Empowering Agricultural Cooperatives and Civil Society in Siem Reap and Odder Meanchey (EAC)

Project period:

01.06.2020 - 31.12.2022

Granted amount:

4,500,000,- DKK

Organization:

 ADDA

Partners:

 Community-based Integrated Development Organization (CIDO) Khmer Buddhist Association (KBA) Rural Community and Environment Development Organization (RCEDO) Rural Economic and Agriculture Development Agency-READA Siem Reap Meachey Union Agricultural Cooperatives (SMUAC)

Pool:

Civilsamfundspuljen

Grant type:

Udviklingsindsats

World goals:

Goal 1: No Poverty

Goal 2: Zero Hunger

Goal 5: Gender Equality

Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities

Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Efforts take place in:

 Cambodia

Overall targets

Poor people in rural areas of Siem Reap (SR) and Oddar Meanchey (ODM) have increased livelihood; in terms of increased quantity and quality of food production, earnings and sustainability.

Immediate targets

• June 2022, Two Provincial Agricultural Cooperative Unions (PACUs) in Siem Reap and Oddar Meanchey provinces have strengthened organisational capacity and services • By 2022, 30 out of 35 democratic Agricultural Cooperatives (ACs) operate viable and expanded cooperative businesses - in an accountable and transparent manner. • June 2022, 240 Self-Help Groups, 35 ACs, 2 PACUs and 4 Local NGOs are updated on agricultural and rural development policy issues and they influence local and national decision making on rural development.

Target groups

The main target groups are two Provincial Agricultural Cooperative Unions (PACUs) and 15 Agricultural Coperatives (ACs) in Siem Reap and 9 ACs in Oddar Meanchey. 20 ACs formed during other interventions are expected to apply for membership of the PACUs and at least 11 external ACs are expected to become members of the PACUs during the Action. Final beneficiaries (Right-holders) are primarily members of ACs and Self-Help Groups – mainly female/poor farmers. Poor farmers request expanded AC member services to improve income and aggregate bargaining power; they lack representation in development processes and policy dialogs – especially at provincial and national levels.

Resume

The aim is to support agricultural cooperative development in Cambodia. Two Provincial Agricultural Cooperative Unions (PACUs) in Siem Reap and Oddar Meanchey provinces and 30 Agricultural Cooperatives (ACs) join hands and build further capacity in line with best practice to improve bargaining power and representation of poor farmers in policy dialogs at provincial and national level. Existing cooperatives and their unions are upgraded to fulfill their missions in a more professional manner, i.e. further development of business activities; up-scaling and diversification of services to existing 5,500 AC members – including services to Self-Help Groups; strengthening of up- and downwards accountability of their democratic rural organisations, and influence on decision making regarding rural development. Democratic, organisational and commercial capacity of the PACUs and ACs is built to significantly improve self-reliance of their cooperative organisations and sustainability of previous interventions.