Background 

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on Cambodia’s economy and its people, particularly vulnerable groups such as those living below or near the poverty line, informal sector workers (predominantly women), and individuals with disabilities.

To address these challenges, UNDP, in partnership with the General Secretariat for the National Social Protection Council, the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, and the Ministry of Planning, is implementing the Accelerating COVID-19 Recovery for Vulnerable and Marginalized Groups in Cambodia through Providing Assets for Poverty Reduction and Resilience (ACRP) project.

The ACRP project, funded by the Government of China and running from 01 July 2024 to 30 September 2025, aims to enhance the income-generating capacity of poor households in vulnerable rural communities by providing small-scale productive assets. It also seeks to improve the overall well-being of poor households by providing essential health and hygiene materials.

Targeted provinces include Battambang, Pailin, Banteay Meanchey, Preah Vihear, and Kampong Chhnang. The project’s outputs and activities are designed to complement existing social protection initiatives and contribute to sustained, large-scale impact.

Key Interventions and Achievements    

1. Building the resilience of poor and marginalized groups

To better understand the challenges faced by poor and marginalized communities, the project conducted a rapid needs assessment focusing on IDPoor households.

Based on the findings, 2,500 households received productive assets—including chickens, feed, vaccines, crops, and agricultural tools—along with hands-on training. This support will help boost productivity and enhance their ability to generate sustainable income.

2. Improving hygiene and public health for poor and marginalized groups

To support healthier living conditions, the project provided 3,000 IDPoor households with essential health and hygiene supplies. These included water containers, purifiers, soap, hand sanitizer, insulated bottles, schoolbooks, uniforms, and bags.

This initiative will help reduce the spread of infectious diseases, improve overall household health, and improve daily living conditions for vulnerable families.

3. Enhancing productivity and income generation among small-scale agricultural communities

In Preah Vihear province, the project delivered 44 semi-automatic cashew nut peeling machines to 14 small-scale cashew-farming communities and agricultural cooperatives.
This intervention benefited at least 3,300 households by improving processing efficiency and enhancing market competitiveness. It has created new income opportunities—particularly for women—enabling them to contribute more actively to their family’s livelihood.