About Us

The Advocacy and Policy Institute (API) is a Cambodian non-governmental organisation active in advocacy, policy influencing, good governance and civic engagement. Capacity building and dialogue facilitation are at the heart of our efforts towards democratic and sustainable development.

We have received widespread aclaim from both local and international organisations for our reliability, relevance and professionalism. Over a time span of almost two decades, API has helped institutionalise advocacy skills and has been striving to make local democratic and accountable governance a reality. To these ends, we have been conducting more than 300 training courses for over 10,000 participants affiliated with civil society and community-based organisations, local councils, media outlets, trade unions, Government institutions and the Cambodian Parliament.

API is unique in Cambodia’s civil society in serving as a connector and facilitator for citizens’ empowerment in their interaction with government at all levels. API has acquired first-hand experience on policy issues like access to information (A2I) through its grassroots work. Based on this vast experience, we are in the best position to make the voices of ordinary citizens count in policy-making at the national level. Here we have been trying to support government actors serve citizens according to the law and contribute to an enabling environment for citizens and civil society to express their concerns. Finally, we have been playing an important role in helping citizens understand their rights, access to information and make use of the opportunities for engagement offered by various laws and government policies.

Our programmes are guided by a human rights based approach. API serves all Cambodians and values the diversity of gender, sexual orientation and identity, (dis)ability, ethnicity, faith and political opinons. At the same time, we are especially committed to support the most disadvantaged in their efforts to make their voices heard.

All Cambodians have the right to participate, mobilise and express themselves in matters that affect their daily lives.

All matters should be resolved peacefully and justly according to the principles of our shared humanity.

Particularly at the community level, it is the most sustainable way of building a brighter future for all Cambodians.

Engaging with all social sectors ensures that when solutions are reached, they are of the greatest benefit to communities.

Being transparent, accountable, independent, and non-partisan helps build an organization that earns the respect and confidence of both the Cambodian people and the international community.

Cambodia has a national culture of harmony, where political and economic stability, sustainable development, democratic governance, and protection of human rights ensure a prosperous future for all.

To serve the long term democratic and social development needs of Cambodia through the empowerment of people to interact with their government to protect their rights.

In 2028, Cambodia is a more harmonious and inclusive society with sustainable development, good governance and respect for democratic principles and human rights.