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Cambodia's Skills for Competitiveness Project Exceeds Targets with ADB and AFD Support
Cambodia's 'Skills for Competitiveness Project (S4C)' has significantly exceeded its targets over a six-year period, with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the French Development Agency (AFD). Notable achievements include improvements in vocational training quality, graduate employment rates, and wage increases.
The 'Skills for Competitiveness Project (S4C)' in Cambodia has significantly exceeded its targets over its six-year implementation period (2020-2026), with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the French Development Agency (AFD). On September 22, 2026, at the Skills Development Fund (SDF) headquarters in Phnom Penh, SDF Executive Director H.E. Ki Sokhim met with representatives from ADB, AFD, and the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training to review and share key achievements of the S4C project. According to SDF, the project achieved 100% of its plan, completing 100 training programs across priority sectors such as manufacturing, tourism, and digital industries. A total of 14,292 trainees participated, with women comprising 47%, substantially surpassing the gender equality targets. This highlights the critical need for human resource development in Cambodia's key growth sectors. The employment rate for trainees reached 88.4%, with 96.9% securing jobs within three months of completion. Furthermore, participants reported an average wage increase of 34% compared to their pre-training employment. This indicates the project's success in equipping individuals with market-relevant skills and fostering economic independence. Employer satisfaction stood at 89.2%, and SDF successfully met key indicators for its transition from a pilot project to a permanent institution. This signifies the establishment of a governance structure led by a board of directors to ensure the sustainability of skills development funding aligned with labor market demands. At the conclusion of the meeting, AFD and ADB representatives highly commended the project's efficient implementation and success, encouraging SDF to further share its best practices in skills development with relevant stakeholders. This initiative aligns with the Cambodian government's strategy for economic diversification and its move towards higher value-added industries, underscoring the vital role of international development partners like ADB and AFD in accelerating domestic human capital development. Source: AKP Khmer
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AKP Khmer