Cambodia Advances EMPOWER Project to Enhance Rural Livelihoods and Economic Resilience

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries continues to actively promote efforts to reduce vulnerability and improve the living standards of the people at the local level. Specifically, on the afternoon of July 31, 2026, a meeting to discuss the "Progress of the EMPOWER Project Evaluation" was organized in the meeting hall of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Banteay Meanchey Province. The important meeting was presided over by H.E. Srey Vuthy, Undersecretary of State of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Head of the EMPOWER Project Implementation in Serei Sophorn City. The meeting was also attended by H.E. Orn Sitha, Acting Director of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Banteay Meanchey Province, the Deputy Governor of Serei Sophorn City, project coordination officials, commune agricultural officials, local authorities, and representatives from three target communes: Kompong Svay, Phniet, and Makak. H.E. Srey Vuthy stated that the EMPOWER project is not just a temporary aid but a crucial bridge for creating real economic benefits for the people. The current evaluation aims to ensure that all activities and beneficiary selections are clear, transparent, and directly address the actual needs of the villagers to strengthen their resilience against various crises. He emphasized the need for collective efforts to resolve immediate challenges in a timely manner to ensure the project achieves maximum results. H.E. Orn Sitha affirmed the strong commitment of the provincial agricultural department and technical teams to cooperate with all levels of local authorities to ensure the smooth implementation of the EMPOWER project. They will focus on enhancing knowledge and technical understanding for all stakeholders, especially through precise data collection and assessment of the situation of residents in the three target communes (Kompong Svay, Phniet, and Makak). During the in-depth discussions, relevant parties agreed on key agendas: reviewing progress and evaluating past work results in improving livelihoods and economic efficiency to reduce the vulnerability of the people. This includes setting clear targets for beneficiaries, gathering additional information, and establishing precise criteria for selecting genuine beneficiary families for the EMPOWER project. They also agreed on training and strengthening cooperation, providing knowledge, building capacity, and increasing understanding among local authorities and project implementation officials for systematic work. Furthermore, they committed to addressing challenges, dissecting past obstacles, and finding joint solutions to ensure the project's implementation progresses towards its planned goals. The meeting yielded positive and fruitful results, with all involved parties expressing a strong will to further enhance their close cooperation to transform the direction of the EMPOWER project into tangible benefits for the residents of Serei Sophorn City. By: Chhun Sarath © All rights reserved by National News Agency of Cambodia 2018