U.S. Provides More Than $30 Million for Health and Education Projects in Cambodia

 HE Hor Namhong and Erin Soto seal the deal with a handshake.

U.S. Provides More Than $30 Million for Health and Education Projects in Cambodia 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
September 12, 2007

 

The United States Government and the Royal Government of Cambodia signed amendments to two bilateral agreements that will provide a total of $26.76 million in 2007 funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to support Cambodian priorities in health and education. The programs will be implemented by USAID through a variety of international and Cambodian organizations, and in close collaboration and coordination with the Royal Government of Cambodia and other donor agencies.

 

H.E. Hor Namhong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Erin Soto, USAID Mission Director, signed on behalf of their respective governments. Also in attendance at the ceremony were HE Nuth Sokhom, Minister of Health, and HE Kol Pheng, Senior Minister, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.

In addition to the amounts provided under these two bilateral agreements, USAID will provide $3.32 million through other mechanisms, bringing the 2007 total of USAID assistance to Cambodia for health and education activities to more than $30 million.

In her remark, Erin Soto stated, "Although the recent Cambodian Demographic and Health Survey indicates remarkable progress in almost every social indicator, there is a compelling need to remain engaged.  Through this amendment to the bi-lateral agreement signed today adding $30 million, USAID will continue its support to the Royal Government of Cambodia to improve health services in HIV/AIDS, infectious diseases, maternal and child health, reproductive health, family planning, and nutrition, and to improve education by continuing to provide assistance to implement your national education curriculum and to get and keep all children in school."

She concluded by saying, "I am proud of our successful collaboration with the Royal Government of Cambodia and the host of donor and NGO partners who, together with Government leaders and thousands of civil servants are making a difference every day in the health and education of the citizens of Cambodia."

The amendment to the first agreement consists of $25.77 million in grant funds to impact health objectives. Funds will be used to promote a variety of activities to reduce the transmission and impact of HIV/AIDS; to prevent and control major infectious diseases such as tuberculosis; to improve maternal, reproductive, and children’s health; and to strengthen Cambodian public health systems including the technical skills of health care workers.

The amendment to the second agreement will provide nearly $1 million in grant funds to support Cambodian government education objectives. These funds will support ongoing programs aimed at improving the quality of basic education and access to schooling for all children, including minorities, individuals with disabilities, and the very poor. Activities will focus on implementing the new national curriculum and learning standards, impacting school dropout and repetition rates through improvements in teaching quality, and measuring student academic achievement.

In addition to health and education activities, the U.S. government supports a broad range of programs designed to benefit all Cambodians, including human rights, rule of law, local governance and decentralization, anti-corruption, natural resource management, private sector development, anti-narcotics, and combating trafficking in persons. The United States expects to commit more than $65 million in assistance to Cambodia in 2007 through such agencies as USAID, the Department of State, the Centers for Disease Control, and the Department of Defense.

Source: http://cambodia.usembassy.gov/2007_usaid_funding.html