Ministry to Get $125M for Rural Development Project

Ministry to Get $125M for Rural Development Project

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), together with the Government and the European Investment Bank (EIB), are launching a $125 million rural development project that aims to boost incomes and food security for 200,000 families in Cambodia.

IFAD released a statement yesterday saying, in Cambodia, two-thirds of rural families face seasonal food shortages each year. Farmers often lack access to new markets, training and technology, and rural infrastructure is often poor. This leaves rural communities, especially the youth, cut-off from business and employment opportunities.

The objective of the Sustainable Assets for Agriculture Markets, Business and Trade (SAAMBAT) project is to improve livelihoods by better connecting rural communities to markets, technical training and employment opportunities.

“With this project, we are focusing on building sustainable and inclusive rural infrastructure, including roads and marketplaces, building rural capacity and linking rural communities, especially for young people to get relevant skills and technologies,” said Kaushik Barua, IFAD Country Director for Cambodia.

“We are grateful to our national partners, including the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Rural Development, the rural communities and youth who contributed their ideas and shared their feedback with us when we were developing the project. And of course, to the European Investment Bank for investing in this partnership with IFAD,” he added.

SAAMBAT aims to productively employ at least 4,500 rural youth, develop 500 small and medium businesses and train at least 25,000 rural value chain actors to use digital technology. Approximately 650 kilometers of rural roads and 75 market facilities will also be built or rehabilitated.

The project is financed by a $53.3 million loan and $1.2 million grant from IFAD, a $57.6 million loan from EIB and $12.41 million contribution from Cambodia.

“As the European Union’s bank, the EIB is particularly happy to support SAAMBAT and make a direct contribution to improve the quality of life for Cambodians in rural locations. The partnership with the Government of Cambodia and IFAD is an excellent example of how international collaboration can effectively deliver positive and tangible change to rural communities,” said EIB vice-president Andrew McDowell, ahead of today’s start-up workshop, where all stakeholders will agree on an implementation plan for the six-year project.

“The many activities under SAAMBAT will create jobs and make communities more resilient, reduce poverty and protect rural communities from negative social and economic changes,” he added.

Sous Kong, a secretary of state of Ministry of Rural Development told Khmer Times yesterday the ministry will implement this project and build infrastructure, especially roads and buildings in rural areas.

“This project will benefit people in rural areas when they have good roads, markets for their agricultural products and easy transportation to school, ” he said.

IFAD began operations in Cambodia in 1996 and has implemented 10 projects, investing more than $256 million, and directly benefitting more than 1.5 million households. Currently, four projects are ongoing.

Khmer Times