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AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY MEDIA
RELEASE A$ 6
million Australian Bilateral Assistance to the Cambodian Agricultural
Research On 7 March 2002 the Australian Ambassador, H E. Louise Hand, joined Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries H E. Chan Sarun, and senior officials of the Ministry, in signing the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Australia and the Royal Government of Cambodia relating to the Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) Assistance Project at Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The Australian Government, through the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), is providing approximately A$6 million (US$ 3 million) for the implementation of the CARDI Assistance Project over a period of four years. Since 1986 Australia has supported agricultural research in Cambodia, firstly with studies and training courses and, from 1988, through the Cambodia IRRI Australia Project (CIAP). In its 14-year history CIAP spent nearly US$ 25 million towards its goal of increasing rice production and the productivity of rice based farming systems in Cambodia. An economic impact assessment of the CIAP concluded that the adoption of improved technologies provided significant financial rates of return to farmers in the range of 35-45%. The technical skills of researchers have been built up and physical facilities established. The project has contributed to Cambodia’s return to rice surplus. CARDI itself was established in August 1999 and officially inaugurated in November 2000 by Prime Minister Hun Sen. CARDI is still in its early stage of growth. The CARDI Assistance Project will focus on the institutional and management capacity of CARDI. It aims to assist CARDI to achieve sustainable management of its personnel, finance and physical resources to deliver its mandate according to national priorities for food security, poverty alleviation and natural resource management. This assistance demonstrates Australia’s commitment to agriculture, the largest single sector of Australia’s bilateral aid program to Cambodia, and in particular to further supporting and nurturing the development of Cambodia’s first administrative public research institution, CARDI to fulfil its mission of ‘Technology for Prosperity”. For more information please contact:
Ms Fleur Davies, Relief First Secretary
(Development Cooperation)
AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY PRESS RELEASE A$ 7.5 MILLION AUSTRALIAN DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE FOR NGO ACTIVITIES IN CAMBODIA On June 6th 2002. Australian Ambassador, H.E. Ms Louise Hand will join Senior Minister and Minister for Economy and Finance, H.E. Keat Chhon, and senior officials in launching the Cambodia Community Development Program (CCDP) Phase IV, at a function at the Ambassador’s residence. The Australian Government, through the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), will provide A$ 7.5 million (approximately USD 4 million) to Cambodia over the next three years through six Australian NGOs - ADRA, APHEDA, CARE Australia, Christian Blind Mission International, Fred Hollows Foundation Australia, and World Vision Australia. Their activities focus on a range of areas including microfinance and savings, community development, empowerment of women, eye care services/blindness prevention, vocational training, informal education and sustainable agriculture. The goal of the program is to assist in the alleviation of poverty and the promotion of sustainable economic and social development among poorer rural and urban communities, through support for NGO partnerships. The CCDP provides an opportunity for Australian NGOs to implement projects with Cambodian counterpart agencies and community groups, thereby developing Cambodian Government and NGO capacity. Through CCDP the Australian Government has provided about A$25 million for the development work of Australian NGOs since the first CCDP round in 1995. This development assistance demonstrates Australia’s commitment to assisting the Royal Government and the Cambodian people in their efforts to reduce poverty and make a. transition towards sustainable, broad-based development. Funding under CCDP for NGO work complements other Australian development cooperation activities. Australian aid to Cambodia is expected to total A$39.6 million in Australian financial year 2002-03. The Australian Government trusts that these programs will make a significant contribution to the wellbeing of the Cambodian people and advance Cambodia’s development in the coming years, alongside Cambodia’s own development efforts. For more information please contact:
Ms Fleur Davies, Relief First Secretary
(Development Cooperation) Media representatives are invited to attend the launch of the CCDP commencing 3.30pm on Thursday 6 June, at the Australian Ambassador’s Residence (Corner Sts 51 & 490, Wat Phnom). Please RSVP: 213 470 ext. 305
AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY MEDIA RELEASE 24/01/02 Australia Provides A$4 million Humanitarian Food Aid to Cambodia The Australian Government’s Agency for International Development (AusAID), is providing A$4 million (approximately USD2.1 million) to World Food Program (WFP) to address the critical food shortages facing the poorest people of Cambodia. The food aid will be distributed through WFP’s current Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation for Cambodia. Australia’s contribution to WFP will help to alleviate the food security problems of many vulnerable Cambodians and assist in the rehabilitation of rural infrastructure and provision of essential services, through “food-for-work” activities such as building rural roads, irrigation, canals and other development agricultural infrastructure. WFP and the Government of Australia place particular emphasis in the programs on the welfare of women and children, many of whom are amongst the most vulnerable members of communities. This humanitarian aid further demonstrates Australia’s commitment to assisting the Royal Government and the Cambodian people in their efforts to work towards rehabilitation of their war-shattered communities, to build peace and reconciliation and development of the country. For more information please contact:
Ms Anna Regnault, Second Secretary
(Development Cooperation) at this Embassy.
Australian Humanitarian Food Aid to Cambodia Your Excellency I am writing to inform Your Excellency of a further Australian Government humanitarian food aid contribution of A$2.4 million (approx. U$1,237,000) to Cambodia in addition to the A$1.6 million previously advised as per my letter of 16 October 2001. These funds bring Australia’s total contribution to A$4 million for this financial year. These funds will be provided through the World Food Program (WFP) in order to address the critical food shortages facing the poorest people of Cambodia. The food aid will be distributed through WFP’s 2001-2003 new Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO 6038) for Cambodia. As in recent years, Australia’s humanitarian food aid will be especially valuable in that it is provided in cash, which is then used by WFP to purchase locally produced rice from Cambodia’s small national rice surplus. These purchases stimulate the Cambodian rural economy in addition to meeting humanitarian objectives. Australia’s contribution to WFP will help to alleviate the food security problems of many vulnerable Cambodians and assist in the rehabilitation of rural infrastructure and provision of essential services, through ‘food-for-work’ activities such as building rural roads, irrigation, canals and other development agricultural infrastructure. WFP and the Government of Australia place particular emphasis in the programs on the welfare of women and children, many of whom are amongst the most vulnerable members of communities. The Australian Government trusts that the WFP program will make a significant contribution to the welfare of the Cambodian people and advance Cambodia’s development in the coming years, alongside Cambodia’s own humanitarian and development efforts.
24 June 2002 PRESS RELEASE Australian Contribution to CMAC The Australian Government today approved payment of A$2 million (approximately US$1.13 million) to the UNDP Trust Fund for the support of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) operations from July 2002 to June 2003. This funding support is the second part of the Australia’s two year commitment (2001/02 and 2002/03) of A$4 million announced in December 2001. These funds bring Australia’s total contribution to CMAC to date to A$22.2 million. Australia considers the CMAC reform progress both in the field and in head office a welcome improvement and noted the sustained commitment to reform demonstrated by CMAC. The Australian Ambassador, HE Ms Louise Hand, noted that “good governance, accountability structures and capacity building remain key principle in progressing the partnership between the Royal Government of Cambodia and donor community in the mine action sector”. This contribution further demonstrates Australia’s commitment to assisting the Royal Government and the Cambodian people in their efforts to work towards rehabilitation of their war-shattered communities and build peace and development within the country. For more information, please contact: Mr Blair Exell, First Secretary (Development Cooperation), ph 213 470 (ext 308)
MEDIA RELEASE Australian Support for Cambodian General Election in 2003 The Australian Government will provide A$1 million as a contribution towards the general election in Cambodia in July 2003. The contribution will support the development of the new continuous voter registration process which was recently enacted into legislation by the Royal Cambodian Government and will apply for the July 2003 general election. Support will also be provided to non-government organisations (NGOs) that will monitor the election process. This assistance demonstrates Australia’s continuing commitment to building an effective framework for democratic governance in Cambodia. It follows on from the support for Cambodia’s first Commune election in February this year and general support for electoral processes in Cambodia since 1992. Australia is expected to provide a total of almost A$40 million in development assistance to Cambodia in 2002-03, including A$24.5 million through the bilateral country program, which is targeting agriculture, governance, health and human resource development; as well as substantial humanitarian assistance, and support for immigration capacity building. Australia also provides support for military reform in Cambodia.
Media contact: Fleur Davies,
Relief First Secretary, Development Cooperation
20 August 2002 PRESS RELEASE Australian Contribution to the Expanded Program of Immunisation The Australian Government will provide AUD2 million to immunise women and children against six vaccine preventable diseases, through continued support for Cambodia’s Expanded Program of Immunisation (EPI) in 2002 and 2003. Australia has been a partner in the EPI program since 1986 and has contributed funds totalling AUD13 million. The EPI program supports the Royal Government of Cambodia’s National Immunisation Program Strategy 2001-2005 and is implemented by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF. Key aspects of the program include support for routine immunisation against six major diseases (Measles, Polio, Diptheria, Tetanus, Whooping Cough and Tuberculosis) and disease surveillance activities to provide essential information for program planning. Australian funds for the immunisation program are used in a wide range of areas including: equipment, vaccine purchase, transport and support for health centre staff. This contribution reflects the ongoing commitment of the Australian Government to the health and development of women and children in Cambodia, particularly in rural areas. The EPI program is a cost effective and efficient mechanism that has a positive impact countrywide. For more information, please contact:
Ms Raine Dixon
AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY MEDIA RELEASE 30/10/02 Australia Provides A$4 million Food Aid to Cambodia The Australian Government is providing A$4 million (about USD2.2 million) to the World Food Programme (WFP) to address critical food shortages facing the poorest people of Cambodia. The food aid will be distributed through WFP’s current Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation for Cambodia. Current and anticipated food shortages are largely the result of three successive years of flood and drought. The results of a detailed needs assessment released last week by WFP estimate up to 1 million people will be in need of assistance between now and the end of the year. The Government of Australia, and WFP, place particular emphasis on targeting the most vulnerable and ensuring food aid is directed at those communities and households most in need of assistance. Australia’s contribution to WFP will help to alleviate the food security problems of many vulnerable Cambodians and will assist in the rehabilitation of rural infrastructure and provision of essential services through “food-for-work” activities such as building rural roads, irrigation, canals and other agricultural infrastructure. This contribution further demonstrates Australia’s commitment to assisting the Royal Government of Cambodia and the Cambodian people to protect the most vulnerable and to work towards the equitable development of the country. For more information please contact:
Raine Dixon
AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY MEDIA RELEASE 4/12/02 Australia Provides Extra Support to Clear Cambodia’s Deadly Landmines The Australian Government will allocate a further A$4.4 million to help rid Cambodia of landmines, Australia’s Special Representative for Mine Action, Mrs Chris Gallus, MP, announced today. Australia has already invested over A$33 million on mine action in Cambodia in the past 6 years with more than half provided in core assistance to the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) and the remainder supporting NGO projects. The new funds will be provided through Australian NGOs and will target integrated mine action activities with clear links to community development, as well as mine awareness and victim assistance. Mrs Gallus, the Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, said that support for mine action in Cambodia had a real impact and helped save lives, with mine casualties now down from more than 3000 a year to about 800. “By 2005, Australia will have spent at least $100 million in countries afflicted by this scourge - removing landmines, rehabilitating survivors and educating people about the dangers,” she said. “Tens of millions of landmines remain in place – live - and ready to kill and injure civilians going about their everyday lives, and while we have made progress, we must continue to persevere in getting rid of these horribly lethal explosives.” For more information please contact: Raine Dixon |
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