Australia has pledged $4.98 million to fund 26 Australian NGOs working with Cambodian organizations to deliver 49 community projects nationwide.

The funds will support a raft of programs that range from improving education and health through to hygiene, elevating working conditions and tackling domestic violence.

The announcement was made by Andreas Zurbrugg, Deputy Australian Ambassador to Cambodia, at the Australia-Cambodia NGO Consultation 2023, attended by more than 70 local and international civil society organizations.

For almost 50 years, the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) has provided annual grants to accredited Australian NGOs and their local partners to deliver cost-effective projects that have a direct impact on the communities they serve.

In addition to receiving grants from ANCP, Australian NGO partners also raise funds from the Australian community, as well as garner public support and voluntary contributions for their projects.

Some of the partners receiving grants this year include APHEDA, which is working to eliminate asbestos-related diseases and improve working conditions for women. ChildFund Australia will also receive funding to enhance learning outcomes for 11 primary schools in Prey Veng’s Kampong Trabaek.

CUFA is another recipient, working to enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of more than 600 micro-businesses. While Fred Hollows Foundation will provide about 1,200 people with cataract surgery or eye disease treatment.

Elsewhere, Marie Stopes International Australia will receive grants to enhance the capacity of local partners providing family planning and sexual and reproductive health services. Plan International will use the funding to expand its school learning gardens to 41 new schools.

Save the Children will use the money to continue in its fight to reduce the incidence of violence against children and women by increasing male engagement. While Sight for All will support four Cambodian ophthalmologists to undertake a two-year fellowship to improve eye health in Takeo and Ratanakiri.

Additionally, WaterAid will increase access to WASH services for persons with disabilities and women in Kampong Chhnang province.

“Australia highly values the expertise and networks of NGOs throughout Cambodia and their contributions to Cambodia’s development over the decades. As part of civil society, they play an important function in complementing the Government’s role in development, especially for remote and vulnerable communities,” Zurbrugg noted.

“The consultations are part of a series of discussions we will be having in the coming months as we develop a new Development Partnership Plan to set the long-term direction of our development cooperation with Cambodia.”

He added that the Australian Embassy will engage with the Cambodian Government, academia, business, civil society and other development partners to seek their advice and views.

Last month Australia released a new international development policy that set out more than 30 commitments to deliver a more effective, responsive, transparent and accountable program. This includes a reinvigorated approach to country strategic planning.