In 2023, the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) took a significant step towards environmental stewardship by officially endorsing the Environment and Natural Resources Code (ENR Code). This landmark decision incorporated the implementation of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) as a pivotal element in driving development. Recognizing the significance of this initiative, ODC committed itself to actively supporting the enforcement, dissemination, and monitoring of SEA progress.
As part of this commitment, on November 22, ODC, with support from USAID through FHI 360, organized a highly impactful workshop/dialogue to discuss the implementation of SEA. This event brought together key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Environment’s Department of EIA and the National Council for Sustainable Development (NCSD), as well as representatives from the Ministry of Planning, the Ministry of Tourism, an EIA consultancy firm, and ClientEarth. The participation extended to over 50 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), journalists, and indigenous representatives from various provinces, all working collaboratively towards sustainable development and inclusivity.
The success of the project implementation is evident in the positive shift observed in the behavior of relevant ministries. The increased responsiveness and active participation of these ministries showcase the tangible impact of the project. This success not only marks a significant milestone in advancing SEA implementation but also underscores the project’s contribution to fostering positive changes within governmental entities, fostering a more collaborative and participatory approach to sustainable national development.
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Shifting attitudes towards sexual harassment
Mr. Oeun Sarun is a 71-year-old CBO leader in Thmey village, Bansay Treng commune, Thmor Kol district, Battambang province. He leads a CBO called “Sahakum Morodak Phum Thmey,” which was selected as one of the cluster members in the Together for Gender Justice (T4GJ) project in October 2022. Mr. Oeun Sarun is a 71-year-old CBO leader in Thmey village, Bansay Treng commune, Thmor Kol district, Battambang province. He leads a CBO called “Sahakum Morodak Phum Thmey,” which was selected as one of the cluster members in the Together for Gender Justice (T4GJ) project in October 2022. Similar to other CBO leaders participating in the T4GJ project, Mr. Sarun facilitated community meetings to share knowledge and understanding of sexual harassment so that participants can further spread the knowledge to the family and neighbors. In his own time, he also continuously disseminated his knowledge to his neighbors and friends as well. He observed that his family and community gradually changed their thinking on sexual harassment, by reflecting on what they did in the past and how they can prevent it now and in the future.
Indigenous youth become confident in expressing himself
Participating in discussions and learning about current issues boosts indigenous youth’s confidence. “Because I participated in various activities and training, I now feel more confident in expressing myself and my community.” Mr. Mong Samut is a 22-year-old Brao indigenous youth. He was born in a remote area located in Sieng Say village, Ta Veaeng Kraom commune, Ta Veaeng district, Ratanakiri province. This is where he is living with his family. As an indigenous youth, he had few opportunities for further education. He was a young farmer without a confident expression and so preoccupied with his job that he was unaware of the situation outside of the community. However, land and forestry issues have arisen in his community. He wishes to seek assistance and share these conflicts and challenges with others to obtain protective intervention. Mr. Mong Samut (Red shirt) participated in the meeting on identifying topics on NRM and land conducted by CIPL in his village center located in Seang Say village, Taveng Kroam commune, Taveng district, Ratanakiri province. Until he gets to know Open Development Cambodia (ODC) and Conserve Indigenous Peoples Languages (CIPL) organizations, he has a chance to learn and participate in various activities and training such as mobile report training, data visualization and storytelling, and identifying topics on natural resource, land, and environment. He has learned how to identify problems, edit videos, and gain basic knowledge of natural resources, land, and forestry. Even though his knowledge cannot be compared to that of people living in cities, he is dedicated and always pays more attention to the lesson and discussions. The desire to express the community\'s issues and challenges keeps him go on. He is ready to share what is going on in his community while gathering information from others to share with his own. He pledges to open his community\'s culture, livelihood, and issues through what he learned if given the opportunity.
From trainee to trainer: fostering indigenous youths’ capacity to proactively disseminate knowledge in their communities
The Civil Society Activity (CSS) project made significant progress in empowering indigenous voices, through its partnership with Open Development Cambodia (ODC) and Conserve Indigenous People\'s Language (CIPL) Organization. Acknowledging the limitations of training every community member, the project employed a strategic approach: transmitting knowledge from focal persons to their communities. These designated individuals have become conduits for information dissemination, resulting in a profound impact. Mr. Lao Bundinh is a 27-year-old Jarai indigenous youth living with his family in Pak Thum village, Pak Nhai commune, Ou Yadav district, Ratanakiri province. He had limited knowledge regarding social media, script writing, and other technological tools. Nevertheless, he had a strong desire to share his culture and voice with a wider audience through social media channels. He also faced a significant knowledge gap, particularly in the realm of digital security. Throughout his active participation in project activities, training sessions, and engagement with local authorities, he gained valuable insights and became aware of the knowledge gaps he needed to address. Despite encountering various challenges, including barriers related to knowledge, technical skills, and time constraints, he persevered and continued to pursue higher levels of expertise. He seized the opportunity to undertake the role of a trainer, conveying his acquired knowledge to indigenous youths within his community. His training sessions focused on topics such as Facebook security, Telegram two-step verification, and video production scripting. He also has gained the capability to express his insights and address community issues effectively through social media channels while sharing his knowledge within his community. He takes great pride in his personal growth and achievements, having reached this significant milestone. He remains committed to ongoing knowledge sharing and making contributions to increasing awareness among indigenous communities in the future.