Cambodia Allocates Over $53 Million for Pregnant Women and Children Under Two in 2026

The Cambodian government has decided to allocate over 213 billion Riel (approximately $53 million) in 2026 for a cash transfer program targeting pregnant women and children under two years old. This program aims to improve maternal and child health and contribute to solving the malnutrition problem of infants and children, according to the General Secretariat of the National Social Protection Council. The cash transfer program for pregnant women and children under two years old is a significant program within Cambodia's social protection system. Currently, the program covers six main target groups nationwide, including: (1) families with equity cards, (2) workers and employees who are members of the Social Security Fund (B.O.S.S), (3) civil servants, contract officials, and interns, (4) national police officers and prison officials, (5) inmates and their children in prison, and (6) members of the Council of the Capital, Provinces, Districts, Khan, and Communes/Sangkat. According to the same source, the coverage of the social protection system for pregnant women and children under two years old has expanded rapidly during the 7th legislature of the National Assembly under the wise and dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Hun Manet. The number of beneficiaries has increased from 1,106,630 at the end of 2023 to 2,252,267 by the end of the first half of 2026, representing a growth of 103.52%. The General Secretariat of the National Social Protection Council affirms that the doubling of beneficiaries clearly demonstrates the government's utmost attention to alleviating the living burdens of citizens, especially investing in human resources from conception to the age of two (the first 1,000 days of life) to ensure the physical and intellectual development of Cambodian infants and children, who are the future pillars of the nation. This cash transfer program for pregnant women and children under two years old is one of the six priority policy programs of the government in the 7th legislature of the National Assembly, under the esteemed leadership of Prime Minister Hun Manet.