KOICA organised signing ceremony on grant for Village Development Project Fund

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), in cooperation with the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) organised a signing ceremony on grant for the first round of Village Development Projects (VDP) in the KOICA Peace Village Project. The ceremony was organised on August 02, 2024, in Battambang province.  

Mr. Shin YongHwa, KOICA Deputy Country Director, and H.E. Oeun Thearith, Director of the Community Development Department and Advisor to MRD, presided over the ceremony. Representatives from Provincial Departments of Rural Development, other local government officials and community partners—including Village Development Committee (VDC) members and project stakeholders participated in the event. The event’s highlight was the signing ceremony, during which the KOICA representative and the 30 Village Development Committees co-signed the agreement for the village development projects. 

The Village Development Project is a component of the KOICA Peace Village Project, emphasizing community participation. Supported with funding, training, and management consulting provided by KOICA, the village development committee of 30 selected villages will lead their projects of constructing and renovating essential community infrastructure, including schools, health centres, roads, reservoirs, and community buildings with a total budget of USD 900,000 which all tailored to meet the specific needs of the target villages and to enhance the residents’ access to basic services.  

In alignment with Cambodia’s National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP) and Provincial Strategic Budget Plans (PSBP), the Peace Village Project underscores the joint commitment and cooperation between the government of Korea and of Cambodia for sustainable development in Cambodia’s rural communities. It aims to foster inclusive and sustainable rural development in 30 villages across Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, and Pailin provinces. The project focuses on enhancing rural living conditions, boosting agricultural income, and reinforcing governance capacity for rural development. With a total budget of USD 10 million, the Peace Village Project is scheduled to run from December 15, 2022, to August 31, 2026. The project is implemented by World Vision International and the Agro Food New Marketing Institute (NEWMA).