Press Release: Cambodia Launches the Graduation-Based Social Protection Programme in Kampong Chhnang and Preah Vihear Provinces

December 10, 2025

Phnom Penh, 8 December 2025 – The Royal Government of Cambodia on 8 December launched the Graduation-Based Social Protection Programme (GBSP), a national led initiative designed to lift poor households out of poverty through integrated, time-bound support. The launch ceremony, held at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, was presided over by H.E. Dr. Aun Pornmoniroth, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, and Ms. Kanni Wignaraja, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, and attended by senior ministers, provincial governors, development partners, and representatives from UNDP.

This initial rollout will benefit 5,000 poor households in Preah Vihear and Kampong Chhnang provinces, marking the first step in a more ambitious plan to reach 200,000 households—by 2035. The GBSP is one of the flagship social protection programmes as indicated under the National Social Protection Policy Framework 2024-2035 and the Cambodia’s Pentagonal Strategy Phase I (2023-2028), the five-year development agenda of the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC). Unlike traditional safety nets, the GBSP combines cash assistance, productive asset transfers, livelihood training, financial literacy, and personalized coaching to empower households to build sustainable livelihoods and become economically resilient.

The programme builds on the success of a pilot implemented between 2020 and 2024 in Preah Vihear and Kampong Chhnang provinces. Jointly designed and implemented by the RGC and UNDP, the pilot covered 2,400 households and delivered impressive results. A rigorous randomized control trial confirmed a 38.6% increase in household income, a 60% rise in savings, and a 13% increase in consumption, with a return of $8.53 for every $1 invested. These outcomes demonstrate that the graduation approach is a cost-effective and sustainable pathway out of poverty.

H.E. Dr. Aun Pornmoniroth, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, emphasized in his keynote address that the GBSP Programme represents a renewed commitment by the Royal Government to advancing human development, improving citizens’ livelihoods, reducing poverty, and enhancing resilience to climate change through Cambodia’s social protection system.
He also expressed his sincere appreciation to UNDP for its continued partnership and support to the Royal Government, particularly in strengthening the social protection system to foster sustainable development.

Ms. Kanni Wignaraja, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, said “UNDP is proud to have accompanied and supported the Royal Government—from co-designing the pilot to embedding the programme within national systems. As we move forward, UNDP remains committed to mobilizing resources, providing technical assistance, and supporting implementation at scale. Social protection is not charity; it is smart economics. It is the foundation for inclusive growth, social cohesion, and human dignity.”

This whole-of-government approach of the GBSP Programme ensures strong institutional leadership, with the National Social Protection Council providing strategic guidance, the Ministry of Planning identifying eligible households, and the National Social Assistance Fund managing cash transfers.

For media inquiries:

Mr.Tum Ra, GS-NSPC’s Social Protection analyst at tumra009@gmail.com
Ms. Ath Chhunmuoy, UNDP Cambodia’s Communications Analyst, at communications.kh@undp.org

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NSPC
The National Social Protection Council is a key actor responsible for policy coordination and strategy formulation for the development of Social Protection in Cambodia. The NSPC has a General Secretariat (GS-NSPC) based in the Ministry of Economy and Finance performing technical functions.

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