Since it was founded back in 2003, API has become known for its involvement in pushing for and contributing to the fulfilment of the government’s decentralisation reforms, and its successful campaigns for a law on the access to public information (A2I) and information disclosure, as well as for a road traffic law. The latter was passed in 2015, a draft for the former was elaborated in 2018 and currently still awaits being passed by the Parliament. Given these achievements, API has received widespread positive feedback from Cambodian and international organisations for its reliability, relevance and professionalism.
Our Work
We Focus on Inclusion
API’s approach is based on human rights, and aims at the fulfilment of the rights of citizens, particularly of women, youth and disadvantaged groups, as well as at their empowerment. In our view, citizens should be in the position to raise their claims and concerns with government and other stakeholders and contribute to the sustainable development in Cambodia. API pursues gender equality and the rights of women, youth empowerment and inclusion of disadvantaged groups, i.e. the poor, people with disabilities, indigenous people and out of school children. According to its Strategic Plan for the years 2019-23, API particularly focuses on these categories of citizens.
We Keep Pace with the Times
As Cambodia has changed over time, so has API also evolved to undertake new roles and functions. With its new Strategic Plan, API continues to work in its previous rural target areas, but will expand into new neighbouring districts and provinces, and will especially establish a new focus on urban areas. This is a response to rapid urbanization which is mainly driven by migrating youth – and youth is the main driver of social change. Digitalisation is a cross-cutting theme that will be reflected in all of API’s programmes. With most, especially young, Cambodians having gone online in recent years, new opportunities and challenges are waiting to be utilized and addressed.
Our Programmes
API’s activities mainly focus on three priority axes:
Advocacy for Policy Change
We build capacity, that is, we help civil society organisations and individual citizens, especially women, youth and disadvantaged groups, to voice their concerns, influence policy and make the government respect their rights and address their needs.
Local Democratic Participation
We encourage citizens to actively participate in decision making processes and hold local authorities and service providers accountable. We also advocate for the transfer of government functions to the local level.
Access to Information
We campaign for the disclosure of public information on critical issues at both the local and the national level, and we keep up our advocacy efforts for the law on access to public information to be finally passed by Parliament.
Advocacy for Policy Change
We build capacity, that is, we help civil society organisations and individual citizens, especially women, youth and disadvantaged groups, to voice their concerns, influence policy and make the government respect their rights and address their needs.
Local Democratic Participation
We encourage citizens to actively participate in decision making processes and hold local authorities and service providers accountable. We also advocate for the transfer of government functions to the local level.
Access to Information
We campaign for the disclosure of public information on critical issues at both the local and the national level, and we keep up our advocacy efforts for the law on access to public information to be finally passed by Parliament.
Our Theory of Change
In post-conflict societies like Cambodia, theories of change are usually applied by international or local humanitarian and development organisations that work together in planting the seeds of human rights and democracy. They strive to make a difference. The process of formulating and applying a theory of change has transformed the way API plans and measures impact. API works to contribute towards change at the individual, system and policy level for the betterment of society in Cambodia.
Civic Tech Tool
1- Pidor
Facebook Chatbot and public dashboard for citizen access to information on government One Window Services at commune, district, and provincial levels with financial support of USAID, Bread for the World and Dan Church Aid: Public dashboard Welcome to Public Dashboard of OW4C(pidordashboard.org) and Facebook https://web.facebook.com/pidorow4cbot/ . PIDOR Chatbot provides citizens access to like Information on OWSO services, […]
2- Digital Score Card
ISAF-II digital scorecards and ISAF public dashboard journey for the public to access via the ISAF-II website Digital-csc.org. Blended Digital Scorecard is ISAF Phase II EU funded Project (Supporting meaningful civic engagement for improved accountability by leveraging digital technologies) 2019-23. The overall objective for this Action is to develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all […]
3- Citizen Analysis Budget Tools
The Citizen Budget App on district commune budget analysis, 2021-2022 commune & district budgets updated and disseminated to people https://citizenbudget.apiinstitute.org/dashboard . The budget analysis App was supported by UNICEF, DCA and BfdW on developing the budget application on Apple Account (iOS), Google Account (Android), Website. The objective is to increase the capacity of interested of citizens in […]
4- Database Management System
API has implemented IT & ICT policy & assessed API ICT & social media’s capacity and security risks; to improve, manage the digital systems/platforms and its infrastructure & its security and recovery plan and data management and storage and development M&E data online system M&E Database Management System(apiinstitute.org).
