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CBOs Raise Issues with District Officials

In the first week of November 2021, our “Citizens’ Voices and Actions for Sustainable Development“ project team facilitated meetings between the representatives of 17 community-based organizations and the local authorities in five districts of the province of Pursat. Grassroots civil society activists from Veal Vaeng, Phnom Kravanh, Talo Saenchey, Kandieng and Krakor raised their issues, mainly concerning land and community forest conflicts or the absence of adequate markets for agricultural produce. They are hoping to mobilise the support of their respective district officials in order to establish forest and fishery patrols that could prevent further abuse. At a pre-meeting that had taken place at the end of October, a total of 36 local community issues had been put on the agenda. These initiatives were part of our project dedicated to empowering community-based organisations in nine Cambodian provinces, which is funded by Bread for the World (BfdW) and DanChurch Aid (DCA).