Cambodia Allocates Over $53 Million in 2026 for Pregnant Women and Young Children Support

The Cambodian government has decided to allocate over 213 billion Riel (approximately $53 million USD) in 2026 for the implementation of a cash transfer program for pregnant women and children under two years old. This program aims to contribute to the improvement of maternal and child health and the resolution of infant malnutrition issues. The cash transfer program for pregnant women and children under two years old is one of the important initiatives within Cambodia's social security system. Currently, it covers six major target groups nationwide, specifically including: (1) families with equity cards, (2) workers and employees who are members of the Social Security Fund (BOS), (3) civil servants, contract officials, and trainees, (4) national police officers and prison officials, (5) detainees and their children in prison, and (6) members of the capital, provincial, municipal, district, and commune councils. The coverage of this social security system for pregnant women and children under two years old has expanded rapidly under the wise, intelligent, and dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Hun Manet in the 7th legislature of the National Assembly. The number of beneficiaries has increased from 1,106,630 at the end of 2023 to 2,252,267, representing a growth of 103.52% as of the end of the first semester of 2026. This doubling of beneficiaries clearly demonstrates the government's utmost attention to alleviating the living burdens of citizens, particularly through investment in human capital from the fetal stage to two years of age (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 positioned as 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. Source: CPP Cambodia