Meeting the new Cambodian Minister for Rural Development


Isaree Khreusirikul | June 27, 2016

CWS Country Representative Isaree Khreusirikul meets with Cambodian Minister of Rural Development Dr. Ouk Rabun. Photo: CWS Cambodia.

CWS Country Representative Isaree Khreusirikul meets with Cambodian Minister of Rural Development Dr. Ouk Rabun. Photo: CWS Cambodia.

Our CWS team in Cambodia regularly partners with the Ministry of Rural Development to ensure that we are effectively meeting needs of rural communities. We work primarily in remote areas where government services aren’t enough. Our programs in Cambodia include the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene – conveniently known as WASH – Training Resource Center as well as supporting community savings and loans groups and otherwise ensuring that communities have the skills and resources needed to thrive.

Because of this partnership with the Ministry, it was an honor to be received by Cambodia’s new Minister of Rural Development last week. Two other members of the CWS Cambodia team and I met with His Excellency Dr. Ouk Rabun and his colleagues, including the Secretary of State, Under Secretary of State and three Department Directors. Alongside my colleagues, WASH TRC Manager Sim Saora and Administration Manager Chum Jany, I reported on CWS’s work in Cambodia. We were proud to share about how we are implementing the Promoting Better Lives Project, which will enhance communities’ knowledge on WASH and access to improved water sources, safe drinking water and environmental sanitation and improve communities’ food security and nutrition status among children under 5 and childbearing age women. Our partnership with the Ministry has enabled us to have great successes in many of our programs so far, and we were glad to report on that progress.

Dr. Rabun expressed his appreciation of CWS’s contributions to the development of Cambodia, in particular the collaboration between his Ministry and CWS in WASH programs. He acknowledged CWS efforts in establishing the water quality testing laboratory in the southern province of Prey Veng as well as the contribution that our CWS team has made in building the knowledge and skills of the Department of Rural Development staff, local authorities and community leaders.

Our team is invested in ensuring the long term success of communities across Cambodia, but this is not a goal that we can achieve alone. We are proud of the strength of our partnerships with other organizations and with local and national officials. Only when we work together can we truly succeed.

Isaree Khreusirikul is the CWS Country Representative for Cambodia.