News
Cambodian Social Protection Week 2024: Building A Resilient and Sustainable Social Protection System
Sokgech Heng, National Programme Officer - Phnom Penh
On 12 and 13 of March 2024, the National Social Protection Council of Cambodia organized the 3rd Social Protection Week in Cambodia under the theme “Building A Resilient and Sustainable Social Protection System”. The event is organized in technical and financial collaboration from UN agencies and NGOs including the ILO, UNICEF, UNDP, and OXFAM Cambodia at Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra. On the morning of February 12, 2024, HE Dr. Aun Pornmoniroth, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Finance and Chairperson of the National Council for Social Protection (NSPC), presided over the opening ceremony of the Cambodian Social Protection Week 2024. The event brought together approximately 500 people over the two days, including H.E Mr Ieng Moly, Senior minister and Chairman of national Aids Authority, H.E Mr Hem Vanndy, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovations, H.E Mr H.E Chea Somethy, Minister of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, H.E Mr. Neth Pheaktra, Minister of Information, H.E. Prof. Chheang Ra, Minister of Health, H.E Mr Sok Soken, Minister of Toursim, and H.E Mr Ek Sonn Chan, Minister attached to the Prime Minister, secretaries of states, representatives from relevant government ministries and institutions, development partners, civil society organization, and university students.
The Social Protection Week 2024 is organized with the objectives of promoting awareness on the importance of social protection for social and economic development among relevant stakeholders and the public. The event served as a platform for stakeholders in Cambodia and from neighboring countries, to share experiences on the design and implementation of social protection programmes. Over the two days, policymakers, civil society organizations, and social partners discussed key topics including moving toward universal health coverage, inclusive social protection, enhancing effectiveness of the social security system, expanding social protection coverage in Cambodia.
As a trusted partner in social protection landscape in Cambodia, the ILO was the key partner who supported the NSPC in convening its first Social Protection Week in 2022 under the scope of a project of the Joint SDG Fund. The ILO has since been a key partner of NSPC through its General Secretariat to organize the Cambodia Social Protection Week in the last three years.
For the Social Protection Week 2024, the ILO, in addition to financial support, has facilitated the participation of key speakers from Thailand and Indonesia to share experiences on strategies including financing to achieve universal health coverage. In addition, two ILO social protection specialists from Bangkok, Kenichi Hirose and Marielle Phe Goursat, sat in two panel to share relevant regional experiences on social health protection and integrated social protection. In addition, ILO social protection programme manager in Cambodia, Finn Koh was invited to share perspectives on extension of social security coverage through formalization.
The two-day event was engaging and collaborative, and as a long-standing partner of the government of Cambodia, the ILO is pleased to be part of this signature event on social protection in Cambodia.