In collaboration with the Koh Kong Provincial Administration, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Education, Youth and Sport, the Provincial Department of Women's Affairs and Environment, Save the Children in Cambodia, and partner iDE Cambodia on Tuesday held the Workshop on Closing the Systems Approach to Transformative Economic Empowerment and Resilience (STEER) Project and Launching the Climate Change Adaptation, Resilience and Empowerment (CAREP) Project.

The workshop, which was held on April 2, 2024, in the Koh Kong Provincial Theatre, was chaired by the Deputy Governor of Koh Kong Province, Ms. Y Nearynet, representatives of the provincial administration, relevant departments, development partners, and representatives of the private sector, a total of 160 attendees.

Speaking at the workshop's opening, Mr. Mot Sana, Programme Director of Save the Children in Cambodia, thanked the cooperation and participation of relevant institutions, actors in the agricultural production sector, and the private sectors that helped the project to achieve the expected outcomes.

"The STEER project has supported farmers with smart technical assistance in planting, cultivating, fertilizing, networking, and marketing," he said. "This helps farmers have a decent living, their children get access to education, and eliminate domestic violence."

Mr. Sana also called on farmers to continue encouraging and sending their children to higher education to gain knowledge, prevent poverty, and participate in social development, especially in the Koh Kong province.

Mr. Sok Sam Ath, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Koh Kong Province, said that through the intervention of the STEER Project, which has been implemented for the past five years, many positive results have contributed to the development of agriculture and markets. For example, the farmers of 40 groups can produce for family consumption and trade to the market in and outside the province. 23 local agricultural input depots have been established, and their capacities have been improved. Connecting and marketing farmers' agricultural markets through 46 collectors in the project target areas.

"The Project interventions in relevant fields also jointly address issues of children and communities, as well as promote investment in children and gender equality in agriculture," he added.

The Deputy Governor of Koh Kong Province, Ms. Y Nearynet, praised the fruitful achievements from the implementation of the STEER project as well as the active participation of stakeholders in contributing to the national policy to reduce poverty in Koh Kong Province.

"Compared to other provinces, our Koh Kong province has fewer NGOs and the private sector to develop the province, especially in key areas such as agriculture, education, social affairs, and health," she said. "I would like to thank Save the Children for supporting education since 2008 and supporting family economic growth programs and interventions in agriculture and marketing."

The STEER project, funded by a five-year grant from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, aims to promote the community's economy, family well-being, and resilience through a market-based approach.

Ms. Ngin Kim Houy, the farmer producer and representative, said that the STEER project brings new farming techniques, market solutions, agricultural input suppliers, child protection, gender equality, and environmental protection.

"Before the project started, we were almost growing in the traditional way, or some farmers had no idea how to grow vegetables or improve their crops because we lacked the techniques to find the seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides," she said. “Farmers never know the markets, while the yield is little or almost not, especially since most of our farmers have experienced failure with previous cultivation. The intervention of the STEER project has brought about significant changes in both the farmer's family economy and agricultural knowledge and skills, combined with investment in children."

In this workshop, Save the Children in Cambodia also announced the launch of the CAREP project, which has been implemented from February 2024 to February 2026 with partner, Mlup Prom Vihea Thor Center Organization, in 4 target districts, including Sre Ambel, Thmar Bang, Botum Sakor, and Koh Kong (New District), also funded by New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.