uncommon, especially during special ceremonies. 

6.2.6 CONSUMPTION OF ILLICIT DRUGS 

In August 2008, NACD released a report on Illicit Drug Data and Routine Surveillance Systems in Cambodia 

for 2007, which stated that the production, sale and use of drugs has become more complex and widespread. 

It estimated that while the number of illicit drug users nationwide has declined, drug abuse has spread from 

big cities to remote areas (Lour Ramin 2008). The drugs most commonly available were methamphetamine, 

heroin, narcotic and hallucinogenic plants, and glue. Most drug users were unemployed, commercial sex 

workers, workers in labour-intensive industries (construction workers, garment factory workers and truck/ 

taxi drivers), and street children. The illicit drug use problem remains predominantly a youth issue, with more 

than 80 per cent of known illicit drug users aged below 26 (NACD 2007). 

The NACD report stated that there were 5,797 illicit drug users; a decline of nearly 1,000 compared to the 

previous year. It also reported that 1,719 drug users were admitted to government-run treatment centres, 

an increase over 2006 of 57.7 per cent. Four-fifths of these involved methamphetamine abuse. Two-thirds 

(66.7 per cent) were aged between 16 and 25, and most were either students or unemployed. The majority 

of illicit drug users were among farmers and labourers (37.8 per cent), followed by street children 

(16.8 per cent) and students (15.4 per cent). 

Similarly, the 2004 YRBS indicated that the prevalence of drug abuse among Cambodian adolescents aged 

11-18 was 0.9 per cent (1.6 per cent male and 0.3 per cent female). Some 2.2 per cent of urban youths 

and 0.5 per cent of rural youths were reportedly involved in drug abuse. On average, most drug users started 

at 12 years of age. Among those who have used drugs, 95 per cent reported having used them in the previous 

12 months (MoEYS 2004). 

In one FGD for this study, 6 of the 10 participants were HIV-positive, having been infected due to needle 

sharing. Some said that young people take drugs because of a challenge from peers, while others indicated 

that they simply wanted to try it for themselves. They knew that drug use causes health problems and can 

result in users becoming social outcasts, but stated that they cannot stop using them. One young man said 

that one of his friends had died because of drug abuse. 

Young people use drugs because of a lack of encouragement in the home. Our parents complain and scold 

us all the time when we don’t want to seek jobs to do or they say we are lazy... we think that drugs can make 

us feel relaxed or can reduce stress and forget sadness. In reality, we don’t want to use it, but because we 

work hard we use drugs because it gives us more energy, and we don’t feel hungry... – FGD, street youth, 

aged 15-24 


75

6.2.7 OTHER CAUSES OF ILL HEALTH AND DEATH (ACCIDENTS, INJURIES AND SUICIDE) 

Family-based violence is anecdotally reported to be a main cause of injury among the young. A combination 

of factors such as family struggles over money, unemployment, gambling, alcohol abuse and parenting 

practices mean that young people can be subjected to physical injuries and mental health problems 

(UNICEF 2008b, EveryChild-Cambodia 2008). 

In general, in our village where some young adolescents live in poor households or have parents using 

alcohol, they live with fear; they become depressed and feel sad; lose concentration in school and 

sometimes run away from home because the father beats them very often or complains so much... 

FGD males and females (20-24 years) Svay Reing 

Also of concern are forms of abuse that impact on the physical and mental health of young people, such 

as rape and indecent assault, acid attacks, and the emerging phenomena of gang and youth violence. MoI 

statistics for the first half of 2007 reveal, for instance, that of 165 rapes reported, 53 were of girls younger than 

15, 10 were of girls aged 15-17, and 41 were of 18-year-olds (Woods 2007). 

Job and traffic- related accidents are other sources of injury, disability and death. One report (NIS/ NIPH 

2008) suggests that suicide might be the leading cause of death among those aged 15-17. The same report 

suggests that drowning and road traffic accidents are the leading causes of death for 10 – 14 year olds. 

Regarding work-related injury, one young construction worker noted: 

Working in a construction site is very difficult…some workers fall from the high building and die or are 

seriously injured. The company does not pay anything on this and we have to pay for it on our own or 

borrow some money from our friends or relatives. All day, we do not have enough food to eat, but are 

required to work hard…unlike other skilled labourers especially Vietnamese who are always better than 

us in income and who work easier.– FGD with youth construction workers, Phnom Penh 


Secondary data and field findings from this study reveal increases in knowledge among young Cambodians of 

sexual and reproductive health, HIV and other related risks that cause ill health. HIV prevalence among those 

aged 15-49 has decreased significantly in recent years, and very low prevalence rates have been estimated 

for young people aged 15-24. There have been improvements in the areas of sexual and reproductive health, 

cigarette smoking, and alcohol and drug abuse, although these promising developments seem to apply less 

to marginalized and out of school youth, who remain among the highest-risk and most vulnerable of groups. 

Emerging lifestyles and the influence of the environment seem to be closely linked to young people’s 

attitudes towards tobacco use and alcohol consumption, particularly among young men aged 20-24. 

Compared with those living in urban areas, young males and females in rural and remote areas show 

significantly higher rates of smoking and drinking. A related and emerging concern is the consumption of 

illicit drugs, found to be prevalent in two thirds of young people aged 16-25, particularly street children 

and students. Field findings for this study also included the use of drugs by young people who migrate 

for work at the border, in order to cope with the heavy work and manage their hunger. 

26 

Indecent assault as cited in Woods study (2007) is based on the definition in the UNTAC Criminal Code, Article 42, and refers 

to sexually offending another person of either sex by touching, caressing or any other sexual act not involving penetration. 


A comprehensive set of policies and programmes should focus on these current health issues affecting 

youth. There is particular need to target specific population groups, based on their ethnicity, geographical 

location, and the needs of both single and married young people. Programmes should be instituted that 

guarantee full access to health information and services, and should include training for livelihoods and 

life skills, freedom from violence, and connections to supportive youth networks. Drug users will need 

specific attention, as care should be taken that they are not treated as criminals. As the Prime Minister has 

said, “illicit drug users should be victims who need to receive care; while criminals who produce, traffic, 

and use drugs must be heavily punished according to the law”. It will be necessary, therefore, to promote 

universal awareness of the harm caused by illicit drugs, tobacco use and alcohol consumption, especially 

among young people. 

To arrive at policies that better address young people’s health status, it will be necessary for the Government 

and NGOs to develop advocacy, awareness-raising and health education programmes for youth, their 

households and communities. These programmes need to respond to the differing needs of young males 

and females, setting out very specific priority actions and projects. Government and non-governmental 

agencies should work together, based on existing local authority levels and community-based networks, 

and build effective collaboration with religious and local ethnic leaders, schools, medical practitioners, 

social service counsellors and families. They should engage young people in community discussions on 

development and encourage them to be active in decision-making within their communities. 

Specific recommendations include: 

Continue and expand comprehensive health education by targeting both in- and out-of-school 

youths, with a wide range of geographical coverage. This should be provided consistently to all 

Cambodian youths from an early age. More importantly, health-related issues concerning youth must be 

included in Commune/Sangkat development plans and should be considered as a priority. 

Increase comprehensive access to accurate information on sexual and reproductive health, the impacts 

of smoking and alcohol and drug abuse, through mass media or outreach programmes, including a 

telephone hotline and Internet sites designed for youths. 

Improve health services through expanded youth counselling services and youth networks to ensure 

that at local level, especially in the communes, there are social or medical counsellors and social 

volunteer workers. In addition, provide health services to respond to unwanted pregnancies and 

abortions among young people, whose sexual activity is often unplanned. 

Develop and/or support programmes that will reduce the incidence of fatal and non-fatal injury 

among youth, with particular focus on mitigating suicides and road traffic accidents. 

6.4 RESEARCH GAPS 

This chapter shows the need for several areas of research. Among the key concerns needing additional 

investigation are: 

Links between unwanted pregnancy among 15-24 year-olds and the incidence of abortion, particularly 

the reasons for the absence of a trained provider for abortions. 


77

Contraceptive knowledge and use among unmarried youth, particularly the 15-19 and 20-24 age 

groups. 

The situation of youths in geographically isolated communities such as the mountain regions, 

particularly in terms of: access to healthcare information and services; knowledge of HIV and AIDS and 

infectious diseases; incidence of alcohol consumption, smoking and illicit drug use, etc. 

The most at-risk youth populations, such as street children and out-of-school youth, including youth 

migrating from rural to urban areas and across borders. 

A final area that should be researched is HIV and AIDS prevalence among young people, disaggregated 

according to the 15-19 and 20-24 age groups. Current knowledge of this issue focuses mainly on NCHADS 

sentinel groups, including women attending antenatal centres, with broad reference to those aged below 25. 

Improved knowledge of this issue will help to inform decisions on policies and programmes to prevent and, 

as appropriate, reduce HIV and AIDS rates among youth. 


VII 

YOUTH AND 

VULNERABILITY 

Changes brought about by globalization affect Cambodian young people in a number of ways, 

compromising their human rights and creating many risks and vulnerabilities on one hand while 

opening opportunities for their advancement as individuals and as a group on the other. Regional 

integration, advanced use of technology, the increasing global demand for skilled labour, and changing 

living standards have made both negative and positive impacts on young people. Youths are the most 

affected sector of society when it comes to coping with rapid economic growth and social change. 

Inadequate vocational skills among youth reduce their employability, increase the probability of their leaving 

school early, and contribute to the growing number of under-trained youths, marginalizing them and 

undermining their entrepreneurial competitiveness (Brewer 2004). That young Cambodians lack life and 

livelihood skills to cope with the challenges of globalization is seen as a major source of youth vulnerability. 

Other issues associated with poverty, poor living conditions, poor nutrition, and ill health compound 

the vulnerability of youth. Poor children live in conditions of particular vulnerability. Their future is often 

compromised by shocks and stresses that hit their households when they are at a young age. Lack of 

adequate nutrition in their early years impairs their physical and mental development for the rest of their 

life. The lack of education and training, which are essential components of measures to address the 

challenges faced by poor children, is linked to increased vulnerability among youth. A low level of formal 

school education – brought about by parents withdrawing adolescents and youths from school, which 

is a typical (but unsustainable) coping mechanism – has severe consequences for future youth employment 

opportunities in a rapidly changing labour market (Gallina and Masina 2002). 

Although Cambodia has emerged from a period of internal conflict, it is still marked by a “culture of violence” 

directed primarily at women in the form of domestic violence, trafficking of women and rape (Ing 

Kantha, 2006). Unemployment, a lack of access to information, substance abuse, and parental neglect 

are among the problems confronting youth. Those with disabilities face even greater competition from 

young unemployed school-leavers when searching for jobs, often resulting in negative attitudes and 

mistaken assumptions on the part of employers about their work capacity. 

This chapter explores the situation of Cambodia’s vulnerable youth in relation to their environment, which 

largely part contributes to their vulnerability. It also presents the key elements and gaps that can serve as 

a basis for recommendations of how to address weaknesses and strengthen good practices in responding 

to the problems of vulnerable youth. Based on this situation analysis, the study also identifies opportunities 

for improving the process of awareness raising and advocacy on youth and vulnerability. Key issues discussed 

in this section are: the current laws, policies and programmes that respond to the unfavourable conditions 

of youths; the enabling environment and support available from international organizations; and the 

engagement of NGOs. The last section of this chapter discusses issues including the impact of poverty, 

education, migration, violence and abuse, and other related concerns arising from the effects of rapid 

social change. 


79

7.1 NATIONAL POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES IN RESPONSE TO 

YOUNG PEOPLE’S VULNERABILITY 

The Constitution of the Kingdom Cambodia is the highest law of the state. It delineates the rights and 

obligations of every Khmer citizen to life, personal freedom, and security (Article 32) and guarantees that 

there shall be no physical abuse against any individual (Article 38). It also guarantees the rights of children 

as stipulated in the CRC, particularly the right to life, education, protection during wartime, protection 

from economic or sexual exploitation, and protection from acts that are injurious to their educational 

opportunities, health, and welfare (Article 48). 

The Law on Marriage and Family is a fundamental guideline that ensures the protection of children and 

youth as this is aligned with Articles 5 and 18 of the CRC, which “provides a framework for the relationship 

between the child, his or her parents and family, and the State” (Hodgkin and Newell 2002). The law 

is “to regulate and protect the marriage and family, to ensure equality of the spouses in marriage and 

family, to strengthen the responsibility of the parents in raising up and taking care of their children, 

and to promote the moral and educational development of children to become good citizen imbued 

with a sense of responsibility for the nation and society, and the love of work” (Art. 1). In a similar 

way to Articles 19 and 20 of the CRC, the law provides for the reporting of violence. It states that the 

People’s Court can revoke parental authority if a “State organisation, the mass organisation, the authorities 

attached to the people’s court or any relatives of the parents” commits a fault (Art. 20). It further states 

that “parental power shall be revoked and transferred to any organisation or relative by blood, from parent 

who is at fault as follows: the parents fail to educate their child; the parents use improper power in violation 

of the child rights or forcing him to commit crimes or acts against society; the parents treat badly their 

children; or the parents behave against the moral standards which have a bad influence over their children” 

(RGC 1989). A ‘fault’ relates to violating a child’s rights, or otherwise abusing a child (Art. 119). 

The 2005 Law on Prevention of Domestic Violence and Protection of the Victim also protects children 

and youths. It gives local authorities the responsibility to intervene in cases of domestic violence and 

allows for the issuance of protection orders required by the courts to enable them to take the most 

appropriate measures for victims. ‘Victims’ can be spouses, dependent children or any other person living 

under one roof. The Law also provides a range of penalties in respect to acts of domestic violence, which 

are considered criminal offences that are punishable under the Penal Law (Art. 35). It provides a legal 

mechanism to preserve harmony within households in line with the nation’s good customs and traditions 

and in accordance with the Constitution (Art. 45). The Law incorporates CEDAW, which was ratified and 

signed by the Government in 1992. CEDAW, as a convention that protects women, is also embodied in 

the MoWA Five-Year Strategic Plan (Neary Rattanak II). MoWA is an integral part of the National Strategic 

Development Plan 2006-2010, with responsibility for mainstreaming gender concerns into the plans 

and programmes of line ministries. Four key elements have been set out in MoWA’s Plan: education; 

health; empowerment of women in the economic sector;, and legal protection, particularly for children 

and women. 

Other legal guidelines that define the rights of Cambodian children and youth are: 

The 2007 Education Law 

The 1998 Labour Law, particularly Article 177); states that those younger than 18-years-old should 

not work in hazardous labour [Article 177(2)]. For those 12- to 15-years-old engaged in light 


work, [Article 177(4) and Article 179 they must not undertake work that affects mental and physical 

development; or which interrupts regular school attendance, or prevents participation in guidance 

programmes/vocational training. 

The 2007 Law on the Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation 

The 2006 Policy on Alternative Care for Children 

The 2002 Guidelines on the Establishment of the Commune/Sangkat Committees for Women & 

Children 

Prakas (ministerial guidelines) on Minimum Standards of Residential Care for Children 

Cambodia has also ratified several international conventions and optional protocols relevant 

to child rights, namely: 

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (1992) 

ILO Convention 138 on the Minimum Age for Workers (1973) 

ILO Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour (2006) 

The Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (2000) 

The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, 

supplementing the UN Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime (2001) 

The Optional Protocol on the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women 

(CEDAW, 2001) 

Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (1992) 

Optional Protocol to the Convention of the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children 

in Armed Conflict (2000) 

The Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade and Institutions 

and Practices Similar to Slavery (1957) 

7.2 THE SITUATION OF YOUTH AS A VULNERABLE POPULATION GROUP 

This section mainly discusses the situation of youths aged 15-24, but also explores the conditions of 

orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) as defined by MoSVY (MoSVY, 2006). It uses the definition of an ‘ 

orphan’ made by the National Multi-Sectoral Orphans and Vulnerable Children Task Force (2008), as a child 

below the age of 18 who has lost one or both parents. Thus, youth vulnerability in this section is viewed 

against the challenges of poverty, physical weaknesses (children with a disability, orphans and abandoned 

children), violence and abuse, and migration. 

27 

Children exposed to one or more of the vulnerability situations have been categorised into: children in need of special protection; 

and children at risk (which includes: orphans; abandoned children; children infected or affected by HIV); abused children (whether sexually, 

physically or emotionally); street children; children in conflict with the law; child victims of exploitation (whether sexual or through harmful 

labour); children with disabilities; children addicted to drugs; and children whose basic physical needs are not being met.” 


81

7.2.1 YOUTH VULNERABILITY AND THE CHALLENGES OF POVERTY 

Poverty is a multi-dimensional issue that engenders risk and vulnerability, not least among young people 

from poor households. In a study on Managing Risk and Vulnerability in Cambodia, the World Bank (2006) 

found a complex set of factors leading to this situation. The majority of young people aged 15-24 live in 

rural areas. They constitute 26 per cent of the country’s total population, of which about 35 per cent live 

below the poverty line (MoP 2006). Because their livelihoods are mostly dependent on rain-fed agriculture, 

these youths often experience food insecurity. Moreover, they lack vocational skills and the opportunity 

to access vocational training. Hence, the majority are unemployed or underemployed for most of the year. 

With little access to land, these youths receive limited education and economic opportunities (World Bank 

2006; Fitzgerald and So 2007). Consequently, they decide to move to cities in the hope of employment 

and a more exciting life, causing a massive urban drift. 

Social exclusion and poverty both contribute to vulnerability in youth. Young people are those most affected 

by family shocks, such as death or the chronic illness of the household head, the loss of the family’s assets 

or financial debt. The biggest challenge facing young people at risk is the lack of opportunity for paid or 

productive employment. Unemployment is not evenly spread, and the situation of vulnerable groups 

varies according to different conditions and circumstances (Brewer, 2004). Unemployed young people 

are affected by a lot of serious social issues, such as getting drawn into gangs, alcohol consumption and 

drug abuse. However, it was found that unemployment among youth falls when education is improved. 

Hence, it is very important to take into account increasing opportunities at all levels of the educational 

ladder to reduce youth vulnerability. Young people less cared for by their families, those growing up in poor 

households, those who are early school leavers or do not attend school, and some of those from ethnic 

communities in remote areas, have been found to be disproportionately at risk of social exclusion. There 

are also particular times when young people are most vulnerable, such as when they leave home, their 

families or school (Brewer, 2004). Figure 7-1 summarizes the implications of poverty on youth well being. 

FIGURE 7-1. KEY DRIVERS OF POVERTY AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR YOUTH 

Key drivers of chronic poverty 

Severe and/or repeated shocks 

Ill-health and injury 

Environmental shocks and natural disasters 

Market and economic collapse 

Violence and conflict 

Breakdown of law and order 

PLUS 

Few private or collective assets to fall back on 

(Limited physical, financial, social or human 

capital, highly susceptible to shocks) 

PLUS 

Ineffective institutional support 

(e.g. lack of effective social protection, public information, basic 

services, conflict prevention and resolution) 

PLUS 

Poverty occurring at certain points in an individual or household’s 

life (e.g. childhood, old age, youth and young households). 

Examples of implications for youth 

Young people are often in the early stages of physical 

and financial asset accumulation, and as such, they may 

find it particularly difficult to weather and bounce back from 

a shock. 

Young couples may deplete their assets or reduce their 

own consumption to ensure that their young children are 

healthy and educated. 

Even in labour markets with social insurance mechanisms 

in operation, young people generally have not built up the 

time or contributions to benefit. 

When young people are is forced to leave school before 

achieving a secondary, tertiary or vocational qualification, 

there are reduced returns to, or a complete loss of the 

significant long-term investment in education, time and 

resources made by the young people and their families. It 

becomes more difficult to find productive work and rebuild 

assets. 

LIKELY TO TRAP PEOPLE IN POVERTY 

Source: Adopted from Moore (2006) 


Young couples entering marriage, especially young married women and couples living in rural and remote 

areas, were found to be at high risk because they have to face issues of landlessness and land atomisation 28 

(Fitzgerald and So 2007), as well as financial shortfall in their new families, illnesses among family members, 

and limited skills. Most young married couples are expected to participate in the family’s agriculture-based 

production, which is often not profitable. Young married women begin to be burdened with increased 

household responsibility, and with problems related to the poor health and nutrition that they have 

experienced in their adolescent years, which are compounded by early child bearing that follows early 

marriage and, an inadequate food supply and limited income. These factors account for young married 

women having difficult pregnancies and the high risk of maternal and child mortality and morbidity 

(Moore 2007), and also explain why young married women are more vulnerable than unmarried women in 

the same age group. 

Young people in the village either married or unmarried, who cannot find enough money to support their 

family and who lack jobs to do in the village especially after growing paddy rice or sometimes after harvest, 

move out of the village to Phnom Penh or Kampong Som. Some go to Neak Loeung (in Prey Veng). People 

in this village mostly depend on rice-fields and crops so that in general, young people leave the village to 

find jobs such as selling newspapers, working for private households, or becoming construction workers, 

garment workers or motodop drivers... – FGD parents’ group, Sangker Village, Svay Rieng Commune 

Rural households often accumulate long-term debts due to their inability to repay them. Unpaid interest soars 

from month to month for long periods, such as from one to two years, bringing extreme hardship to families. 

The first family members to suffer from this situation are youths, since parents usually pull them out of school 

and send them to work with moneylenders to reduce the family debt, or to work in other families to earn 

additional income. Issues related to their deployment into such work (child trafficking, violence, and sexual 

exploitation and abuse at the hands of employers) can arise and increase their vulnerability. 

Most young people in rural areas who live in large households are more likely to be poor and vulnerable 

than those living in smaller households. The World Bank (2006) characterized poor and vulnerable 

households as those having many small children but lacking in adult wage earners. A high proportion of 

children and adolescents implies a high dependency ratio, which generally has a depressing effect on per 

capita income. In rural areas, where most of the poor are located, the dependency ratio rises to 89.6 per cent 

compared with 69.1 per cent in urban areas. A dependency ratio also changes according to the number 

of elderly or disabled people unable to work (World Bank 2006). 

7.2.2 YOUTH VULNERABILITY AND PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES 

Street or homeless youth are considered the most vulnerable group in Cambodia, and are categorized 

into three types: primary homeless or roofless; secondary homeless (staying in any form of temporary 

accommodation, with no secure housing elsewhere); and tertiary homeless (long-term occupants of 

single rooms in private boarding houses) (Chamberlain and MacKenzie 1992). Young homeless people are 

particularly at risk of a wide range of physical and mental health problems, a lack of access to basic needs 

such as food and clothing, and a multitude of dangers, including sexual exploitation and violence. Youth 

can also face problems stemming from overcrowded, unsafe, unhygienic housing, as well as insecure tenure 

28 

Land atomisation is the division of land into smaller parcels so that all children of a household 

may benefit from the ownership of a small piece of land. 


83

or family difficulty in paying rent. Unsatisfactory housing conditions can contribute to poor health, family 

violence and poor education outcomes (Boese and Scutella, 2006). Mith Samlanh-Friends (2001) suggested 

that there were 1,200 children living on the streets of Phnom Penh and that the number appears to rise by 

20 per cent each year, due in part to rural-urban migration. A large number of children (between 10,000 

and 20,000, half of them girls) work on the streets to earn money through shoe shining, begging or prostitution. 

Ethnic minority youths are considered the most vulnerable. Young people who are socially disadvantaged, 

who live in rural and remote areas, or who are of ethnic origin suffer very poor health, mostly due to 

alcohol abuse and smoking (Boese and Scutella 2006). The 2004 MoEYS Youth Risk Behaviour Survey 

(YRBS) attests that 45 per cent of young people in Ratanakiri and 40.9 per cent in Mondulkiri use alcohol. 

In comparison, an average of 12 per cent of youths in other provinces consume alcohol. The proportion 

of youths consuming tobacco was found to be highest in Ratanakiri (34 per cent). The proportion 

of young women aged 15-19 who have begun bearing children was greatest in Mondulkiri/Ratanakiri 

(21.8 per cent), followed by Odar Meanchey (15.4 per cent), whilePreah Vihear/Stueng Treng and Kratie 

(13.4 per cent and 12.9 per cent, respectively) show the lowest incidence. These provinces are categorized 

as remote, where most of the ethnic youth reside (CDHS, 2005). 

Physical and mental disability increase youth vulnerability. A leading cause of permanent disability among 

young people in Cambodia is road traffic accidents, particularly among males (NIS/NIPH 2008). The highest 

prevalence of motorcycle traffic accidents, in particular, is found among 15 to 17 year-olds. The NIS/NIPH 

survey (2008) also identified suicide as a leading cause of death in this age group, reflecting the mental 

health of young people. FGD findings for this study suggest that the poor mental health situation of 

youth stems from: violence in the home: a perceived lack of caring from the family: feelings of isolation 

upon migrating for work: and, in the case of migrants, the relationships they may develop to satisfy their 

need for friendship or in exchange for food or protection. Where violence in the home is present young 

people aged 15-19 reported fearing for their lives (MoWA 2005). The voices of the young people who 

participated in the FDGs lend credence to these observations. 

Other factors contributing to youth vulnerability are the chronic illness of parents and parents living with 

HIV or AIDS. Vulnerability to HIV is high, since it can be transmitted by parents to their children, The death 

of parents can place the onus of responsibility on adolescents and/or young adults, compounding their 

problems. Studies show that risk perception of HIV is low – especially among the 10-15 year olds, which is 

less than half of those in the 16-24 age cohort and about 60-70% of the 25-49 age group. 

When parents have chronic illnesses or die, children and youths not only lose parental love and support, 

but they can also face the problems of: losing access their basic rights; barriers to school attendance; losing 

access to health facilities; and losing their job security. According to the 2005 CDHS, 9 per cent of children 

under 18 have lost their father or mother, while 0.7 per cent have lost both parents. The proportion of children 

who have lost their father or mother or both increases significantly with age – 12 per cent for 10-14 year-olds, 

and 16 per cent for 15-17 year-olds. The growing number of people living with HIV poses a serious challenge: 

approximately 55,000 children (10.9 per cent of all orphans) were orphaned by AIDS-related illnesses in 2001, 

while the World Bank estimated that by 2005, 20.7 per cent of orphans in Cambodia would have lost parents 

due to the same cause (World Bank 2006). 


7.2.3 YOUTH VULNERABILITY AND THE CHALLENGES OF VIOLENCE AND ABUSE 

It is estimated that young Cambodians are more likely to experience violence and abuse than any other 

age group (MoWA 2008). Previous studies (Fitzgerald and So 2007; Ballard 2007; Keane 2006) note that 

family circumstances, community environment, and a wider ‘world effect’ (e.g. cross-cultural influence 

and ICT) are common factors that position Cambodian youth in vulnerable situations where they may 

experience domestic violence or other forms of abuse. Financial struggles within the family, the mental 

illness of parents, alcoholism, and gambling among members of the household are the main causes of 

violence within the household. 

FGD participants, especially young females, believe that violence occurs more in poor households in rural and 

urban areas as a consequence of alcohol consumption. They further stated that those who suffer most from 

domestic violence are children and youths, who may live with fear, become depressed, start to misbehave, 

lose concentration at school, drop out of school or run away from home. In some cases, wives or daughters 

run away, too, returning to their parents’ or grandparents’ homes to seek help, and sometimes commit acts of 

violence. 

Fitzgerald and So (2007) found domestic violence to be a cause of downward mobility for poor families, due 

to the costs related to damage to property, treatment of physical injuries and loss of productivity. Moreover, 

domestic violence has been found to strongly affect children within the family, particularly youths who lack 

the encouragement to pursue their studies or lose the opportunity to attend school, due to the stress they 

experience. When youths become very upset and depressed about the violence in their homes, they may 

leave home or look for another place to stay. Because of their harsh family environment and lost hopes for the 

future, young people who have grown up with violence at home may consequently loose compassion and 

become criminals and gang members (Jourdan, 2008). FGD participants agree: 

Young people who live in households with frequent domestic violence achieve poor study results in school 

and are often not present in class… they look sad, don’t like to talk... they like to sit at the back of the class. 

Sometimes, they leave school without completing their exams... – FGD, 15-18 year old males’ group, 

Phnom Penh 

Sexual abuse exacerbates youth vulnerability. Rape can be devastating for young women as they confront 

stigma and shame, given the high value placed by Cambodian culture on a woman’s virginity (MoWA 2005). 

According to ADHOC (2005), rape cases have recently become brutal and are more often fatal Victims include 

sex workers, garment workers and those working in beer promotion and karaoke establishments (MoWA 

2008). Perpetrators include young urban men, male university students, members of the police and gang 

members who engage in bauk or gang rape. Under- or non-reporting is common due to a host of factors, 

specifically the shame and stigma associated with rape, distrust of the judicial system, the cost of pursuing a 

prosecution, unofficial ‘compensation’ settlements between perpetrators and victims, and fears of retaliation 

from the perpetrator (LICADHO 2006). 

The media are believed to have a key influence on Cambodian youth, particularly in promoting consumerism 

and violence (Mysliwiec 2005). Increased exposure of youths to wrongful behaviour such as violence and 

sexual misconduct is becoming common, and has allegedly led to increased involvement of young males 

aged 15-18 years in gang rapes and violent attacks on women. Focus group participants said that such 

incidents can take place in the village or in the commune during a special event such as a wedding or a 

traditional ceremony in the pagoda, at which youths are allowed to participate in drinking and merry making. 


85

While advances in the use of information communication technologies (ICT) and digital media (like DVDs) 

have made the acquisition of knowledge and skills more accessible to youth, field observation for this study 

also found such technologies made access to pornographic films and other explicit material, such as violence 

and adult themes, more available to youth audiences. 

Being in conflict with the law exacerbates youth vulnerability. To date, the court and penal system in 

Cambodia has not adequately provided measures to deal with juvenile cases, owing to a lack of facilities, 

juvenile courts and specialists in juvenile law. Children and youths who have violated laws or committed 

serious crimes are often detained with adults, despite legal provision for the separation of untried and 

convicted youth offenders from adults (CDC 2003). As such, their rights as children/youths are highly 

compromised. The Youth Rehabilitation Centre is the only alternative for incarcerating juveniles. Those 

are imprisoned, without any form of legal and social protection, may languish in jail or receive beatings 

in the hands of the police or adult inmates (EveryChild 2006; Egger 2005). The failure to release juveniles 

from pre-trial detention is reported to stem from attempts to secure financial benefits from the families 

of suspects to secure a release (Aekje et al 2006). Table 7-1 shows the number of children in conflict with 

the law nationwide. 

Table 7-1. Children in conflict with the law (CICL), in prison and on pre-trial detention 

Year 

Total # of CICL on Prison in 24 provinces/ 

municipalities 

Total # of CICL on Pre-trial Detention in 24 provinces/ 

municipalities 

Male Female Total Male Female Total 

Proportion of total # of 

children in prison 

2005 (end) 569 16 585 206 7 213 36% 

2006 (end) 575 13 588 132 2 134 23% 

2007 (end) 651 12 663 170 4 174 26% 

Source: Ministry of Interior Prison Department 

7.2.4 YOUTH VULNERABILITY AND THE CHALLENGES OF MIGRATION 

Factors contributing to youth migration include: financial crisis in the family; a lack of livelihood resources 

and skills; and a lack of vocational training at school (or a lack of opportunity to go to school) (Chan and 

So 1999). Traditionally, young men are encouraged to find paid work, which usually requires migration, 

while women are discouraged from doing so. In recent years, however, it has become more common for 

women to migrate to find work, although their options are primarily limited to the garment and sex 

industries. Surveys of women in these industries have estimated that more than 250,000 women have 

migrated from their villages in search of paid employment over recent years (MoWA 2004). Young migrants 

are more vulnerable than permanent residents as they face more changing and different situations for 

which they may be unprepared (Shaohua 2005). FGD findings showed that young people who leave the 

village for employment in the city generally do not have a plan. They leave decisions up by a leader 

(guide) who may have experience of migration; on the whole, these young people are not prepared for 

the requirements of the labour market. 

29 

In a 2006 study, ILO found the average age of beer promotion girls to be 22.7 years. 


Cambodians aged 15-25 make up a disproportionately large number of those who migrated in the five years 

before the 2004 Cambodia Socio-Economic Survey (Maltoni 2007). Comprising an estimated 30 per cent of 

migrant population, rural-to-urban mobility in this age group is shaped by a range of push and pull factors, 

including loss of land or loss of access to other livelihood resources, a desire to seek a better life, and the 

presence of family members in likely employment areas. Urban females in the 15-19 age group are more likely 

to migrate than their male counterparts (Table 7-2), although fewer in the 20-29 age group do so, due perhaps 

to childbearing and housework demands. 

Table 7-2. Percentage of migrants by age group 

Cambodia Urban Rural 

Males Females Males Females Males Females 

All Ages 11.52 9.27 23.66 21.38 8.09 7.05 

15-19 12.63 12.48 25.76 28.45 9.93 9.04 

20-24 24.20 17.05 43.12 37.78 20.06 12.90 

25-29 23.44 14.13 40.31 30.70 19.60 10.73 

Source: Maltoni 2007 based on CSES 2004 

FGD participants indicated that young people who move from rural areas to look for jobs in the cities face a 

lot of difficulties upon arrival. Parents and young people aged 19-24 reported that migrant youths can end up 

using drugs, being manipulated by criminal gangs, or adopting negative social attitudes. 

FGD findings also showed that young rural-urban migrants generally do not have a plan as to what they 

will do when they arrive. They may be at the mercy of an older leader (or guide) who may take advantage of 

them or place them in harmful situations. Being far from their parents and new to urban life, these youths 

have no choice but to obey their employers, regardless of the health hazards in their working environment. 

Other young people head to Thailand where the evidence is that young migrant workers can make more 

money. Unfortunately, they also face serious difficulties (Fitzgerald and So 2007; Ballard 2007; Chan and 

So 1999). For example, construction workers returning to Cambodia have not been able to receive the full 

amount of money that was due them; rather, they tend to receive only 15 days of wages for 20 days of work. 

Besides being exploited by employers or supervisors, young migrants are often drawn into the use of drugs 

out of loneliness or, in some cases, are forced by employers or supervisors to use drugs to increase their 

stamina and productivity (Chan and So 1999). 

….sometimes employers put drugs in the workers’ drinking water, especially cart pullers. When the workers 

become addicted, they have to buy the drugs themselves. The price of one pill could cost between 70 and 140 

Baht and varies according to the quality. Informal Interview with group cart pullers, Poipet 

Young migrant workers also face serious difficulties when working near international borders. Fitzgerald and 

So (2007) found that many young migrants had negative past experiences related to the legal aspects of 

cross-border migration. FGD participants attested to this, and stated that the costs of travel and securing 

employment were often unaffordable. Some young migrant workers were also cheated or lost money when 

they returned to Cambodia. A number also faced the risk of arrest and losing most of their savings if the police 

caught them, especially if they crossed the border illegally. 


87

I used to go to Thailand and I had a very hard time…. I worked for 15 days but the patron paid me for 

only 8 days, promising to pay the rest later. But I am still waiting to be paid. I was so disappointed with his 

bad behaviour. I don’t know what to do and I couldn’t find anyone to help me... FGDs with Youth (20-24), 

Siem Reap 

In a recent study on parenting practices in Battambang (EveryChild-Cambodia 2008), FGD participants 

noted that vulnerable youths who stay away from home suffer from depression and poor living conditions. 

They experience feelings of isolation and a lack of family care, and their earnings are too, low to meet their 

expenditure. To augment their income and fulfil their basic needs, some women become prey to sexual 

exploitation and prostitution, human trafficking and drug abuse. Young men may be recruited into street 

gangs and drawn into misdemeanours or even serious crime, such as gang rape and theft. It is evident 

that youths’ desperate need to adjust to their new situation and to meet the high cost of living in the city 

requires them to harden their attitudes and alter their morals, leading them to break the law. This 

exacerbates the growing phenomenon of children and youth in conflict with the law. 

With my 60 USD monthly pay as a beer promotion woman, I cannot shoulder the whole burden of supporting 

an old mother and three orphan nephews and nieces. Therefore, I have to work sometimes in indirect 

prostitution, which means risks of HIV. My work also puts me at risk from customers who are aggressive, 

who sometimes throw dishes at me if I do not agree to take alcohol with them… Khmer-Muslim Young 

Female, Phnom Penh 

7.3 RESEARCH GAPS 

This study’s findings uncover a number of concerns than underpin vulnerability among youth and call for 

further study. Among the critical areas needing additional investigation are: 

Youth mental health, by gender age and income, including factors that contribute to the incidence 

of suicidal thoughts and attempts. 

The different forms of disability in young people (physical, mental, social) and how these shape their 

vulnerability, with particular focus on attributes of ethnicity and educational level, as these compound 

vulnerability. 

The extent of the positive and negative influences of ICT among youth and how ICT shapes their dayto-day 

lives, with particular attention to: (i) differences between youths in urban and rural areas; 

and (ii) appropriate responses to the wrongful use of ICT, including forms of censorship and 

disseminating media messages on the positive use of ICT. 

An improved understanding of how some of the most vulnerable go on to do well despite poverty 

and adversity. What protects them from harm? 


VIII 

YOUTH 

PARTICIPATION 

AND RIGHTS 

Between the 1970s and 1980s, Cambodia’s youths were drawn into the civil war and the political 

process as citizens, but were then denied their rights to education and health, and the development of 

their full potential as members of society. State controlled volunteerism involved young people in the 

Mass Youth Organisation, which mobilized thousands of students to conduct literacy classes throughout the 

country during school breaks (Mysliwiec 2005). The political stability that began only in the early 1990s gave 

them the opportunity to participate in the social, political and economic spheres. While young people take 

part in economic activities that benefit their households and communities, the extent to which their voices are 

heard and incorporated in decision-making and development processes appears to have been limited. 

This chapter focuses on current youth participation and their right to be involve in social and political activities. 

It examines the national legal framework for youth participation, which could support the formulation 

of a future National Youth Policy. It takes the view that youth participation can be the engine of growth for 

the country, if adolescents and young adults are given the opportunity to fully take part in the development 

process. It also explores the notion and practice of volunteerism among youth, particularly as it relates to their 

perceptions/attitudes and actual involvement in the improvement of their communities. 

8.1 POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES SUPPORTING YOUTH PARTICIPATION 

IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS 

Several national frameworks and programmes have established the rights and critical role of youth in 

Cambodia’s development process. Article 34 of the Constitution gives Cambodian citizens over 18 of either 

sex the right to vote, and to stand as candidates for election if they are at least 25. At the same time, Article 

31 states that the Kingdom of Cambodia shall recognise and respect human rights as determined in the 

United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its concomitant covenants and 

conventions, the CEDAW Convention on women’s rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Its 

National Strategic Development Plan of 2006-2010 also specifies that, with 60 per cent of the population 

being below 25 years of age, youth shall constitute a critical group in advancing the country’s development 

(NSDP 2005). 

The Government’s Decentralisation and Deconcentration (D&D) framework opens up opportunities for 

the participation of youth and marginalized groups. Aligned with the RGC’s Rectangular Strategy, this national 

programme strengthens local governance for development and poverty reduction. It finds support in the 

Cambodian Organic Law of 2008, which is designed “to provide a coherent legal foundation for democratic 

sub-national governance based on the principles of democratic representation, participation, public sector 

accountability and effectiveness, and poverty reduction”. The lowest level of local government is represented 

by the Commune Council, which is closer to the population and reduces some of the communication and 

other roadblocks that undermine youth participation. 


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Spaces for youth participation in governmental programmes are also evident in the widespread effort of 

the RGC to encourage and support volunteerism (Brown 2008). MoH, for instance, articulates this idea and 

puts it into effect in its Policy on Community Participation and through its village health volunteers. MoI, 

too, anticipates volunteerism in the decentralisation programme to be a critical part of the empowerment of 

communities to demand transparency and accountability from local leaders (See section 8.22 for further 

discussion on volunteerism). Likewise, MoWA is working with local volunteers through a pilot project to 

promote the re-institution of norms, such as respect for women, to reduce violence against women. 

Alongside these national frameworks and programmes, the UN Country Team (UNCT) initiated discussions 

in 2006 on the importance of a focus on issues related to Cambodian youths and adolescents. It recognizes 

the value of heightened levels of dialogue between young people and the UNCT on the implementation 

of the work of the UN, the implementation of the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2006– 

2010, support for implementation of the National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP) 2006–2010, and the 

attainment of the Cambodian Millennium Development Goals. 

UNCT-Cambodia took steps to establish a UN Youth Advisory Panel in 2007 as part of its commitment to 

young people’s empowerment and rights, which include their right to participate in decisions that affect 

their lives and to express their views and opinions, in accordance with basic human rights principles and the 

CRC. The Panel will set in place a mechanism for open dialogue and exchange between UNCT-Cambodia and 

youth groups, to advise the Country Team on strategic opportunities and actions to address adolescent and 

youth issues across the UN system. Specifically, it will: (i) increase dialogue and knowledge sharing between 

the UN system and Cambodian youth, based on best practices and lessons learned from youth policies and 

programmes, (ii) increase young people’s understanding of the role of the UN, its comparative advantages and 

its Cambodian development priorities; and (iii), provide a means for young people to discuss issues with the 

UNCT, both to build their understanding of development issues, particularly as they relate to young people, 

and to influence the thinking of the UNCT in its priority setting, strategy and programme development and 

implementation. 

Efforts to make the UN Youth Advisory Panel a reality include holding a preliminary dialogue with several 

youth-focused NGOs. These NGOs include the Khmer Youth Association (KYA), the Youth Council of Cambodia 

(YCC), the Youth Resource Development Programme (YRDP), Youth for Peace (YFP), Youth Star Cambodia, the 

Culture and Environment Preservation Association (CEPA), Khmer Youth and Social Development (KYSD), the 

People Health Development Association (PHD), the Youth and Child Hope Development Organisation (YCHD), 

the Khmer Youth Camp for Culture (KYCC), and Support Children and Young People (SCY). 

Helping to form a ‘mass base’ to this initiative are the numerous NGOs that provide programmes and services 

related to health, education, civic engagement and citizenship. Annex 3-4 in Appendix A lists these NGOs in 

Cambodia’s provinces and municipalities and the range of activities that they facilitate for youth. 

8.2 CURRENT SITUATION 

Cambodia’s youth – defined in this study to be those aged 15-24 – comprise 26 per cent of the total population 

in 2004 (MoP 2006). Yet, their voices in the country’s national policies and programmes are barely heard even 

though they have been visible participants in community-oriented activities. Brown (2008), in her study on 

volunteerism in selected NGOs, found that 32.1 per cent of males and 43.7 per cent of females aged below 


25 give part or all of their time to activities that benefit their communities. Mysliwiec (2005) noted a similar 

pattern, finding that about a third of 215 young respondents to her study had some volunteer experience of 

community work, NGOs, or in private and public sectors, youth associations or international organizations. 

In 2002, Wallquist found that there were some 50-60 youth-initiated organisztions in the country whose 

activities ranged from the promotion of good citizenship to bringing about social change. 

The lack of recognition of youth needs and perspectives in the Government’s policies and programmes 

appears to stem from several factors, including the hierarchical nature of Cambodian society, which demands 

respect for elders and authorities and limits possibilities for young people to articulate their views (Yong 2005). 

Along with this ‘age hierarchy’ comes a ‘knowledge hierarchy’ (Brown 2008), whereby leaders and older people 

think that youths are inexperienced and that they should listen to the more mature and experienced members 

of the community (Yong 2005). This study’s FGD findings confirm these observations as young interviewees 

expressed their exclusion from or limited involvement in development activities. 

Village local authorities never allowed us to participate and express our opinion and ideas in any village 

meeting... – FGD, 15-19 year old males, Sihanoukville 

“Angkar” conducts agricultural trainings in the village. The youth were not allowed to participate in these 

trainings because the elders believe that they will not absorb what is being taught... – FGD, 15-19 year old 

females, Ratanakiri 

The lack of support and encouragement from parents and communities for youth civic engagement also 

partly explains the absence of youth needs and perspectives in government policies and programmes. 

Parents apparently perceive such engagement as political in nature, and therefore entailing risk (KYA 2008). 

Qualitative information gathered for this study also found that Cambodia’s education system has failed to 

impart the knowledge and values necessary for the development of skills among young people that would 

help them build and participate in modern democratic societies, thereby ensuring good governance. As one 

FDG participant noted: 

We realise that the contribution of youth to our community development is very important…being able to 

express our ideas could help us improve our capacity and know more about development, sometimes 

we have some good ideas but do not have good opportunities to express them so we keep them in our minds 

– FGD, female youth, Siem Reap 

There are indications that young people have a sense of civic responsibility, albeit at a fairly basic level 

(Mysliwiec 2005). Asked what they could do as students to contribute to Cambodia’s development, 

respondents from Phnom Penh swa their roles as: “doing their best in their studies; sharing knowledge 

and information from their studies with relatives and ‘others’; being a good citizen; conservation of the 

environment and of culture, engaging in social works; ‘raising criticisms in order to reform bad practices’; 

engaging in volunteer work; and going after training opportunities” (Mysliwiec 2005). There is an apparent 

need for Cambodia’s educational system and other traditional institutions (e.g., family, peer groups, community 

institutions such as the pagoda) to help instil the value of civic responsibility among young people. 


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8.2.1 YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN DECISION-MAKING DEVELOPMENT 

According to the World Youth Report 2007, providing young people a chance to take part in decision-making 

helps shape their own development, preparing them for a role in enhancing and strengthening their 

societies, and subsequently creating a better environment for youth participation. This entails, however, broad, 

synergistic feedback mechanisms that give youth the space to provide their inputs or that permit a dialogue 

between young people, their families, local leadership groups and others who can be critical to the positive 

paths that youth can take for their advancement. Often, however, exclusion is more common. 

Elders and local authorities think that youths have less experience in development, therefore, their ideas have 

been ignored ...– Fathers’ FGD, Siem Reap 

The elders and village chief only call youths to a meeting if there is conflict among young people. The 

youths are never called on to participate in drafting the village development plan...– FGD, 20-24 year olds, 

Siem Reap 

There are presently no structures that bring youths into discussions of national or local development. Because 

local leaders do not consult youth on development issues – since their views are not appreciated – youth 

concerns are not adequately represented and reflected in village (or district and provincial) development 

priorities and budgets. Youths expressed confidence, however, of their ability to contribute to development. 

For them, the social environment and conservative beliefs of the l authorities and elders in their communities 

prevent them from making a contribution. This suggests that youths have a positive view of their role, 

implying that a national youth policy – accompanied by institutional mechanisms that support young 

people’s voluntary engagement – could bring on their more active participation in decision making within 

and possibly outside their communities. 

8.2.2 YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN VOLUNTEERISM 

The United Nations defines volunteerism as “actions undertaken out of free choice, not motivated by 

financial gain, and bringing benefit to the community, volunteer, and society at large” (United Nations 

General Assembly 2008). In Cambodia, several studies link volunteerism to the creation of social capital 

and to engendering reciprocity (Brown 2008; Mysliwiec 2005; Dara 2001; Ebihara 1968). This is because 

volunteerism fosters trust, a basic component to the concept of social capital, as it leads people to cooperate 

towards their shared goals. In the absence of assets in the 1990s and even today, poor Cambodian people 

have relied on their relationships, associations and networks to survive on a day-to-day basis, through 

voluntarily sharing or reciprocating labour, cash, food, information, services and emotional support in times 

of crisis such as ill health (Rakodi, 2002). These are the key elements of social capital that characterize 

rural communities – elements that build on trust and that can lead to meaningful participation in community 

activities and events. 

The World Youth Report of 2007 notes that “volunteerism is a clear manifestation of youth participation in 

society – one that is often altruistic and devoid of immediate selfish interests.” It helps build interpersonal 

and social skills and strengthens personal potential. For example, promoting volunteerism and expanding 

opportunities for youth participation in development benefits larger society, and can be part of a strategy to 

combat social ills such as drug abuse, juvenile delinquency and other deviant behaviour, particularly among 

youth (United Nations 2007). 


This study found that youth conceptions of volunteerism may depend on the benefits or advantages they 

can derive from it. Youths generally perceive volunteering as work that does not offer a salary. Not everyone 

thought it was a great idea. One 19-year-old said that: “Voluntary work in the community is a useless waste of 

time.” Some did not hold a positive view of volunteerism even if they had no experience of it. 

On the other hand, ethnic youth in Ratanakiri province said they liked to work as volunteers. They believe their 

participation can strengthen their understanding and help their community: 

I used to work as volunteer with many local NGOs that implement projects in my community and I gained 

more understanding about development and how to strengthen the community. From this experience I 

became a successful youth activist and I currently have created a community-based organisation to help 

the youth in my village... – 23-year-old male, Ratanakiri 

Volunteering work among youths seems to be shaped by the availability of support, usually from an NGO. 

This idea is substantiated by a recent study in which young student respondents expressed willingness to 

volunteer provided that there was some means of support (Mysliwiec 2005). The same students saw their 

role to be one of teaching or imparting their knowledge to others. However, none viewed volunteerism 

in reciprocal terms or stated that they could also learn something from the people and communities they 

would be working with (Mysliwiec 2005). 

There are indications that volunteering is gaining traction in Cambodia’s rural areas. EveryChild-Cambodia 

(2006) found 84 child- and youth-led clubs and organizations across the country, although some are local 

divisions or branches of NGOs that facilitate programmes for children and youths (Annex 8-1 in Appendix A). 

The activities of these associations include leadership training, home-based care (for people living with HIV 

and AIDS), primary health care, child rights promotion, monitoring child abuse, capacity building for club 

members, holding literacy classes. In a 2007 CARE survey in Koh Kong, 15-24 year-old interviewees claimed 

to participate in several associations and activities in their villages, such as savings groups, home-based 

care-related activities, sports, and a group that works on the environment, sanitation and hygiene. 

This suggests that, while some have a negative attitude towards volunteerism (believing that it detracts from 

income generation), there remains a sense of altruism among many, particularly in rural areas. In terms of 

the development of social capital, the above accounts also demonstrate that, if the youth of Cambodia can 

move beyond the traditional concept of ’charitable’ voluntary work, volunteerism can become a worthwhile, 

inclusive form of participation that expresses solidarity, fosters social cohesion and promotes participatory 

development. Volunteerism, in fact, bridges diverse pathways of participation to promote social, economic 

and political development. “Helping to do the right thing, and helping people, goes together with promoting 

a system that is more just and more equitable” (UNV/IAVE/CIVICUS 2008). 

8.3 OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH PARTICIPATION AND ANALYSIS 

8.3.1 OPPORTUNITIES FOR POLITICAL PARTICIPATION 

Young Cambodians could also contribute by engaging the State as citizens and as constituents in the 

electoral process (e.g. in the National Assembly and Commune Council elections). For those aged 18-24, 

such engagement brings an opportunity to help determine the election of local and national leaders who 

can represent young people’s needs and interests. 


93

Youth political participation is still very low (COMFREL, 2008). The election monitoring organization, 

COMFREL, notes that students with university-level education still do not pay much attention to voting, 

stating that they register only because their parents encourage them to or because they are following the 

example of others. This seems to stem from a lack of encouragement, especially to girls, to engage in politics. 

Additionally, the Government does not allow political discussions and meetings in schools, because 

they are seen as neutral areas in which politics has no place (Yong 2005). This poses a constraint on young 

people gaining a critical political orientation or developing informed opinions. 

Where deeper participation in the electoral process is sought, engagement is said to occur through the 

youth wings of the three main political parties (the Cambodian People’s Party, FUNCINPEC and the 

Sam Rainsy Party) (Yong 2005). The first youth party, the Khmer Front Party, was formed in 2002. With 

students and young adults in its constituency, it has organized campaigns and demonstrations and 

sent petition letters on a number of key issues to high-ranking officials, including the King (Yong 2005). 

Young people’s political expression has also been evident in media campaigns, the lobbying of political 

leaders, and taking part in and helping to organize demonstrations and public forums arranged by 

youth-focused NGOs (Yong 2005). Additionally, youth groups and associations have made conspicuous 

their commitment to influence the Cambodian society by reaching and working with individuals or groups 

within their villages, communes, districts or provinces. Support for such political engagement by youth 

comes from a number of international organizations and donors, including: the National Democratic 

Institute and the International Republican Institute, which conduct training for youth affiliates of the political 

parties; and Forum Syd and EED, which help pave the way for the greater visibility of young people outside 

the political parties. 


There are positive factors in Cambodia which support opportunities for youth to participate meaningfully 

in social and political development processes. A key area that could provide a major opportunity for youth 

participation is the Government’s current decentralization and deconcentration effort, which would afford 

young people a chance to become involved in the local development process. It also brings about 

opportunities for youth to participate as contractors for local government tenders for public works, such 

as the construction of roads, local bridges, schools and markets, and will allow them to become organized 

and be recognised by the local authorities. 

However, major hurdles that need to be overcome are those related to the idea that participation and 

leadership should come with age, knowledge and experience. The tendency to listen to youth and 

address their needs tends to be (1) limited to specific issues (such as violence and drug use) and only 

when they emerge as local concerns to elders. Or they tend to be (2) one-time interventions that respond 

to an immediate visible problem. A rudimentary understanding of the concepts of governance, democracy 

and the importance of youth participation in development is an added complication for youth and for 

leaders alike. Local (and national) leaders need to be at the forefront of embracing youth in all development 

endeavours. Capacity building and learning experiences should therefore include those who can influence 

and mentor young people to become active participants in their own development. Critical to this would be 

support to basic social institutions such as the family, the school, and community (pagodas, local leadership 

groups) that shape young people’s perspectives. 


The key implications of the findings for policy and programming are: 

a. Current practices and beliefs of local authorities and community leaders hinder youth participation 

in the development process. Therefore, there is need to instill a better appreciation of the value of 

youth participation in these influential people. A legal framework such as a national youth policy could 

pave the way for the involvement of youth, particularly in socio-cultural and political development. 

b. Youth can benefit from participating only if there is strong support from the community. Indigenous 

peoples in the northern provinces tended to support youth participation in the development process 

by giving them opportunities for skills training that could improve their earning ability in the future. 

c. Youth participation in volunteerism is limited by their perceptions of volunteering as traditional 

‘helping’ activities, i.e. unpaid work. Those who have accepted a wider concept of volunteerism, which 

includes civic participation and contributes to social, economic, and political development, have 

demonstrated increased engagement with and commitment to participation. Ways should be explored 

to promote a supportive environment for volunteerism, to enhance youth engagement in the 

participation explored. 

d. Efforts should be made to review ongoing initiatives for youth by NGOs and INGOs. This will help to 

create understanding of which strategies work in engaging youth in simple community functions or 

larger activities such as development-oriented events (e.g. promoting personal hygiene and sanitation 

or advancing a campaign on community latrines). 

e. A safe and supportive environment should be created, with a particular focus on youth leadership 

programmes, by establishing youth exchange activities, not only overseas but also between and 

within communities (e.g. among schools, villages, communes and provinces). These will open 

opportunities for youths to understand their larger society, build relationships and sharpen their 

knowledge and skills so they can become future leaders of the country. 

One important effort towards enabling the involvement of all potential development players would be to 

build up a strong youth movement. Struggles for democratic reform in many countries have involved youth, 

who have more modern ideas about governance, and who dare challenge the status quo. There is an absence 

of venues for developing leadership among youth, such as student governments and rural youth associations. 

Activities to promote youth as a development agenda should also be strongly advocated. As the World Youth 

Report 2007 notes: 

The effective engagement of youth as equal partners requires recognition of the rights of all young 

people to participate at all levels of decision-making and to make productive use of their knowledge, 

perspectives and experience. It is a process from which both youth and non-youth stakeholders benefit. It 

also represents a situation in which young people are no longer seen as passive recipients of national 

resources or the root cause of society’s problems; instead, they are regarded as vital participants in society 

who can make an important contribution to their countries’ development and whose involvement must 

therefore be appropriately nurtured and cultivated. 


95


IX CONCLUSIONS & 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

Any set of recommendations from this Situational Analysis of Cambodian Youth needs to be grounded 

in the tremendous strides that have occurred in the country over the past 15 years. For example, 

illiteracy has decreased as participation in primary and secondary education has increased. While 

Cambodia has a long way to go to make education equally accessible in rural areas and equally available to 

girls as for boys, it has already made great advances towards achieving that goal. Moreover, while there is 

need to strengthen health information and service delivery infrastructures, this analysis notes the substantial 

strides made in reducing HIV prevalence in the country. 

The extent of the interrelation between the problems faced by Cambodian youth is striking. For example, 

rural poverty diminishes the likelihood of obtaining an education. Uneducated people are more likely to 

have large families. Moreover, rural poor who migrate to the cities for work are more likely than others to be 

homeless and unemployed, and thus more likely to turn to criminal behaviour or to seek employment as 

unskilled labourers in Thailand and Malaysia. Those who remain in rural communities are more likely to live on 

subsistence farming, perpetuating the cycle of poverty and stress that lead to sexual and physical abuse. 

The following recommendations are based on the present Situational Analysis and enhanced at a workshop 

held in February 2009. These suggestions are presented with the awareness that young people are the hope 

for the nation. And with the awareness that without aggressive and coordinated set of interventions with 

government, bilateral organizations and NGOs, the demographic dividend that could flow from the rapidly 

growing number of youth entering both reproductive age and the work force, may well become a national 

nightmare. 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

The recommendations one – six are crosscutting. Specific recommendations under the themes of education, 

health, employment, vulnerability/social protection and , , rights and participation are found in the matrix 

below: 

1. Provide technical and financial support to accelerate a final draft 

of The Cambodian National Youth Policy 

Ensure inclusion of youth in decision making and development planning within the policy. 

ToR prepared for consultant and timelines developed by end of March 2009 

Led by UNRCO with UNICEF, UNFPA, UNV and UNESCO. 

2. Strengthen Strategic Information about young Cambodians to inform policy 

and programming in 2010 and beyond. 

Building on MoEYS support, implement a national baseline survey of mainstream Cambodian youth 

that includes the topics of sexual and reproductive health, education, disability, work, family life, media 

and IT influence, mental wellbeing, drug and alcohol abuse and selected health risk behaviour. 


97

Led by the UN Adolescent, Youth and HIV Working Group in line with their planning document for 2009 

UNCT will host a preliminary workshop to discuss the possibility of a comprehensive national youth 

survey. Experiences from a range of other Asian youth surveys will be presented and time given to 

consider and discuss the methodologies, scope of content, challenge of implementation, research 

partners and opportunities for mobilizing resources. 

UNICEF and WHO to provide resources for youth survey experts by end of July 2009. 

3. Mainstream adolescent and youth needs and rights into the priority areas of UNCT work for 

2009/2010 (through ensuring a deliberate lens on strategy development), into the UNDAF 2009, 

and into new UN documents/publications including the Democracy and Development safety 

nets in D and D. 

4. Develop key messages focused on the risks and inequalities young people face, and advocate 

for policy protection, improved programming and services, including mobilizing resources 

for youth-focused and youth-led initiatives. 

5. Mainstream youth focus on resource allocation and application of a youth lens in the poverty 

reduction process 

6. Require a disaggregation of findings by gender, age and geography (urban, rural, and remote) 

in all UN agency documents, monitoring and evaluation methods and grants to other partners). 

Youth-specific information should, where possible, be further disaggregated to reflect 10-14, 

15-19 and 20-24 age groups. 

Policy 

Education Health Employment Social Protection Rights and 

participation 

Develop and enforce 

pro-poor education 

policies 

with a focus on 

1) inclusiveness of the 

most vulnerable 

and 

marginalized 

2) Support cash/kind 

from public and 

private institutions 

to enable the rural 

poor, especially 

girls, to continue 

their studies 

in secondary and 

post-secondary 

education 

3) Technical and 

vocational 

education and 

training to respond 

to market demand 

and long-term 

national 

development 

policy 

Advocate for 

implementation of 

Cambodia’s signature 

on tobacco and 

alcohol control 

Advocate for the 

decriminalization of 

drug use to protect 

the rights of young 

drug users and 

prevent spread of HIV 

Enforce the age of 

marriage laws 

Identify targeted 

interventions for 

MARA and EVA in 

the next national HIV 

strategy 2010-2015 

(UNCT led by UNAIDS) 

Expand health equity 

funds to cover all 

operational districts 

to ensure the poorest 

have access to free 

services at the point 

of delivery. 

Review Labour law to 

demonstrate specific 

protection for young 

people, with specific 

reference to health and 

safety in the workplace 

Push for national policy 

impacting on youth 

employment including 

subject areas of 

labour market, land 

reforms and 

agriculture/irrigation 

Finalize the draft 

Juvenile Justice Law. 

Mainstream 

participation of young 

people into the D &D 

process by including 

specific references in 

UN & and government 

documentation. 

Develop mechanisms 

and systems to ensure 

youth have a voice 

and are an integral 

and dynamic part of 

village/commune, 

provincial and 

national level 

development 

planning . 

(UNDP, UNICEF, 

UNFPA, UNV, 

UNESCO,) 

Volunteering Policy 

developed and integrated 

with Youth 

Policy, Education Policies 

and Employment 

Policies. 

( UNV, VIOs and NGOs) 

By end 2009 


Program 

Mobilize resources for 

the implementation of 

the National HIV/SRH 

education plan across 

the country 

Mobilize resources to 

operationalize youth 

and informal education 

policy 

Develop high-quality 

TV drama to challenge 

norms, perceptions 

and behaviors around 

a myriad of issues. 

1. importance of 

secondary schooleducation 

and success 

Implement 

child-friendly-school 

policy in all schools 

Implementation of 

the TCC 

Provide training of 

AYFHS Guidelines to 

key health settings 

for MARA including: 

VCCT sites, sexual and 

reproductive health 

centres, including 

STI clinics and drug 

rehabilitation services. 

(UNFPA and WHO to 

lead implementation 

seeking funds from 

HIV sources) 

Social marketing 

of available 

contraception and 

safe abortion services 

for young unmarried 

women and men 

Targeted media 

campaigns for young 

men and especially 

young women and 

first time deliveries re 

the importance 

of delivering babies 

in health care 

setting (Consider 

opportunity to 

expand/extend 

current campaign to 

reach young sexually 

active women) 

Develop programmes 

with young women 

and men that facilitate 

critical thinking and 

problem-solving skills, 

that can act as a 

precursor to social 

and community 

mobilization. 

Subjects around for 

example making 

the environment safer 

from accidents/ 

drowning/vector 

diseases (UNDP to 

support initiatives 

through D&D and 

commune planning 

by end 2009). 

Enforce labour law 

and health and safely 

in the workplace. 

Scale up social 

protection networks 

to create better, safer 

working environments 

for young people (ILO: 

Expansion of SFI) 

Vocational Education: 

Establish programmes 

and opportunities 

for young people to 

develop work-related 

skills: including 

school-based 

vocational training, 

special vocational 

centres, on-the-job 

training and 

volunteering 

(ILO to explore/ 

establish pilot job 

centres). 

Entrepreneurial skills 

development through 

small grants initiatives 

(ILO, UNDP and 

partners) 

Invest in agricultural 

development to enable 

better financial 

outcomes for youth 

labour efforts 

Social security 

Irrigation initiative 

Support the 

rectangular (phase 2) 

strategic directive of 

establishing Youth 

Employment/ 

Vocational Centres 

in urban areas and 

selected rural areas 

Enforcement of 

legislation and 

implementation of 

policies 

Parenting Education 

IEC on the rights of 

youth (including rights 

to protection) 

as enshrined in 

international 

conventions and 

national laws, as well 

as on who has 

responsibility to fulfill 

these rights. 

Develop programmes 

with young people 

facilitating critical 

thinking/problem 

solving solutions for 

Commune Council 

planning. Subjects 

around vulnerabilities 

in the village and 

systems/methods of 

protecting young 

people. Include youth 

in ongoing efforts to 

develop social safety 

nets and cash transfers 

UNDP (with 

governance) 

document lessons 

learnt by 2010 

Establish a number 

of youth centres that 

offer opportunities 

for young people to 

participate in civil 

and community 

life and access 

opportunities for non 

formal education, 

leisure and recreation 

Develop pilot 

programmes to 

establish youth 

leadership structures 

at commune and 

provincial level. These 

can take the form of 

youth groups, youth 

committees, youth/ 

student associations, 

etc. 


UNESCO, UNFPA, UNV) 

Capacity building for 

Commune Council 

chiefs and elders to 

change perceptions 

about needs rights of 

young people and 

benefits of participation 

in community 

decision making 

and development 

(UNDP, UNICEF 

through Seth Koma) 

Capacity-building of 

youth at village level 

to understand their 

rights and their role in 

development of their 

communities. 


UNESCO, UNV, UNFPA 

Develop high quality 

TV drama to provide 

messages, change 

perceptions and 

behaviours around 

multiple issues 

including adult 

perceptions and 

expectation of youth. 

UNCT Communications 

team led by UNICEF 


99

Research 

Best and most 

beneficial practices 

in health and civic 

education in schools 

Review of content 

and nature of health 

education programmes 

in school – link with 

health 

Impact of secondary 

education on the 

future work and life 

of young Cambodian 

people 

Strategic information 

on Behaviours and 

Lifestyles most at 

risk and extremely 

vulnerable 

adolescents for HIV. 

(The UN Adolescent 

and Youth HIV 

Working Group: 

Draft proposal for PAF 

funding by end 

Feb 2009 

Data available 

end 2009 

Explore the underlying 

determinants of health 

risk behaviour 

(National Survey 

Cambodian Youth) 

Conduct Global Youth 

Tobacco Surveys at 

regular intervals. 

Better understand 

the contribution of 

adolescent and young 

women to maternal 

mortality 

Disabilities in young 

people 

(UNICEF to explore) 

Small medium 

enterprises and agri 

business possibilities 

for job creation and 

labor market demand 

(ILO) 

Attitudes , orientation 

and experience of work 

for young people 

Availability of 

agricultural education 

skills 

Examine existing laws 

and policies regarding 

child protection and 

determine need for 

policy and its content 

Social security scheme 

2004 reviewed and/ 

or barriers to its 

implementation and 

the impact a miss 

ing scheme has on 

youth 

Review measures 

for Social Security 

compile and 

disseminate identify 

who has responsibility 

Review, map, compile 

and disseminate, 

current measures 

for protection from 

exploitation and 

abuse, including social 

protection. Highlight 

gaps in coverage 

Mental health status 

of young people. 

(National Health 

Survey) 

Vulnerabilities created 

by disabilities 

(Nationalnal Health 

Survey) 

Document best 

practice of youth 

participation as 

programme 

recipients, 

implementers and 

decision makers 

Rights and 

participation of most 

vulnerable youth in 

politics (covered 

in MARA HIV Survey) 

Impact of forced 

evictions on youth 


X 

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CHAPTER 7 - YOUTH AND VULNERABILITY 

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111

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REPORT APPENDICES 

AND ANNEXES 

APPENDIX A – CHAPTER ANNEXES 


113


CAMBODIAN 

YOUTH PROFILE 

I- GENERAL DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE 

1.1 Cambodia Youth Population in 2005 and trend over 1998 and 2015 

Age Group 

2005 

FEMALES 1,000S MALES 1,000S 

Change over 

1998 

Proje cted 

change over 

2015 

2005 

Change over 

1998 

Projected 

change over 

2015 

(%) (%) (%) (%) 

10-14 921 11 -12 953 9 -12 1 

15-19 839 20 -4 879 29 -6 

20-24 755 88 19 755 108 22 

25-29 484 2 69 443 1 90 

Total 7108 13 22 6699 14 24 

Ref 

1.2. Total Youth Population by Age Group 

Sex 

AGE GROUP 

10-14 15-17 18-24 Total Youth age 15-24 

Ref 

Male 924,885 543,348 1,049,726 2,517,959 2 

Female 892,978 504,638 1,050,861 2,448,477 2 

1.3. Geographical Distribution of Youth Population 

Geographic location 

10-14 

AGE GROUP 

15-17 18-24 

Ref 


Region 2 

Phnom Penh 67,989 67,267 47,473 53,904 115,426 119,309 

Plain 400,933 384,143 236,929 215,609 441,189 447,564 

Tonle Sap Lake 287,427 278,506 164,349 148,001 299,092 294,386 

Coastal 68,918 66,714 36,025 35,523 75,444 73,010 

Plateau and Mountainous 99,619 96,348 58,572 51,601 118,576 116,592 

Residence 2 

Urban 134,346 132,017 85,382 90,184 187,157 174,670 

Rural 790,539 760,962 457,966 414,454 862,569 876,191 


115

1.4. Youth Ethnic Background 

Ethnicity 

10-14 

AGE GROUP 

15-17 18-24 

Ref 


1 = KHMER 888,025 858,113 524,279 487,997 1,008,192 1,007,876 2 

2 = CHAM 21,937 19,824 10,306 8,924 24,349 26,810 

3 = OTHER LOCAL GROUP 5,939 7,457 4,018 4,873 7,962 7,670 

4 = CHINESE 1,178 714 162 390 303 409 

5 = VIETNAMESE 4,753 4,470 2,951 1,373 5,401 4,969 

6 = THAI 0 0 0 0 0 0 

7 = LAO 1,221 1,677 949 221 2,288 1,383 

8 = OTHER 1,832 723 683 860 1,019 1,622 

1.5. Youth Family Structure and Poverty profile 

• Youth Marital Status 

Age 

Never 

married 

MARITAL STATUS 

10-14 15-17 18-24 

Married 

Living 

together 

Divorced Separated Widowed 

Total 

Number of 

respondents 

Women 6 

15-19 89.2 9.8 0.3 0.4 0.2 0.2 100.0 3,601 

20-24 40.8 54.3 0.5 2.3 1.3 0.7 100.0 3,045 

Men 6 

15-19 97.9 1.6 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.0 100.0 1,662 

20-24 60.5 36.2 0.5 1.1 1.6 0.0 100.0 1,222 

Ref 

• Household Size 

Household 

size 

10-14 

AGE GROUP 

15-17 18-24 

Ref 


Less than 3 8,449 9,129 8,225 8,369 34,828 44,297 2 

3-4 members 150,737 143,545 89,347 81,380 245,990 298,842 2 

5-6 members 386,969 372,007 211,552 188,685 348,818 324,418 2 

7+ 378,730 368,297 234,224 226,203 420,091 383,305 2 


• Youth wealth index quintile 

Wealth Index 

Quintile 

10-14 

AGE GROUP 

15-17 18-24 

Ref 


Q1 (poorest) 178,977 173,247 103,136 93,745 213,212 208,781 2 

Q2 (next poorest) 196,157 183,197 108,083 95,079 201,476 196,170 2 

Q3 (middle) 189,428 188,002 108,276 93,407 196,068 198,355 2 

Q4 (next richest) 193,717 185,883 113,361 108,228 203,132 203,784 2 

Q5 (richest) 166,725 162,217 112,779 115,146 243,048 250,599 2 

Cambodia 925,003 892,546 545,635 505,605 1,056,936 1,057,689 2 

1.6. Correlates of income/ Consumption poverty among households with youth 


Poverty headcount 

rate (%) 

Poverty gap (income/ 

consumption shortfall 

as % of poverty line) 

Poverty severity rate 

(%) 

Age group by gender 

Male youth 15-24 32.31 8.4 3.14 2 

female youth 15-24 32.34 8.3 3.05 2 

Ref 

1.7. Percentage of Youth Exposed to at least one Media Source (newspaper, radio, television) 

Age group 

GENDER 

Female 

Male 

Ref 

15-19 86.5 87.7 6 

20-24 81.0 83.9 

15-24 84.0 86.1 

II- EMPLOYMENT PROFILE 

2.1. Labour force by age groups in 2004 

Age group No (1,000) Per cent Males Females Ref. 

10-14 874.6 11.6 12.0 11.3 1/2 

15-19 1,241.2 16.4 16.5 16.2 

20-24 1,206.6 16.0 16.2 15.5 

25-29 709.0 9.4 9.6 9.1 


117

2.2. Trends in Youth Labour Force (LF) 1998-2010 (‘000) 

Age Pop 98 LF 98 Pop 2004 

Labour 

force 

Participation 

rate% 

Pop 2010 LF 2010 Ref. 

10-14 1703.5 819.4 1817.9 874.4 48.1 1651.7 794.5 2 

15-19 1381.0 1005.4 1705.3 1241.5 72.8 1848.7 1345.9 

20-24 766.0 640.4 1443.3 1206.6 83.6 1697.9 1419.4 

25-29 912.8 794.1 815.3 709.3 87.0 1488.6 1295.1 

2.3. Labour force Participation by sex and rural/urban areas 

Sex Phnom Penh Urban Rural All areas Ref. 

Male 65.1 73.1 81.4 78.9 2 

Female 56.7 66.0 73.0 70.7 

Both sexes 60.8 69.5 77.0 74.6 

2.4. Youth Labour Force by Level of Education 

Age group None Primary 

Lower 

Secondary 

Upper 

Secondary 

15-19 13.4 42.2 34.5 10.0 100.0 2 

20-24 18.9 36.2 25.4 19.3 100.0 

25-29 23.7 37.0 22.4 17.0 100.0 

Total 

Ref. 

2.5. Total number of employed youth population, by sector and age group (‘000) 

Employment Sector 

Employment 

Ref. 

1999 2004 2/14/15 

Agriculture 

Agriculture 1,267.1 1,455.3 

Industrial Sector 

Manufacturing 123.5 326.6 

Service Sector 

Trade 89.3 284.4 

Transport and communication 25.2 6.3 

Public administration 12.3 12.3 

Total 1,517.5 2,084.9 


2.6. Youth unemployment by sex and Region 

Criteria Total Male Female Phnom Penh Other Urban Rural Ref. 

Unemployment using “strict” definition 

15 - 19 1.4 1.3 1.4 6.2 2.7 0.9 2 

20 - 24 1.6 1.9 1.2 7.8 1.4 0.8 

15 - 24 1.5 1.6 1.3 7.2 2.1 0.9 

Unemployment using “relaxed” definition 

15 - 19 7.9 7.3 8.5 24.8 10.1 6.2 2 

20 - 24 6.5 5.4 7.6 16.6 7.1 5.1 

15 - 24 7.2 6.4 8 20.1 8.6 5.7 

Note: “Strict” definition counts only those actively seeking employment; “Relaxed” definition measures those not working but available for work 

III- EDUCATION PROFILE 

3.1. Youth Education by age group and gender 

Education Level 

10-14 

AGE GROUP 

15-17 18-24 

Ref 


Primary 780,033 751,830 320,531 288,763 423,385 494,608 2 

Secondary & Higher 39,464 45,172 173,215 164,207 491,332 333,488 

Do not know 75,856 70,122 48,535 50,273 133,893 221,553 

3.2. Trends in Public Expenditure for Education from 1995- 2007 

Cambodia 1995 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Ref. 

Total Education 

Current budget 

expenditures (in 

million riels, 

MOEF) 

N/A 165,816 209,246 289,669 300,458 325,908 350,768 445,614 N/A 3 

As % of GDP N/A 1.18 1.34 1.73 1.62 1.52 1.36 1.49 1.38 4 

3.3. Public Expenditure for Education by Region 

Total Expenditure Expense (in million Riels) Ref. 

Current budget expenditure 325,908 2/5 

Private Expenditure 475,679 2/5 

Region 1 206,119.1 5 

Region 2 97,775.96 5 

Region 3 32,358.82 5 

Region 4 483,474 5 


119

3.4. Number of Teachers and Schools 

Teachers and schools 

Primary 

Lower 

secondary 


% of teachers, by sex (2005-06) Female/ Male 41.7/ 58.3 30.8/ 69.2 33.3/ 66.7 13 

2000/ 2004 50.1/ 55.1 18.5/ 25.1 11 

Pupils to teacher ratio 1 2005/06 50.8 31.7 29.5 9 

No. of schools 2002/ 2006 5,741/ 6,277 534/ 911 163/ 252 10/ 9 

Longest distance to (km.) 2000/ 2005 2.0/ 1.5 8.0/ 5.0 - / - 11 

Ref 

3.5. Literacy Rate 

Literacy Female Male Total Ref 

Literacy (% ages 7 & over), 2004 

Adult literacy (% ages 15 & over), 2004 

Literacy Rate (% ages 15 -24 years), 

2004 

Urban/ Rural 78.6/ 65.3 88.9/ 80.8 83.5/ 72.7 12 

Total 67.4 82.1 74.4 

Urban/ Rural 76.9/ 61.6 91.7/ 83.3 83.8/ 71.6 12 

Total 64.1 84.7 73.6 

Urban/ Rural 88.0/ 76.8 92.8/ 87.0 90.8/ 81.9 12 

Total 78.9 87.9 83.4 

Table 3.5a Literate Population aged 7 years and over by sex and sector 



Literate 85.5 72.2 74.4 76.0 57.5 60.4 80.7 64.6 67.2 

Table 3.5b Literate Population aged 15 to 24 years by age group, sex and sector 



15-19 92.1 84.5 85.8 90.1 80.4 82.1 91.1 82.6 84.0 

20-24 91.4 80.1 82.1 86.0 67.6 70.6 88.8 73.7 76.3 

3.6. Gross and Net Enrolment Rate 

Gross and Net Enrolment Rate 

Gross enrolment rates 1 2005-06 

Net enrolment rate 1 2005-06 

Primary 

Lower 

secondary 

Upper 

secondary 

Female/ Male 118.6/ 129.4 50.0/ 60.5 15.3/ 23.1 13 

Total 124.0 55.3 19.3 

Female/ Male 89.7/ 93.0 30.4/ 32.1 9.0/ 12.7 13 

Total 91.3 31.3 11.3 

% Female enrolment 2001-02/2005-06 46.5/ 47.3 36.2/ 44.9 32.1/ 38.8 13 

Ref 


Gross & Net Enrolment Rate, 

by area, 2005/06 

Gross enrolment ratio 

Net enrolment ratio 

Primary Primary Primary 

Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural 

Female 117.4 118.9 81.3 45.2 40.9 9.6 9 

Male 127.5 129.8 95.5 55.3 50.4 16.5 

Female 89.7 90.1 50.3 27.4 26.1 6.3 9 

Male 92.7 93.3 49.9 29.7 26.7 9.3 

Gross enrolment rate in 15-24 years age group, by level of education 


P LS US Total P LS US Total P LS US Total 

15-19 149.7 27.1 14.5 191.3 140.8 21.9 9.2 171.9 145.4 24.6 11.9 181.9 

20-24 182.7 33.1 17.7 233.5 161.0 25.0 10.5 196.5 171.8 29.0 14.1 214.9 

P – Primary; LS – Lower Secondary; US – Upper Secondary 

Ref 

Net enrolment rate in 15-24 years age group, by level of education 


P LS US Total P LS US Total P LS US Total 

15-19 28.9 20.3 6.7 56.0 20.2 15.5 6.5 42.2 24.7 18.0 6.6 49.3 

20-24 1.4 2.7 8.5 12.6 0.6 1.3 2.6 4.6 1.0 2.0 5.6 8.6 

P – Primary; LS – Lower Secondary; US – Upper Secondary 

3.7. Technical and Vocational Training 

Technical, Vocational Education & Training Total % Female Ref 

2000-01 6,169 29.4 13 

2001-02 7,943 19.9 13 

2002-03 6,790 26.8 13 

3.8. Drop Out & Survival Rate 

Drop out rate (across all 

educational levels) 

Urban Rural Remote 

Female Male Female Male Female Male 

2002-03 9.55 8.56 12.51 11.6 23.13 20.68 13 

2003-04 9.16 7.81 12.46 10.17 21.58 16.8 

2004-05 8.93 8.6 12.33 11.68 19.03 17.15 

Ref 


121

Drop out Rates 

Primary School Lower Secondary Upper Secondary 

Female Male Female Male Female Male 

Ref 

2001-02 9.55 10.84 20.8 17.3 16.5 16.2 13 

2002-03 9.52 10.76 22.9 20.4 23.3 23.3 

2003-04 12.2 9.67 22.5 28.8 18 20.5 

2004-05 12.1 11.4 23.5 21.4 15.7 17.8 

Survival rate, 2005 Grade 1-5 Grade 1-6 Grade 1-9 Ref. 

Female 54.94 47.55 24.80 9 

Male 56.00 48.70 27.94 

IV- HEALTH PROFILE 

4.1. Public Expenditure for Health from 1995- 2007 

Cambodia 1995 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Ref. 

Total Health 

Current budget 

expenditures 

(in million riels, 

MOEF), of 

which 

N/A 101,808 129,749 164,391 172,966 192,062 224,560 260,791 N/A 3 

As % of GDP N/A 0.72 0.83 0.98 0.93 0.9 0.87 0.87 0.98 4 

4.2. Public Expenditure for Health by Region 

Total Expenditure 

Health Current Budget 

Expense (in million Riels) 

Current budget expenditure 192,062 2/5 

Private Expenditure 61,513 2/5 

Region 1 36,970.22 5 

Region 2 25,331.22 5 

Region 3 8,592.65 5 

Region 4 9,665.12 5 

Total Expenditure 253,575 

Ref. 

4.3. Percentage of youth who used a condom at last high-risk sex 

Men 15-24 who had sexual 

intercourse in the past 12 months 

Men 15-24 who had higher risk 

intercourse in the past 12 months 

Background 

characteristics 

Percentage who 

had high-risk 

intercourse in the 

past 12 months 

Number of men 

Percentage who 

reported using 

a condom at last 

higher-risk 

intercourse 1 

Number of men 

Ref. 


Age 

15-19 69.8 91 80.2 64 

15-17 * 20 * 16 

18-19 66.7 71 (82.1) 48 

20-24 30.9 606 85.8 187 

20-22 37.4 283 91.8 106 

23-24 25.3 323 78.0 82 

know condom source 

Yes 46.2 448 87.1 207 

No 17.8 249 71.6 44 

know condom source 

Urban 64.1 152 89.3 98 

Rural 28.2 545 81.3 154 

6 

6 

6 

Note: Figures in parentheses are based on 25-49 unweighted cases. An asterisk indicates that a figure is based on fewer than 25 unweighted cases 

and has been suppressed. 

1 

Sexual intercourse with a non-marital, non-cohabiting partner 

2 

Friend, family members and home are not considered sources of condoms 

4.4. Percentage of youth with comprehensive correct knowledge of HIV/AIDS 

Background 

characteristic 

A healthylooking 

person 

can have the 

AIDS virus 

Percentage of women and men who say that: 

AIDS cannot 

be transmitted 

by mosquito 

bites 

AIDS cannot 

be transmitted 

by supernatural 

means 

A person 

cannot 

become inf 

ected by 

sharing food 

with a person 

who has AIDS 

Percentage who say that a 

healthy-looking person can have the 

AIDS virus and who reject the two most 

common local misconception 

Percentage with a comprehensive 

knowledge about AIDS 

Number of women and men 

Ref. 

Age 

Female 6 

15-24 72.3 69.2 85.8 90.2 55.0 50.1 6,646 

15-19 71.9 70.2 86.5 89.7 55.2 50.2 3,601 

20-24 72.8 67.9 85.0 90.9 54.8 49.8 3,045 

Male 6 

15-24 59.9 75.6 90.7 89.1 48.5 45.2 2,884 

15-19 56.3 72.4 90.0 87.8 44.6 41.4 1,662 

20-24 64.7 79.9 91.7 91.0 53.8 50.4 1,222 


123

4.5. Pregnancy of Female Youth 

Age 

Current 

age 

Percentage who gave birth by exact age 

15 18 20 22 25 

Percentage who have 

never given birth 

Number 

of women 

Median age 

at first birth 

15-19 0.2 na na na na 94.8 3,601 a 6 

20-24 0.4 8.9 26.3 na na 51.5 3,045 a 6 

na = Not Applicable due to censoring 

a = Omitted because 50% of women had a birth before reaching the beginning of the age group 

4.6. HIV prevalence rate among youth 

Background 

Characteristics 

Age 

Percentage who gave birth by 

exact age 

Percentage 

Number 

HIV positive 


exact age 

Percentage 

HIV positive 

Number 

Ref. 


exact age 

Percentage 

HIV positive 

Number 

15-19 0.0 1,657 0.1 1641 0.0 3,298 

20-24 0.6 1,483 0.2 1216 0.4 2,699 

Residence 

Urban 0.4 638 0.0 511 0.2 1,149 

rural 0.3 2,503 0.1 2345 0.2 4,848 

Note: Figures in parentheses are based on 25-49 unweighted cases. An asterisk indicates that a figure is based on fewer than 25 unweighted cases and has 

been suppressed 

4.7. Percentage of Youth Who Use Tobacco Products (smoke cigarettes/pipe or use other tobacco product) 

Age group 

Gender 

Female 

Male 

Ref. 

15-19 0.8 U 6 

20-24 2.2 U 

15-24 1.4 U 

U= Unknown (data not collected or insufficient data to calculate indicator) 

4.8. Percentage of Currently Married Youth Who Do not Want any more Children, 

or Want to Wait at Least 2 Years before Having a Child 

Age group 

Female 

Gender 

15-19 25.7 U 6 

20-24 23.7 U 

15-24 24.1 U 

Male 

Ref. 


4.9. Percentage of Youth Who Experienced any Physical Violence in the 12 Months Preceding the Survey 

Age group 

Female 

Gender 

Male 

Ref. 

15-19 7.9 U 6 

20-24 - U 

15-24 - U 

4.10. Percentage of Youth Who Have Had Sexual Intercourse and Who Say that Their First Experience 

Was against Their Will 

Age group 

Female 

Gender 

Male 

Ref. 

15-19 0.0 na 6 

20-24 2.5 na 

15-24 2.0 na 

4.11. Percentage of Ever-Married Youth Who Have Experienced any Violence (physical, sexual, or emotional) 

by Their Current or most Recent Husband/Partner 

Age group 

Female 

Gender 

Male 

Ref. 

15-19 18.6 na 6 

20-24 - na 

15-24 - na 

Note: Women not currently married were asked questions about the behavior of their most recent husband/partner using the past tense 

4.12. Percentage of Underweight Youth (BMI

4.13. Percentage of Overweight Youth/Obese (BMI

4.17. Youth Maternal Mortality Ratio 

Age Deaths Exposure Mortality rates Reference 

Women 

15-19 38 37,770 1.02 6 

20-24 60 34,633 1.73 

Men 

15-19 62 37,687 1.63 6 

20-24 92 36,570 2.51 

• Percentage of current married women who have heard of at least one contraceptive method and 

who have heard of at least one modern method, by age 

Age 

Heard of any method 

Heard of any modern 

method 

Number of women 

15-19 97.3 97.3 363 6 

20-24 99.2 99.0 1,671 

Reference 


127

• Percent distribution of all women and currently married women by contraceptive method currently used 

Modern method 

Any traditional method 

Age 

Any method 

Any modern 

method 

Female 

sterili-sation 

Male 

sterili-sation 

Daily pill 

Monthly pill 

IUD 

Injec-table 

Im-plants 

Male 

condom 

LAM 

Any traditional 

method 

Rhythm 

With-drawal 

Folk method 

Not currently 

using 

Total 

Number of 

women 

Ref. 

ALL WOMEN 

15-19 2.1 1.4 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.7 0.1 0.6 0.0 97.9 100.0 3,601 6 

20-24 19.1 12.9 0.1 0.0 5.9 0.9 0.5 3.5 0.1 1.8 0.1 6.2 1.8 4.3 0.0 80.9 100.0 3,045 6 

CURRENTLY MARRIED WOMEN 

15-19 20.8 13.7 0.0 0.0 7.0 0.6 1.7 1.6 0.0 2.8 0.1 7.1 1.2 5.9 0.0 79.2 100.0 363 6 

20-24 34.6 23.3 0.2 0.0 10.7 1.6 1.0 6.3 0.1 3.0 0.2 11.3 3.3 7.9 0.1 65.4 100.0 1,671 6 

Sources: 

1. NIS/ MOP. 2006. Statistical Year Book 2006 

2. NIS/MoP. 2004. Cambodia Socio-Economic Survey. Phnom Penh: NIS/MoP 

3. Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. MoEF Outlook 1993-2011 

4. World Bank. 2007. “Sharing Growth Equity and Development” 

5. Ministry of Economy and Finance, Department of Budget 2005 

6. NIPH and NIS. 2006. Cambodia demographic and health survey 2005. Phnom Penh and Calverton, Maryland 

7. Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS). 2006. Tracking Progress of Gender Mainstreaming in Education (TPGME) 

8. World Bank. 2006. Key Development Data and Statistics 2006 in: http://devdata.worldbank.org/external/CPProfile.asp?PTYPE=CP&CCODE=KHM 

9. Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Education Statistics & Indicators, MoEYS, 2005-2006 

10. Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Education Statistics Database, 2002/2003, Phnom Penh: MoEYS-EMIS 

11. Ministry of Planning. National Strategic Development Plan 2006-2010. Phnom Penh: Ministry of Planning. January 2006 

12. NIS/MoP. 2004. Cambodia Inter-Censal Population Survey 2004, General Report. Phnom Penh: NIS-MoP & UNPFA, November 2004 

13. Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS), 2006. Tracking Progress of Gender Mainstreaming in Education (TPGME) 

14. National Accounts 1993-2004 

15. NIS/MoP. 1999. Cambodia Socio-Economic Survey. Phnom Penh: NIS/MoP 

16. NIS/MoP. 1999. Labour force survey 2001. Phnom Penh: NIS/MoP 


ANNEX 1- 1 

YOUTH SITUATION ANALYSIS RESEARCH QUESTIONS 

The Situation Analysis aims to identify the country’s human, financial and organisational barriers to 

the fulfilment of youth and young people’s right, with special focus on those most vulnerable and 

exclude from society, giving full consideration to their active participation in the process as right 

bearers. The results of the analysis will guide the development community to provide the tools and support 

necessary for duty bearers to become aware and accountable for their duties, while empowering young 

people to advocate for their rights. 

KEY QUESTIONS OF THE STUDY: 

• How is the situation of young people in current development process? 

• What would be their critical needs, major challenges and barriers to the fulfilment of their rights? 

• To what extent, current programmes, as well as existing support and funding and project activities 

supporting to youth and young people available in Cambodia? 

• What are the main gaps and overlaps of such program in the areas of intervention? (with inclusion both 

mapping of formal and informal volunteer programmes) 

• To what extent the links between the different elements such as population growth, employment 

patterns, economic and social development impact to youth? 

• How important of relations around gender, sexuality, ethnicity, class to the ways in which young people 

are positioned within the society? 

• To what extent, existing studies, surveys, data and research on young people in Cambodia available? 

• What are the main gaps in data and analysis of such research, survey and data? 

• What are the main areas required to bring more concerted efforts and greater investments for young 

people? And what should be the proposed priority actions? 


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ANNEX 1- 2 

YOUTH SITUATION ANALYSIS: FIELD RESEARCH GUIDE 

I. THEMATIC FOCUS AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS 

The overall objective of the fieldwork exercises is to understand how the situation of youth in Cambodia 

is changing in today’s society, especially with respect to vulnerable and marginalised young men and 

women. We first need to understand how young men and women perceive their social, physical, and 

economic environment is changing (or not changing) in the area where they live and, in some cases, 

work. Second, we want to understand the recent experiences of young men and women, as well as 

their perceptions of their own current situation and expectations about their future. In considering the 

following themes, it is important to lead the group through a discussion of how young men and women 

see things changing and where they fit in the context of the many changes. In this sense, we will want to 

discuss their concerns as well as hopes and ambitions for the future. 

The key themes that will guide the focus group discussions concern employment, education, health, 

human security, rights and participation, changing values and attitudes, expectations about the future, 

and other activities. It is important to bear in mind that gender is an over arching theme that cuts across 

all of the discussions and interviews. We are especially interested to learn more about the similarities 

and differences of perceptions and expectations between young men and women. The research 

methodology is specifically designed to reflect gender as an overarching theme and includes Focus 

Group Discussions (FGDs) for young men and women. 

Employment What are the main livelihood activities in the village? Is this changing? How are youth affected/ 

involved? 

What are the main employment opportunities in or near the village? Who has the opportunity to be 

employed, and who does not? What are the reasons? What is required to access employment? 

Are they prepared/ able to get any of these jobs? 

What kind of job would you like to have in two/five years? What would you need (i.e., skills, training) to 

obtain such a job? Is that available here, or where would you have to go to? 

How do you learn new skills to do a job? Have you ever participated in any vocational training program 

or skills development activities? Are such opportunities available nearby? 

Do you think you might need to migrate somewhere else to find work? Are people in the village migrating 

elsewhere to find employment? 

Education What level of education is available in or near the village? Who goes to school, for how long? 

What is required to go to school? Does everyone finish? If not, why not? 


Why go to school – how is relevant and what do they learn? Will it help you find employment – or does it 

not matter? 

What are your ambitions/hopes for education, including higher education (what level would you like to 

achieve)? What would you need to achieve this level? 

Have you ever received special training for something? 

Health What are the main health issues in the village? Are all youth affected similarly? 

Do people have access to good health care? What about health education? What are the sources of 

information concerning health care and health education? 

How often do you go to the local health centre? Why do you go (for routine check up, or just when you 

are sick or there is a problem?)? How do you feel when you go to the health centre? Do al young people go to 

the same health provider? If not, where do others go, and why? 

What concerns young people about health and health care? 

Are there instances of HIV/AIDS in the village? What do young people know about this, and where do 

they get information? What about other sensitive health related issues, such as sexuality and STDs? 

What, if anything, can be done to improve health and health care in the village? 

Where do such ideas come from? 

Human security Do you feel safe and secure in the village? 

Are there any problems associated with security in the village or nearby? 

Why do such problems occur? How do such problems affect you? 

What do local authorities do about these problems? What can be done about these problems? 

Is there anything you can do about such problems? Who should be responsible for solving such problems? 

Do they have the authority/capacity to solve these problems? 

Is there anything you can do to help resolve such problems? 

Rights and Participation What does the idea of freedom mean to you? Examples? Do you feel you have 

freedom to participate in the affairs of your village (social, political affairs)? Do you feel that others in 

your community have more freedom than you? Why, or why not? Examples? 

How are decisions made in the village about what people do together? Do you think your opinions are 

important (in the community, in the family)? Why or why not? Examples? 

How is information communicated within the village and within the family? Are young people included 

in communication about the village and/or family, or not? Why or why not? 


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Have you ever participated in any group activities, and are you a member of any particular group or 

organisation? Why, or why not? Are there opportunities to participate in group activities? Are there 

barriers to participate? What kind of activities would you like to participate in? 

Have you ever participated in volunteer work, or do you currently do volunteer work? What kind of work 

is it? Why do you do it? Do other young people do volunteer work in the community? What kind of work, 

and why? 

Changing Values and Beliefs Do you think that your behaviours (and other young people) and ideas are different 

from your parents when they were the same age? If so, how - please give examples. How about grandparents? 

If not, how – please give examples? Why are their differences? Why are there similarities? 

Are there things that you disagree about with your parents or grandparents? If so, what and why? 

Are there things that you agree about with your parents or grandparents? (Re. attitudes, beliefs, 

practices – e.g., behaviour, marriage). 

Do you think there are certain things that other people, like teachers or other authorities, expect you to do 

or expect you to think? Do you have the same idea, or do you have a different idea? Please give examples? 

What do you think about the role of women in the village – what is expected of them? Who decides this? 

What about men? If there are differences do you think this is fair – how have these roles changed and why? 

Do you think these could change? How so and why? 

About the future What do you see yourself doing in 2-5 years? Will you be married? Will you have children? 

(Why, or why not?) Do you think you will be in the same village? 

Is community well-being changing? Are there more poor people, more rich people? Are things improving 

in the village? What are their criteria for improvement (what example do they give of things getting better 

or getting worse)? How do you think things will change in the village – will it be better or worse? What 

will cause these changes? How will these changes affect you? 

Do you think things will be better for your children, or the children of the village, in the future? 

How so, or why not? 

Are you optimistic about the future, or pessimistic? In either case, why? What examples can you provide? 

What are your hopes and dreams for Cambodia? What are three (3) things you would like to advise today’s 

leaders to do in order to help those hopes/dream come true? 

Other activities When you are not working, or in school, what do you like to do for entertainment or fun? 

What do other young people in your community like to do for fun? What is there to do in the village? Or 

do you have to go somewhere else for entertainment or fun? Depending on the answer, probe to see if it 

costs money to do. What are your sources of money for spending on entertainment and fun? 

Key Informant Interviews Four key informant interviews will be conducted at each village site, making a 

total of 24. The interviewees may include village chiefs, CBO staff, teachers, health workers, and police. 


Special efforts will be made to meet with commune council members as circumstances permit. The national 

elections will take place 27 July and in some areas commune council members be not be available. One or 

two KIIs will also be conducted in the specifically targeted areas of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and 

Sihanoukville. The total number of KIIs will therefore be about 27 – 30. 

Individual interviews About 2-3 semi-structured individual interviews will be carried out at every village 

site, making a total of 12-18. The actual number will depend on the types of issues that emerge in the 

FGDs and KIIs and the availability of time. The interviewees will be selected from each of the four youth 

group FGDs or will be selected based on special areas of concern (e.g., disabilities, ethnicity, school drop 

out, HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, child labourer). An additional two interviews will be conducted in 

specifically targeted areas in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville. The total number of individual 

interviews will therefore be about 18-24. 

II. 

STUDY PROCESS 

The complete fieldwork process in each village site will take six days as follows. 

Activity 

Number of days 

Travel 1 

FGDs, KIIs, and individual interviews in the village 3 

Reflection/Report writing 1 

Contingency 1 

Total 6 

The number of days earmarked for each activity is limited due to budget and time constraints. Although 

in practice there should be flexibility in how the time is used, the fieldwork should ideally proceed 

according to the following sequence of activities. 

In Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville, one additional day would be needed to cover the 

specifically targeted areas and groups. Six days may be sufficient for Phnom Penh as travel time will be 

minimal. Again, the amount of work that can be achieved regarding specifically targeted groups will depend 

on the resources available at the conclusion of the second round of fieldwork. 

The village survey teams will be comprised of four enumerators and one CDRI team leader. There will three 

survey teams. Each survey team will visit one province during the first phase of the fieldwork and one province 

during the second phase. 

Preparation Before starting the fieldwork in a village, the team should call on the commune council and 

inform them of the study process. This meeting should also be used to gather preliminary information 

about the commune, with a specific focus on issues pertaining to the situation of youth. A time should 

be arranged to meet as many of CC members and village chiefs as possible at the conclusion of the 

fieldwork in order to cross-check the main findings and obtain feedback and clarification on areas that 

are not clear. The roles and responsibilities of the team members should be decided before starting 

the fieldwork. The team should also discuss a tentative plan for the fieldwork. 

Introduction Full introductions should be given before starting the fieldwork at any location. We also need 

to repeat the full introductions before starting a FGD or individual interview. Introductions should include: 


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• Personal introductions (names) 

• Information about the study 

• Objectives, and how the study results may be used 

• Study process (FGDs and interviews, commune discussions) 

• Duration 

• Make it clear that no immediate benefits/projects will come to the village or any individuals as a 

result of this study. 

It is important to be transparent about the study, and provide any information that the community may 

want to know. It is also important that no false expectations are generated in this process. 

FGDs The FGDs should ideally have between 8-12/15 participants. Each group will generally last 2 to 

2.5 hours. The facilitators should inform participants about the expected duration of the discussion 

before starting and make sure they understand and agree. If the meeting is going to exceed 2.5 hours, 

be sure to stop and clarify with participants how much longer the meeting may go on. Participation in 

the FGD is strictly voluntary, and participants may leave at any time. It is important to ensure everyone’s 

responses will be kept strictly confidential, and that there will be no attribution according to name. 

The FGDs will be recorded with a small discrete cassette recorder in order to support documentation 

and analysis. Participants should be informed of this in the beginning and asked permission to record, 

ensuring people that their names will be not be associated with the recording. 

Previous FGD experience shows that male participants tend to dominate mixed group FGDs, which 

diminishes women’s voices and perspectives. Also, women are often reluctant to raise sensitive issues 

(e.g., reproductive health) in mixed groups, or groups with a male facilitator. As a result, the FGD 

facilitators and note-takers will be the same sex as the FGD participants. For example, for any female FGD, 

the facilitators and note-takers must be female. 

After introducing yourselves and explaining the purpose of the research, the facilitators should start each 

FGD with a community time-line exercise to help participants reflect about how circumstances have been 

changing in their village. The time-line exercise should focus on important events, such as development 

projects or crisis (e.g., flood, drought), exploring along the way what participants think about these 

events and how they feel they have been affected. If relevant, the facilitators may also want to ask about 

changes in the natural resources in the areas, but there will not be time to do a village resource mapping 

exercise. 

In terms of wrapping up the FGD, the facilitator should ask the group participants to discuss among 

themselves the most important problems they face as young people in their community. They should 

rank these problems in order of importance and explain why they are problems. They should also be 

asked to propose solutions or recommendations for managing such problems, and identify those who 

should be responsible for solutions. The facilitators can leave the group to work on their own, giving them 

about 15 minutes, or can stay with the group and help guide them through the exercise. The most 

appropriate course of action may depend on the group. This exercise could also be used to wrap up and 

individual interview. 


For the final concluding exercise, the facilitators should ask the group participants to identify their hopes 

and dreams are for Cambodia in the future, perhaps 3-5 themes. They should be asked for three (3) 

things they would like to advise today’s leaders to do in order to help those hopes/dream come true and 

explain why. 

Key informant and individual Interviews It is often best to carry out the key informant interviews with 

adults early in the fieldwork process in order to help provide background information as well as 

identify and frame trigger questions for the FGDs. Individual interviews with youth or others can then be 

conducted toward the end of the fieldwork when the general issues in the village have become clearer. 

The individual interview can then be used as an opportunity to explore specific issues in detail and clarify 

information and observations. 

Reporting back to the village/verification It is important to keep in mind that we are visitors in the village 

and that people who participate in FGDs and agree to interviews are in fact taking time away from their 

usual busy schedules. We need to respect this at all times. One way of showing our respect for people’s 

time and effort is to report back to the village what we have observed and found and seek their 

verification and clarification. This meeting should be conducted at the end of the village visit and can 

be organised with help from the village chief and other leaders in the village. This meeting should be 

planned in the very beginning and should be open to everyone from the village, especially young people. As 

with the FGDs, this meeting should be recorded along with careful note-taking. 

Outputs The main outputs from the village fieldwork will include the daily reports, individual interview 

standard forms, and the village synthesis report. Other outputs will include all enumerator field notes, 

cassette recordings, and community timeline exercises, as recorded on newsprint. The team leader should 

be sure that all of this material is available and well organised before departing the village 

III. CHECKLIST OF ISSUES AND METHODS FOR FGDS 

Be prepared with all the material you need (including water and snacks to share with participants) and 

be ready to start on time, even though some participants may arrive after the scheduled time. 

Getting discussion underway: start the FGD by doing a simple community timeline exercise to help 

participants talking about their village environment 

Keeping the discussion moving: Occasionally there may be pauses or gaps in the discussion. Be prepared 

to use a “trigger” question or observation and ask participants to comment. 

Often times, a few people may tend to dominate. Be inclusive! Be sure each participant gets a chance to 

speak, so politely ask individuals what their idea/opinion is if they have not had a chance to speak. 

Clarify and check back with the group frequently to make sure you understand what they have said. Also, 

ask the group if they agree or disagree with a certain point. This is also a good way to generate more 

discussion. 

Probing questions: the most important component of conducting an informative e FGD is to keep 

asking probing questions. Keep in mind that the key word in this regard is “why”? Keep probing for 


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explanation and clarification. Other key words are when, where, who, and what. 

When an individual tells something about themselves, be alert for opportunities to ask the group if they 

have had a similar experience or made a similar observation or thought. And then ask the group if others 

in the village have had similar experiences or thoughts. It will be especially interesting and useful to ask 

young men and women to compare their situation or themselves with others in the community who 

they perceive to be better off or worse off. 

Sometimes it is useful to draw pictures or make diagrams – or ask participants to do so if you think it will 

help clarify a point or generate more discussion. (See the checklist of materials below, and be sure you 

have everything!) 

Wrapping up the FGD. When you sense the group is tired and ready to stop, you will want to start 

wrapping up. As you get toward the end, be sure to let people know how much more time there is 

(“In the next ten minutes before we stop, I would like to ask a few more questions….”) When you get 

to the end, be prepared to give the group a brief summary of what you have observed and learned, and 

ask if they agree. Be sure to thank everyone for his or her time – this is really important! 

After the FGD is over, the research team should sit together and make a list of the most important/ 

interesting observations and points that came up. Be sure to identify the points that were surprising 

or controversial, and the themes that seemed to generate the most discussion. This is a useful exercise 

in terms of helping you prepare the daily report as well as prepare for the next FGD. 

IV. CHECKLIST OF ISSUES AND METHODS FOR INDIVIDUAL INTERVIEWS 

Many of the issues and methods concerning FGDs can be modified and adapted for both key informant 

and individual interviews. However, the individual interviews should not require as much time, perhaps 

30-45 minutes for the individual interview with youth and up to one hour with the adult key informant 

interviews. 

As with FGDs, be prepared with all the material you need (including water and snacks to share with 

participants) and be ready to start on time. 

Before starting, take a few minutes to chat briefly with your prospective interviewee to make sure he or 

she is a reliable informant. In some cases, informants may be distracted by work they are doing or 

watching after children. In such cases, it may be better not to start the interview and choose someone else. 

Also, be sure to make sure that the surrounding circumstances are conducive to a good interview. If there 

is too much noise or other kinds of environmental distractions, it may be best to conduct the interview 

in another location. In the case of key informant interviews, it may actually help to have additional 

people observing so that information can be cross-checked and verified right on the spot. In the case 

individual interviews, however, you may need to be careful about confidentiality and so may want to 

select a more private location. 

Getting discussion underway: start the individual interview by doing a simple personal life history 

exercise to help them talk about themselves. As for KIIs, you may want to make one or two observations 

about the village environment and ask the interviewee to respond. 


Keeping the discussion moving: Occasionally there may be pauses or gaps in the interview. Be prepared 

to use a “trigger” question or observation and ask participants to comment. 

Clarify and check back with the individual frequently to make sure you understand what they have said. 

Also, ask them if they agree or disagree with a certain point. This is also a good way to generate more 

discussion. 

Probing questions: As with FGS, the most important component of conducting an informative interview 

is to keep asking probing questions. Keep in mind that the key word in this regard is “why”? Keep probing 

for explanation and clarification. Other key words are when, where, who, and what. 

When an individual says something about themselves, be alert for opportunities to ask them if others in 

the village have had similar experiences or thoughts. It will be especially interesting and useful to ask 

young men and women to compare their situation or themselves with others in the community who 

they perceive to be better off or worse off. 

Sometimes it is useful to draw pictures or make diagrams – or ask interviewees to do so if you think it 

will help clarify a point or generate more discussion. (See the checklist of materials below, and be sure 

you have everything!) 

Wrapping up the interview. When you sense the individual is tired and ready to stop, you will want to 

start wrapping up. As you get toward the end, be sure to let people know how much more time there 

is (“In the next ten minutes before we stop, I would like to ask a few more questions….”) When you get 

to the end, be prepared to provide the individual with a brief summary of what you have observed and 

learned, and ask if they agree. Be sure to thank everyone for his or her time – this is really important! 

Immediately after the interview, the interviewer should take time to make a list of the most important/ 

interesting observations and points that came up. Be sure to identify the points that were surprising or 

controversial, and the themes that seemed to generate the most discussion. This is a useful exercise in terms 

of helping you prepare for the next FGD or individual interview. 

The individual interviews should be timed to last about 30-45 minutes, depending on the content and 

quality of the interview. Themes and issues to be covered during individual interviews include: 

• Individual time line/life story: What are the key events/changes experienced by the household and 

how have they affected the individual? 

• Description of their family and their role/position is within the household. 

• Livelihood/employment discussion: assets owned by the individual (if applicable) household, changes 

in asset ownership, assets they have access to (from relatives and neighbours), sources of livelihood, 

outflows, periods of stress and coping strategies. 

• Observations about social and economic environment of the villages, including references to social 

services, human security, participation in group activities, organisations or other social networks in 

the village that this individual is part of; are there networks this individual feels left out from; how 

do these networks work, i.e. on the basis of clusters, relatives/kinship, friends, political affiliations, 

ethnic groups, etc. 


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• Their expectations for the future concerning employment, marriage, children. 

• What are the most important problems they face? How do they cope with or solve these problems? 

• What are their hopes and dreams for Cambodia? What would they like to advise leaders to do in order 

to achieve these hopes and dreams? 

The interviews will address specific questions related to the main research themes and questions as 

outline in Section 1 above. Although the questions will be written down on a standardised form for 

recording responses, the interviewer should be prepared to ask follow-up probing questions and to be 

flexible about the order in which questions are addressed. In this sense, the interview is semi-structured. 

It is important to engage the respondent in a free flowing discussion that the interviewer steers, making sure 

that all issues are addressed regardless of the order in which they come up in the conversation/interview. 

V. DOCUMENTATION 

It is important that all FGD, KIIs, and individual interviews, as well as any informal chats, are thoroughly 

and accurately recorded in order to minimise the amount information leakage that can take place as data 

moves along the documentation and reporting ladder. All informal chats should be documented as some 

of the most interesting and useful information comes up from these interactions. The field notes, FGD 

reports, KKI and individual interview report forms will inform the preparation of a comprehensive village 

site report. 

Field Notes Each enumerator should be prepared to take copious notes of each discussion group and 

interview in a field journal. Each FGD should have one person who is designated as the note-taker whose 

sole responsibility will be to take detailed notes. All notes (FGDs as well as key informant and individual 

interviews) should be recorded chronologically, reflecting the actual order of the discussion or interview. 

The notes can be then categorised according to topic at a later time. 

FGD Reports The Village Survey Team will prepare a comprehensive report for each FGD using a 

standardised format. The report will cover all the main points with complementary detail addressing each 

of the main research themes. The reports should be prepared on the same day as the FGD in order to 

minimise information leakages. 

Interview Notes Both key informant and individual interviews will be recorded on standardised forms. 

Because of time constraints, the interviewers will be able to record these notes on the forms and will not 

have to prepare separate or collective reports for each interview. 

Daily Discussion Notes Each evening while in the field, the team leader should convene a team discussion 

to review findings and observations made during the course of the day. The notes from this discussion 

should be synthesised into a daily findings brief. The evening discussion will also be useful in terms of 

informing the work plan for the next day. 

Village Synthesis Report The village site reports will serve as basic analytical data upon which the survey 

analysis will rest, and as a result should be thorough and comprehensive. The village site report will 

address all the key research questions outlined in the field guide as well as provide any and all new 

information that the team considers relevant to the overall goals and objectives of the research project. 


The village site report should be prepared in Khmer and then translated into English in order to provide 

a wide range of observers and researchers with access to the data as well as facilitate analysis with NVivo 

software. 

VI. VILLAGE SURVEY TEAM COMPOSITION, ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Each village survey teams will be comprised of four enumerators, including two women and two men. 

The field enumerators are contracted on a short-time basis and will be responsible for facilitating the 

FGDs and helping with the individual interviews as needed. A CDRI researcher who is responsible for 

ensuring quality control for all data collection, documentation and reporting activities will supervise 

each team. The CDRI team leader may also help conduct some of the key informant interviews and 

individual interviews as needed. 

VII. RESEARCH ETHICS 

Social research involves human beings and must be guided by a strong and clear sense of ethical 

considerations. This is especially so when working with vulnerable groups, including children. CDRI team 

leaders and field enumerators should strictly adhere to the following ethical guidelines: 

• Participation in all research activities is strictly voluntary and individuals have the right to terminate 

their involvement at any time. Individuals should not be coerced or otherwise persuaded to participate 

against their will. 

• The interviews and FGDs will be conducted in strict confidence. The information will not be divulged 

outside CDRI and there will be no individual references or attribution (i.e., quotation) by name. 

• Everyone who participates in the research should be informed of the goals and objectives of the 

research and how it will be used. People should also be informed that the research will not lead to 

any projects or other interventions in the community. 

• Children under the age of 17 must have parental consent to participate in interviews or focal group 

discussions. 

• Individual interviewers and FGD facilitators should be aware of any topics or comments that may 

make participants uncomfortable. Individual interviewers should terminate the interview if they 

observe discomfort on the part of the interviewee. FGD facilitators can excuse individual participants 

from the group or call a “time out” in the discussion if they feel anyone is uncomfortable with the 

content of the discussion. Interviewers and facilitators should discuss such matters with the team 

leader. If necessary, the team leader should call their supervisor or the research advisor for 

consultation. 

• CDRI research and enumerators working on behalf of CDRI are expected to conduct themselves 

as professionals while in the village. FGD participants and interviewees, as well as all members of 

the community, should be treated with respect at all times. 


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VIII. MATERIALS TO TAKE ALONG TO THE FIELD 

• Notebooks for all note keeping 

• Large sheets of paper 

• Marker pens 

• A-4 size paper 

• Cassette recorders (preferably two per village) 

• A sufficient number of cassettes 

• Scissors 

• Masking tape 

• Rubber band (to secure the rolled up sheets of paper) 

• Folders (to file the daily and site reports) 

• Pens 

• Pencils 

• Eraser 

• Stapler and staple pins 

• Sufficient cash to purchase snacks/water for FGDs, as well as other items 

• Bag to carry all the material (a plastic shopping may do) 


ANNEX 1- 3 

YOUTH SITUATION ANALYSIS RESEARCH COORDINATION MATRIX 

Main Area of Analysis 

I- Major Trend (Youth Profile and Demographic) 

Detail Indicators/ Data 

1.1 

1.2 

1.3 

1.4 

1.5 

Youth statistical data and profile (population, sex, language spoken, marital status, 

Geographical distribution, Ethnicity, Religious Affiliation, Family size and structure, 

Employment Statistic, Education Statistic, Health Statistic, Poverty and hunger, food 

security and nutritional status) 

Cambodia youth in context of current development (globalisation and free market 

economy, population growth, fertility rate). Current situation of youth in free market 

economy and overview of future trend 

Trend in youth migration (Internal Migration, External Migration, Permanent and 

Short-term migration) and interrelation to current labour participation rate (LPR) 

among Cambodia youth, the trend in youth labour forces? What are gender gaps 

in LPR? What could be the issue regarding the gender gap in LPR? and the status or 

well-being of migrant people 

How different livelihood of youth by well-being/ gender and ethnicity and 

geographic? Are there any correlation between HH poverty and the number of 

young adult work? What is the situation of young adult under women head family? 

Analyse trend and correlations between social or economic development to LPR of 

youth in Cambodia 

II- Overview of Legislation 


FGD 

X 

X 

Key Informant 

Interview 

X 

X 

2.1 

2.2 

2.3 

1.3 

Overview of existing law on youth (including related institution and their 

effectiveness of law implementation), What are constraints for implement law 

on young people? How current laws will contribute to formulation of national 

youth strategy? 

Youth and their common conflicts (Social, Economic, Political, and Psychological 

dimensions) with law, Law and conflict resolution (with refer to youth). Case study 

of law conflict resolution 

According to the law, what right the young people have? Legal right for young 

people. Law and prospects for enhance social safety net for vulnerable young 

people, what are opportunities for law enforcement, what areas, gap, and limitation 

need to be adjusted and improved? 

Trend in youth migration (Internal Migration, External Migration, Permanent and 

Short-term migration) and interrelation to current labour participation rate (LPR) 

among Cambodia youth, the trend in youth labour forces? What are gender gaps 

in LPR? What could be the issue regarding the gender gap in LPR? and the status or 

well-being of migrant people 


141

III- Policy Implication 


3.1 

3.2 

3.3 

3.4 

3.5 

3.6 

IV- Health 

Current National Policy (CMDGs, NSDP II, Rectangular Strategic...) and its reflection 

to young people development, Does current policy respond comprehensively to 

the needs of vulnerable young people? What are perception from government 

and development institution regarding current policy? What will be trend of policy 

and its foreseen impact to young people? 

What are possible role from which civil societies and other development institutions 

could contribute to policy and other national intervention which ultimately impact 

more effectively to youth development 

Halving poverty by 2015? Within this effort for poverty reduction, what would be 

prospects (opportunity and constraint and challenges) for youth to catch up this 

opportunity? 

Integration of youth development issues to CIP and CDP, what are prospects and 

perception among stakeholder and youth them selves? 

Analyse current context of social change (participation, empowerment, good 

governance and democracy) would help contribute to the change of youth 

behaviour or youth situation improvement 

Challenge, opportunity and constraints for government to formulate national youth 

strategy, What are perceptions from NGOs and donor regarding the formulation of 

national youth strategy and what are possible contribution from those agencies 

to the formulation? If formulated, how could National youth strategy will impact 

to young people development in Cambodia? What are policies priorities for youth 

national strategy? What are good lesson learnt from other country youth policy? 

X 

X 


4.1 

4.2 

4.3 

Youth health statistical profile ( Percentage of young people living in absolute 

poverty, fertility, contraception, Marital mortality ratio, Disability in population, 

access to health care and expenditure, food security and nutritional status) 

Youth and access to health care and expenditure (Overview current access to health 

care service by youth and vulnerable youth) and does situation of youth being 

excluded from health services exist (with refer to macro and micro level of health 

sector) 

Overview of current policy (health safety net for young people, gap in health service 

to vulnerable young people) from prospects of economic development and 

improvement of Prospects of economic development and improvement of health 

service for youth. What are the foreseen prospects for promoting health care for 

youth for stimulates growth, poverty reduction and health care expenditure? What 

are possible role of public sector for contribution to health sector development? 

Youth perception on current health service, Challenge and opportunity for health 

4.4 sector development for youth? What is prioritised health education needed by young 

people? 

4.5 Analysis of situation of drug and tobacco, alcohol abuse among young people X 

4.6 

4.7 

Current situation of Youth Reproductive Health, Trend of HIV/AIDS, STI among youth, 

Challenge for young people with ARH (education), youth and preventive measure 

to HIV/AIDS and STIs 

What are possible role for youth in health sector improvement (VHV...)? How useful 

contribution of young people and their participation in health development at 

commune level? 

X 

X 

X (Commune 

Health Center) 


V- Education and Training 


5.1 

5.2 

5.3 

5.4 

5.5 

Youth education statistical profile (Youth literacy rates, Gross enrolment ratio for 

secondary education, Net enrolment rate for secondary education, Gross enrolment 

rates for tertiary education, Transition rate to general secondary education, 

Government budget allocation to education improvement) 

Overview of current education policy and intervention made by government, 

What are foreseen gap in education sectors for youth (a review from formal and 

informal sector)? Review major constraint and opportunity for improve access to 

education (with refer to NSDP and CMDGs other national education policy) - a review 

from macro level for education sector development for youth. What are role of 

development institution to fill in the gap in education? 

Prospects for economic development and future implication of education 

development and enhancement. Additional skills needed by young people to 

catch up opportunity and benefit from development and growth? What are the 

main challenges for youth to access to higher education, vocational training and 

life skills? 

Assessment of current effort of current project, program, intervention which 

include media and other broadcast means made by Government, NGOs and 

other institution in support to education sector. What are their strength, weakness, 

and gap in implementation the program? 

VI- Livelihood and Employment 

X 

(CCs or VDCs) 


6.1 Major challenges and barriers to the fulfilment and improvement of their livelihood X (Optional) 

6.2 

6.3 

6.4 

6.5 

6.6 

6.7 

6.8 

- Challenge for safe migration, Are there any correlation between household size 

and young people migration? 

- Reduction of livelihood activities in the community (reduction of Natural 

Resources Availability, Food Insecurity, debt, Shock and disaster) 

Analyse the current situation of job opportunity for youth in current economic 

development (both internal and external), Current situation of youth in free 

market economy and social development (Labour availability, LPR, trend of youth 

employment an unemployment, prospects for promoting labour availability for 

youth). How is trend of impact to youth 

What are the positive and negative impact of physical infrastructure development 

and livelihood of young people 

Identification of their critical need for sustainable livelihood, Access to basis 

standard of living (Food, Shelter, Quality of life, Education, Opportunities as baseline 

information) 

What are the factors and circumstance enhance or impede the ability of youth to 

access to social services and development infrastructure? Are these different by 

gender/ ethnicity or economic status? What are the most challenging issue for 

young people for livelihood improvement? 

Analysis of MFI and SME development and implication to improvement and 

provide better opportunity for improvement of youth livelihood in both rural and 

urban area? How could promoting agriculture marketing will help in order to 

enhance their livelihood (from perspective of agriculture development)? 

X 

X 

X 

X 


143

6.9 

6.10 

What are the prospects for enhancing social capital for youth will help contribute 

to their livelihood improvement? What role social capital play to livelihood 

improvement? 

Good practice and lesson learn from any intervention on youth livelihood 

improvement 

VII- Risk and Vulnerability 

X 


7.1 

7.2 

Overview of common risk and vulnerability that young people is facing (by gender, 

geographic and by employment sectors with refer to poverty and current 

development context). Youth perception in risk and vulnerability they faced 

Economic dimension of youth risk and vulnerability (Labour market challenge for 

youth in context of Cambodia development, what make youth vulnerable in labour 

market). Economic inflation and its implication to risk and vulnerability to youth 

and young people? Prospects of SME development and its impacts to risk and 

vulnerability mitigation of young people 

7.3 Young people and sexual abuse and vulnerability (tourist sector) X 

7.4 

7.5 

Foreseen the future development and its implication whether benefit from growth 

and development will contribute to reduction of risk and vulnerability among young 

people? 

Review and analyse social protection program for young people with refer to mean 

for mitigate their risk and vulnerability (Social protection efforts and mechanism to 

reduce youth vulnerability). Role of the government and development institution in 

reducing risk and vulnerability of youth 

VIII- Civil right and Participation in Development process 


X 

X 

X 

Youth and exclusion from participation in development process with refer to youth 

right and participation in social and community development, formulation of 

Commune development plan, other related initiative on community development, 

8.1 their possible role in CBOs, and their influence on public decision 

Discuss role of youth and educated adult in support to their community 

development scheme 

8.2 Good lesson learnt and practice on promote civil right to youth 

8.3 

8.4 

8.5 

8.6 

Foreseen the future development and its implication to improvement of right for 

youth to access to development process and participation 

Overview community perception on youth role (education, youth development, 

employment creation and sustainable livelihood, business development, and health 

and well-being 

Prospects of volunteerism and participation of youth in community development. 

Young people and volunteerism and member ship in civic society (village health 

volunteer, other type of volunteer in community and other social services, 

democratic process) 

How development information will be facilitated to youth in community? Youth 

and access to media and use of media, ICT, what information do young people 

value? Implication for young people's media rights (protection of young people's 

media rights, Provision of young people's media right, participation and young 

people's media right, Education and young people's media right) 

X 

X 

X 

(CCs or VDCs) 

X 

X 


IX- Gender roles and disparities 


9.1 

Gender issue in socio-economic development (Gender in health issue, gender in 

education, participation in development process, gender and employment..) 

Prospect of gender integration into development process (with specification on 

youth)? 

9.2 Analyse issue regarding LPR by gender? What are the gender gap in LPR 

9.3 Perception regarding the program and the project support to youth (by gender) X 

9.4 Does current social protection program respond equally by gender? X 

9.5 

Gender Exclusion and Discrimination in access to social service, employment 

(in respects to youth) 

X- Social Environmental 


10.1 

Intergeneration relation which include violence, poverty, trafficking and gender relation 

and its potential impact to youth 

10.2 

Other activities that might interfere young people education and protection (leisure 

time, other surrounding environment, trend of modernisation) 

X 

X 

10.3 Social Environment and impact of families and community on young people X X 

XI. Map current programmes, as well as existing support and funding, in order to identify the main gaps and overlaps 


11.1 

11.2 

11.3 

11.4 

11.5 

Overview of current program and project and other intervention on youth 

(International intervention, national NGOs, private sector such as MFI, SME, Area of 

support or the focus of the project...) 

What are the specific criteria’s for selection of beneficiaries (young people into 

the project? What are the reasons for exclusion to other youth? 

Assess trend for program and project on youth with reference to government 

policy, socio-economic development? (scaling up the program to see the gaps). 

With this regards, what assistance should provided by stakeholder to youth to 

match up with social and economic development and provide them with better 

livelihood activities (type of vocational training, other education support, and risk 

and vulnerability mitigation among young people? 

Donor perspectives on current project on program on youth? What are the trends 

in donor support to young people in Cambodia? What will be opportunity for 

continuing current support to project which related to youth? 

Assess the overlap in the area of development from development institutions, 

reason for overlap? What shape the area of focus? 

What are constraint and opportunity for those developing institution regarding 

the implementation of their current program? What are good lesson learnt or good 

practice they face during the course of project implementation? How to ensure the 

program and project to be effectively benefit and widely accessible to vulnerable 

young people (from perspectives of development agencies, donor and government) 

XII. Analyse the main areas requiring concerted efforts and greater investments for young people, and propose 

priority actions 


X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 


145

12.1 

12.2 

12.3 

12.4 

12.5 

12.6 

12.7 

12.8 

12.10 

12.11 

12.12 

12.13 

12.14 

12.15 

12.16 

12.17 

12.18 

12.19 

12.20 

Livelihood linking education to employment and income generation 

Policy implication for safe migration and what are other challenges for safe 

migration? And what are should be proposed intervention? 

What recommendation should be proposed to employer to provide better working 

condition for young employment? 

Vocational Training for youth, what are skills and needs and gap in vocational 

training to youth to access wider to labour market? 

Assessment of NGOs and government policy program and the area that need to be 

adjusted in order to fulfilment the critical need of youth? 

How could future development be more benefit to youth and ensure the equity 

sharing of the benefit from growth to most vulnerable young people? 

Appropriate policy that allow youth to access more widely to the social services 

and development infrastructure? What are the areas that need to be adjusted and 

more focused? 

To what extent and what roles could private such as MFI other public institution 

and stakeholder sector involved in youth development? 

What recommend should be made to diversified livelihood activities for youth in 

X 

the rural area? (with refer to poverty reduction) 

Program, identify gap in services and recommend opportunity for civil society and government intervention 

Gap and limitation in social protection program for youth and what should be 

intervention to over come this gap? 

What are NGOs area of suggestion and recommendation to donor for continuing 

support to youth development? What will be perspectives for NGOs and INGOs in 

continuing implementation of their project, program?? Assess prospects for project 

sustainability 

What would be the recommendation from donor site, regarding youth and 

development, program project on youth? What will be perspectives for continuing 

support to IOs or NGOs to continue support to young people in 

Will SME is one of the strategy for livelihood improvement for youth? and to be 

included in their development project on youth 

How to bettering social protection program in the way that the program or 

project will be enlarge and ensure that vulnerable young people to benefit from its? 

Gender: promoting gender equality and employment and education and other 

Taking from finding and barrier in access to social infrastructure, what would be 

prospects for promoting equity and equality between man and women including 

ethnic group adult in access to social infrastructure (what should be intervention, 

and who role of stakeholder for this involvement) 

With current LPR, what are appropriate recommendation should be made in order 

to promote LPR for youth? Assess the way from which we could promote wider 

access to employment for young women 

Suitable way that enhance different type of youth (ethnicity and gender) for equal 

access to social service 

Prospects for overcome gender disparities and promote gender equity and equality 

among young people 

Civil right and participation: How to promote youth right and participation 

Link CDP and CIP with integration of youth issue and other social service for youth, to 

ensure greater participation and inclusion of young people in development process 

Are there any alternative way for helping unemployment youth to take part in their 

community development? 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 


12.21 

12.22 

12.23 

12.24 

12.25 

12.26 

12.27 

12.28 

12.29 

12.30 

12.31 

12.32 

What are proposed action and strategy to broaden young people to volunteerism 

and ensure their active participation in social development? 

What are appropriate recommendation to youth and exclusion from participation in 

development process 

Education: and the area for improvement for youth for wider access to education 

Proposed recommendation to overcome constraint for youth to access to 

vocational training? What are emergent types of vocational training need to cope 

with current development context? 

How could youth human capital be promoted in current context of development? 

Assessment of policy and other effort made by various institutions in education 

sector. What are the recommendations should be proposed regarding the 

strategy for the promotion of higher education for young people? 

What are skills and education should be proposed for young people to catch up 

these opportunities (SME development...) 

What are prospects for promoting economic empowerment for young women? 

(with refer more specifically to education issue) 

Risk and vulnerability: recommendation for mitigation of risk and vulnerability 

What would the responses required to help youth from facing risk and vulnerability 

(government perspectives, other development agencies perspectives 

How to would social protection program will benefit to most vulnerable youth? 

And mitigate risk and vulnerability faced by young people? 

Policy and legal framework: Area of recommendation for policy and legal framework 

Labour law and what it needed to be adjust (improvement of working condition, 

social safety net for young worker) 

What will be the role of private sectors in the contribution to formulation of National 

Youth Strategy 

What are proper interventions to fill gap in current national policy and to benefit 

to vulnerable young people. What are the appropriate strategies for development 

agencies, donor and government institution should undertake to ensure that young 

people will benefit from development and other development program/ project 

Is it feasible that development agencies should take SME development as one 

strategy for livelihood improvement for youth? (discuss on recommendation made 

to promote SME and its benefit to poor young people) 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

12.33 Suggested prioritise area synthesise for the National Youth Strategy and formulation 

Health: What are the area needed for improvement in health sectors for youth 

12.34 

12.35 

12.36 

12.37 

How to improve access of youth to health care service to youth. Prospects for 

enhancing social health safety net to vulnerable young people (food security and 

nutritional status, emergent health education, and HIV/AIDS prevention measure 

What should be lesson learn from neighbouring country in health development for 

youth 

To what extent, that health status of young employment engages in service sector 

being improved? 

Prospects of enhance the contribution and intervention of private sector to health 

service to young people? 

X 

X 

X 

*** It is noticeable that indicators set in the matrix are tend to be changed or removed accordingly to fit to research objectives and major themes. 

All indicators in the matrix will be comprehensive guideline and road map for construction of questionnaires and collecting both primary and 

secondary data as well as structuring report. However, within time frame of the project, It is not necessarily to follow all indicators exist. 

For that reason, remaining indicators and themes will be considered to be gap for future research. 


147

ANNEX 3-1UN AGENCY YOUTH PROGRAMMES 

(WORKING DOCUMENT AS OF 3 FEBRUARY 2009) 

Agency Policy/ legislation Research Programme Partners./ Target Areas 

Joint support to 

Youth SitAn 

Adolescent Reproductive Health 

Objective: Increasing awareness of women, men and youth about reproductive health, reproductive rights 

and available services in the priority areas. 

Safe motherhood 

Equity funds 

Abortion Law 

Birth Spacing 

Adolescent & Youth 

Friendly Services 

Providing Technical 

support to Youth 

Policy 

UNFPA Support for the Life Skills Programme and Youth Dialogue 

Strategies: 

• Support for the Life Skills and Youth Policy dialogue on youth issues 

and implementation of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports’ 

Life Skill on HIV/AIDS education Programme, which address the 

sexual and reproductive health concerns and needs of the in and 

out of school youth in Kratie Province. 

• In 2008, the support is being made to build capacity of the primary 

level in-service teachers to be able to further integrate HIV life skill 

knowledge into the local life skill hours. This has been implementing 

in 12 provinces. 

• Advocacy events (IYD and WAD) are being supported to increase 

awareness on the importance of SRH and the preventive way from 

contracting HIV/AIDS throughout the country by the MoEYS. 

UNFPA Support to Youth Friendly Sexual & Reproductive Health 

Services and HIV/AID 

• Support the Youth Friendly Sexual & Reproductive Health Services 

(YFSRHS) and HIV/AIDS strategies that contribute to strengthening 

the decentralised responses to HIV/AIDS prevention and improving 

the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) status of young people 

aged 10 to 24 in three provinces 

UNFPA Support to Young People’s Reproductive and Sexual Health 

• UNFPA supports Young People’s Reproductive and Sexual Health 

and Youth dialogue, and the implementation of a SRH outreach 

education programme 

Kratie with MoEYS and CSCS 

1-Kampong Cham; 2-Kampong 

Thom; 3-Kampong Chnang; 

4-Kampong Speu; 5-Pursat; 

6-Takeo; 7-Kampot; 8-Siem Reap; 

9-Oddor Meanchey, 10-Pheah 

Vihear; 11-Koh Kong; 

12-Sihanouk Ville 

Koh Kong with CARE 

Kratie with PfD 

Kg. Cham with RHAC 

Banteay Meanchey and 

Kg Chhnang provinces 

The programme is undertaken by 

the Youth NGO, Khmer Youth 

Association (KYA) in 2 provinces. 

Support the community/ commune council level initiatives: 

Building links and responsiveness between youth, commune councils, 

women’s and children’s committee and existing health and education 

structures and local youth NGOS (youth/ peer education’s initiatives). 

Promoting youth engagement with community (leaders) in reproductive 

health an community development. 

Ministry of Interior. 14 provinces 

(out of 24) , 446 (out of 1,612) 

communes 



Providing Technical 

support to Youth 

Policy 

Supported Youth 

SitAn 

Young Women Leadership 

Keys Activities/ Strategies 

• Capacity building related to Personal Development, leadership, 

Project management, Women Rights and CEDAW 

• Build Commitment for Young Women to become activist in the 

future 

• The member of Young Women Leadership Programme will be 

the people who help monitor CEDAW and Women Rights 

implementation by state partners and partners 

Phnom Penh 

Young Women staffs from 

different NGOs network that work 

on women issues such as: NGO 

CEDAW Committee, NGO forum, 

GAD/C and CAMBO. 

20 NGOs network 


SitAn 

School feeding programme: 

Objective: to ensure regular attendance and improve retention in 

primary schools of children (in particular girls) from poor food insecure 

households, particularly for girls. 

Strategy: Providing a daily hot breakfast to primary school children in 

WFP target commune using standard WFP food ration of rice, canned 

fish, beans, oil and salt. Participating schools and communities provide 

fresh vegetables, water and fuel as well as are responsible to establish 

a school kitchen, food storage facility and organise cooks to prepare 

the breakfast. 

Targeted poorest communes. 

Location: 12 provinces (KCM, 

KTM, KSP, SRG, STG, PVG, PVR, 

KCG, SRP, OMC, PST, PHN) 

Partners: 

MoEYS (including PDoEYS) 

UN agencies: UNICEF 

NGOs: SAJ, KAPE, CARITAS, FSC 

Take home ration 

Objective: to reduce drop out and increase the completion rate 

Strategy: Providing to students of poor families (grade 4, 5, 6) 

particularly for girls, to enable poor households to enrol and keep their 

children in school and to thus provide more equitable access to the 

Government’s “Scholarship for the Poor” programme in grades 7 to 9. 

Location: KCM, PVG, PHN, BMC, 

STG, SRG, KCG, PST, SRP, KSP 

and PVR. 

Partners: MoEYS, UNICEF, KAPE, 

SAJ, WVC, CWCC, WE, FSC. 

Vocational training to Adolescent girls 

Objective: to increase employment opportunities of vulnerable and 

adolescent girls and reduce the likelihood of them becoming potential 

victims of violence or trafficking 

Strategy: On site feeding is provided to women and adolescent girls 

who attend skills or post literacy training at centre in rural community 

in target areas. 

Location: KCM, SRP, KPT, PHN 

Partners: AFESIP, FSC, KPT VT 


149


Supporting Youth 

Policy 

Equity funds 

ECD and CFS policy 

Development of 

legal framework 

juvenile justice 

Trafficking law 


SitAn 

Situation Analysis 

on women and 

children using a 

HRBA 

Secondary analysis 

of CDHS 2005 

Formative research 

on behaviours 

including youth 

HIV Prevention and Care Program 

Strategies: 

• HIV education & vocational training, sports & recreation activities, 

peer education/facilitation for most at risk adolescents 

• Community Youth Volunteer Programme for out of school youth with 

focus on most-at-risk adolescents (10-18 years) 

• BCC strategy developed and activities implemented, including 

telephone hotline to provide information on HIV/AIDS, mass media, 

special events, & printed material 

• Expand Life Skills Education project for out of school youth (Prey 

Veng Province) 

(NOTE: The UNICEF & UNFPA Life Skills Programs are the same 

program (same curriculum, etc), but with different implementing 

modalities (e.g., using different implementing partners) 

Expanded Learning Opportunities for disadvantaged children and Youth- 

Objective: Address specific needs of disadvantaged children and youth 

without access to focal pre- schools or basic education 

Strategy: Supporting community or home based pre- schools,, life skill 

education for in and out of school youth, multi grade teaching and 

bilingual education for hard- to- reach and ethnic minority areas. 

Child/Youth Participation, Promotion for child/youth rights 

Strategies: 

• Support initiatives which promote a high degree of decision making 

by young people for young people t 

Child protection: 

Strengthening social welfare systems for vulnerable children and 

adolescents, 

UNFPA, UNESCO, NGOs, Ministries 

Ministry of Rural Development 

NGOs, MoLVT, MoEYS, UNESCO, 

Inthanou 

MoEYS 

Youth TV Bureau ( SCY), CMCC 

(for advocacy), 

MoSVY, MoI, MoJ, MoEYS, CMAA, 

international and local NGOs 

Strategies: 

• Strengthening legal framework, law enforcement, juvenile justice 

systems and prevention accidents and injuries. 

• Research and system strengthening with HIV education to children/ 

adolescents in prisons 

VPromote a youth leadership initiative 

Strategy: 

In the community work with commune councils to support the voice 

of young people in council decisions 

MoI and MoWA 




SitAn 

Education Sector Support Project: 

Objectives: To assist the government to implement its education sector 

support program goals to expand access to educational services 

Strategy: Addressing supply, demand, quality and efficiency constraints, 

with special focus on the poor and underserved communes. ( Active) 

Implementing by the Ministry of 

Education, Youth and Sport. 

Located: this project covers 

nationwide 

World Bank 

EMainstreaming Education for Disadvantage Children ( Active) Implementing by VSO 

Cover areas in six provinces – 

Ratanakiri, Mundulkiri, Koh Kong, 

Banteay Meanchey, Battambang 

and Kampot 

Small Grant program ( Active) 

A. support Environmental Beauty (EB) for its “Positive Think-Positive 

Change” program which involve 300 youths at the communities 

B. Support Khmer Youth and Social Development Organisation (KYSD) 

for a second year for its project on “Women as Partners in Promotion 

of Gender and Good Governance in the Community” 

Implementing by EB. 

Location: Prey Kabas and 

Angkahn commune, Takeo 

Implementing by KYSD. 

Location: Kandal province 

National integrated drug abuse prevention program for subsequent 

The targets are in and out- of school youth. 

Objective: Awareness raising of drug related transmission of HIV/AIDS, 

developed and piloted, and a plan made for large-scale delivery of 

the programme 

Strategies: 

• Establish a working group to develop and subsequently oversee 

the delivery of the drug abuse prevention programme, consisting 

of representatives of the Ministry of Education, NACD, other 

concerned government agencies and relevant NGOs. 

• developing, piloting, evaluating and finalising the prevention 

programme, including the preparation of IEC (information, 

education and communication) material for the programme, 

encompassing also life-skills education curricula ( with support of 

International and local specialise contractors) 

• Pilot-test the draft prevention programme in 5 secondary schools 

in Phnom Penh and 5 secondary schools in five provinces through 

training by the trainers of teachers in the schools and subsequent 

delivery of the programme by the teachers to the students and 

the trainers of selected personnel in NGOs, CBOs or other suitable 

entities identified for the purpose and subsequent delivery of the 

programme to out-of-school youth by the trained personnel. 

[Partners: MoEYS --specifically the 

Inter-Departmental Committee 

on HIV/AIDS (ICHA), the School 

Health Department -- UNESCO, 

UNICEF, DFID, UNFPA. 


151


Youth Employment and Social Dialogue (YEP) 

Objectives: to create decent work and income opportunity for youth in 

Cambodia through matching the training with the labour market and 

by strengthening the role of employers in collaboration with other 

stakeholders to provide youth with access to job market, information 

and training for getting them ready employment. 

CAMFEBA 

Strategies/Main activities 

• Developing a knowledge base to create a learning platform among 

policy makers and stakeholders in order to improve understanding 

of the issues in youth employment and form appropriate responses. 

This is done through a variety of activities, including surveys (on 

youth and employers), social dialogue, technical workshops, and 

dissemination of policy recommendations and good practices. 

• Policy advocacy is carried out promote greater inclusion of 

Cambodian youth within policy and national development framework. 

Also, the surveys’ results will inform education planners and 

policy makers in the process of reform of educational system to 

provide education of quality that equips graduates with necessary 

skills demanded in the labour market in the long-run. 

• Establishment of the Employment Resources Centre. The aim is to 

disseminate job related information and job vacancies. 

• Employability Skills programs are to train youth in critical skills 

for work effectiveness and employability to enter workplaces 

effectively. 

Women’s Entrepreneurship Development and Gender Equality 

(WEDGE) 

Objective: to create a ‘business mind’ among youth and young women 

and enable youth and their families to productively engage in income 

generation and profitable business with improvement in business 

management skills. 

MoWA, MIME, MoLVT, CAMFEBA 

Main activities: 

Provide technical and financial support to Siem Reap Provincial Training 

Center (PTC) to conduct training on business skills using the ILO training 

toolkits - Gender and Entrepreneurship Together for Women in 

Enterprise, Start and Improve Your Business – for students who study 

vocational skills at PTC. 



Researching 

on youth voter 

turn-out and their 

political opinions. 

To be implemented 

in July 2008. 

Elections Project 

Objective: To promote the electoral and democratic processes among 

youth and to strengthen youth participation in upcoming National 

Assembly Election (July 2008) 

Strategies: 

• Training of 300 youths (members of COMFREL, KYA, YRDP and 

political party activists) on youth advocacy, the electoral process and 

electoral observation. Ongoing. 

• Creating and disseminating voter education materials. To be 

implemented in June-July 2008. 

• Weekly Radio program on youth involvement in politics. Ongoing 

Location for activities A, B and C: 

Kandal and Kampong Cham 

Provinces 

Location for activity D: Phnom 

Penh (Beehive Radio Station) 

Partners: Khmer Youth Association 

(KYA) 

Clearing for Results (Demining Project) 

Objective: To promote youth awareness of mine action issues in 

Cambodia and encourage them to become involved in CMDG 9 to move 

towards a nation free of the impact of Mines and Explosive Remnants 

of War (ERW) 

Strategies: Lectures about mine action issues from Cambodian mine 

action experts. Field visits to cleared areas to learn directly from 

beneficiaries 

A: Phnom Penh, Battambang 

(university campuses) 

B: Battambang, Banteay 

Meanchey, and Pursat (project 

target provinces) 

Partners: Mine action NGOs, 

Royal Univ of Ag, National 

University of Mgt 

Access to Justice 

Objective: To the build capacity of the Cambodian Indigenous Youth 

Association in human rights and leadership. 

Based in Phnom Penh / working 

with all indigenous youth in 

Cambodia. 

Strategies: 

• Assist the Cambodian Indigenous Youth Association with the 

development of a constitution and strategic planning. 

• Involve CIYA in research on customary rules. 

• Engage CIYA in NGO networks at the national and regional levels. 

• Encourage CIYA members to register at the Ministry of Interior. 

Partners: Cambodian Indigenous 

Youth Association (CIYA), all local, 

regional, and national NGOs 

working with issues regarding 

indigenous people. 

Labour Market and 

Youth Employment 

Cambodia’s 

Competitiveness 

for Growth 

Insight for Action 

Objective: Catalysing Policies and Action for Achieving Cambodia’s 

Millennium Development Goals (CMDGs) 

Strategies: 

Knowledge Generation: Study on Labour Market and Youth Employment 

- prepared by SNEC in collaboration with UNDP and ADB. Focus on the 

trends, characteristics and determinants associated with Cambodian 

youth, youth employment and the labour market. 

Knowledge Sharing: 3 rd Cambodia Economic Forum – lead organisers 

are SNEC and UNDP/ IFA. Theme will be “Increasing Cambodia’s 

Competitiveness for Growth and Poverty Reduction” and research will 

include Cambodia Country Competitiveness (led by UNDP), Sources of 

Growth (led by World Bank), Inflation (SNEC), and Labour Market/ Youth 

Employment (led by SNEC). 

Location: Phnom Penh 

Partners: SNEC, Ministry of 

Economy and Finance and ADB 

Duration: 2005 - 2010 


153


National Capacity Self-Assessment for Global Environmental 

Management (NCSA): 

Objectives: The primary objective is to identify country level priorities 

and needs for capacity development, to address global environmental 

management requirements, particularly the thematic concerns of the 

three UN conventions. 

Activity: Amongst the key results is Public debate on NCSA for youth 

aired on TV. 

Location: Phnom Penh 

Partner: Executing agency is 

the Ministry of Environment and 

Co-operating agency is the MAFF, 

MRD, MLMUPC, RUPP and MIME. 

Young Professional Officer (YPO): 

Objective: To provide an on-the-job training opportunity for qualified, 

motivated and talented young national professionals recently 

completed their post graduate degree, as well as to strengthen the 

resources base and research capacity with UNDP team. 

Activity: Each year, UNDP recruits a number of YPO to work with UNDP 

team. The duration of each YPO’s contract is 12 months maximum. 

UNDP 

Youth Development 

Objectives: Intrinsically connected to the promotion of volunteerism, is 

the development of the youth sector in Cambodia. 


SitAn 

VOLUNTEERISM – 

Harnessing the 

Potential to Develop 

Cambodia’ 

Strategies/Activities: 

• A NUNV has been placed in the UNRC office to serve as UN Youth 

Officer. 

• UNV is providing technical expertise and support to the UN Youth 

Situational Analysis, the National Youth Policy, the UN Youth 

Advisory Panel, and the development of a potential UN Joint Youth 

Programme. 

Promoting Volunteerism Among Youth 

Strategies: 

• After participating in the publication of the research ‘VOLUNTEERISM 

– Harnessing the Potential to Develop Cambodia’, UNV is now 

working with its partners to develop a volunteer-enabling 

environment, advocating particularly for support from the private 

sector and from the Government, and promoting legislation and 

national policy framework to enhance volunteerism in Cambodia. 

• UNV is committed to strengthening the national volunteer infrastructure 

in the country and continuing to support the local youth 

volunteers. 



Support to the UN 

Youth Situational 


Capacity Development to teacher trainers on HIV/AIDS prevention 

among students 

Strategies: 

Training of teachers at CLCs in HIV/AIDS awareness & prevention 

Awareness raising activities through MoEYS mobile van at CLCs 

Development of IEC materials, with focus on gender awareness, for 

teachers & teacher training 

MOEYS, NIE 

Central level 

Adolescent 

Friendly Health 

Services, policy 

Support to the 

Youth Policy 

Support to the 

Youth SitAn 

YAdolescent Health and Development - NRHP strategy development Health System wide: Ministry of 

Health 

Sexual and Reproductive Health 

Support for the development and implementation of the Adolescent 

Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy 

Road Safety - Support to the Road Safety campaign, especially helmet 

use of youth 

Health system wide: National 

MCH Centre. 


Nationwide: MOH and Handicap 

International 

Harm reduction 

HIV/AIDS and STI - Integration of adolescent issues in HIV/AIDS care 

and treatment guidelines 

NCHADS 

Tobacco Control - Anti-tobacco poster contest “ban of tobacco 

advertising” and smoke free implementation at Schools 

National Centre for Health 

promotion (NCHP): Siem Reap 

and other provinces. 

Adventist Development and 

Relief Agency (ADRA), Cambodia 

Health financing 

policy 

Gender and human rights - Country profile on equity, gender and 

human rights approach in health policies and strategies 

Equity and gender - Promoting the use of evidence and information 

for health financing policy, including integration of equity and gender 

perspective in health financing data collection, analysis and in health 

financing policies. 

Dept. of Planning, Ministry of 

Health 

Dept. of Planning, Ministry of 

Health. 


155


ANNEX 3- 2 

DONOR INVOLVEMENT IN THE CAMBODIAN EDUCATION SECTOR 

DONOR INVOLVEMENT IN THE CAMBODIAN EDUCATION SECTOR 

The Agency of Francophone Universities (AUF) and the French Embassy support higher education in 

the areas of ICT, scholarships, research and French language. The French Embassy also assists with 

the teaching of French in schools. 

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) addresses access to schooling through the building of secondary 

schools and dormitories for girls, through small grants to schools, and through the provision of 

scholarships. All of these interventions also focus on quality. The ADB is also assisting with the development 

of a regulatory framework for education and with an organizational audit, within the context of the Ministry’s 

third main policy. The ADB’s programme loan to the RGC provides support to the full budget of the MOEYS. 

The Belgian DGDC enables increased access through school construction and scholarships, and improves 

quality through teacher and school management training. 

Assistance from DFID and from UNFPA enhance educational quality through programmes in life skills, sexual 

and reproductive health, and HIV/AIDS for in-school and out-of-school youth, and integration of HIV/AIDS 

education in pre-service and in-service teacher training, thereby also contributing to equitable access to 

education services for in-and out-of school youth, including street children. 

Access and quality have been addressed in the European Commission’s targeted budget support of the 

Ministry’s priority action programmes (PAPs) for education service efficiency, primary and lower secondary 

education, and non-formal education. There has also been technical assistance in support of these objectives 

and six policy informing studies have been undertaken. In addition, master’s level studies for Ministry officials 

are being funded as a contribution to capacity development. 

JICA’s interventions improve access, through school construction and non-formal education, and enhance 

quality through library and school management interventions, through improving physical education, and 

at upper secondary level through curriculum and textbook development and teacher education. Higher 

education is served through a variety of programmes at the Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Centre, based at 

the RUPP. 

Most of the activities covered under Sida and UNICEF’s first EBEP (Expanded Basic Education Programme) 

are continued under the second phase of the programme. Access and quality are approached in 

combination through community-based pre-school and parenting education, multi-grade and bilingual 

education, life skills, an accelerated learning programme for over-age children, and the promotion of 


157

child friendly schools. There is also a component for institutional development and capacity building, related 

specifically to sector-wide management reform and the implementation of priority action programmes. 

UNESCO has supported capacity building for the implementation and assessment of the National 

Education for All Action Plan, especially in early childhood education and care, teacher training, HIV/ 

AIDS, secondary education, higher education and non-formal educational and cultural activities in 

cooperation with ministries other than the MoEYS, with public and private higher education institutions, 

and with NGOs. Using funding contributed by Japanese Funds-in-Trust (JFIT) it has promoted the 

use of ICT in schools and teacher education institutions. Literacy training together with life skills was 

provided to out-of-school youth and adults, using funding made available by the Belgian Government. 

UNESCO has also assisted the MoEYS in introducing a Non-formal Education Management Information 

System (NFE-EMIS). 

The contribution of USAID to educational quality has been to assist the Ministry in the revision of 

the entire basic education curriculum, along with the development of standards. In-service and 

on-the-job training will be an important part of this process. Teacher training will focus on proficiency 

levels, life skills, and child-centered methodology. A new system for textbook production and procurement 

has been developed in line with ESP targets. Access has been addressed through getting out-of-school 

children back into the system, through scholarships, and through the training of community teachers. 

The World Bank has increased access to basic education through the construction of lower secondary 

schools and through promoting the inclusion of disadvantaged children in education. To improve 

quality, a national assessment system and teacher standards are being developed, and training is 

being provided. Support is also provided for quality enhancement in higher education. 

School feeding and take-home rations provided by the World Food Programme (WFP) are used as 

incentives to get vulnerable children into school and keep them there. The WFP cooperates with UNICEF 

to extend school feeding in child-friendly schools. 


ANNEX 3-3 

MAPPING OF CURRENT NGO PROGRAMMES/ ACTIVITIES SUPPORTING YOUTH, BY PROVINCE 

Health Education 

Province 

Sexual and 

Reproductive 

health 

HIV/AIDS & STD 

Primary 

Healthcare 

and 

nutrition 

Tobacco, 

alcohol and 

drug abuse 

Vocational/ 

skills 

training 

Non-formal 

education 

Scholarship/ 

fellowship 

Primary Secondary Tertiary 

1.Banteay Meanchey 1. KYA 

2. CARE 

3. EWMI 

1. AFESIP 

2. DRO 

3. OEB 

4. PK 

5. AEA-ASE 

6. CAMA Service 

7. World Education 

1. CARE 

2. CAMA 

Service 

3. JS/JRS 

4. MCC 

5. World 

Education 

1. DRO 

2. OEB 

1. AFESIP 

2. AMARA 

3. SKO 

4. JS/JRS 

5. World 

Education 

6. IOM 

1. ADA 

2. CARE 

3. CAMA 

Service 

4. World 

Education 

5. MCC 

1. YODIFEE 

2. EDM 

3. VSO 

4. World 

Education 

1. CWCC 

2. OEB 

3. DTC 

4. AEA-ASE 

5. CARE 

6. CAMA 

Service 

7. EDM 

8. SCA-CO 

9. World 

Education 

1. World 

Education 

2. Battambang 1. RHAC 

2. EWMI 

1. CWPD 

2. DRO 

3. OEB 

4. PPS 

5. YCC 

6. CIYA 

7. Action Aid 

8. AEA-ASE 

9. CARITAS 

10. Pact Cambodia 

1. MPK 

2. Action Aid 

3. CARITAS 

4. JS/JRS 

1. DRO 

2. OEB 

1. AMARA 

2. PVKK 

3. SKO 

4. VTH 

5. CVD 

6. CARITAS 

7. JS/JRS 

1. VTH 1. YODIFEE 

2. ASAC 

3. CIAI 

4. EDM 

5. ERM 

6. VFI 

7. VSO 

1. OEB 

2. PKO 

3. CVD 

4. Action Aid 

5. AEA-ASE 

6. CIAI 

7. EDM 

8. SCA-CO 

3. Kampong Cham 1. RHAC 

2. ADRA 

3. CARE 

4. Plan 

5. PSI 

6. SCA 

1. CIYA 

2. AFESIP 

3. DRO 

4. Mith Samlanh 

5. NAS 

6. PSAD 

7. YCC 

8. CARE 

1. Action Aid 

2. ADRA 

3. CARE 

4. CARITAS 

5. JHP 

6. Plan 

7. PSI 

8. SCA 

1. DRO 1. AFESIP 

2. ADRA 

3. CARITAS 

4. DWHH/ 

GAA 

5. JHP 

6. Plan 

7. World 

Education 

1. BAED 

2. Mith 

Samlanh 

3. CARE 

4. World 

Education 

1. VCAO 

2. YODIFEE 

3. ASAC 

4. EDM 

5. Plan 

6. VSO 

7. World 

Education 

1. KAPE 

2. Action Aid 

3. AEA-ASE 

4. CARE 

5. EDM 

6. FIDR 

7. JHP 

8. SCA-CO 

1. World 

Education 


159

9. Action Aid 

10. AEA-ASE 

11. CARITAS 


13. PSI 

14. SCA 

15. SHARE 

16. World 

Education 

4. Kampong Chhnang 1. CWPD 

2. DRO 

3. CWPD 

5. Kampong Speu 1. RHAC 

2. CARE 

1. CWPD 

2. DRO 

3. YCC 

4. CWPD 

5. AEA-ASE 


6. Kampong Thom 1. ADRA 

2. EWMI 

1. AFESIP 

2. CWPD 

3. DRO 

4. NAS 

5. CIYA 

6. CSCS 

7. Action Aid 

8. CARITAS 


7. Kampot 1. EWMI 1. DRO 

2. KWCD 

3. CIYA 


9. World 

Education 

1. CWF 

2. NH 

1. CARE 

2. JHP 

3. World 

Education 

1. BOICD 

2. Action Aid 

3. ADRA 

4. CARITAS 

1. Food for 

the 2.Hungry 

8. Don Bosco 

9. IOM 

1. DRO 1. NH 

2. IOM 

1. DRO 1. CYDSO 

2. JHP 

3. World 

Education 

4. IOM 

1. DRO AFESIP 

ADRA 

CARITAS 

Don Bosco 

IOM 

1. DRO 1. HCC 

2. IOM 

1. NH 1. VCAO 

2. YODIFEE 

3. NH 

1. CARE 

2. E&D 

3. World 

Education 

1. SCADP, 

2. YODIFEE 

3. ASAC 

4. World 

Education 

1. BOICD YODIFEE 

ASAC 

EDM 

1. YODIFEE 

2. ASAC 

3. CIAI 

4. EDA 

5. EDM 

6. VSO 

9. World 

Education 

1. FIDR 

2. SCA-CO 

1. Bandos 

Komar 

2. AEA-ASE 

3. CARE 

4. E&D 

5. JHP 

6. World 

Education 

Action Aid 

EDM 

1. CIAI 

2. EDM 

1. AAB 

2. World 

Education 

1. AAB 



Sexual and 

Reproductive 

health 

8. Kandal 1. IDA 

2. KYA 

3. .MSC 

4. PSK 

5. CARE 

6. EWMI 

7. SCA 

9. Koh Kong 1. MSC 

2. CARE 

3. EWMI 

4. PFD 

10. Kratie 1. CARE 

2. EWMI 

3. PFD 

4. SCA 

11. Mondolkiri 1. RHAC 

2. CARE 

3. EWMI 



Primary 

Healthcare 

and 

nutrition 

Tobacco, 

alcohol and 

drug abuse 

Vocational/ 

skills 


Non-formal 

education 

Scholarship/ 

fellowship 


1. CWPD 

2. DRO 

3. PSK 

4. YCC 

5. CIYA 

6. AEA-ASE 

7. CARITAS 

8. FHI 


10. SCA 

1. SIT 

2. CARE 

3. CARITAS 

4. FHI 

5. JS/JRS 

1. DRO 1. HCC 

2. SP 

3. ACF 

4. CARITAS 

5. JVC 

6. JS/JRS 

7. Don 

Bosco 

1. CARE 1. YODIFEE 

2. ACF 

3. CIAI 

4. EDA 

1. Bandos 

Komar 

2. AEA-ASE 

3. CARE 

4. CIAI 

5. SCA-CO 

1. AFESIP 

2. DRO 

3. CIYA 

4. Action Aid 

5. PFD 

Action Aid 

CARE 

PFD 


2. IOM 

1. CARE 1. SCADP 

2. YODIFEE 

3. CARE 

1. Action Aid 

2. SCA-CO 

1. AFESIP 

2. DRO 

3. CIYA 

4. Action Aid 

5. PFD 


7. SCA 

1. Action Aid 

2. CARE 

3. World 

Education 

4. PFD 

5. SCA 


2. World 

Education 

1. CARE 

2. World 

Education 

1. YODIFEE 

2. VSO 

3. World 

Education 

1. Action Aid 

2. CARE 

3. World 

Education 

1. World 

Education 

1. CIYA 


1. CARE 

2. World 

Education 

1. DRO 1. World 

Education 

1. CARE 

2. World 

Education 

1. YODIFEE 

2. World 

Education 

1. CARE 

2. World 

Education 

1. World 

Education 


161

12. Phnom Penh 1. CWPD 

2. IDA 

3. KWCD 

4. KYA 

5. MSC 

6. RHAC 

7. CSCS 

8. PHD 

9. EWMI 

10. Plan 

11. PSI 

12. SCA 

1. AFESIP 

2. CWPD 

3. DRO 

4. KAPE 

5. KWCD 

6. Mith Samlanh 

7. PPS 

8. USG 

9. YCC 

10. CIYA 

11. CPCFO 

12. KDO 

13. PHD 

14. Action Aid 

15. AEA-ASE 

16. FHI 

17. Mary Knoll 

18. MCC 

19. PSI 

20. SCA 

13. Preah Vihear 1. ADRA 1. DRO 

2. Action Aid 

3. FHI 

14. Prey Veng 1. CARE 1. DRO 

2. YCC 

3. FHI 


15. Pursat 1. EWMI 1. AARR 

2. DRO 

3. PK 

4. YCC 

5. CMYCC 

6. Action Aid 

7. AEA-ASE 

16. Ratanakiri 1. CARE 1. DRO 

2. Action Aid 

1. USG 

2. Action Aid 

3. FHI 

4. JHP 

5. JS/JRS 

6. Mary Knoll 

7. NH 

8. Plan 

9. PSI 

10. SCA 

1. Action Aid 

2. ADRA 

3. FHI 

1. CARE 

2. FHI 

3. MCC 

1. WP 

2. Action Aid 

3. ADRA 

1. Action Aid 

2. CARE 


2. ADOVIR 

3. CWCC 

4. HCC 

5. PIO 

6. SP 

7. KDO 

8. DWHH/ 

GAA 

9. JHP 

10. JS/JRS 

11. NH 

12. Plan 

13. PSE 

14. Don 

Bosco 

15. IOM 

1. KAPE 

2. Mith 

Samlanh 

3. E&D 

4. MCC 

5. NH 

1. SCADP 

2. YODIFEE 

3. CIAI 

4. EDA 

5. EDM 

6. NH 

7. Plan 

8. VSO 

1. CPCFO 

2. Action Aid 

3. AEA-ASE 

4. CIAI 

5. E&D 

6. EDM 

7. FIDR 

8. JHP 

9. PSE 

10. SCA-CO 

1. DRO 1. ADRA 1. YODIFEE 

2. EDM 

1. Action Aid 

2. EDM 

3. SCA-CO 

1. DRO 1. HCC 

2. CWPD 

3. DWHH/ 

GAA 

1. CARE 

2. MCC 

1. YODIFEE 1. Bandos 

Komar 

2. CARE 

1. DRO 1. WP 

2. DWHH/ 

GAA 

1. AARR 1. WP 

2. YODIFEE 

1. Action Aid 

2. AEA-ASE 

3. SCA-CO 

1. DRO 1. DWHH/ 

GAA 

1. KCA 

2. CARE 

1. YODIFEE 

2. VFI 

1. Action Aid 

2. CARE 

3. SCA-CO 




Sexual 

and 

Reproductive 

health 


Primary 

Healthcare 

and 

nutrition 

Tobacco, 

alcohol and 

drug abuse 

Vocational/ 

skills 


Non-formal 

education 

Scholarship/ 

fellowship 


17. Siem Reap 1. RHAC 

2. ADRA 

3. Plan 

4. PSI 

1. AFESIP 

2. CWPD 

3. DRO 

4. YCC 

5. CSCS 

6. Action Aid 

7. AEA-ASE 

8. CARITAS 

9. CAMA Service 

10. PSI 

1. Action Aid 

2. ADRA 

3. CARITAS 

4. CAMA 

Service 

5. JS/JRS 

6. Plan 

7. PSI 

1. DRO 1. FESIP 

2. WP 

3. ADRA 

4. ACF 

5. CARITAS 

6. JS/JRS 

7. Plan 

8. PSE 

1. CAMA 

Service 

1. KAKO 

2. VCAO 

3. YODIFEE 

4. ACF 

5. CIAI 

6. EDA 

7. EDM 

8. Plan 

1. CWCC 

2. Action Aid 

3. AEA-ASE 

4. CIAI 

5. CAMA 

Service 

6. EDM 

7. PSE 

8. SCA-CO 

18. Sihanouk Ville 1. AFESIP 

2. DRO 

3. KWCD 


1. JHP 1. DRO 1. AFESIP 

2. JVC 

3. JHP 

4. Don 

Bosco 

5. IOM 

1. YODIFEE 

2. ASAC 

3. VFI 

1. AEA-ASE 

2. JHP 

3. SCA-CO 

19. Stung Treng 1. AFESIP 

2. DRO 

3. YWAM 

1. YWAM 1. DRO 1. AFESIP 

2. SWDC 

1. YWAM 1. YODIFEE 

2. VSO 

20. Svay Rieng 1. RHAC 1. DRO 

2. YCC 

3. Action Aid 

4. AEA-ASE 


1. Action Aid 1. DRO 1. HCC 

2. WP 

1. YODIFEE 1. Action Aid 

2. AEA-ASE 

21. Takeo 1. RHAC 

2. EWMI 

1. DRO 

2. KWCD 

3. YCC 

4. CARITAS 


1. CARITAS 

2. JHP 

3. MCC 

1. DRO 1. CARITAS 

2. DWHH/ 

GAA 

3. JHP 

1. MCC 1. VCAO 

2. YODIFEE 

3. CIAI 

4. EDA 

1. CPCFO 

2. CIAI 

3. JHP 

1. AAB 

22. Oddor Meanchey 1. EWMI 1. DRO 1. DRO 1. IOM 1. YODIFEE 

2. EDM 

1. EDM 

23. Krong Kep 1. DRO 1. CWF 1. DRO 1. CWPD 1. YODIFEE 

24. Krong Pailin 1. RHAC 1. AFESIP 

2. CWPD 

3. DRO 

1. CBCDO 1. DRO 1. AFESIP 

2. AMARA 

3. CBCDO 

4. CVD 

5. IOM 

1. YODIFEE 

2. CIAI 

3. EDM 

1. CVD 

2. CIAI 

3. EDM 


163


Community 

Development 

1. Banteay Meanchey 1. PK 

2. SKO 

3. SCADP 

4. CVS 

5. AEA-ASE 

6. CAMA 

Service 

7. EDM 

8. MCC 

2. Battambang 1. CIYA 

2. MPK 

3. PPS 

4. PVKK 

5. SEA 

6. SKO 

7. CAEMIC 

8. CVS 

9. AEA-ASE 

10. EDM 

11. Pact 


12. VFI 

13. WVI 

3. Kampong Cham 1. Mith 

Samlanh 

2. NAS 

3. CIYA 

4. YS 

5. KYSD 

6. AEA-ASE 

7. EDM 

8. FIDR 

9. Pact 


10. SCA 

11. WVI 

Youth 

center and 

promote 

livelihood 

skills 

1. ADA 

2. CAMA 

Service 

3. IOM 

1. CHED 

2. Saboras 

3. CARITAS 

4. VFI 

5. WVI 

1. CHED 

2. Mith 

Samlanh 

3. CARITAS 

4. DWHH/ 

GAA 

5. Plan 

6. IOM 

Civic 

engagement 

and 

citizenship 

1. CORDE 

2. EWMI 

1. YFP 

2. CORDE 

3. EWMI 

1. YS 

Plan 

Democracy, 

human 

rights and 

advocacy 

1. AMARA 

2. KYA 

3. CARE 

4. Diakonia 

5. EWMI 

6. JS/JRS 

1. AMARA 

2. KYA 

3. YCC 

4. KDO 

5. Action Aid 

6. EWMI 

7. JS/JRS 

1. 1.KYA 

2. YCC 

3. YRDP 

4. YS 

5. Action Aid 

6. CARE 

7. DWHH/ 

GAA 

8. Plan 

Combating 

child and 

women 

sexual exploitation 

1. AFESIP 

2. PK 

3. DTC 

4. SCN-CO 

5. VSO 

6. IOM 

1. MPK 

2. VCD 

3. Action Aid 

4. SCN-CO 

5. VSO 

6. WVI 

1. 1.AFESIP 

2. NAS 

3. VCAO 

4. Action Aid 

5. SCN-CO 

6. VSO 

7. WVI 

8. IOM 

Domestic 

violence/ 

Genderbased 

violence 

Human 

traffic 

protection/ 

child rights 

and juvenile 

delinquency 

1. EWMI 

2. SCN-CO 

1. LAC 

2. World 

Education 

3. IOM 

1. EWMI 

2. SCN-CO 

1. GGAC 

2. LAC 

3. MPK 

4. Saboras 

5. CIAI 

6. WVI 

1. SCN-CO 1. KYCC 

2. LAC 

3. Plan 

4. SCA 

5. World 

Education 

6. IOM 

Peace/ 

non-violence 

and conflict 

prevention 

1. YFP 

WVI 

1. KYA 

2. WVI 

Gender 

roles and 

disparities 

1. AMARA 

2. CWCC 

3. CVS 

4. Diakonai 

1. AMARA 

2. KYCC 

3. CVS 

4. YFP 

5. Pact 


1. KYSD 

2. KYCC 

3. PSAD 

4. SILAKA 

5. ADRA 

6. Pact 


Other 

1. CVS 

2. MCC 

1. YCC 

2. YFP 

1. YCC 


4. Kampong Chhnang 1. CAEMIC 

2. FIDR 

3. WVI 

5. Kampong Speu 1. SCADP 

2. CVS 

3. KYSD 

4. AEA-ASE 

5. E&D 

6. WVI 

6. Kampong Thom 1. CIYA 

2. NAS 

3. COP 

4. WFYD 

5. PADV 

6. CVS 

7. EDM 

8. Pact 


9. WVI 

7. Kampot 1. CIYA 

2. CVS 

3. EDM 

4. Pact 


8. Kandal 1. CIYA 

2. SCADP 

3. PADV 

4. KYSD 

5. AEA-ASE 

6. Every 

Child 

7. Pact 


8. SCA 

9. WVI 

9. Koh Kong 1. CIYA 

2. SCADP 

3. Action Aid 

1. CHED 

2. WVI 

3. IOM 

1. CHED 

2. KrY 

3. WVI 

4. IOM 

1. CARITAS 

2. WVI 

3. IOM 

1. CHED 

2. CARITAS 

3. WVI 

1. CHED 

2. CSCS 

1. YFP 1. KDO 

2. YRDP 

1. BDO 

2. YCC 

3. KDO 

4. YRDP 

5. CARE 

1. EWMI 1. COP 

2. WFYD 

3. KDO 

4. YCC 

5. Action Aid 

6. EWMI 

1. EWMI 1. YRDP 

2. YCC 

3. EWMI 

1. CORDE 

2. EWMI 

1. YCC 

2. YRDP 

CARE 

EWMI 

JS/JRS 

1. EWMI 1. Action Aid 

2. CARE 

3. Diakonai 

4. EWMI 

1. VCAO 

2. SCN-CO 

3. WVI 

4. IOM 

1. WVI 

2. IOM 

1. AFESIP 

2. NAS 

3. Action Aid 

4. WVI 

5. IOM 

1. HCC 

2. VSO 

3. IOM 

1. HCC 

2. SCN-CO 

3. WVI 

1. AFESIP 

2. Action Aid 

3. SCN-CO 

4. IOM 

1. SCN-CO 1. LAC 

2. NH 

3. WVI 

4. IOM 

1. GGAC 

2. LAC 

3. World 

Education 

4. WVI 

5. IOM 

1. EWMI 1. GGAC 

2. LAC 

3. WVI 

4. IOM 

1. EWMI 1. LAC 

2. CIAI 

3. IOM 

1. EWMI 

2. SCN-CO 

1. GGAC 

2. KYCC 

3. LAC 

4. CAREPO 

CIAI 

Every Child 

SCA 

WVI 


2. Oxfam 

Quebec 

3. IOM 

1. YFP 

2. WVI 

1. KYSD 

2. YFP 

1. YFP 

1. CYDSO 

2. E&D 

1. CVS 1. YCC 

2. CYDSO 

1. WVI 1. SILAKA 

2. CVS 

3. ADRA 

4. Pact 


1. BOICD 

1. YFP 1. SILAKA 

2. CVS 

3. YFP 

4. Pact 


1. EDA 

1. WVI 1. CWPD 

2. KYSD 

3. KYCC 

4. SILAKA 

5. Pact 


1. CWPD 

2. YCC 

3. EDA 

1. CVS 

2. Diakonai 


165


Community 

Development 

10. Kratie 1. CIYA 

2. YS 

3. PADV 

4. CVS 

5. SCA 

11. Mondolkiri 1. CIYA 

2. KYSD 

12. Phnom Penh 1. KAPE 

2. Mith 

Samlanh 

3. PIO 

4. SCADP 

5. CAEMIC 

6. WHC 

7. CIYA 

8. CSARO 

9. CVS 

10. AEA-ASE 

11. E&D 

12. EDM 

13. Every 

Child 

14. FIDR 

15. MCC 

16. SCA 

17. WVI 

13. Preah Vihear 1. SCADP 

2. KYSD 

3. EDM 

4. Every 

Child 

Youth 

center and 

promote 

livelihood 

skills 

Civic 

engagement 

and 

citizenship 

Democracy, 

human 

rights and 

advocacy 


child and 

women 


1. CSCS 1. YS 

2. EWMI 

1. CCD 

2. KDO 

3. YS 

4. Action Aid 

5. CARE 

6. EWMI 

1. AFESIP 

2. Action Aid 

3. VSO 

1. CSCS 1. EWMI 1. CARE 

2. EWMI 

1. Mith 

Samlanh 

2. USG 

3. CAMP 

4. CCASVA 

5. KrY 

6. DWHH/ 

GAA 

7. Plan 

8. WVI 

9. IOM 

1. USG 

2. YFP 

3. EWMI 

4. Plan 

1. KYA 

2. YCC 

3. CAREPO 

4. CAMP 

5. CARAM 

6. YRDP 

7. Action Aid 

8. EWMI 

9. DWHH/ 

GAA 

10. JS/JRS 

11. Plan 

1. AFESIP 

2. ECPAT 

3. HCC 

4. PJJ 

5. CARAM 

6. CCASVA 

7. Action Aid 

8. SCN-CO 

9. VSO 

10. WVI 

11. IOM 

1. CHED 

2. CSCS 

3. WVI 

1. CORDE 1. Action Aid 1. Action Aid 

2. SCN-CO 

3. WVI 

Domestic 

violence/ 

Genderbased 

violence 

Human 

traffic 

protection/ 

child rights 

and juvenile 



2. SCA 

3.World 

Education 


2. World 

Education 

1. CWCC 

2. EWMI 

3. SCN-CO 

1. GGAC 

2. LAC 

3. VDTO 

4. CIAI 

5. Every 

Child 

6. NH 

7. Oxfam 

Quebec 

8. Plan 

9. SCA 

10. WVI 

11. IOM 


2. Every 

Child 

3. WVI 

Peace/ 

non-violence 

and conflict 

prevention 

Gender 

roles and 

disparities 

1. KYSD 

2. CCD 

3. CVS 

1. KYA 

2. YFP 

3. E&D 

4. WVI 

1. KYSD 

2. KYCC 

3. PSAD 

4. SILAKA 

5. YFP 

6. CVS 

7. PHD 

1. WVI 1. ADRA 

Other 

1. CCD 

1. YCC 

2. YFP 

3. CARAM 

4. NYEMO 

5. EDA 

6. MCC 


14. Prey Veng 1. YS 

2. CVS 

3. Every 

Child 

4. MCC 

5. Pact 


1. DWHH/ 

GAA 

1. YS 1. HCC 

2. KYA 

3. YCC 

4. YS 

5. CARE 

6. DWHH/ 

GAA 

1. HCC 

2. PNKS 

15. Pursat 1. CVS 

2. AEA-ASE 

3. Pact 


1. WP 

2. DWHH/ 

GAA 

1. AARR 

2. YCC 

3. Action Aid 

4. DWHH/ 

GAA 

1. PK 

2. Action Aid 

3. SCN-CO 

16. Rattanakiri 1. SCADP 

2. VFI 

1. CAMP 

2. DWHH/ 

GAA 

3. VFI 

1. Action Aid 

2. CARE 

3. DWHH/ 

GAA 

1. Action Aid 

2. SCN-CO 

17. Siem Riep 1. KAKO 

2. AEA-ASE 

3. CAMA 

Service 

4. EDM 

5. Pact 


1. KAKO 

2. WP 

3. KrY 

4. CVS 

5. CARITAS 

6. CAMA 

Service 

7. Plan 

1. Plan 1. KYA 

2. YCC 

3. Action Aid 

4. JS/JRS 

5. Plan 

1. AFESIP 

2. VCAO 

3. Action Aid 

4. SCN-CO 

18. Sihanouk Ville 1. AEA-ASE 

2. Pact 


3. VFI 

1. CHED 

2. VFI 

1. AFESIP 

2. KWC 

3. SCN-CO 

4. IOM 

19. Stung Treng 1. YWAM 1. AFESIP 

2. VSO 

20. Svay Rieng 1. SCADP 

2. AEA-ASE 

3. Pact 


1.WP 1.OFC 1. KYA 

2. YCC 

3. OPC 

4. Action Aid 

1. HCC 

2. Action Aid 

1. LAC 

2. Every 

Child 

1. KYA 

2. YFP 

1. YFP 

2. Pact 


1. SCN-CO 1. LAC 1. CAMP 1. AARR 

2. KYSD 

3. CVS 

4. Pact 




2. CIAI 

3. Plan 

1. KYA 1. CWCC 

2. SILAKA 

3. CVS 

4. ADRA 

5. Pact 



2. IOM 

1. LAC 

2. Oxfam 

Quebec 

1. CVS 

1. LAC 1. KYA 

2. YFP 

1. Pact 


1. CWPD 

2. CCASVA 

3. MCC 

1. YCC 

2. EDA 

1. CWPD 

2. YCC 

3. YFP 


167


Community 

Development 

Youth 

center and 

promote 

livelihood 

skills 

Civic 

engagement 

and 

citizenship 

Democracy, 

human 

rights and 

advocacy 


child and 

women 


Domestic 

violence/ 

Genderbased 

violence 

Human 

traffic 

protection/ 

child rights 

and juvenile 


21. Takeo 1. PADV 

2. FIDR 

3. MCC 

4. Pact 


1. KrY 

2. CARITAS 

3. DWHH/ 

GAA 

1. YFP 1. KYA 

2. YCC 

3. YRDP 

4. DWHH/ 

GAA 

1. VCAO 1. GGAC 

2. LAC 

3. CIAI 

22. Oddar Meanchey 1. EDM 1. CHED 

2. CSCS 

1. CORDE 

2. EWMI 

1. EWMI 1. EWMI 1. LAC 

2. IOM 

23. Krong Kep 1.LAC 

24. Krong Pailin 1. MPK 

2. EDM 

1. CHED 

2. CSCS 

1. CBCDO 1. AMARA 

2. CBCDO 

1. AFESIP 

2. CVD 

3. IOM 

1. LAC 

2. CIAI 

3. IOM 

Peace/ 

non-violence 

and conflict 

prevention 

Gender 

roles and 

disparities 

1. KYA 

2. YFP 

1. KYCC 

2. YFP 

3. Pact 


1. YFP 1. AMARA 

2. YFP 

Other 

2. CWPD 

3. YCC 

4. YFP 

5. KCA 

6. EDA 

7. MCC 


ANNEX 3-4 

MAPPING OF CURRENT NGO PROGRAMMES/ ACTIVITIES SUPPORTING YOUTH, BY REGION 


Code Province 

Sexual and 

Reproductive 

health 

HIV/AIDS & 

STD 

Primary 

Healthcare 

and 

nutrition 

Tobacco, 

alcohol 

and drug 

abuse 

Vocational/ 

skills 


Non-formal 

education 

Scholarship/ 

fellowship 


12 Phnom Penh 12 20 10 1 15 5 8 10 0 0 

Plain 17 40 21 5 24 8 17 21 2 0 

3 Kampong Cham 6 16 9 1 9 4 7 9 1 0 

8 Kandal 7 10 5 1 7 1 4 5 0 0 

14 Prey Veng 1 4 3 1 3 2 1 2 0 0 

20 Svay Rieng 1 5 1 1 2 0 1 2 0 0 

21 Takeo 2 5 3 1 3 1 4 3 1 0 

Tonle Sap 12 46 25 8 30 10 27 32 2 0 

1 Banteay Meanchey 3 7 5 2 6 5 4 9 1 0 

2 Battambang 2 10 4 2 7 1 7 8 0 0 

4 Kampong Chhnang 0 3 2 1 2 1 3 2 0 0 

6 Kampong Thom 2 9 4 1 5 1 3 2 1 0 

15 Pursat 1 7 3 1 2 1 2 3 0 0 

17 Siem Reap 4 10 7 1 8 1 8 8 0 0 

Coastal 5 14 7 4 10 1 13 7 0 0 

7 Kampot 1 4 2 1 2 0 6 2 0 0 

9 Koh Kong 4 5 3 1 2 1 3 2 0 0 

18 Sihanoukville 0 4 1 1 5 0 3 3 0 0 

23 Kep 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 


169



Sexual and 

Reproductive 

health 

HIV/AIDS & 

STD 

Primary 

Healthcare 

and 

nutrition 

Tobacco, 

alcohol 

and drug 

abuse 

Vocational/ 

skills 


Non-formal 

education 

Scholarship/ 

fellowship 


Plateau/Mountain 13 27 17 8 17 10 20 21 4 0 

5 Kampong Speu 2 6 3 1 4 3 4 6 2 0 

10 Kratie 4 7 5 1 2 2 3 3 1 0 

11 Mondul Kiri 3 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 1 0 

13 Preah Vihear 1 3 3 1 1 0 2 3 0 0 

16 Ratanak Kiri 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 3 0 0 

19 Stung Treng 0 3 1 1 2 1 2 0 0 0 

22 Oddor Meanchey 1 1 0 1 1 0 2 1 0 0 

24 Pailin 1 3 1 1 5 0 3 3 0 0 

Total 59 147 80 26 96 34 85 91 8 0 

MAPPING OF CURRENT NGOS PROGRAMME/ ACTIVITIES SUPPORTING YOUTH IN CAMBODIA BY REGION (continued) 


Community 

Development 

Youth 

center and 

promote 

life skills 

and livelihood 

skills 

Civic 

engagement 

and 

citizenship 

Democracy, 

human 

rights and 

advocacy 


child and 

women 

sexual 

exploitation 

Domestic 

violence/ 

Genderbased 

violence 

Protection 

child rights 

and juvenile 


Pease/nonviolence 

and 

conflict 

prevention 

Gender 

equity and 

empowerment 

Other 

12 Phnom Penh 17 9 4 11 11 3 11 4 7 6 

Plain 17 40 21 5 24 8 17 21 2 0 

3 Kampong Cham 32 14 7 27 16 3 20 9 17 16 

8 Kandal 11 6 2 8 8 1 6 2 6 1 

14 Prey Veng 9 3 2 5 3 2 8 1 5 3 

20 Svay Rieng 5 1 1 6 2 0 2 2 2 3 

21 Takeo 3 1 1 4 2 0 1 2 1 3 

Tonle Sap 41 23 8 30 28 8 21 7 24 8 

1 Banteay Meanchey 8 3 2 6 6 2 3 0 4 2 


2 Battambang 13 5 3 7 6 2 6 2 5 2 

4 Kampong Chhnang 3 3 1 2 4 1 4 2 2 1 

6 Kampong Thom 9 3 1 6 5 1 4 1 4 1 

15 Pursat 3 2 0 4 3 1 1 1 4 0 

17 Siem Reap 5 7 1 5 4 1 3 1 5 2 

Coastal 10 4 2 7 11 3 9 1 6 1 

7 Kampot 4 0 1 3 3 1 3 1 4 1 

9 Koh Kong 3 2 1 4 4 1 3 0 2 0 

18 Sihanoukville 3 2 0 0 4 1 2 0 0 0 

23 Kep 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 


Community 

Development 

Youth 

center and 

promote 

life skills 

and livelihood 

skills 

Civic 

engagement 

and 

citizenship 

Democracy, 

human 

rights and 

advocacy 


child and 

women 

sexual 

exploitation 

Domestic 

violence/ 

Genderbased 

violence 

Protection 

child rights 

and juvenile 


Pease/nonviolence 

and 

conflict 

prevention 

Gender 

equity and 

empowerment 

Other 

Plateau/Mountain 22 16 7 20 16 4 20 6 8 3 

5 Kampong Speu 6 4 0 5 2 0 5 2 1 2 

10 Kratie 5 1 2 6 3 1 3 0 3 1 

11 Mondul Kiri 2 1 1 2 0 1 2 0 0 0 

13 Preah Vihear 3 3 1 1 3 1 3 1 1 0 

16 Ratanak Kiri 2 3 0 3 2 1 1 0 0 0 

19 Stung Treng 1 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 1 0 

22 Oddor Meanchey 1 2 2 1 1 0 1 2 0 0 

24 Pailin 2 2 1 2 3 0 3 1 2 0 

Total 122 66 28 95 82 21 81 27 62 34 


171

ANNEX 3-5 

CONCENTRATION INDICES OF YOUTH PROGRAMMES IN CAMBODIA – PRINCIPLE COMPONENTS ANALYSIS 


Youth Programme (Frequency) a/ Concentration 

(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j) (k) (l) (m) (n) (o) (p) (q) (r) (s) (t) Index(Principal 

Component)s 

Kep 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0.04166667 

Stung Treng 0 3 1 1 2 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 1 0 0.08333334 

Oddar Meanchey 1 1 0 1 1 0 2 1 0 0 1 2 2 1 1 0 1 2 0 0 0.125 

Mondul Kiri 3 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 1 0 2 1 1 2 0 1 2 0 0 0 0.16666667 

Ratanak Kiri 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 3 0 0 2 3 0 3 2 1 1 0 0 0 0.20833333 

Sihanoukville 0 4 1 1 5 0 3 3 0 0 3 2 0 0 4 1 2 0 0 0 0.25 

Svay Rieng 1 5 1 1 2 0 1 2 0 0 3 1 1 4 2 0 1 2 1 3 0.29166666 

Pailin 1 3 1 1 5 0 3 3 0 0 2 2 1 2 3 0 3 1 2 0 0.33333334 

Preah Vihear 1 3 3 1 1 0 2 3 0 0 3 3 1 1 3 1 3 1 1 0 0.375 

Pursat 1 7 3 1 2 1 2 3 0 0 3 2 0 4 3 1 1 1 4 0 0.41666666 

Kampong Chhnang 0 3 2 1 2 1 3 2 0 0 3 3 1 2 4 1 4 2 2 1 0.45833334 

Kampot 1 4 2 1 2 0 6 2 0 0 4 0 1 3 3 1 3 1 4 1 0.5 

Prey Veng 1 4 3 1 3 2 1 2 0 0 5 1 1 6 2 0 2 2 2 3 0.54166669 

Koh Kong 4 5 3 1 2 1 3 2 0 0 3 2 1 4 4 1 3 0 2 0 0.58333331 

Takeo 2 5 3 1 3 1 4 3 1 0 4 3 1 4 1 0 3 2 3 6 0.625 

Kratie 4 7 5 1 2 2 3 3 1 0 5 1 2 6 3 1 3 0 3 1 0.66666669 

Kampong Speu 2 6 3 1 4 3 4 6 2 0 6 4 0 5 2 0 5 2 1 2 0.70833331 

Kampong Thom 2 9 4 1 5 1 3 2 1 0 9 3 1 6 5 1 4 1 4 1 0.75 

Siem Reap 4 10 7 1 8 1 8 8 0 0 5 7 1 5 4 1 3 1 5 2 0.79166669 

Kandal 7 10 5 1 7 1 4 5 0 0 9 3 2 5 3 2 8 1 5 3 0.83333331 



Youth Programme (Frequency)a/ Concentration 

(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j) (k) (l) (m) (n) (o) (p) (q) (r) (s) (t) Index(Principal 

Component)s 

Banteay Meanchey 3 7 5 2 6 5 4 9 1 0 8 3 2 6 6 2 3 0 4 2 0.875 

Battambang 2 10 4 2 7 1 7 8 0 0 13 5 3 7 6 2 6 2 5 2 0.91666669 

Kampong Cham 6 16 9 1 9 4 7 9 1 0 11 6 2 8 8 1 6 2 6 1 0.95833331 

Phnom Penh 12 20 10 1 15 5 8 10 0 0 17 9 4 11 11 3 11 4 7 6 1 

a/Alphabetic notations are represented by the following variables: 

(a) Sexual and Reproductive health (f) Non-formal education (k) Community development (p) Domestic violence/ Gender-based violence 

(b) HIV/AIDS & STD (g) Scholarship/ fellowship (l) Youth centre and promoting life skills and livelihood skills (q) Protection – child rights and juvenile delinquency 

(c) Primary Healthcare and nutrition (h) Primary education (m) Civic engagement and citizenship (r) Peace/ non-violence and conflict prevention 

(d) Tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse (i) Secondary education (n) Democracy, human rights and advocacy (s) Gender equity and empowerment 

(e) Vocational/skills training (j) Tertiary education (o) Combating child and women sexual exploitation (t) other 


173


ANNEX 3- 6 

CONCENTRATION INDEX MAP OF YOUTH PROGRAMMES IN HEALTH 


Youth Program (Frequency) 

(a) (b) (c) (d) 

Kep 0 1 1 1 3 

Oddar Meanchey 1 1 0 1 3 

Stung Treng 0 3 1 1 5 

Ratanak Kiri 1 2 2 1 6 

Sihanoukville 0 4 1 1 6 

Pailin 1 3 1 1 6 

Kampong Chhnang 0 3 2 1 6 

Mondul Kiri 3 2 2 1 8 

Svay Rieng 1 5 1 1 8 

Preah Vihear 1 3 3 1 8 

Kampot 1 4 2 1 8 

Prey Veng 1 4 3 1 9 

Takeo 2 5 3 1 11 

Pursat 1 7 3 1 12 

Kampong Speu 2 6 3 1 12 

Koh Kong 4 5 3 1 13 

Kampong Thom 2 9 4 1 16 

Kratie 4 7 5 1 17 

Banteay Meanchey 3 7 5 2 17 

Battambang 2 10 4 2 18 

Siemreap 4 10 7 1 22 

Kandal 7 10 5 1 23 

Kampong Cham 6 16 9 1 32 

Phnom Penh 12 20 10 1 43 

Total 

score 


175

CONCENTRATION INDEX MAP OF YOUTH PROGRAMMES IN EDUCATION 


Youth Program (Frequency) 

(e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j) 

Kep 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 

Oddar Meanchey 1 0 2 1 0 0 4 

Stung Treng 2 1 2 0 0 0 5 

Svay Rieng 2 0 1 2 0 0 5 

Preah Vihear 1 0 2 3 0 0 6 

Mondul Kiri 1 2 2 2 1 0 8 

Ratanak Kiri 1 2 2 3 0 0 8 

Pursat 2 1 2 3 0 0 8 

Kampong Chhnang 2 1 3 2 0 0 8 

Prey Veng 3 2 1 2 0 0 8 

Koh Kong 2 1 3 2 0 0 8 

Kampot 2 0 6 2 0 0 10 

Sihanoukville 5 0 3 3 0 0 11 

Pailin 5 0 3 3 0 0 11 

Kratie 2 2 3 3 1 0 11 

Takeo 3 1 4 3 1 0 12 

Kampong Thom 5 1 3 2 1 0 12 

Kandal 7 1 4 5 0 0 17 

Kampong Speu 4 3 4 6 2 0 19 

Battambang 7 1 7 8 0 0 23 

Siemreap 8 1 8 8 0 0 25 

Banteay Meanchey 6 5 4 9 1 0 25 

Kampong Cham 9 4 7 9 1 0 30 

Phnom Penh 15 5 8 10 0 0 38 

Total 

score 


ANNEX 3- 7 

CONCENTRATION INDEX MAP OF THE YOUTH PROGRAMMES IN HEALTH 

CONCENTRATION INDEX MAP OF THE YOUTH PROGRAMMES IN EDUCATION 


177

ANNEX 4-1 

DISTRIBUTION OF NGOS AND PROJECT INTERVENTIONS ON EDUCATION, BY PROVINCE 

No Province Number of NGOs Number of Projects 

1 Banteay Meanchey 20 27 

2 Batambang 25 38 

3 Kampong Cham 27 39 

4 kampong Chhnang 18 25 

5 kampong Speu 19 24 

6 Kampong Thom 18 24 

7 Kampot 21 24 

8 Kandal 24 30 

9 Koh Kong 10 14 

10 Kratie 14 23 

11 MondulKiri 12 17 

12 Phnom Penh 35 57 

13 Preah Vihear 10 15 

14 Prey veng 18 24 

15 Poursat 22 29 

16 Ratanakiri 11 15 

17 Siem Reap 26 43 

18 Sihanoukville 12 17 

19 Steung Treng 13 17 

20 Svay Rieng 16 20 

21 Takeo 19 25 

22 Krong Kep 10 15 

23 Krong Pailin 10 13 

24 Oddar Meanchey 15 20 

Source: MoEYS 2008 


ANNEX 4-2 

EDUCATION SECTOR: KEY GOALS AND TARGETS 

Targets and Indicators 2005 2006 

2010 

(Target) 

2015 

(Target) 

1 Primary School (1-6), Net Enrolment %: Total 91.9 91.3 100 100 

Boys 93.0 93.0 100 100 

Girls 90.7 89.7 100 100 

2 Lower Sec. School (7-9), Net Enrolment %: Total 26.1 31.3 75 100 

Boys 27.3 32.1 75 100 

Girls 24.8 30.4 75 100 

3 Survival rate %: 1-6: 53.1 48.15 100 100 

4 Survival rate %: 1-9: 29.30 26.48 50 100 

5 Literacy rate - 15-24 years % 83.4 84.7 95 100 

Source: EMIS 2006 

ANNEX 4-3 

SCHOLARSHIP FOR POOR STUDENTS - CHILD PROTECTION PROGRAMMES (2005-2006) 

Program 

Scholarship Programmes for Poor Students 

Institution/ Agency 

MoEYS, ADB/ JFPR, BTC/BETT, WB/ CESSP, 

and NGOs 

Beneficiaries 

(Number) 

Expenditure 

(US$, millions) 

20,000 1.39* 

School Feeding Programme WFP 544,296 2.55 

Time Bound Programme (ILO IPEC’s TBP) ILO 8,000 0.400 

Centre for Orphans, Street and Destitute MoSVY and INGOs, and LNGOs 13,500* 0.310** 

Children 

Total 585,796 4.65 100 

Source: 2005 Annual report and interviews (ADB) 

* This figure is a combination between cash transfer (0.93 million US$) and WFP program of scholarships for Girl (0.46 million US$) 

** This figure depends entirely on MoSVY annual report, 2005, with data collected only from NGOs who provided annual report that were submitted 

to MoSVY. Therefore, the actual number of beneficiary is significantly higher than this. 


179

ANNEX 4-4 

KEY POLICY, STRATEGY AND TARGETS FOR EDUCATION SECTOR 

KEY POLICIES, STRATEGIES AND TARGETS 

Equitable Access to Education Services 

• Expand access to ECE (early childhood education) programmes for 5 year olds targeted on those communes with low new admission 

rates and high repetition rates in primary schools. 

• Ensure entry of all 6 year olds into primary school by performing regular population census and by issuing a decree and guidelines for 

6 years as age of entry to primary school. 

• Reduce parental costs barriers (such as informal payments) by increasing operational budgets for schools and teachers’ salaries. 

• Enable Greater Private/Community involvement in all stages of schooling in order to increase understanding of importance of education 

as well as achieving greater transparency and accountability in the structures. 

• Continued provision of new schools or additional facilities to incomplete primary schools as well as locating school facilities closer to 

home thus reducing direct and opportunity costs for families. 

• Increase the number of scholarships for youth from poor families, especially girls. 

• Expand public-NGO community partnerships in non-formal education to promote education in border, remote and disadvantaged 

areas to response to labour market. 

Increasing quality and efficiency of the education services 

• Improve the quality of teaching and learning through nationwide implementation of child-friendly school and school readiness 

programs. 

• Increase the schools’ and training institutions’ operational autonomy and accountability regarding operational budgets and 

decisions on programs by establishing new financial planning and accountability mechanisms for school operating budgets. 

• Strengthening teaching and learning quality to ensure primary and secondary teachers with pedagogy and ICT (Information 

Communication Technology) awareness. 

• Implement the minimum standards of student achievement for grades 3, 6 and 9 nationwide, assure a shared understanding of 

minimum standards amongst teachers, parents and other stakeholders and follow up on the results of the tests in the nationwide 

school report cards. 

• Increase transparency and improve performance monitoring and accountability of teachers, schools and post-secondary institutions 

by disseminating the result of students’ achievements to the public by promoting the education authorities at all levels including the 

education inspectors. 

Institutional Development and Capacity Building for Decentralization 

• Provide a clearly defined legislative, regulatory framework to the sector and the sub-sectors through the adoption of the Education 

Law by end of 2006. 

• Improved predictability for Medium Term Financial Planning and decentralized management and improved Governance and 

Regulatory Systems by increasing transparency and accountability of resources, including external assistance. 

• Strengthening education system performance monitoring, personnel management, monitoring systems and impact systems, 

including ESP-ESSP review processes. 

• Strengthening Central, Provincial and District Financial Monitoring Systems by increased access to training for Budget Management 

Centers (BMCs). 

• Assuring that all designated Budget Management Centers become operational and effective, and that District and School/ 

Institutional Management Systems are enhanced to ensure quality education. 

• Expand public-NGO community partnerships in non-formal education in border, remote and disadvantaged areas to promote life 

skills, vocational training and professional skills to satisfy the labour market demand. 

Source: Ibid, pp. 11-13 


ANNEX 4-5 

AGE SPECIFIC ENROLMENT RATES 5-19 YEARS BY SEX, CAMBODIA 2004 (%) 

Age 

Sex 


5 21.2 23.9 22.5 

6 47.7 46.6 47.1 

7 67.2 67.1 67.2 

8 81.1 81.4 81.2 

9 88.5 87.7 88.1 

10 91.1 90.1 90.6 

11 92.7 93.4 93.0 

12 91.1 90.4 90.8 

13 91.2 87.1 89.0 

14 84.1 81.7 82.9 

15 75.9 66.2 71.4 

16 66.8 55.4 61.3 

17 56.0 43.9 50.2 

18 42.8 25.8 33.9 

19 32.3 18.8 25.5 

5-19 70.1 65.2 67.7 


ANNEX 4-6 

POPULATION 5 YEARS AND ABOVE, BY EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, SEX AND 

STRATUM, CAMBODIA 2004 (‘000) 

Total Phnom Penh Other Urban Rural 

Educational Attainment 

n % n % n % n % 

Female 6154 100.0 556 100.0 650 100.0 4948 100.0 

None 125 2.0 ** ** ** ** 106 2.1 

Don't know ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** 

Pre-school 2047 33.3 72 12.9 171 26.4 1804 36.5 

Class one 364 5.9 18 3.3 33 5.0 313 6.3 

Class two 494 8.0 28 5.0 51 7.9 415 8.4 

Class three 647 10.5 51 9.1 61 9.4 536 10.8 

Class four 619 10.1 47 8.5 61 9.4 511 10.3 

Class five 511 8.3 49 8.8 55 8.5 407 8.2 


181

Class six 354 5.7 41 7.4 47 7.3 265 5.4 

Class seven 311 5.1 49 8.9 43 6.7 219 4.4 

Class eight 232 3.8 46 8.2 33 5.2 153 3.1 

Class nine 182 3.0 40 7.3 29 4.5 112 2.3 

Class ten 71 1.2 21 3.7 16 2.5 34 0.7 

Class 11 50 0.8 17 3.1 12 1.8 21 0.4 

Class 12 51 0.8 21 3.8 12 1.9 18 0.4 

Secondary school certificate 36 0.6 23 4.1 ** ** ** ** 

Technical/vocational pre-secondary certificate ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** 

Technical/vocational post-secondary certificate ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** 

College/university undergraduate ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** 

College/university graduate ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** 

Postgraduate ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** 

Other ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** 

** means that there are too few observation 

ANNEX 4-7 

AVERAGE ANNUAL EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES BY LEVEL, STRATUM, SEX AND EXPENSE 

CATEGORY, CAMBODIA 2004 (RIELS) 

Level 

School 

fees 

Tuition 

Text 

books 

Other 

school 

supplies 

Allowances 

Transport 

costs 

Gifts to 

teachers 

etc 

Pre-school 23,829 4,098 1,235 3,871 5,681 7,670 242 46,973 

Primary School 

4,820 7,629 6,064 8,050 9,539 2,067 597 41,737 

(Grades 1-6) 

Secondary School 30,747 43,866 16,084 16,810 34,693 11,406 1,744 167,557 

(Grades 7-9) 

High School 

87,604 102,403 38,017 30,318 63,746 28,024 2,054 392,690 

(Grades 10-12) 

Technical/ Vocational 689,303 36,778 82,636 56,682 100,614 78,875 1,096 1,141,323 

Undergraduate/ 

1,363,810 39,725 137,574 86,542 271,044 177,662 2,666 2,129,476 

Graduate 

Other 553,014 13,849 106,130 16,998 274,650 81,579 1,058 1,049,285 

Stratum 

Phnom Penh 316,117 90,295 46,245 34,576 81,942 57,926 2,192 632,730 

Other Urban 28,473 43,403 14,067 15,244 31,720 7,515 1,513 169,836 

Rural 8,104 7,296 7,527 8,929 13,632 2,367 615 54,009 

Sex 

Female 36,918 20,421 11,114 11,843 18,011 7,451 859 113,945 

Male 49,976 20,645 13,676 12,967 27,601 10,340 917 144,384 

Total 43,015 19,629 12,509 12,316 22,638 8,852 896 130,279 

Total 


ANNEX 5-1 

YOUTH LABOUR FORCE, BY GENDER AND STRATA 

Strata Sex # % 

Phnom Penh Male 593 45 

Female 711 55 

Total 1,304 100 

Other Urban Male 896 48 

Female 977 52 

Total 1,873 100 

Rural Male 5,539 51 

Female 5,392 49 

Total 10,931 100 


ANNEX 5-2 

EMPLOYMENT RATE (10 YEARS AND OVER), BY AGE, SEX AND STRATUM, 

CSES 2003-04 (12 MONTHS DATA 2004) 

Age group 

Both 

Sexes 

Cambodia Phnom Penh Other Urban Rural 

Male 

Female 

Both 

Sexes 

Male 

Female 

Both 

Sexes 

Male 

Female 

Both 

Sexes 

10-14 99.9 100.0 99.8 98.3 100.0 97.3 100.0 100.0 100.0 99.9 99.9 99.8 

15-19 98.6 98.7 98.6 93.8 93.5 93.9 97.3 97.3 97.3 99.1 99.1 99.2 

20-24 98.4 98.1 98.8 92.2 90.7 93.5 98.6 98.7 98.4 99.2 98.9 99.5 

25-29 99.3 99.4 99.3 98.5 99.8 97.0 99.0 98.9 99.1 99.5 99.4 99.6 

Total 99.1 99.1 99.1 95.7 96.0 95.4 98.7 98.7 98.7 99.4 99.3 99.5 

Male 

Female 


ANNEX 5-3 

EMPLOYMENT, BY LEVEL OF EDUCATION OF YOUTH (AGE 15-24 YEARS) 

Age group 

Unemployment Employment Total 

# % # % # % 

Primary school 1,591 19.5 6,564 80.5 8,155 100.0 

Secondary school 1,417 29.6 3,364 70.4 4,781 100.0 

High school 602 41.1 863 58.9 1,465 100.0 

Technical/vocational 85 51.8 79 48.2 164 100.0 

College /university graduate 52 38.2 84 61.8 136 100.0 

Other 5 38.5 8 61.5 13 100.0 

None 1 4.5 21 95.5 22 100.0 

Don't know 2 22.2 7 77.8 9 100.0 

Total 3,755 25.5 10,990 74.5 14,745 100.0 



183

ANNEX 5-4 

YOUTH LABOUR FORCE, BY GENDER AND LEVEL OF EDUCATION 

Sex 

Total 

Level of Education 

Male Female # % 

# % # % # % 

Primary school 3,398 55.1 3,631 62.4 7,029 58.6 

Secondary school 2,041 33.1 1,687 29.0 3,728 31.1 

High school 586 9.5 397 6.8 983 8.2 

Technical/ vocational school 66 1.1 41 0.7 107 0.9 

University 59 1.0 44 0.8 103 0.9 

Other 6 0.1 4 0.1 10 0.1 

None 10 0.2 12 0.2 22 0.2 

Don't know 5 0.1 2 0.0 7 0.1 

Total 6,171 100.0 5,818 100.0 11,989 100.0 


ANNEX 5-5 

EMPLOYMENT, BY SEX OF YOUTH (AGE 15-24 YEARS) 

Sex 

Male Female Total 

# % # % # % 

Male 1,932 22.8 6,535 77.2 8,467 100.0 

Female 2,154 24.9 6,481 75.1 8,635 100.0 

Total 4,086 23.9 13,016 76.1 17,102 100.0 



ANNEX 5-6 

EMPLOYED POPULATION (10 YEARS AND OVER) BY EMPLOYMENT STATUS (BASED ON PRIMARY OCCUPATION), SEX AND 

STRATUM, CSES 2003-04 (12 MONTHS DATA 2004) 


Both 

Sexes 


Male Female 

Both 

Sexes 

Male Female 

Both 

Sexes 

Male Female 

Both 

Sexes 

Male Female 

Paid employee 1,500,686 885,278 615,408 272,644 165,748 106,896 197,752 126,617 71,135 1,030,290 592,913 437,377 

Employer 7,827 4,872 2,955 448 129 319 1,246 1,131 115 6,133 3,612 2,521 

Own account worker/Self-employed 2,574,876 1,507,752 1,067,123 153,718 69,046 84,672 259,894 140,947 118,947 2,161,264 1,297,759 863,504 

Unpaid family worker 3,244,610 1,320,176 1,924,434 130,014 55,083 74,931 274,953 111,895 163,058 2,839,643 1,153,198 1,686,445 

Other 34,147 21,978 12,168 4,084 1,882 2,202 1,455 709 745 28,608 19,387 9,221 

NA 133,455 53,235 80,219 6,691 2,283 4,407 17,954 7,312 10,642 108,810 43,640 65,170 

Total 7,495,601 3,793,291 3,702,307 567,599 294,171 273,427 753,254 388,611 364,642 6,174,748 3,110,509 3,064,238 

Percentage by row 

Paid employee 100.0 59.0 41.0 100.0 60.8 39.2 100.0 64.0 36.0 100.0 57.5 42.5 

Employer 100.0 62.2 37.8 100.0 28.8 71.2 100.0 90.8 9.2 100.0 58.9 41.1 

Own account worker/Self-employed 100.0 58.6 41.4 100.0 44.9 55.1 100.0 54.2 45.8 100.0 60.0 40.0 

Unpaid family worker 100.0 40.7 59.3 100.0 42.4 57.6 100.0 40.7 59.3 100.0 40.6 59.4 

Other 100.0 64.4 35.6 100.0 46.1 53.9 100.0 48.7 51.2 100.0 67.8 32.2 

NA 100.0 39.9 60.1 100.0 34.1 65.9 100.0 40.7 59.3 100.0 40.1 59.9 

Total 100.0 50.6 49.4 100.0 51.8 48.2 100.0 51.6 48.4 100.0 50.4 49.6 

Percentage by column 

Paid employee 20.0 23.3 16.6 48.0 56.3 39.1 26.3 32.6 19.5 16.7 19.1 14.3 

Employer 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 

Own account worker/Self-employed 34.4 39.7 28.8 27.1 23.5 31.0 34.5 36.3 32.6 35.0 41.7 28.2 

Unpaid family worker 43.3 34.8 52.0 22.9 18.7 27.4 36.5 28.8 44.7 46.0 37.1 55.0 

Other 0.5 0.6 0.3 0.7 0.6 0.8 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.5 0.6 0.3 

NA 1.8 1.4 2.2 1.2 0.8 1.6 2.4 1.9 2.9 1.8 1.4 2.1 

Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 



185

ANNEX 5-7 

PERCENTAGE OF EMPLOYED POPULATION (AGED 10 YEARS AND ABOVE) BY BRANCH OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY OR 

INDUSTRY GROUP, SEX AND STRATUM, CAMBODIA 2004 

Main Industry 

Both 

Sexes 


Male Female 

Both 

Sexes 

Male Female 

Both 

Sexes 

Male Female 

Both 

Sexes 

Male Female 

1. Agriculture, hunting and forestry 55.5 54.3 56.8 2.5 3.0 1.9 34.0 31.8 36.3 63.0 61.9 64.1 

2. Fishing 4.8 7.1 2.4 0.1 0.2 - 6.5 9.0 3.9 5.0 7.6 2.4 

3. Mining and quarrying 0.2 0.2 0.2 - - - - - - 0.3 0.3 0.2 

4. Manufacturing 9.5 6.7 12.5 15.5 9.7 21.7 6.9 5.1 8.8 9.3 6.6 12.1 

5. Electricity, gas and Water supply 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.6 1.0 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.1 

6. Construction 2.6 4.5 0.6 3.6 6.1 0.8 3.5 5.9 1.0 2.4 4.2 0.5 

7. Wholesale and retail trade; repair 

workers etc. 

13.9 9.0 18.8 35.8 24.4 48.0 24.5 16.2 33.3 10.5 6.6 14.5 

8. Hotels and restaurants 0.4 0.4 0.5 2.1 2.0 2.2 1.0 0.8 1.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 

9. Transport, storage and 

communication 

2.6 4.8 0.4 6.6 12.0 0.7 5.3 9.7 0.5 1.9 3.5 0.3 

10. Financial, inter-mediation 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.6 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.3 1.0 0.1 0.2 0.1 

11. Real estate, renting and Business 

Activities 

0.2 0.3 0.1 0.6 0.7 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.0 

12. Public Administration and Defence; 

Social Security 

2.4 4.2 0.6 12.5 20.2 4.3 4.7 7.7 1.6 1.2 2.3 0.2 

13. Education 1.4 1.8 1.0 4.1 4.8 3.3 3.2 3.8 2.6 1.0 1.3 0.6 

14. Health 0.5 0.6 0.4 1.6 1.8 1.5 0.9 1.1 0.8 0.4 0.4 0.3 

15. Other Community, Social and 

Personal Services 

1.0 1.1 0.9 3.7 3.2 4.1 1.7 1.8 1.5 0.7 0.9 0.6 

16. Private Households with Employed 

Persons 

2.5 2.8 2.2 7.8 8.3 7.3 3.4 3.3 3.5 1.9 2.2 1.6 

17. Extra-Territorial Organisations and 

Bodies 

1.9 1.6 2.2 2.3 1.9 2.8 3.2 2.8 3.6 1.7 1.4 2.0 

Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 


ANNEX 5-8 

PERCENTAGE OF EMPLOYED POPULATION (AGED 10 YEARS AND ABOVE) BY OCCUPATION, 

SEX AND STRATUM CAMBODIA 20044 

Main Industry 

Both 

Sexes 


Male Female 

Both 

Sexes 

Male Female 

Both 

Sexes 

Male Female 

Both 

Sexes 

Male Female 

1. Legislators, Senior Officials and 

Managers 

0.9 1.5 0.3 4.2 5.6 2.6 1.3 1.9 0.6 0.6 1.1 0.1 

2. Professionals 2.9 3.8 1.9 12.6 16.2 8.7 6.3 7.6 5.0 1.6 2.2 1.0 

3. Technicians and Associate 

Professionals 

0.4 0.6 0.3 2.4 2.7 2.1 1.1 1.3 0.8 0.2 0.3 0.1 

4. Clerks 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.6 0.1 0.1 0.1 

5. Shop and Market Sales Workers 12.3 8.0 16.7 33.4 22.5 45.2 21.9 14.8 29.3 9.2 5.8 12.7 

6. Skilled Agricultural and Fishery 

Workers 

61.6 63.0 60.3 2.5 3.0 1.9 40.9 41.6 40.1 69.6 71.3 67.9 

7. Craft and Related Trades Workers 5.6 5.0 6.2 9.2 9.8 8.4 5.6 6.3 4.8 5.3 4.4 6.2 

8. Plant and Machine Operators etc 5.6 5.7 5.5 15.5 16.9 14.0 6.9 9.6 4.1 4.5 4.2 4.9 

9. Elementary Occupations 7.8 9.3 6.3 14.8 15.5 14.0 11.5 11.7 11.2 6.7 8.4 5.0 

10. Armed Forces 0.7 1.3 0.1 3.3 6.0 0.4 1.8 3.2 0.2 0.3 0.7 0.0 

11. All Occupation Groups 1.8 1.5 2.2 1.5 1.2 1.9 2.5 1.9 3.2 1.8 1.5 2.1 

Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

ANNEX 5-9 

ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE POPULATION BY LEVEL OF EDUCATION AND AGE GROUP 

Age group 

No or only some 

education 

Primary not 

complete/ class 1-5 

Primary 

completed/ class 

6-8 

Lower secondary 


9-11 



12-13 

Post secondary 

education 

Total 

# % # % # % # % # % # % # % 

10-14 99,010 11.3 682,249 78.1 90,486 10.4 1,632 0.2 0 0.0 0 0.0 873,377 21.9 

15-19 163,502 13.4 516,116 42.2 422,369 34.5 108,465 8.9 12,661 1.0 1,131 0.1 1,224,244 30.7 

20-24 224,464 18.9 431,344 36.3 302,211 25.4 137,880 11.6 68,016 5.7 23,851 2.0 1,187,766 29.8 

25-29 166,693 23.7 260,776 37.0 157,861 22.4 63,756 9.1 37,159 5.3 18,078 2.6 704,323 17.7 

Total 653,669 16.4 1,890,485 47.4 972,927 24.4 311,733 7.8 117,836 3.0 43,060 1.1 3,989,710 100.0 


187

ANNEX 8-1 

CHILDREN & YOUTH-LED ORGANISATIONS IN CAMBODIA 

Name Description Project Location Programmes 

1. Association Support New 

Cambodian Children (ASNCC) 

Focuses on welfare, technical training, human 

rights, child trafficking and agriculture. Current 

activities support orphans and poor children 

through training by informal education and 

welfare education. 

Kandal Province 1. Welfare – Child Welfare and Rights 

2. Agriculture – Animal Raising 

3. Human Rights – Human Rights / Democracy 

4. Technical Training – Education / Training 

2. Battambang Women’s AIDS Project 

(BWAP) 

A non-policy and non-profit organisation 

that aims to reduce the HIV/AIDS epidemic in 

Battambang Province and Pailin Municipality 

through education, with reference to 

increasing awareness and knowledge of HIV/ 

AIDS to all people especially help, care and 

support to PHLA and their families 

Pailin 

Banteay Meanchey 

1. HIV/AIDS/STD/ Prevention 

2. Home based care 

3. OVC 

(in both Pailin and Banteay Meanchey) 

3. Buddhist Association for 

Environment Development 

(BAED) 

Utilises remaining renounces, Buddhist 

theories, and support from other agents in 

order to develop communal economies, social 

morality, environment, solving conflicts, and 

control natural resources in a sustainable 

manner 

Kampong Cham 1. Natural Resources Management 

2. Children 

3. Community Forestry 

4. Training villagers of environment replanting 

the trees 

4. Cambodia Green Life Association 

(CGLA) 

Focuses on reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS, 

drug use, illegal deforestation and traffic 

accidents 

Phnom Penh 1. Training and awareness raising about health 

2. Collection of charitable papers for children 

victims of tsunami 

3. Training on Health and AIDS 

5. Cambodian Association for 

Saving the Poor (ASA) 

Strengthens the capacity of poor students and 

workers on languages and computer skills 

Siem Reap 1. Teaching English 

2. Providing budget for poor children to do 

business 

6. Cambodian Children against 

Starvation and Violence 

Association (CCSVA) 

Promotes activities within the community 

through cooperation between NGOs, IOs, and 

networks to develop knowledge skills and 

behaviour of children/youth in order to become 

responsible members of the community 

Phnom Penh 

Prey Veng 

1. Economic Exploitation of Street Children and 

Providing Care, Education, Opportunities to 

Street Children 

2. Sexual Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS 

Prevention 

3. Care and Support Project Home-Based Care 

4. Social Marketing of Health 


7. Cambodian Children 

Development (CCD) 

Fully supports, encourages and strengthens 

child rights respect especially the training for 

children to support the slogan “Children are 

Bamboo Shoots”, for them to become the future 

restorers and developers of the country 

8. Cambodian Construction Workers 

Trade Union (CCWU-SRP) 

Advocate good working conditions with 

employers; strengthens the capacity of workers 

in advocating with employers and co-workers; 

promotes unity and solidarity among coworkers 

9. Cambodian Poor Families 

Development Organisation 

(CPFDO) 

Aims to promote the livelihood of poor people 

in the target rural areas. Works in cooperation 

with INGOs, CNGOs, and IOs related to health, 

education and agricultural knowledge. 

10. Cambodian Youth Development 

(CYD) 

Ensures equality and commitment of youths to 

avoid AIDS and drugs; strengthens the capacity 

to build strong culture of peace; joins force for 

development and participation of all youths 

11. Cambodian Youth Network (CYN) Strengthens cooperation and helps other 

members of the network 

12. Child Advisor Club (CAC) Improves the living conditions of children and 

future children through saving poor children, 

raising awareness on child rights and to help 

children out of illiteracy 

13. Child Advocate Network (CAN) Mobilises children’s organisation/group to raise 

awareness on child rights to children and 

public; advocates children’s rights 

Kandal 1. General Facilitation Skills Training 

2. Leadership Training 

3. Project Management Training 

4. Community Work 

Siem Reap 

other areas 

1. Disseminate and educate on AIDS and 

healthcare advocacy 

2. negotiation with Employers Programme and 

Workers’ Issues 

3. Involvement in Related activities 

Kampong Speu 

Kandal 

1. Prevent HIV/AIDS 

2. Mortality rate 

3. Increase Orphanage 

4. Water Supply 

5. Agriculture 

Phnom Penh 


1. Life skill workshop 

2. Friends Educate Friends Programme 

3. Publishing Youth Bulletin 

4. Youth Concert 

Phnom Penh 

Kampong Cham 

1. Riding Bicycles for Peace Programme 

2. Disseminate information on violence and 

illegal use of weapons 

Kampong Speu 1. Dissemination on children and primary 

healthcare 

2. Environment protection programme 

3. Participating in workshops 

Phnom Penh 1. Child Rights Awareness Raising 

2. Capacity building Among Members 

3. Sharing Experience among network 

4. Networking with Children’s Club/Group 

5. Collecting data/information on child abuse 


189


14. Child and Youth Club in Krakor 

District (CYCKD) 

Educates youths about their values and teach 

about hard work in order to help themselves 

and their families 

Pursat 1. Dissemination on Child Rights, Primary 

Health Care, and AIDS 

2. Money saving programme and other skills 

3. Establishing networks to protect children’s 

rights 

4. Intervening to help children victims from 

certain violence 

5. Advocating and promoting law enforcement 

6. Forum on global lobby for education 

7. Children Rights Dissemination on International 

Children’s Day 

15. Child Assistance for Mobilisation 

(CAMP) 

A youth volunteer organisation that promotes 

children and young people participation, 

coordinates networks, and advocates for child 

rights and participates in monitoring the 

implementation of the Convention on the 

Rights of the Child in Cambodia 

Siem Reap, Pursat, 

Kampong Chhnang, 

Kandal, Phnom Penh, 

Kampong Thom, 

Battambang, 

Kampong Speu, 

Ratanakiri, Takeo 

1. Child Advocates and Leaders Project 

2. Capacity Building on Child Rights Project 

3. Primary Heath Care and Child Rights Project 

4. Children prevention and Protection from 

Rape Project 

16. Child for Child Future (CCF) Improves relationship between children and 

children. Promoting and encouraging child 

participation in disseminating information on 

daily life, healthcare, social issues and other 

knowledge and the future dream of children 

Takeo 1. Disseminating on child rights and primary 

healthcare 

2. Strengthening the club capacity 

3. Teaching children about arts 

4. Encouraging children to take part in social 

activities 

17. Child Protection Group – 

Siem Reap (CPG-SRP) 

Provides opportunities for children to 

participate in social activities; raises awareness 

on child rights and other children’s issues; 

provides opportunities for children to 

participate in the protection and prevention of 

child abuses; helps the children to have skills 

and experience in solving personal problems 

and problems with other children by themselves; 

disseminates child rights, child labour 

and child trafficking and sexual exploitation; 

serves as a watchdog for child abuse cases in 

target areas 

Siem Reap 1. Dissemination of child rights, trafficking, sex 

tourism and child labour 

2. Serving as a watchdog on child abuse cases 

in target areas 


18. Child Protection Group-Sihanouk 

Ville (CPG-SV) 

Provides opportunities for children to 

participate in social activities. Raising awareness 

on child rights and other children’s issue. 

Providing opportunities for children to 

participate in the protection and prevention of 

child abuses. Helping to children to have skill 

and experience in solving personal problems 

and problems with other children by 

themselves. Disseminating child rights, child 

labour and child trafficking and sexual 

exploitation. Serving as watchdog for child 

abuses cases in target areas 

19. Child Rights Club (CRC) Endeavours for children to receive rights to 

studying fully both in primary and secondary 

school; receive health education and proper 

healthcare; receive rights to protect themselves 

from force, physical abuse and avoiding any 

heavy work/worst work 

20. Child to Develop Child Club 

(CDCC) 

Provides knowledge related to supporting and 

assisting the poor children, especially the junk 

collectors in Steung Mean Chey Community 

21. Children and Love Association 

(CLA) 

Implements the Convention on the Rights of the 

Child in a sustainable manner by working with 

rural children, their families and the community 

to improve their livelihood 

Sihanouk Ville 1. Dissemination of child rights, trafficking, sex 

tourism and child labour 

2. Serving as watchdog on child abuse cases in 

target areas 

Kampong Cham 1. Building capacity and knowledge of the club 

2. Strengthening children club under child 

rights principals 

3. Strengthening the relation and cooperation 

between children and parents 

Phnom Penh 1. Disseminate knowledge and other lessons to 

children in the communities 

2. Child to child activities 

3. workshops in villages 

4. Increase members’ activities 

5. Regular meetings 

Prey Veng 1. Cross-border trafficking in children 

prevention peers 

2. Economic life Reproductive Health peers 

department 

3. Child rights violation Prevention and 

livelihood department peer agencies 

government 

4. Strengthening peer capacity of child peers 

agencies 

5. HIV prevention and department 

6. Home-based care departments 


191


22. Children and Youth Club in 

Kampong Ro District (CYCK) 

Helps children and youths learn about their 

values and to work hard to help themselves and 

their families in order to bring dignity; informs 

children and youth clubs of their roles and 

responsibilities and to cooperate in achieving 

planned goals; ensues that children and youth 

clubs have clear principles of management 

and organisation of task with effectiveness and 

transparency 

Svay Rieng 1. Monitoring children and youth situation 

2. Advocating to promote law enforcement 

3. Solving Child Rights Violation programme 

4. encouraging the clubs to pay attention to 

children and social welfare 

23. Children and Youth Club in Svay 

Chrum District (CYCS) 









transparency 






24. Children and Youth Club in Svay 

Rieng District (CYCS) 









transparency 






25. Children and Youth Education 

Center (CYEC) 

Improves education and standard of living 

conditions for vulnerable people living with 

their guardians through sustainable free 

education courses and trainings 

Phnom Penh 

Takmao 

Kandal 

1. Providing skill and vocational trainings and 

courses on morality and ethics 

2. Health Programme 

3. Child Rights and Human Rights Course 

4. Agricultural and Gender Training 

26. Children and Youth for Development 

of Society (CYDS) 

Participates to increase awareness on 

environment, gender, and violence by focusing 

on children and youths and take part in building 

a society of peace, non-violence and no child 

rights violation 

Phnom Penh, 

Takeo, 

Kandal 

1. Workshop on the Management of Waste in 

the Local Areas 

2. Workshop on Fighting against Drugs and 

AIDS 

3. Workshop on Body Sanitation and Health 

4. Workshop on Gender 

5. Participating in Youth Meetings and BO SOR 

Campaign 


27. Children and Youth Group in 

Keomony Village (CYGKV) 

Strengthens children’s capacity, disseminates 

information on child rights, primary health care 

and AIDS, and intervenes on issues of child 

violation; Teaches children on the importance of 

saving money 

Pursat 1. Dissemination of information on child rights 

and related issues 

2. Intervention Programme 

3. Saving Money Programme 

4. Monthly regular meetings 

28. Children Club at District Level 

(CCDL) 

Educates and disseminates information on child 

rights, primary health care, AIDS, and life skills 

to children and youths 

Pursat 1. Establishing and coordinating children clubs 

in the communities 

2. Training on roles and club management 

3. Monitoring club work implementation in 

communities 

4. regular monthly meeting 

29. Children Club in Kdey Snoul 

Village (CCKV) 

Improves education on child rights, primary 

health care, AIDS, life skills of children and 

youths and builds their capacity to solve 

problems and save money 

Pursat 1. Dissemination on Child Rights and Related 

Issues 

2. Discussion programme to solve children issues 

3. Money saving 

30. Children Support Foundation 

(CSF) 

Provides knowledge to children and community 

leaders to protect and prevent children from 

sexual trafficking; advocates on child rights at 

national and international level; encourages and 

promotes children and community 

participation in knowing how to protect 

themselves, awareness on drug-related issues, 

AIDS, trafficking, sexual exploitation and gender 

within the communities 

Kandal, Takeo, 

Kampong Speu, 

Siem Reap, 

Phnom Penh 

1. Trafficking, sexual exploitation and rape on 

children prevention programme 

2. First Camping on the topic: The One who 

Destroyed my Dream” 

3. AIDS Information Dissemination 

4. Non-formal Education Project 

31. Children’s Committee (CC) Raises awareness on and encourages 

enforcement of UN Convention on the Rights of 

the Child to the public and children; 

participates as a representative of children to 

mobilise support; encourages children to 

participate in certain activities 

Phnom Penh 1. producing and broadcast spots situation of 

children working in homes 

2. Producing TV programmes 

3. organising meeting of club members 

32. Children and Youth Club in 

Chan Trea District (CYCC) 



their families in order to bring dignity 






33. Damnok Toek (Goutte d’eau) 

Neak Loeung 

Assists vulnerable children and their families Prey Veng 1. Drop-in Center 

2. Day Care Center 

3. Permanent Center 

4. Vocational Training 

5. Clinic 


193


34. Damnok Toek Poipet (DTP) Assists vulnerable children and their families in 

the prevention of child abuse, substance abuse 

and trafficking; rehabilitation of substance 

abusing and/or traumatised children; 

reintegration of children into their villages, 

culture and families if possible; and integration 

of children into non-formal and formal 

education programmes 

Banteay Meanchey 1. Rope in center for street and substance abusing 

children 

2. Rehabilitation Center for street and 

substance abusing children 

3. Daycare Center Samakum 

4. Reception Center for trafficked and other 

vulnerable children 

5. Residential (long-term) for vulnerable 

children that cannot be reintegrated in their 

families 

6. Clinic for vulnerable children from our 

centers and the community/ referrals to to 

relevant medical agencies 

35. Development Children & Youth 

Club in Chum Teav Village 

(DCCCV) 

Protects children’s rights and to promote 

participation of children in all activities and also 

to build their capacity 

Kampong Chhnang 1. Programme to disseminate child rights and 

other related issues 

2. Club building programme (similar to mobile 

library) 

3. Helping poor families programme such as 

rice planting 

4. Club competition 

5. Primary healthcare education 


Club in Kampong Boeung Village 

(DCCKV) 

Protects children’s rights, promote child 

participation in all activities and to build 

capacity of children 

Kampong Leng district, 


1. Dissemination information on child rights 

and other related issues 

2. Club building programme (similar to mobile 

library) 

3. Strengthening capacity on group facilitation 


Club in Takream Village (DCCTV) 

Provides children knowledge on trafficking, 

sexual exploitation and selling of women and 

children 

Battambang 1. Programme to disseminate child rights and 


2. Mobile library 

3. Club support programme 

4. Dissemination on child rights and other 

related issues 

38. Development Children Club in 

Dong Village (DCCDV) 

Provides knowledge to children on prevention 

of trafficking and sexual exploitation and selling 

of women and children 

Kampong Thom 1. Dissemination programme on child rights & 


2. Mobile Library 

3. Club activities support 

4. Club leaders capacity building 

5. Dissemination on child rights and other 

related issues 



Prek Tathok Village (DCCPV) 


Trokeat Village (DCCTV) 

41. End Child Prostitution, Abuse and 

Trafficking in Cambodia 

(ECPAT-Cambodia) 

42. FHI-Youth Group in Tropang Leuk 

Village (FHI-YGT) 

43. Head the Poor for Development 

Organisation (HPDO) 

Provides knowledge to children on issues as 

trafficking, sexual exploitation and selling of 


Provides children knowledge such as the 

prevention of trafficking and sexual exploitation 

and selling of women and children 

Ensures that children everywhere in the 

country enjoy their fundamental rights, free 

and secure from all kinds of sexual abuse and 

exploitation by working for the understanding 

of CSEC issues and the adoption of appropriate 

legislation, and advocating for the development 

and effective implementation of supportive 

and protective policies, child-protection 

mechanisms and prevention measures 

against CSEC; coordinating the exchanges of 

information and best practice, and maximising 

interaction between key actors involved at 

both national and regional levels; monitoring 

the implementation of the Cambodia 5-year 

Plan against Trafficking in Person and Sexual 

Exploitation; and raising awareness on Child Sex 

Tourism and Child Pornography 

To educate youths to be good leaders in families 

and society 

Works with the poor, and with non-living elderly 

relative, especially the homeless and vulnerable 

children with the aim for a positive change by 

motivating set groups to develop the capacity 

of women and children for reducing poverty, 

strengthening health and providing knowledge 

towards development. 

Kandal (Kandal Steung) 1. Child rights dissemination programme and 



3. Club support activities 

4. Capacity building for club leaders 

Takeo 1. Child rights dissemination programme and 





Phnom Penh Strengthening the cooperation and 

coordination against commercial sexual 

exploitation of children 

Kampot 1. Education on morality 

2. Education on primary healthcare and sanitation 

3. Encouraging youths to go to school regularly 

4. Youth camping, aids and drug programme 

5. Teach about the Word of God every Sunday 

Kompong Cham, 

Kandal 

Kampong Thom 

1. Human Resources Development for Poverty 

Education and AIDS/STDS Prevention 


195


44. Health and Education of 

Youth Organisation (HEYO) 

Provides education to children and youth who 

have no parents or anyone to depend and 

shelter and especially poor children and youths. 

Takmao, Kandal 1. Health education for children 

2. Khmer and English courses 

3. Vocational training 

45. Indigenous Youth Development 

Project (IYDP) 

Motivates male and female youths who are 

indigenous will learn about society and they 

value themselves. They will be able to know 

about the importance of joint conservation of 

culture and tradition, and be able to problems 

emerged from projects by using their rights to 

participate in planning for development in the 

communities which can ensure sustainability 

for the management natural resources. They will 

be able to make indigenous communities full of 

culture of peace, non-violence, no prostitution, 

drug consumption, social security, and 

better living standard in Banlung district, 

Ochum district and Vern Sai district 

Ratanakiri 1. Short training course 

2. Disseminating on the roles in preventing 

forestry offenses and conservation of 

indigenous tradition 

3. Establishing youth groups 

4. Strengthening capacity in managing project 

5. Researching primary information on 

resources and needs of the youths 

6. Field visits to other places 

46. Kampuchean Action for Primary 

Action (KAPE) 

Fosters a stakeholder driven model of 

development by relying on local committees to 

implement programme activities. This NGO is 

licensed by the Ministry of Interior and an 

official partner of the Ministry of Education, 

Youth and Sports 

47. Khmer Community Development 

(KCD) 

Assists in strengthening the capacity of children 

and youth to solve their own problems and 

participate in building a culture of peace, 

improve their quality of life and promote 

sustainable development 

Kandal, 

Phnom Penh, 

Kampong Chhang 

1. Education on Building a Happy Family 

without AIDS 

2. Education for Children and Youth in the 

Prevention of Trafficking and Sexual 

Exploitation 

3. Forum on Trafficking and Women Work in 


4. Education on Prevention of Rape 

5. Education on Child Rights and Prevention of 

Sexual Trafficking on Children 

48. Khmer Development of Freedom 

Organisation (KDFO) 

Aims to provide the standard of living and 

well-being for children by providing a safe and 

secure environment, educational opportunities, 

vocational training and possibly family 

reunification or placement. 

Phnom Penh 

Kampot 

1. Support children at Risk Attend School and 

Non-Formal Education and Social Work 

2. Vocational Skill Training 

3. Assist Families of Street Children/ Income 

Generation 


49. Khmer Youth and Social 

Development (KYSD) 

Aims to improve and strongly support 

human rights respect principles, democracy, 

environmental protection and health; trains 

on peaceful mind and human resource 

development towards a peaceful country 

50. Khmer Youth Camp for Culture 

(KYCC) 

Encourages young people to get involved 

in their communities through volunteerism. 

Provides opportunities for the UN Convention 

on the Rights of the Child while young people 

participate in social activities implemented by 

KYCC 

51. Khmer Youth Camp for Peace 

(KYCC) 

Advocates and disseminates information to 

raise awareness and to enforce the United 

Nation’s Convention on the rights of a Child 

through encouraging the participation and 

voices of children 

52. Komar Rikreay Association Center 

(KMR) 

Provides medium-term reception facilities 

and adapted social services, education and 

vocational skills training; reintegrates children 

into the community to become productive and 

recognised members of the society 

53. Local Youth and Children Support 

Organisation (LYCSO) 

Helps children and youths who are confronting 

with risk with reproductive health in Kratie to 

be able to receive education services on them, 

reproductive health, healthcare, AIDs, STDs 

and birth-spacing. Encouraging and promoting 

youth‘s value and to build capacity for them to 

participate in social development activities. 

54. Meatho Phum Ko’mah/ Home 

Land (MPK) 

Aims to create a family environment with 

happiness, love, mutual understanding that 

helps the harmonious development of children 

55. Mith Sanlanh Works with street children, their families, 

and their community in accordance to The 

Convention on the Rights of a Child. Aims 

to reintegrate street children into society 

through family placement whenever 

possible, reintegration into public school and 

employment. 

Phnom Penh, 

Pursat 

1. Education on Peace and Health 

2. Education on Environment 

Kompong Cham 

Phnom Penh 

Kandal 

1. Cambodia Children Voices 

2. Gender Women’s Rights and CEDAW 

workshop 

3. Child’s Rights education 

Phnom Penh, 

Kandal, 

Kampong Cham, 

Siem Reap, 

Takeo, 

Kampong Thom 

1. Education on Culture 

2. Education on Child Rights for Children 

Network and Education on Mental Health 

3. Education on Gender 

4. Establishing children network and educating 

children 

5. Field visits 

Battambang 


1. Reception Programme 

2. Education 

3. Reintegration 

4. Foster Care Programme 

5. Agriculture Programme 

Kratie 1. Providing education services on reproductive 

health, birth spacing, AIDS and STDs 

2. Encouraging children and youth 

participation in re-dissemination of 

information 

Battambang 1. Community (10 projects) 

2. Streets (4 projects) 

3. Center (3 projects) 

Phnom Penh 

Kompong Cham 

Kratie 


Battambang 

1. Outreach 

2. Boarding House 

3. Young Migrants/Safe Migration 

4. Residential Center 


197


56. Moral Youth Group at Prey Tob 

Village (MYG) 

Educates and trains youths by providing 

information on morality, agricultural techniques 

and literacy classes 

Kampong Thom 

Kampong Svay 

1. Village Education and Dissemination 

2. Training and agricultural techniques and 

morality 

3. Digging pond programme 

4. Literacy classes 

57. New Idea Development 

Organisation (NIDO) 

Assists in improving the well-being of children 

affected by war through income generation by 

providing capital to ET&CW 

Pursat Children Education 

Child Take Care 

58. New Life of Youth Asia Cambodia 

Christian (NLYACC) 

Helps poor people and children through 

creating a foster home, donating to disabled 

people, reducing poverty rate, and giving food. 

Phnom Penh, 

Kompong Cham, 

Siem Reap, 

Banteay Meanchey, 

Battambang, 

Pursat 

Helping Cambodia Growing cut down poverty 

(in all areas listed on the previous column) 

59. NGO CRC-Children’s House 

(NGO CRC) 

Promotes, advocates and monitors the 

implementation of the Convention on the 

Rights of the Child in Cambodia 

Nationwide Promotion of UNCRC 

60. Non-Violence Youth and Society 

Associations (NYSA) 

Promotes and encourages people especially the 

youth to use non-violent measures in solving 

family and society problems in order to attain 

personal happiness and freedom and assist in 

developing the country towards peace 

Phnom Penh, 

Kandal 

Kampong Cham, 

Bantey Meanchey 

1. Organising a forum on Youths in Building 

Peace 

2. Organising three forums on youths and 

weapons 

3. Education on Gender 

4. Information campaign on Water Festival 

5. Supporting orphans 

6. Forum on International Women’s Day with 

GAD/C 

7. Organising discussions on Women and 

Weapons 

61. Operation Enfants de Contact 

Battambang (OEB) 

Helps children with disabilities and people 

handicapped by landmines to receive 

rehabilitation. For youth facing risks to 

receive awareness of reproductive health and 

prevention from HIV/AIDS transmission and 

also the children living in areas encountering 

difficulties to receive the basics. 

Battambang 


1. Children with Disabilities Rehabilitation 

2. Home Car Base and School Reintegration for 

the Children with Disabilities 

3. basic education for children in the Areas 

encountering Difficulties 

4. Youth Reproductive Health 

5. Socio-economic Reintegration of Landmine 

Survivors 

6. Child rights Support in Koh Kralor District 


62. Peace Group (PG) Enforces the relation among children and 

youth and establishing the good solidarity in 

community. Reducing the violence between 

young and young people. Training on 

knowledge related to organisation and other 

institutions. Participating in development 

activities in community. Sharing ideas for 

creativity among young people. 

63. Peamraing Children Club (PCC) Provides knowledge to children on issues as 

trafficking, sexual exploitation and selling of 


64. People’s Association for 

Development (PAD) 

Works for the development and empowerment 

of the poor and disadvantaged people in rural 

areas through the operation of community 

training and development programmes. Raises 

the women’s status in the society through 

supporting their participation in decision 

making and achieving their self-sufficiency 

65. Pteah Teuk Dong (PTD) Assists widows to be independent and 

rehabilitate their lost reputation and hope 

through vocation and integration to society 

66. Ratanakiri Children Club (RCC) Broadly disseminates child rights and reduce 

sexual abuses on children to children and 

people in Ratanakiri and to building children’s 

capacity 

67. Social Development in Rural 

(SDR) 

Works for the improvement of living conditions 

of the poor and vulnerable people and to live in 

dignity and freedom from poverty 

68. Solidarity Achievement and 

Youth’s Power Group (SAYPG) 

Enforcing the relation among children and 

youth and establishing the good solidarity in 

community. Reducing the violence between 

young people and young people. Training on 

knowledge related to organisation and other 

institutions. Participating in development 

activities in community. Sharing ideas for 

creativity among young people. 

Prey Veng district, 

Prey Veng 

1. Participating in trainings 

2. Helping villagers to construct village road 

and harvest rice 

3. Mediating conflict of youth and encouraging 

them to love each other 

4. Monthly meeting 

Leark Dek, Kandal 1. Child tights dissemination programme and 





Phnom Penh 

Battambang 

Ratanakiri 1. Disseminating child rights through workshop 

and meeting 

Battambang 1. Agriculture Programme 

2. Income Generation 

3. Education and Information Dissemination 

Kamchay Mea district, 

Prey Veng 

1. Participating in trainings 

2. Helping villagers to construct commune road 

and harvest rice 

3. Mediating conflict of youth and encouraging 

them to love each other 

4. Monthly meeting 


199


69. Support Children and Young 

People (SYC) 

Disseminates and promotes the UN Convention 

on the Rights of a Child particularly the UN 

Recommendations on the Implementation 

of the Convention in Cambodia, regional 

declarations, guidelines, and regional 

recommendations related to children and 

youths 

Phnom Penh 

Across Cambodia 

1. Raise awareness on AIDS 

2. Producing newsletter and TV spot on General 

Situation of Children and Youth 

70. The Environmental Activist 

Network (TEAN) 

Protects the natural resources and promotes 

citizen rights in sustainable natural resources 

management in fisheries, forestry and water 

resources in local communities 

Kampot, 

Battambang, 

Koh Kong, 

Siem Poung 

Stueng Treng 

Phnom Penh 

1. Education and information dissemination on 

hydro electricity dam 

2. Research on the living condition of people 

along Se San River 

3. Press conference on People’s Concerns about 

Hydro Electricity Dam Building 

4. Forum on Concerns about Development 

Projects in Mekong Basin Region 

5. Discussion on Exchange of Information with 

Officials of Ministry of Water Resources 

71. Trotrung ning Akphiwat 

Sokapeap neak Kre Kror (TASK) 

A Christian organisation that aims to serve the 

needs of the poor people by training them in 

health issues and community development 

and develop relationships and partnerships 

with relevant individuals and groups that may 

contribute to the development of the poor 

Phnom Penh 

Nationwide 

1. HALO 

2. Nutrition 

3. AIDS Home CAre 

4. CSD 

5. TLC 

6. Women Health 

7. Immunisation 

8. Drug Use Control 

72. Vulnerable Children Assistance 

Organisation (VCAO) 

Works for poor and socially vulnerable children 

to provide education, to build hope and 

promote healthy dreams for the future. Teach 

children about their rights under the United 

Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child and 

ability to acquire life skills and moral support to 

develop into healthy adults 

Phnom Penh 

Takeo 

Siem Reap 

Kompong Cham 

1. Child Garbage Picker 

2. Child Domestic Workers 

3. Child Focused Community Development 

4. Kids Care Cambodia 

5. Sexual Exploitation of Children 

73. Wathnakpheap (WP) Furthers community development and 

implementation of children’s rights 

Pursat 

Svay Rieng 

1. Community Based Child Development 

Programme (4 projects) 

2. Community Based Rehabilitation and 

Development for Children Surviving and at 

Risk Trafficking and Exploitation, in Remote 

Communities 


74. Women Development 

Association (WDA) 

Works on the improvement of people’s living 

conditions, especially the situation of women 

and children from disadvantaged families by 

strengthening the communities’ capability 

based on a functional self-help structure 

towards long-term sustainable development 

through community organisation, non-formal 

education, income generation and vocational 

skills, community health education, child and 

women’s rights awareness 

75. Women Organisation for Modern 

Economic and Nursing (WOMEN) 

Delivers effective programmes that help 

communities develop the ability to act on 

their social responsibilities towards the weaker 

members in their community, to include and 

protect them 

76. Women Peacemakers (WPM) Aims to promote children, youths and people 

in the communities especially women to live 

in justice and respect human rights towards 

peaceful families and societies 

77. Youth Club Federation (YCF) Enables communication and dissemination 

information on general understanding about 

child rights. Strengthening capacity and roles 

for children to participate in development 

activities which they can do. Promoting the 

unity among children in the communities and 

children in school. Providing knowledge and 

opportunities to implement their four rights 

78. Youth Conscience Association 

(YCA) 

Participates in building a peaceful, developed 

and prosperous society through the promotion 

and building of youth’s roles and capacity 

building 

79. Youth Management Committee 

at Meanchey Protestant 

Methodist Church (YMC-MPMC) 

Educates children and youth on the Bible on 

moralities and prevention from sinning 

Phnom Penh 1. Pre-school 

2. Women Business Credit 

3. Global Education Campaign 

4. Other Contribution 

5. Project Support for 4-month Gap of 

Prevention of Child Domestic Labour 

Through Awareness Raising and Support by 

Community Based Structure Project 

Phnom Penh 

Prey Veng 

1. Home Based Care for PLHAs 

2. Sexual and Reproductive Health 

3. Care and Support to Child Welfare/Rights 

4. Income Generation for PLHAs 

Kampong Siem, 

Kampong Cham, 

Phnom Penh, 

Kampong Chhnang, 

Kampot, 

Shihanoukville, 

Battambang, 

Pursat 

1. Women and Children rights Protection Programme 

2. Youth for Peace Programme 

3. Dissemination on peaceful conflict resolution 

4. Strengthening children’s roles in families and 

societies 

5. Motivation Programme 

Banteay Meanchey Dissemination information on child rights and 

domestic violence 

Helping to disseminate information of Punloeur 

Kumar Organisation 

Phnom Penh 1. Education on Reproductive Health 

Kampong Thom 1. Bible Distribution 

2. Healthcare and AIDS information 

dissemination 

3. English Course 


201

80. Youth of Hope Group (YHG) Educates children and youth on the Bible on 

moralities and prevention from sinning 

Kampong Thom 1. Bible dissemination and Moralities in Life 

2. Healthcare and AIDS 

3. Music Lessons 

81. Youth Resource Alliance for 

Development (Y-RAD) 

Promotes and supports youths in improving 

their solidarity and unity, healthcare, 

environment and human resources 

development trainings 

Phnom Penh 

Kandal 

Takmao 

1. Weapon Control Campaign 

2. Seminar on Election in Cambodia 

3. Forum of children and youths 

4. March on an Environment without 

Agricultural Chemical Pollution 

82. Youth Spread Culture for Peace 

(YSCP) 

Raises awareness on the development of love 

and care for peace among youths and children 

through information dissemination on good 

environment, violence and AIDS 

Prey Veng, 

Phnom Penh 

Kandal, Takeo, 

Kampong Thom 

1. Dissemination on Violence 

2. Dissemination on AIDS and STDs and 

Weapons 

3. Dissemination on Environment and Ethics 

4. Dissemination on Culture of Peace 

83. Youth Volunteer Group (YYG) To disseminate child rights, protect children 

from abuses and to collect and disseminate 

information on children issues in the 

communities 

Me Sang district, 

Prey Veng 

1. Teaching child rights and other related issues 

2. Children protection network against abuses 

3. Encouraging children to go to schools 

4. Collect and disseminate information related 

to children 

84. YRDP – Student Executive 

Committee (YRDP-SEC) 

Coordinates information in cooperation with 

youth resource development programme, 

groups or clubs of students, national and 

international organisations, associations and 

institutions to build more knowledge for 

students to be good citizens and members of 

the society, and to take part in development 

activities, culture of peace, justice and 

democracy 

Kandal 

Phnom Penh 

1. Youth programme for the prevention of rape 

2. Forum for youths to exchange experience 

3. Organising Cultural Day 

4. Forum on Youth and Khmer Rouge Tribunal 

5. Forum for Students to exchange Multi 

Cultural Experiences 

Source: EveryChild-Cambodia. 2006. An Assessment of Violence Against Children in Cambodia. Phnom Penh: EveryChild-Cambodia, July 2006 


REPORT APPENDICES 

AND ANNEXES 

APPENDIX B – INVENTORY OF STUDIES, DATA, 

SURVEYS, RESEARCH REVIEWED FOR THE 

YOUTH SITUATION ANALYSIS’ 


203

A- Youth Focused Studies 

No Author Year Title Publisher 

Place of Publication/ 

Sources 

1. Aekje Teeuwen, Touch Chiva and 

Tep Neth 

2006 Securing Children's Rights in Cambodia: 

A Comparative Research on Juvenile Justice 

Legal Aid Cambodia, 

European Union & 

DanChurch Aid, March 2006 

(Preliminary Report) 

www.childjustice.org/html/ 

issue503_pr.htm 

2. Alain, Robert F. 2008 The Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Abuse 

of Young People in the Pacific Island: A Situation 


Unknown Sydney 

3. Anonymous 2007 Youth opinion on law implementation in 

Cambodia = Mate yoborl rorbors yuvachun 

sdei pi kar anuwat chbab nov Kampuchea: 

focused on five laws: arms law, law on domestic 

violence, land law, forestry law, and fishery law / 

Mean Sambath 

Unknown Phnom Penh 

4. Bearup, Luke Samuel 2003 "We feel happy and need sex and we are brave”: 

Male Khmer Youth Gangs, Paper presented for 

B.A (Mg.Soc.) requirement 

Keakin University Keakin University. Australia 

5. Bearup, Luke Samuel 2003 Paupers & Princelings : Youth attitudes toward 

gangs, violence, rape, drugs and theft 

Gender and Development for 


Phnom Penh 

6. Boese, Martina and Rosanna 

Scutella 

2006 The Brotherhood’s Social Barometer: Challenges 

Facing Australian Youth, August 2006 

Brotherhood of St Laurence Fitzroy, Victoria 

7. Brewer, Laura 2004 Youth at Risk: The Role of Skills Development in 

Facilitating the Transition to Work 

ILO Geneva 

8. Cambodian Red Cross 2004 CRC Youth Strategy, 2004-2010. CRC Phnom Penh 

9. CARE International-Cambodia n.d. Sewing a Better Future? A report of Discussions 

With Young Garment Factory Workers about 

Life, Work and Sexual Health. 

CARE international- 


Phnom Penh 

10. CARE International-Cambodia 2007 Baseline Survey Report: Literacy and Livelihoods 

Empowering Adolescents for Development 

(LEAD) Project, June 2007 

CARE International- 


Phnom Penh 


11. CARE International-Cambodia 2001 Evaluating a Participatory Approach: Adolescent 

Sexual and Reproductive Health Program in the 

Garment sector. 



Phnom Penh 

12. Cheang Sokha 2004 Strengthening Employment Opportunities for 

Cambodia's University Graduates 

Conference report Phnom Penh 

13. Committee for Free and Fair Elections 

in Cambodia (COMFREL) 

2008 Youth Political Participation in the 2008 National 

Assembly Elections – Final Report, December 

2008 

COMFREL Phnom Penh 

14. Council for the Development of 

Cambodia (CDC) 

2003 Child Rights (statement) Council for the Development 

of Cambodia (CDC) 

15. Egger, Sandra 2005 An Assessment of the Situation of Children 

in Conflict with the Law in the Kingdom of 


UNICEF-Cambodia, AusAid, 

the European Commission 

and the Research Institute 

for Asia and the Pacific 

(University of Sydney) 

www.cdc-crdb.gov.kh/cdc/ 

ngo_statement/child_rights. 

htm 

Phnom Penh 

16. EU/ UNFPA 2006 RHIYA Cambodia Endline Survey - Comparative 

Studies. EU/UNFPA Reproductive Health 

Initiative for Youth in Asia Programme in 


EU/ UNFPA Phnom Penh 

17. EU/ UNFPA 2006 RHIYA Cambodia Endline Survey -Qualitative 

Studies. EU/UNFPA Reproductive Health 

Initiative for Youth in Asia Programme in 


EU/ UNFPA Phnom Penh 

18. EveryChild-Cambodia 2006 An Assessment of Violence Against Children in 

Cambodia (July 2006) 

EveryChild-Cambodia Phnom Penh 

19. Fordham, Graham 2003 Adolescent and Youth Reproductive Health 

in Cambodia: Status, Issues, Policies, and 

Programmes 

Policy Project Phnom Penh 

20. Gallina, Andrea and Pietro Masina 2002 Street Children in Vietnam: An Inquiry into 

the Roots of Poverty and Survival Livelihood 

Strategies. Federico Caffe Centre Research 

Report No. 3/2002 

21. Godfrey. Martin 2003 Youth Employment Policy in Developing and 

Transition Countries – Prevention as well as 

Cure. Social Protection Discussion Papers 

The World Bank Washington, DC 

22. Health Unlimited n.d. A compilation of Baseline Data to Assess the 

Needs of Young People in Cambodia. Phnom 

Penh. 

Health Unlimited Phnom Penh 


205



Sources 

23. Hodgkin, R., & P. Newell 2002 Implementation Handbook for the Convention 

on the Rights of the Child 

UNICEF New York 

24. ILO 2007 ILO Policy Brief on Youth Employment in Cambodia 

ILO Sub-Regional Office for 

East Asia 

Bangkok 

25. ILO 2006 Global Employment Trends for Youth International Labour Office Geneva 

26. ILO 2004 Improving Prospects for Young Women and 

Men in the World of Work 

International Labour Office Geneva 

27. ILO 2002 Every Child Counts: New Global Estimates on 

Child Labour 

ILO Geneva 

28. Innovations in Civic Participation 

(ICP) 

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List of Photo Credits: 

PAGE: NUMBER 

PHOTOS CREDITS 

Cover 

UNICEF/VINK (MAGNUM) 

UNRCO/NEATE 

OHCHR/TURPIN 


iii 

Graphic Roots 

iv 

UNICEF/KHOY 

v 


vi 

UNRCO 

vii 


viii 

UNRCO 

ix 


xii 


1 UNRCO/NEATE 

7 UNICEF/VINK (MAGNUM) 


15 UNICEF/KHOY 

23 UNIFEM/LANHAM 

38 ESCAP/KIBAE 


52 UNIFEM/LANHAM 






89 UNESCO/GONZALEZ-ROJO 

96 IOM 


101 ESCAP/KIBAE 

114 UNRCO/NEATE 

115 UNESCO 




221


The United Nations in Cambodia 

Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Cambodia 

No. 53, Pasteur Street, Boeung Keng Kang, P. O. Box 877, Phnom Penh, Cambodia 

Tel : (855) 23 216 167 or 217 193 | Fax : (855) 23 216 257 or 721 042 

E-mail : registry.kh@undp.org 

http : //www.un.org.kh 

224 Situation Analysis of Youth in Cambodia 

Designed by Graphic Roots: www.graphicroots.com.kh

UN Analysis Final.pdf - United Nations in Cambodia

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