Projects > Brief descriptions > Rural Development Programme in Kampot and Kampong Thom Provinces

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For further information please contact:
Mr Martin Orth
Email: martin.orth@giz.de

Rural Development Programme in Kampot and Kampong Thom Provinces

Programme description

Title: Rural Development Programme in Kampot and Kampong Thom Provinces
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Cambodia
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Rural Development
Overall term: April 2002 to May 2008

Context

Cambodia: Rural development project. Traditional roads. © GTZ

Since the end of the armed conflict and civil war, Cambodia has made great progress in its economic and political reconstruction. Nonetheless, the number of poor people in rural regions is slow to decrease. The growth base is narrow and the rural population’s share in economic development is slight. The public, civil society, and private sector institutions and organisations important for development are still under construction and their capacities, especially in rural areas, are still very limited. As a result, broad segments of the population cannot adequately satisfy their basic needs.

Objective

The rural population, commune councils, public and private service providers are in a position to jointly plan and implement effective, efficient and needs-oriented development measures. This results in improved economic and social development in the regions so that people there can better satisfy their long-term basic needs.

Approach

In two provinces of Cambodia, the programme promoted the population, commune councils, and public and private service providers in the social and economic development of rural areas. It was jointly conducted with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the World Food Programme (WFP), Australia's Aid Programme (AusAID) and the German Development Service (DED).

Results achieved so far

The programme reached about 165,000 households, three-quarters of the population of the two provinces. More than 30,000 of these belonged at the start to the poorest group.

The programme’s activities contributed significantly to the ability today of broad segments of the poor and poorest rural population to better satisfy their basic needs. Sixty-five percent of all households registered an increase averaging 27 percent in the value of their material possessions.