WFP Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific - 2016 SPRs RBB 2016 SPRs by project type | Page 65

Standard Project Report 2016
change-related hazards alongside unforeseen economic or other household level shocks could negate the
reductions in poverty seen over the past decade. A joint household resilience survey by WFP, the United Nations
Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), showed that 13
percent of households acquired additional debts as a result of the 2015/2016 El Niño event, increasing the overall
percentage of indebted households to nearly 50 percent. While the poor are often disproportionately affected by
shocks, near poor and middle class households are also put under considerable stress [8].
Food poverty decreased from 20 percent in 1993 to 4.1 percent in 2010 and to zero in 2014, surpassing
Cambodia's Millennium Development Goal 1 (MDG1) target. However, the newly proposed Sustainable
Development Goal (SDG) indicators, undernourishment and dietary diversity, suggest that 14 percent of households
continued to consume less than the minimum dietary energy requirement while 11.6 percent had inadequate dietary
diversity [9]. Thus, work remains to be done to end food insecurity and hunger for all.
The 2014 Cambodia Demographic Health Survey found that the stunting rate fell from 49.2 percent in 2010 to 32.4
percent in 2014; approximately half a million Cambodian children under 5 are stunted while wasting remains
unacceptably high at 9.6 percent. Stunting prevalence differs between rural (34 percent) and urban (24 percent)
children. This can be largely attributed to disparities in access to clean water and sanitation between urban and
rural areas. Stunting is also higher among children with lower educated mothers and in the poorest households.
While micronutrient deficiencies are reducing, iodine deficiency has increased, with impact on growth and cognitive
development. Two out of three children aged 6-23 months do not have access to timely, appropriate, nutritionally
adequate and safe complementary food. Total mortality rate of children under 5 is 35 per 1,000 live births of which
malnutrition contributes 12.25 percent. It is important to note that while undernutrition continues to play an important
role in determining population wellness and productivity, overnutrition is on the rise; while 14 percent of women
between 15 and 49 years of age have a body mass index (BMI) below 18.5 (thin), 18 percent are overweight
(BMI>25). This double burden is indicative of economic shifts and predicts greater challenges in the future, including
those associated with non-communicable diseases, unless addressed in a timely manner.
In education, Cambodia has made good strides in improving primary education programmes in rural areas. The net
primary school enrolment figure increased from 81 percent in 2001 to 98.4 percent in 2015-2016. The dropout rate
has not changed significantly, with primary education stagnating at about 10 percent and lower secondary education
at about 20 percent; though not captured at aggregate level, attendance and absenteeism are of particular concern.
Available national statistics show no substantial differences between boys and girls. A national cash scholarship
programme is in place to assist upper-primary and lower secondary students and ensure their retention. The
harmonisation of education standards across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the desire of
Cambodia to be a middle-income country by 2030 requires Cambodia to make considerable investment in
education. The Royal Government of Cambodia is expected to double its national budget for education in 2017;
much of this budget is allocated for the recruitment, training and retention of teachers.
[1] World Bank Open Data: http://data.worldbank.org/
[2] Ministry of Planning, Poverty Estimate in 2014 in Cambodia
[3] Human Development Report, 2015, UNDP
[4] Commune Database 2013, Ministry of Planning
[5] Civil Society Organisations report on Cambodian gender issues, 2009
[6] Cambodia Inter-Censual Population Survey, 2013
[7] World Bank Policy Note on Poverty Monitoring and Analysis, October 2013
[8] Household Resilience in Cambodia: A review of livelihoods, food security and health, May 2016, WFP
[9] Cambodia Socioeconomic Survey, 2014, National Institute of Statistics, Ministry of Planning
Response of the Government and Strategic Coordination
The improvements in food security and nutrition are critical for sustainable and inclusive development in Cambodia.
The increasing recognition of the importance of food security and nutrition is reflected among the Government's
development priorities, as outlined in the Rectangular Strategy for Growth, Employment, Equity and Efficiency
Phase III and National Strategic Development Plan 2014-2018 (NSDP).
The Government has also endorsed a number of sectoral policies, strategies, plans and programmes relevant to
food and nutrition security, including: the National Strategy for Food Security and Nutrition (2014-18); the Fast Track
Road Map for Improving Nutrition (2014-2020); the Education Strategic Plan (2014-2018); the National Adaptation
Cambodia, Kingdom of (KH)
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Country Programme - 200202