Indigenous Women Learn About Commune Investment Plans

On 27-29 April 2021, the A4A project team offered online training courses dedicated to the topic of the rights of community based organisations (CBOs) to engage with the local government in the process of putting together commune and district investment plans. The participants were more than 80 women, representing 35 CBOs from three districts: Chet Borey in Kratie, Prasat Ballangk in Kampong Thom and Phnom Kravanh in Pursat. The training course was also joined by our project partner EWMI, as well as by the Cambodian Indigenous Youth Association (CIYA) staff and volunteers. Many questions, solutions, ideas, and a great deal of work experience in the context of local government engagement were shared among the participants. A session on FPIC, an international guideline for indigenous people, was included in the programme, as many of the participants come from indigenous communities. The training methodology combined slide presentations, group discussions, case studies, video elements, and a questions and answers session. There was also an open discussion on the case of an indigenous community affected by economic land concessions in Kampong Thom. Despite some challenges related to stormy weather conditions affecting the internet connections in remote areas, the training could be completed successfully by most participants. Representing the API team, our trainers, Vanpannit Man, Poly Em, and Chhengla Leap facilitated the sessions together with Leakhena Roth from CIYA.