A new NZD$12 million multi-year project aimed at
increasing household incomes, reducing child labour, and
ensuring communities across Cambodia are better off through
innovative horticultural practices was announced yesterday
afternoon (local time) at an event attended by Minister of
Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Winston Peters in Phnom
Penh.
The Growing Transformative Horticulture (GROWTH)
project is funded by the New Zealand Government and Kiwi
donors and will be implemented by Save the Children in
Cambodia alongside technical partner iDE Cambodia. The
project aims to create healthier, more resilient households
by increasing farmer incomes, improving nutrition, and
creating safer environments for children across Cambodia’s
Koh Kong, Kampot, Siem Reap, and Banteay Meanchey
provinces.
Over the next five years (2025-2030), the
programme will reach 8,000 farming households, 40,000 people
and strengthen 700 local institutions and enterprises, with
more than 165,000 people set to benefit indirectly.
By
transforming Cambodia’s horticulture sector through
inclusive, climate-resilient market development, GROWTH aims
to ensure that improved livelihoods translate directly into
better outcomes for children – supporting families to keep
children in school, reduce economic-driven risks, and ensure
safer labour practices.
“Children thrive when families
are resilient,” Save the Children Cambodia Country Director
Reaksmey Hong says.
“By boosting incomes, expanding
access to safe farming practices, and embedding child
protection and nutrition into agricultural work, GROWTH
ensures that economic development leads to real improvements
in children’s lives.”
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The project builds on the
learnings from previous climate-smart agricultural
resilience and market linkage programmes funded by the New
Zealand Government.
Today’s event – marking the
official announcement of the partnership – was attended by
Minister Peters, alongside Cambodian government officials,
Save the Children Cambodia Country Director Reaksmey Hong
and iDE Country Director Kevin Robbins.
New Zealand
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rt Honourable Winston Peters,
said, “New Zealand proudly supports the GROWTH project in
Cambodia. The project aims to enhance the horticulture
sector, which is vital as a driver of rural prosperity, and
builds on over 20 years of agricultural
collaboration.”
The programme places strong emphasis
on gender equality, disability inclusion and safe community
environments. By addressing the systemic barriers that
prevent women, youth, people with disabilities and
marginalised groups from participating in markets, GROWTH
helps households build protective, stable conditions for
children.
“GROWTH represents a new generation of
agricultural programming – one that not only strengthens
markets, but also strengthens families,” says iDE Cambodia
Country Director Kevin Robbins.
“Better incomes,
climate resilience and inclusive market opportunities create
the foundation for safer, healthier futures for children in
Cambodia.”
