Transform rural landmine areas to peaceful and prosperous communities

Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has launched a new project “Building Peace Villages through Integrated Rural Community Development.” The rural development project, with 10 million US dollars, is aimed at improving rural living conditions, increasing sustainable agricultural income, and strengthening the governance of rural development in the northwestern region of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

The project, designed by both KOICA and the Ministry of Rural Development of Cambodia (MRD), was launched in December 2022, with the signing of a Record of Discussions between Dr. Ouk Rabun, Minister of the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD), and Rho Hyunjun, Country Director of KOICA Cambodia Office, on June 2022. It is now implemented by World Vision and Agro-Food New Marketing Institute (NEWMA) of Korea, with the project’s kick-off meeting held on May 10.

The target provinces--Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, and Pailin provinces in northwestern Cambodia--were severely affected by landmines and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) from a series of conflicts and wars. Even though most contaminated “landmine” areas have been cleared and people have returned to the communities of these three provinces, socio-economic support for people living in those areas, especially small farmers, is necessary.

In the kick-off meeting, Mr. Roh Hyunjun, Country Director of the KOICA Cambodia Office, said that he hoped the project would change the region into a peaceful and prosperous one, where people are able to get access to clean water for drinking and enjoy improved living conditions thanks to activities designed and implemented by KOICA and World Vision.

H.E Van Sam Oeun, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Rural Development, expressed his gratitude for the project’s successful launch, by putting emphasis on cooperation between stakeholders. He also said that he hoped the project would contribute to the peaceful and sustainable development of the three provinces of the northwest region of the Kingdom of Cambodia.