Every Now and Then – An Update
Dear Partners, Colleagues, and Friends, it is with great enthusiasm that we launch the first edition of the UNDP Cambodia Quarterly Newsletter—a space we are carving out as an invitation to walk together on a journey rooted in the values of multilateral cooperation, inclusive development, and a renewed commitment to Cambodia’s aspirations. Through stories, updates, and insights, we aim to recognize the collective efforts that shape our work—aiming at a future where we do not have to choose between human development and the health of the planet, where prosperity and sustainability advance together. As we keep each other up to date on this journey, we do so recognizing that progress is built not by institutions alone but by the partnerships we nurture—with each other and with the communities we are all here to serve. Happy reading… (also to those I haven’t met yet 😊)
_____________________
UNDP Executive Board Approves a New Strategic Plan
For six decades, UNDP has shaped the progress of human development, providing integrated support at scale to improve lives for millions of people worldwide. UNDP will continue to support countries’ progress towards high human development, while protecting the planet. This Strategic Plan is designed around fewer, integrated results, to focus more sharply on what the evidence shows UNDP does best: delivering change at a systems level, through integrated solutions driven by national priorities.
Building on the Foundation of UNDP’s Commitment to Cambodia
The UNDP Cambodia Programme Document provides a strategic framework for our collaboration with the Royal Government of Cambodia and development partners. It aims to drive inclusive economic growth, strengthen governance, and promote climate and environmental resilience to ensure that no one is left behind.
_____________________
Cambodia Launches Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) to Accelerate Climate Action and Sustainable Development
Watch highlights from the event featuring H.E. Dr. Eang Sophalleth, Minister of Environment and Chair of the National Council for Sustainable Development; H.E. Igor Driesmans, Ambassador of the European Union to Cambodia; and Mr. Enrico Gaveglia, UNDP Resident Representative in Cambodia, as they share Cambodia’s climate ambitions, the significance of NDC 3.0, and the role of partnerships in turning these ambitions into action.
Restoring Ecosystems for Sustainable Development
The “Restoring Ecosystems for Sustainable Development in the Tonle Sap Basin and the Siem Reap/Phnom Kulen Landscape” project (2025–2030), funded by the Global Environment Facility, implemented by the Ministry of Environment, and supported by UNDP, was officially launched on 12 September. The project aims to restore critical ecosystems and support local communities that rely on them. Watch a video highlight of the project.
Changkran Roy Ecotourism Site in Siem Reap Province, Cambodia
UNDP in Cambodia, in partnership with the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre, is working with Changkran Roy and Teuk Chub Khna Po to protect forests and promote sustainable livelihoods. Communities receive training in ecotourism, social media, and mushroom cultivation, promoting forest management and inclusive governance. Changkran Roy, rich in cultural heritage, traces its roots to a legendary tale of a king who once sought healing from the traditional medicine found in these forests. Today, it showcases community-led conservation and nature-based tourism, offering birdwatching, forest hikes, and local cuisine. A featured video highlights the area as an ecotourism destination.
Building Long-Term Poverty Resilience in Cambodia
With support from the Government of the People’s Republic of China, UNDP worked with the National Social Protection Council, the Ministry of Planning, and subnational authorities to strengthen long-term poverty resilience. The initiative provides vulnerable households with productive assets and essential health, hygiene, and sanitation materials to improve their livelihoods. Watch the video highlighting the impacts.
Cambodia Launches Monitoring and Evaluation Framework to Enhance Informal Economy Development
On July 16, the Coordinating Committee on Informal Economy Development, in collaboration with key development partners, launched the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the National Strategy on the Development of the Informal Economy 2023-2028. The Framework establishes a robust national system to coordinate, track and assess the implementation of Cambodia’s strategy for informal economy development. It was developed with support from Australia, UNDP and ILO.
Toward Deforestation-Free Agriculture: Recommendations for a Sustainable Cashew Value Chain in Stung Treng Province, Cambodia
UNDP in Cambodia and the Royal University of Agriculture are working to promote deforestation-free farming under the FAO-UNDP Scaling up Climate Ambition on Land Use and Agriculture (SCALA) programme. Based on insights shared by four key stakeholders from across the cashew value chain during our recent workshop, we have outlined three key recommendations to strengthen private sector engagement and foster collaboration with public institutions and local communities, to advance forest-positive agriculture while improving farmer livelihoods.
_____________________
What We Think...
Conducting a Complex Concerto: Lessons from Cambodia’s NDC 3.0 Development
This blog highlights the NDC 3.0 development process, key lessons learned, and next steps. Led by the Ministry of Environment, with UNDP coordinating technical support across the UN system and development partners, NDC 3.0 is the result of an inclusive, consultative process. This achievement was made possible thanks to the generous support of our #PartnersAtCore: Belgium, Denmark, the EU, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK.
_____________________
Publications
About Cambodia’s NDC 3.0
The Royal Government of Cambodia has successfully submitted the Cambodia’s NDC 3.0 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on 8 August 2025. It aims for up to a 55% emissions reduction, equivalent to approximately 73.7 MtCO₂e by 2035 under a conditional scenario, focusing on the Energy (including transport, manufacturing, and construction), Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU), Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU), and Waste sectors.
Mapping the Dimensions of Poverty Through Big Data, Socioeconomic Surveys and Machine Learning in Cambodia
Cambodia has experienced strong economic growth, yet poverty remains widespread and unevenly distributed, with traditional data often lacking the detail needed for local planning. Published by Springer Nature, a leading scientific journal, and co-written by UNDP Socio-Economic Policy Specialist Mr. Theara Khoun and UNDP Economist Dr. Ivan Gonzalez de Alba, this study combines big data, machine learning, and the Cambodia Socio-Economic Survey to map multidimensional poverty—across education, health, and living standards—at fine spatial scales.
Infographics of Cambodia 2025 Human Development Status
The 2025 Human Development Report reveals a concerning global trend: human development progress is slowing at an unprecedented rate. Despite expectations of a strong recovery following the crises of 2020–2021, the report shows only marginal gains. Excluding those crisis years, the projected global increase in human development for 2024 is the smallest since 1990. In Cambodia, the 2023 HDI value stands at 0.606, a modest rise from 0.602 in 2022, placing the country in the Medium Human Development category and ranking it 151 out of 193 countries and territories.
____________
© 2025 United Nations Development Programme in Cambodia. All rights reserved.
Contact us: communications.kh@undp.org | Visit us: undp.org/cambodia