Cambodia (view map)

Cambodia’s development has been slow following the genocide involving the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s in which 1.7 million people died. Around 35 per cent of the country’s 14 million population continue to live below the poverty line with approximately 91 per cent of the country’s poor living in rural areas.

The majority of the Cambodian workforce makes its living from subsistence farming but productivity remains low. Well irrigated rice fields run along the country’s Mekong Riverand the main exports are clothing, timber, and rubber. Access to markets is impeded by the country’s poor infrastructure. Landlessness contributes to food supply problems and poverty as one fifth of rural households do not have land to cultivate.

Fishery and forestry products provide around a quarter of the income for families living in poverty and Cambodia also has a strong tourist industry which is of significant importance to the national economy and local income generation.

Cambodia has the highest rates of HIV/AIDS infection in Asia at 2.6% in 2002 although public health campaigns are said to have been successful in controlling the spread of the illness.

The key development challenges facing Cambodia include dealing with the very high rates of poverty concentrated in rural areas, resolving conflict over land, corruption and weak governance, and improving the low level of skills, capacity, and productive output.

SCIAF works in the northern provinces of Cambodia focusing on the poorest and most vulnerable communities to reduce the levels of household poverty. SCIAF has worked in Cambodia since 1986 and is currently supporting six partners in with grants of over £130,000 (2006-2007), mainly in the area of food security.