NGO Forum on Cambodia (NGOF) The NGOF is a membership organization that builds NGO cooperation and capacity, supporting NGO networks and other civil society organizations to engage in policy dialogue, debate and advocacy. Dear Readers, Welcome to the July–September 2025 edition of the NGO Forum on Cambodia’s Quarterly Newsletter! This quarter, NGOF continued to strengthen partnerships, promote inclusive governance, and advocate for environmental sustainability and social accountability. Through national and regional dialogues, community consultations, and collaborative policy engagement, we worked with diverse partners to advance fisheries reform, climate action, sustainable finance, and responsible investment. In addition, NGOF proudly introduces its new Strategic Plan 2024–2030 (Vision 2030) — METRI: Multi-stakeholder Engagement for Transformative, Resilient, and Inclusive Society — which guides our collective efforts toward a more just, sustainable, and resilient Cambodia. Explore this edition to learn how NGOF and its members are turning these commitments into action for positive change. Multi-stakeholder Engagement for Transformative, Resilient, and Inclusive Society (METRI) Strategic Plan 2024–2030 (Vision 2030) The NGO Forum on Cambodia (NGOF) proudly launches its Strategic Plan 2024–2030, called METRI – Multi-stakeholder Engagement for Transformative, Resilient, and Inclusive Society. Developed through a participatory process and endorsed by members, METRI builds on NGOF’s expertise to address the evolving needs of communities and partners. It aligns with national and global frameworks such as the UN 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement, Cambodia Vision 2030, and the Pentagonal Strategy (2024–2028). A peaceful, inclusive, prosperous, and sustainable society and planet. To be a professional membership-based organization influencing and supporting policies, laws, and practices that foster harmony, inclusive prosperity, and sustainability for all Cambodians. Citizens and civil society organizations are well-informed, empowered, and capable of influencing policies and practices for fair, green, and inclusive development. Strategic Priorities 1. Inclusive and Green Growth for All Promoting transparent public financial management, green finance, food sovereignty, and fair trade. 2. Climate Change Resilience and Natural Resource Governance Supporting climate adaptation, biodiversity protection, land, water, forest, and fishery governance. 3. Vibrant, Resilient, and Impactful Civil Society Strengthening internal governance, enhancing civic space, and fostering member engagement. Strategic Roles Alliance Building & Support – Promoting membership, coalition building, and partnership for collective advocacy. Capacity Development – Empowering members and communities through training, peer learning, and exposure. Advocacy & Influence – Driving policy change through evidence-based research, campaigns, and dialogues. NGOF integrates gender equality, governance, environment, and social inclusion (GGESI), alongside rights-based, nature-based, and data-driven approaches using science and innovation (AI) to enhance impact. With METRI (Vision 2030), NGOF is committed to championing multi-stakeholder engagement for human rights, inclusive prosperity, and a sustainable planet — ensuring that all Cambodians, especially women, youth, Indigenous, and marginalized groups, benefit from equitable and lasting development. Advancing Fisheries Governance and Marine Conservation The new Fisheries Law was signed on 28 June 2025. To ensure effective implementation, several sub-decrees and prakas are being developed, including the Sub-Decree on Conservation and Management of Marine Fisheries and seven supporting Prakas. From 8–11 September 2025, the Department of Legislation of the Fisheries Administration (FiA), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), NGOF, and AAC, conducted a consultation process in Preah Sihanouk province. Through the project Strengthening Civil Society Action for Economic Governance (SCAEG), NGOF facilitated inclusive discussions among local communities, provincial departments, and stakeholders to gather feedback and strengthen participation in the management, conservation, and protection of marine fisheries resources. Two dialogue workshops were organized in Kampot (14 August) and Kep (15 August 2025) to strengthen co-management and governance in fisheries resource management. Each workshop brought together over 45 participants in Kampot and 44 participants in Kep, including community representatives, the private sector, and government officials. The discussions focused on building partnerships, identifying challenges, and promoting solutions to enhance coastal resource management and local economic governance. Both events underscored the importance of collaboration and trust between communities and authorities for sustainable fisheries development. From 15–18 September 2025, further consultations were organized with participation from NGOF, AAC, CWDCC, FiA, and FAO to discuss seven key Prakas related to marine fisheries management, including technical gear specifications, licensing procedures, vessel monitoring systems (VMS), and fishing port regulations. These dialogues encouraged local engagement and strengthened cooperation between civil society, authorities, and technical partners. Strengthening Environmental and Climate Governance From 18–20 August 2025, NGOF, in partnership with CANSEA and the FFNPT Initiative, organized an awareness workshop in Siem Reap, opened by H.E. Dy Rado, Deputy Governor. The event gathered 56 participants from civil society, government, and the private sector to discuss FFNPT’s three pillars — Non-proliferation, Fair Phase-out, and Just Transition — and explore Cambodia’s role in advancing national climate and energy strategies. A youth dialogue under the theme “What’s Climate Finance? Why It Matters” was organized by the Youth Resource Development Program (YRDP) in collaboration with volunteer youth groups in Phnom Penh. Mr. Mar Sophal, Program Manager of NGOF, shared insights on the importance of climate finance and youth engagement in addressing climate change. Around 60 university youths (46 females) joined the event, together with officials from the Ministry of Environment. NGOF extends its appreciation to the Ministry of Environment and partners for launching the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) 3.0 for 2026–2035. NGOF and its members actively contributed to this process by facilitating nationwide consultations with civil society, indigenous peoples, women, and youth to ensure that diverse voices were integrated into Cambodia’s climate commitments. Through policy dialogue and knowledge sharing, NGOF continues to bridge community needs with national ambition on climate adaptation, mitigation, and enabling measures. Regional Workshop on Ecology, Climate, and Environmental Justice A regional workshop on “Strengthening Partnership to Act on Youth and Civil Society Engagement for Ecology Crisis, Climate, and Environmental Justice” was held in Kampot Province on 16–17 September 2025, co-organized by NGOF, ActionAid, CLEC, CEPA, CIPO, KYA, YCC, YFP, CYN, CWDCC, and CCYMCR. Over 80 participants (30 females) joined to discuss ASEAN and UNFCCC frameworks, emphasizing the leadership of youth, women, and Indigenous Peoples. Youth representatives developed key messages calling on ASEAN and COP30 to strengthen youth participation and resource support for environmental and climate justice initiatives. Promoting Economic Governance and Accountability On 15 September 2025, Mr. Soeung Saroeun, Executive Director of NGOF, participated in the Public Financial Management Reform Program (PFMRP) Technical Working Group meeting, chaired by H.E. Ros Seilava, Secretary of State, MEF. The meeting reviewed Stage 4 implementation progress and included over 500 participants from government, development partners, and CSOs. Mr. Saroeun presented six key inputs from citizens, including progressive taxation, increased sub-national budgets, and enhanced CSO participation in policy consultations. NGOF also proposed upgrading the CSO Budget Working Group’s status to full membership in the PFMRP Technical Working Group. From 9–12 September 2025, Mr. Mar Sophal, Program Manager of NGOF, joined an exposure visit to Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur and Melaka) with 18 CSO representatives under the Social Protection for All (SP4ALL) coalition, facilitated by Oxfam in Cambodia. The visit, organized by the Social Wellbeing Research Centre (SWRC), focused on knowledge exchange, capacity building, networking, and learning best practices from Malaysia’s social security system to strengthen Cambodia’s social protection framework. Regional and International Engagements From 18–21 August 2025, NGOF and Teok Dey Sovanaphumi (TDSP) represented Cambodia at the APLL Summit and Nepal Humanitarian Conference under the theme “Unbroken: Strength Harnessed from Adversity – A New Normal.” Over 200 representatives from CSOs, governments, donors, and media joined the event, which launched the Kathmandu Covenant — committing to locally led humanitarian action and Global South leadership. Cambodia’s action points include expanding the Localization Lab for youth, women, and Indigenous Peoples and strengthening the METRI Café for trust-building and action research on localisation. Held from 17–19 September 2025, the Mekong Region Land Forum convened over 250 participants to explore inclusive solutions for land, people, and climate. Ms. Oum Somaly, Program Manager of NGOF, presented a case study on engagement with Cambodia’s Environment and Natural Resources Code during the country session. Sustainable Finance and Responsible Investment Fair Finance Cambodia (FFC) released a study highlighting the environmental and social impacts of development in Preah Sihanouk and Koh Kong, calling for community-driven conservation and sustainable investment. Fair Finance Asia’s Consumer Empowerment Scorecard (Dec 2024) evaluated banks in Cambodia and across Asia on financial inclusion, literacy, and consumer protection, encouraging more responsible finance. NGOF and Fair Finance Asia (FFA) launched two new resources alongside World Water Week: A joint CSO statement calling for stronger human rights due diligence (HRDD) in climate finance. A digital primer introducing FFA’s regional impact and engagement opportunities. Additionally, the National Bank of Cambodia continues developing the Cambodia Sustainable Finance Taxonomy, aligning financial flows with environmental and social goals. Promoting environmental, social, and governance NGOF proudly congratulates Mr. Soeung Saroeun, Executive Director, for receiving the Great ASEAN CSR Business Award 2025 for ASEAN CSR Innovation & Development Business Strategy of the Year. This recognition highlights NGOF’s leadership and commitment to advancing sustainable development, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles across Cambodia and ASEAN. Multi-Stakeholder Platform for Sustainable Rubber On 15 September 2025, NGOF, in collaboration with the General Directorate of Rubber (GDR) and WWF Cambodia, organized the Multi-Stakeholder Partnership (MSP) Forum in Mondulkiri Province under the theme “Strengthening Cooperation for a Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly Rubber Value Chain.” The forum brought together 40 participants (7 women) from government, private sector, and civil society to review progress, discuss governance, and draft the 2026 action plan. Preliminary Findings on Toxic Substances Impact – Cambodia-Thailand Border From July–September 2025, a coalition of eight civil society organizations conducted a rapid assessment on the impacts of toxic substances resulting from Cambodia-Thailand border conflicts. The findings revealed significant risks to community health and the environment. The publication aims solely to protect human rights and ecosystems and to promote accountability under international law.
