Objective 2 contributes to the following areas of Australia's International Development Policy:
- build effective, accountable states that drive their own development (primary)
- enhance state and community resilience to external pressures and shocks (secondary).
Delivering inclusive and quality public services remains critical for Cambodia to achieve its ambition for better human development outcomes and increased human capital, as well as providing the conditions to unlock its economic potential. Cambodia has made considerable progress in reducing poverty and improving human development outcomes, but its human development indicators continue to lag behind those of other lower middle-income countries and neighbours in ASEAN. Cambodia remains committed to improving outcomes by maintaining its investment in health care, education, gender equality and poverty reduction.
Australia will continue our strong partnership with Cambodia to support more inclusive public services by strengthening institutions, improving governance and building the capacity of the public service.
Australia remains committed to supporting Cambodia's pathway to universal health coverage through ongoing investment in resilient and equitable health and social protection systems. We will continue to support Cambodia to deliver sustainable, climate resilient and scalable improvements to the quality and affordability of public health services. Systematic reforms will be informed by citizen feedback to ensure the health system is more inclusive and responsive. Our efforts will focus on improving access to public health services by reducing the out-of-pocket costs of health care and strengthening social health protection mechanisms. This investment will continue to tackle the most pervasive and emerging health challenges, including malnutrition and rising rates of NCDs.
Cambodia remains committed to improving policies, systems and governance to enable a more effective social protection system. This commitment is reflected in recent policies that outline an ongoing ambition to expand social protection efforts, including the Universal Health Coverage Roadmap to 2035, the draft National Social Protection Policy Framework Vision 2035 and the Shock Responsive Social Protection Framework. Australia is increasing our investment in social protection in line with Cambodia's renewed ambition. Our initiatives will support Cambodia's efforts to increase the number of individuals reached by new or improved social protection programs, strengthen the policies that underpin the system and improve institutional capacity to deliver reforms.
Accountability is integral to improving the quality of institutions and services. Australia will continue to support transparency and inclusive decision-making processes at the national and subnational levels. Australia has established a strong and trusted partnership with Cambodia in the areas of governance, decentralisation, social accountability and inclusion. Our support has contributed to stronger civic engagement in decision-making processes. We will build on this existing partnership by continuing our investment in social accountability at the subnational level. These initiatives will support citizens to better understand the services for which they are eligible and the quality they should expect from these services. They will also provide avenues for citizens to share feedback on services, which will inform service quality improvements and future decisions to reform the policies and systems underpinning these services.
Australia has supported Cambodia's most marginalised citizens since the start of our development cooperation. Australia will strengthen our efforts to improve access to higher-quality, more coordinated and more inclusive services that support women, people with disability, remote and rural communities, Indigenous people and LGBTQIA+ people. This approach also aims to enhance consideration and inclusion of these and other marginalised groups in key decision-making and planning processes. In particular, we will enhance the capacity of organisations of persons with disability to advocate for inclusive policies and help empower these groups to take a leading role in shaping disability-inclusive public services and social protection systems in Cambodia.
We remain committed to the goal of a mine-free Cambodia and are proud of the significant progress made to date. We will assess our capacity to continue supporting this work after 2025. We will continue to work with Cambodia to support mine-affected communities through investments in disability, healthcare and rehabilitation services.
Supporting key investments
- Australia-Cambodia Cooperation on Equitable Sustainable Services Phase 2 (ACCESS 2)
- Cambodia Nutrition Project (CNP)
- World Bank Partnership for Promoting Inclusion, Sustainability and Equality in Cambodia (PROMISE)
- Health Equity and Quality Improvement Project Phase 2 (H-EQIP 2)
- Implementation of the Social Accountability Framework Phase II (ISAF 2)
- Improving Social Protection and Health in Cambodia Phase II (ISPH II)
- Clearing for Results Phase IV (CFR-IV)
- Australian Volunteers Program
- Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP)
Australia-Cambodia Cooperation on Equitable Sustainable Services Phase 2 (ACCESS 2)
$30 million, 2023-28
ACCESS 2 is strengthening the capacity of the Cambodian Government, civil society and private sector service providers to sustainably improve services for persons with disabilities and women affected by gender-based violence (GBV). The ACCESS 2 program seeks to build on the success and lessons learned from the program's first phase (2018–23).
The program works in partnership with the Cambodian Government to support the implementation of the National Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women and the National Disability Strategic Plan. Activities include interventions at the national level and across four target provinces (Siem Reap, Kampong Cham, Kampong Speu and Ratanakiri).
For persons with disabilities this includes physical rehabilitation and inclusive public services. For women affected by GBV, ACCESS is targeting health care, legal protection, and other critical social services, while supporting a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach to service delivery. In addition to its focus on service delivery, ACCESS 2 supports organisations representing survivors of GBV and people with disabilities to engage in policy and planning processes for GBV and disability services.
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Cambodia Nutrition Project (CNP)
USD$5 million, 2019-26
The Cambodia Nutrition Project (CNP) is a World Bank-led project which builds on the achievements of H-EQIP and aims to improve utilisation and quality of priority maternal and child health and nutrition services for targeted groups in Cambodia.
CNP is supported through Australia's contributions to the Advance UHC multi-donor trust fund.
Related documents*
| Name of document | Year published | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Cambodia Nutrition Project Implementation Status and Results Report | 2022 | Report |
Australia-World Bank Partnership for Promoting Inclusion, Sustainability and Equality in Cambodia (PROMISE)
$50 million, 2021-25
The Australia-World Bank Partnership for Promoting Inclusion, Sustainability and Equality in Cambodia (PROMISE) provides a platform for collaboration to strengthen the sustainability and inclusiveness of public services, economic opportunities and COVID-19 recovery in Cambodia.
PROMISE is comprised of two multi-donor projects: Health Equity and Quality Improvement Project Phase 2 (H-EQIP 2) and Implementation of the Social Accountability Framework Phase 2 (ISAF 2), as well as a research and analytics component directly implemented by the World Bank to support equitable development (such as gender equality, social protection, and inclusive economic development).
As part of the research and analytics component, $5 million is earmarked towards a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Programmatic Advisory Services Analytics (PASA) fund which provides flexible resources to respond to emerging priorities related to gender and social equality and to address lessons learned from previous World Bank partnerships in Cambodia and the region. The GESI PASA will provide a platform to ensure investment operations are better informed by research, analysis and advice, including contributions that aim to improve gender equality and social inclusion.
Health Equity and Quality Improvement Project Phase 2 (H-EQIP 2)
$30 million, 2022-27
The Health Equity and Quality Improvement Project Phase 2 (H-EQIP 2) aims to improve health outcomes and increase financial protection for the poor by improving the quality of health care, strengthening health systems, and growing demand for and use of health services. H-EQIP 2 builds on the achievements of H-EQIP 1 and aligns with the Royal Government of Cambodia's priority of achieving Universal Health Care (i.e. everyone receiving the health services they need without suffering financial hardship).
H-EQIP 2 is led by the World Bank through an International Development Association loan arrangement with the Royal Government of Cambodia via a Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF). Australia played a key role in the design of H-EQIP 2 and is the major MDTF contributor.
Related documents*
| Name of document | Year published | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Health Equity and Quality Improvement Project Phase 2 Project Appraisal Document | 2022 | Report |
Implementation of the Social Accountability Framework Phase 2 (ISAF 2)
$15 million, 2021-25
ISAF 2 empowers citizens, strengthens partnerships between sub-national administrations (SNAs) and citizens, and enhances accountability of SNAs to improve local service delivery. Working with primary schools, health centres and commune services at the commune/sangkat level, the program works with government and local civil society to support marginalised groups to improve their access to these public services. Additionally, these facilities publicly release budget and performance data and have their services monitored and assessed by community volunteers, resulting in agreed actions for improvement.
Improving Social Protection and Healthcare Phase 2 (ISPH II)
$4.5 million, 2024-27
The Improving Social Protection and Healthcare Project Phase 2 (ISPH II) supports the Royal Government of Cambodia to strengthen its social protection and health system, making it more inclusive, high quality and shock-responsive. Implemented by GIZ and co-financed by the Government of Germany, the project provides expert advice on integrating gender and disability inclusion, climate preparedness, supports policy development and builds technical capacity within key institutions.
Clearing for Results Phase IV (CFR-IV)
$9.6 million, 2020-25
Cambodia's extensive landmine and Explosive Remnants of War (ERWs) contamination is the result of protracted internal and regional conflicts from the mid-1960s through to the late-1990s.
Cambodia has cleared around 3,300 square kilometres (km²) of land with landmines and ERWs, but estimates suggest there is over 1,600km² of contaminated land remaining. This extensive clearance effort has made land safe for millions of rural people, benefitting communities through agricultural use and infrastructure development.
Australia has been a long standing partner of Cambodia in reducing the impacts of landmines and ERWs. We have provided over $100 million to mine action and victim assistance activities since 1994. Starting in 2006, Australia's contribution to the mine action sector has been through funding Clearing for Results, a multi-donor program managed by UNDP in partnership with Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA).
CFR-IV (2020-25) builds on the success of the previous three phases by continuing to clear and release contaminated land in north-western border provinces and improve CMAA's capacity to better manage, monitor, regulate, and lead the sector. Australia's contribution of $9.6 million to CFR-IV is expected to result in around 50 square kilometres of released land over five years.
Landmines and ERWs have killed or injured more than 65,000 people in Cambodia since 1979. The thousands of survivors require ongoing rehabilitation. Cambodia has integrated victim assistance into broader national disability policies and is in the process of integrating disability across all ministries and sectors. Australia is now implementing the Australia-Cambodia Cooperation on Equitable Sustainable Services (ACCESS) program which has a focus on disability-related services including for survivors of landmine and ERWs.
Related documents*
Related links
UNDP Clearing for Result Phase IV
Australian Volunteers Program in Cambodia
Australian volunteers play a vital role in the fight against poverty and contribute to the Government's public diplomacy objectives. Volunteering overseas is one way that Australians can make a positive contribution to poverty reduction, sustainable development and cross-cultural understanding.
Australian volunteers are placed with host organisations, including non-government and civil society organisations, educational institutions and government departments. Australian volunteers are from a wide range of professions, with diverse skill sets and experiences. Volunteer assignments range from three to 24 months.
Related documents*
| Name of document | Year published | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Volunteers Program country fact sheet - Cambodia [PDF 1.7 MB] | 2024 | Fact sheet |
| Australian Volunteers Program: Global Program Strategy (2024-27) | 2025 | Design document |
Related links
Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP)
The ANCP is a unique Australian development program. It is a partnership between the Australian Government and highly effective Australian Non-Government Organisations (NGOs). For over 45 years, this partnership has supported the most disadvantaged in communities around the world.
The ANCP is the Australian Government's longest running and largest NGO program. Each year, the ANCP supports over 59 Australian NGOs and over 2,000 local partners to deliver around 400 projects in around 50 countries.