Cambodia Community Outreach Project (CCOP)

Please note that this is a closed, archived program.

September 1991 - March 2002

Prior to 1991 NGOs did not play a significant role in Cambodian society and were virtually nonexistent during much of its contemporary history. Cambodian NGOs have made significant progress since. Beginning in 1992-93, against the backdrop of the United Nation Peacekeeping mission, elections, and repatriation of refugees, many NGOs began to form. Using an NGO "incubator" approach, Pact was the first international donor to provide assistance to these newborn organizations, provide training, technical support and direct grant assistance to Cambodia's first generation of NGOs. Today over 400 Cambodian NGOs work throughout the country. This increasingly strong and responsive local NGO sector contributes significantly to Cambodia's development and its civil society.

As the NGO sector has evolved so have its needs. A recent multi-stakeholder review of the sector recently identified demand for more sophisticated capacities and knowledge. Specifically NGOs now seek increased skills in resource mobilization and creating sustainable organizations, along with expanded networking and improved relations between government and NGOs at the national and local levels. Stakeholders, on the other hand, want to gain a better understanding of participatory concepts, improved decision-making, strengthened advocacy, increased self-reliance and improved communication between constituents, NGOs and local authorities.

Pact's approach

In the initial stage of support to Cambodian NGOs, Pact focused on human resource development, training many local NGOs in participatory management, planning, communication, program development, financial management and community development. The program provided intensive follow up support and funding to enable the most promising groups to undertake program activities and continue to develop their institutional capacity to manage these activities. In addition, Pact provided funding support to eleven U.S., Cambodian-American and international PVOs.

Later on in the program, Pact Cambodia focused on developing the next generation of Cambodian NGOs - local support organizations, networks and coalitions. Pact provided training, technical assistance, information exchange and advocacy support directed at strengthening the role of Cambodian NGOs in the reconstruction and development of their country.

Final results

In the first two years Pact has:

• Provided financial support to 45 local Cambodian NGOs and associations working in community development, credit, human resource development, health education, birth spacing, HIV/AIDS awareness and human rights. These NGOs provide community-based services in over 200 villages in seven provinces, as well as in Phnom Penh. Since receiving Pact support all have attracted additional funding and technical support from other sources.
• Assisted six Cambodian-American grantees to localize their programs. Three are acknowledged among the strongest Cambodian NGOs in their provinces, one is positioning itself as a local training organization specializing in community participation in development, one is providing training in basic management and another is continuing to provide training to social workers.
• Assisted in the formation and development of support organizations, networks and coalitions, including the Federation of Cambodian NGOs, the Local NGO Forum, and local initiative support groups in Battambang, Kampot and Kompong Thom.
• Founded and participated in activities of the Cambodian NGO Support Network, an informal network of NGOs with a common interest in the development of the Cambodian NGO sector. The network organized a series of partnership workshops to bring together Cambodian NGOs, international NGOs and donors to identify and discuss critical issues in effective partnerships.
• In partnership with the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, helped 16 Cambodian NGOs increase technical knowledge and skills to carryout effective HIV/AIDS education activities. This was done through direct training, mentoring and organizational development
• Facilitated a shift in NGO program strategies and activities from direct services to community mobilization and empowerment.
• Worked with the Cambodian Red Cross and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to develop a pilot program for flood mitigation in three provinces using 75 Red Cross Volunteers trained in community-based disaster preparedness. Pact provided funding for the CRC volunteer training program and coordinated NGO participation in local projects the CRCVs help initiate.
• Developed a training curriculum in "community development/community organizing" with a local partner community development training institution. The training was provided to all Pact partners working in CD and by a local NGO support organization.
• Conducted non-partisanship workshops for CNGOs, Provincial Election Committees and local authorities in 16 provinces. Through the workshops, the participants gained an understanding of the importance of non-partisanship, formulated strategic responses for maintaining non-partisanship in the post-election environment and received basic education on decentralization and understanding about the future commune administration.
• Developed a "Community Participation Assessment Tool" that was used to help CD/NGOs evaluate the quality of the participation they engender in community-based activities.