The U.S. Government has signed an agreement to provide total of $56 million to Cambodia to support social and economy development programmes in 2020, according to a joined statement.
The Royal Government of Cambodia, through the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), and the U.S. Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on 25 June 2020, signed development objective agreement grants to provide $38 million for health and education programmes and approximately $18 million for agriculture and environment programmes through implementing organisations in Cambodia.
Chin Bun Sean, Vice-Chairman of the Council for Development of Cambodia said that this continued bilateral development cooperation is an important pillar in promoting and strengthening the cooperation and partnership between the two countries.
W. Patrick Murphy, the US ambassador to Cambodia said during the signing that the U.S. Government is committed to continuing its support to the Cambodian people towards sustainable, inclusive, and equitable socio-economic development.
Through collaboration with the Ministry of Health, programmes will aim to decrease maternal, infant, and mortality rates in children aged under five years.
The funds will also support programmes to decrease stunting and anaemia in children and women and reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria in Cambodia.
In the education sector, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and USAID programmes will support efforts to improve reading comprehension among children, lower school dropout rates, and equip Cambodians to enter the workforce.
In partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, USAID will fund programmes that reduce the number of people living in poverty, increase the production of important crops, and improve nutrition among rural communities.
Since 1994, the U.S. Government has provided over $1 billion in support of the Cambodian people.
This article was first published in Khmer Times. All contents and images are copyright to their respective owners and sources.
