Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) confirms to allocate US$10 million to develop communities in northwestern region of Cambodia to become a peace and prosperity community.
The confirmation was made in the signing ceremony on a Record of Discussions with the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) on Project of Building Peace Villages through Integrated Rural Community Development.
The Record of Discussions was signed by H.E. Dr. Ouk Rabun, Minster of MRD and Mr. Rho Hyunjun, Country Director of KOICA Cambodia Office on June 9 at the MRD in Phnom Penh.
According to a press release of KOICA, the project will be implemented in three provinces, Battambang, Pailin and Banteay Meanchey. The project aims to develop a sustainable and peaceful northwest region through the inclusive rural community development programme.
Under US$10 million grant aids from the Republic of Korea, the project will be carried out for 60 months (2022-2026) to improve the living condition of rural citizens such as vulnerable group, smallholder farmer and farmer group and related government officers. The main components of project comprise of Improvement of rural living condition, Increase of sustainable agricultural income and Strength of governance of rural development.
H.E. Dr. Ouk Rabun said that this project is a significant support because those areas had the heavy war and contaminated with the landmine and UXO. After ending the war, the government has tried its best to manage those contaminations under the cooperation with DPs and NGOs.
As a result, he added, most of areas have been free from landmine and UXO. However, those areas still need supports while they are lacking drinking water, social and economic infrastructure, especially insufficient agriculture activity support to make the efficiency of land use.
Mr. Hyunjun Rho mentioned that rural development is a pillar in KOICA Country Partnership Strategy. KOICA commits to support this sector. KOICA is pleased to implement this meaningful project contributing to the socio-economic development in the Northwest of Cambodia.
“Beside this project, KOICA also has provided fund from 2021 with US$10 million to United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for clearance of landmine and UXO in northwestern region of Cambodia. Therefore, with this new project, the area that had a heavy war will become a peace and prosperity community,” the country director underlined.
