Cambodia Establishes Research Network to Bolster Policymaking

Cambodia’s Cabinet Office has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with 31 research institutions, including leading universities, to establish the Cambodia Research Network (CRN). The network will serve as a national platform aimed at strengthening evidence-based policymaking and enhancing the country’s ability to anticipate and respond to global trends. The MoU signing ceremony was presided over by Deputy Prime Minister Vongsey Vissoth, Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers, on July 22. According to a council statement, the agreement establishes a cooperative framework to create the network, “a historic initiative that will bring together the intellectual capital, expertise and experience of Cambodian researchers both at home and abroad”. It is intended to strengthen collaboration in evidence-based research while supporting policy formulation, monitoring and evaluation, strategic forecasting and scenario planning. It aims to provide timely, science-based policy recommendations in support of Cambodia’s national development and long-term state-building efforts. Speaking at the ceremony, Vissoth highlighted the increasingly complex global environment, citing geopolitical and economic competition, the rapid development of digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI), climate change, emerging security threats, pandemics and transnational crime, as well as developments along the Cambodia-Thailand border. He noted that these challenges require Cambodia to modernise its approach to governance and policymaking to ensure sustainable national development. “To ensure national resilience, Cambodia must strengthen the connection between evidence-based scientific research and the formulation, monitoring and evaluation of national policies,” he said. Vongsey added that the country needs stronger capabilities in strategic foresight, responsiveness, adaptability and innovation in order to remain resilient and competitive in an increasingly uncertain world. Among the 31 founding members is the Skills Development Fund (SDF). According to the SDF, the network will promote collaborative research, contribute to the design, review, monitoring and evaluation of priority public policies, and support implementation of the government’s Pentagonal Strategy, Cambodia Vision 2050 and its long-term socio-economic development agenda. As part of the partnership, the SDF said it will contribute labour market and skills training data, practical industry experience and policy inputs to help ensure that government decisions are based on reliable data and transparent analysis. The fund will also support capacity-building programmes for researchers and help connect research findings with the needs of the private sector to improve national productivity and competitiveness. The government has pledged to facilitate the work of the network. Vissoth expressed confidence that the 31 member institutions will become a strong source of intellectual leadership and serve as a driving force for Cambodia’s economic growth and social development under the principle of “thinking together, acting together and sharing responsibility”, while helping safeguard the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, resilience and sustainable development.