FINAL REPORT CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH

ASSESSMENT

December 21, 2019 Cover photo taken by Matya Stavnitzky

This publication was produced at the request of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It was prepared independently by Social Impact, Inc. (SI) and authored by Dr. Sarah Parkinson, Team Leader, and Elaine Stavnitzky, Senior Gender and Inclusive Development Specialist. The authors’ views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

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CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES I ACKNOWLEDGMENTS II ACRONYM LIST III EXECUTIVE SUMMARY IV INTRODUCTION IV ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS IV ASSESSMENT DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY IV FINDINGS IV CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS VI 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 ASSESSMENT PURPOSE 1 1.2 YOUTH IN CAMBODIA ARE AWASH IN CHANGE 1 2 ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS 3 3 ASSESSMENT DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 4 3.1 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK 4 3.2 DATA COLLECTION 4 3.3 DATA ANALYSIS 6 3.4 LIMITATIONS AND BIASES 6 4 FINDINGS 8 4.1 ECONOMIC WELL-BEING 8 4.2 MIGRATION 21 4.3 CIVIC AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 26 4.4 SAFETY AND WELL-BEING 34 5 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 45 5.1 ECONOMIC-WELL BEING 45 5.2 MIGRATION 46 5.3 CIVIC AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 47 5.4 SAFETY AND WELL-BEING 48 5.5 GENDER ISSUES 50 5.6 GENERAL AND CROSS-CUTTING 51 ANNEX 1: BIBLIOGRAPHY 53 ANNEX 2: ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 62 ANNEX 3: WORK PLAN OF ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES 71 ANNEX 4: ASSESSMENT DESIGN MATRIX 73 ANNEX 5: LIST OF RESPONDENTS 75 ANNEX 6: DATA COLLECTION PROTOCOLS 77 ANNEX 7: SUMMARY OF FGD DEMOGRAPHIC SURVEY 87 ANNEX 8: SUMMARY OF VIDEO CLIPS BY PROVINCE 92 ANNEX 9: SUMMARY DATA ON VIDEO SUBMISSIONS 103

ANNEX 10: TRANSCRIPT OF “WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY: CAMBODIAN YOUTH SPEAK!” VIDEO 105 ANNEX 11: CONSENT SCRIPTS 110 ANNEX 12: ASSESSMENT TEAM COMPOSITION 113 ANNEX 13: STATEMENT OF WORK 114

LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES Table 1: Summary of All Data Collection 6 Table 2: Youth Concerns from Video Submissions 9 Table 3: Key Factors in Deciding Whether to Continue Education (Summarized from FGDs) 12 Table 5: Summary Statistics for Youth Health 35 Table 6: Summary Statistics for Youth Substance Abuse 36 Table 7: Summary Table of Youth and Violence 38 Table 8: Summary Statistics on Child Marriage 38 Table 9: Summary Statistics on Child Labor 39 Table 10: Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations 51

Figure 1: Key Thematic Areas Covered by the Assessment 4 Figure 2: Geographic Distribution of Data Collection 5 Figure 3: Education Stocks and Flows in Cambodia 10

i | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors would like to extend their warm thanks and appreciation to the Cross-Sector Cambodia Youth Assessment (CCYA) field team members: our translators Mok Sarorng and Kim Ong, our logistician Channak Chhun, and our two youth experts Chhim Chhun and Noan Sereiboth. A special thank you to CCYA team members Sophea Seng and Sophea Touch who ably led the youth self- expression video component of this assessment and made exemplary efforts to make sure that youth from all backgrounds and experiences could have a chance to participate.

Thank you to our drivers who took us to all the field locations, and especially to Lee Saron, who kindly helped us in the field in setting up our focus group discussions.

Thank you to Project Director Julie Younes, Project Manager Soham Banerji, and Project Assistant Charity N. Whitehead, and the wider team at Social Impact headquarters who provided managerial, technical, and administrative support and oversight to this project.

Thank you to the staff of the USAID Cambodia Mission for your support and interest, and especially to those who were able to join the CCYA team in the field. A very special thank you to Sopheap Sreng, who went above and beyond in helping the CCYA team secure contacts, and who has been consistently thoughtful, patient, and engaged throughout this assessment.

Thank you to all those who gave their time and shared their thoughts with the CCYA team, and especially to the youth who participated in focus group discussions, bravely spoke up even when they felt shy, and put a lot of heart and thought into their words. For all those youth who made video and audio clips for the self-expression project, everyone who has viewed them has been deeply impressed by the clarity and power of your words. You demonstrate through your actions the great potential and thoughtfulness of Cambodian youth, and we hope that decision makers hear and respond to you in their own words and actions.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | ii ACRONYM LIST AQ Assessment Question ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations CCYA Cross-Sector Cambodia Youth Assessment CDCS Country Development Cooperation Strategy CSES Cambodia Socio-Economic Survey CSO Civil Society Organizations C-TIP Countering Trafficking in Persons FDI Foreign Direct Investment FGD Focus Group Discussion GDP Gross Domestic Product HIV/AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome I-SAF Implementation Plan—Social Accountability Framework ICT Information and Communication Technology ILO International Labour Organization IOM International Organization for Migration KII Key Informant Interview LGBTQ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer MCHN Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition MoEYS Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports MoH Ministry of Health MLVT Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training MoWA Ministry of Women’s Affairs NEA National Employment Agency NGO Non-Governmental Organization OECD Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development PDP-Center People Center for Development and Peace PLWD Person(s) Living with Disability PTSD Posttraumatic Stress Disorder SAF Social Accountability Framework SRHR Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights STI Sexually Transmitted Infection TVET Technical and Vocational Education and Training UN United Nations UNFPA United Nations Population Fund UNICEF United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund USAID United States Agency for International Development UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization YRDP Youth Resource Development Program

iii | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This Executive Summary summarizes the main document. For more details, please refer to the main document.

INTRODUCTION This report presents the findings, conclusions, and recommendations from the Cross-Sector Cambodia Youth Assessment (CCYA). The CCYA is intended to inform USAID’s interventions that support, protect, prepare, empower, and engage youth and enable them to participate in addressing the development challenges of their communities and country, informing the next USAID five-year Cambodia Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS), project approval documents, and activity designs. The assessment is intended to address issues that affect all youth in Cambodia, from ages 15 to 30.

ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS The assessment is guided by the following four assessment questions (AQs), with special consideration to the needs of the most marginalized youth populations in both urban and rural areas:

1. What are the key opportunities and constraints that youth face in preparing for and/or attaining a livelihood, whether through formal or informal means? 2. What are the current drivers of risky youth migration (domestic and international), and what can be done to address them? 3. What factors motivate Cambodian youth to participate actively and collectively in civic and community decisions, processes, and institutions? What factors inhibit the collective activism and participation of Cambodian youth? 4. What conditions drive risk factors that threaten the safety and well-being of youth in Cambodia? These can include both internal factors, such as addictive or violent behavior, and external factors, such as drivers toward exploitation by others.

ASSESSMENT DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY This study employed a literature review; key informant interviews (KIIs) with representatives from the government, donors, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and youth groups; and focus group discussions (FGDs) with youth. The study conducted most data collection in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Ratanakiri, and Sihanoukville with additions from Kampong Cham and Kampot. A total of 25 FGDs and 36 KIIs were conducted.

The assessment also included a “youth self-expression” component where youth were invited to submit short video clips about the issues that most mattered to them and their suggestions on what to do, and then vote to select the top clips from all those submitted. Youth from Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Ratanakiri, and Kampong Thom submitted a total of 69 clips. A video compilation of 12 clips (3 each from four locations) was made.

FINDINGS

ECONOMIC WELL-BEING Opportunities: Cambodia’s economy is growing with much foreign direct investment, especially from China. Many jobs across multiple sectors are booming. These jobs are often gendered, with the garment sector mainly hiring women, and construction mainly hiring men. Almost half of employers surveyed by the National Employment Agency (NEA) reported facing recruitment difficulties. There is a skills gap that if addressed, means youth have many work possibilities in front of them, with relocation required for many of these. Remittances mean that there is some cash flowing into rural communities, and this

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | iv could provide a basis for funding small and medium-sized enterprises and supporting local job creation. Cambodia’s rapid uptake of smartphones could create new economic opportunities.

Constraints: There are few jobs in rural areas, many jobs are low paid, while the workforce is a low skilled workforce. The overall dynamic is toward short-term “survivalist” strategies, due in large part to poverty. The poor quality of education and mismatch of education to workplace requirements can act as a disincentive for both parents and youth to invest in education. Both male and female youth report similar challenges. The agricultural sector employs about 70 percent of youth but is increasingly high risk with poor returns. Poor information regarding work opportunities and requirements mean most youth tend to be unaware of all the opportunities open to them and follow well-worn paths or follow friends or relatives. Employers across all sectors as surveyed by NEA report that youth are frequently not “work ready” and lack many soft skills. On the other hand, youth are concerned that jobs available to them pay poorly—even those that require them to have acquired skills. Workplace conditions are often poor across all sectors.

MIGRATION Although migration itself is driven primarily by the search for work, factors that are associated with increased risk include: lack of information (about risks, about how to migrate legally, etc.), lack of alternative work, the decline of agriculture and rural livelihood options, lack of safety nets, debt, and limited recourse against exploitation.

The problems around undocumented migration appear to be well understood, and responses to address this have been put in place and have resulted in a substantial increase in the proportion of documented migrants. Responses include national policies that encourage potential migrants to do so through legal means, informing youth of risks of illegal/undocumented migration, registering recruiters, providing predeparture training and complaint mechanisms for migrants who have legal complaints. Despite this, migrant workers, both domestic and international, remain vulnerable to exploitation by employers and others. More is required to improve working conditions and workers’ rights in Cambodia and in countries with significant migrant populations such as Thailand. Another major focus is on reducing the skills gap by increasing the availability of vocational skills training to youth.

CIVIC AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Factors that motivate youth to engage in civic and community processes include a personal desire to be heard and involved; desire for increased skills, knowledge, and prestige; access to social media; and having supportive parents or caregivers. At the community level, having school and community groups to join, and teacher incentives to volunteer can motivate participation, and some commune councils invite youth participation. The government also endorses some youth groups, such as the Red Cross and Scouts. They have also recently established a volunteer service recognition framework.

Factors that inhibit youth engagement include limited education, experience, and exposure on the part of youth, in combination with low self-confidence and shyness. Some parents or caregivers do not support their children engaging in community and civic activities, or even discourage it because of the country’s history and the political environment. At the community level, insufficient capacity to self- organize is a limiting factor as is the commonly held cultural expectation that youth should listen to elders, not vice versa. Thus, some community leaders tell youth they should just focus on studies and working. Traveling to group and community events can be difficult, and some female youth especially expressed safety concerns. There are also examples where people living with disability (PLWD) and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth are being excluded. Government capacity for including and involving youth, especially PLWD and LGBTQ youth, is limited. Some youth and youth representatives found government counterparts were resistant to being held accountable, especially on specific issues such as deforestation. Youth are at risk of censorship in a constrained political environment and are also likely to self-censor.

v | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV SAFETY AND WELL-BEING Key threats that arose from this assessment regarding youth safety and well-being include: youth health (including overall health, sexual reproductive health, and mental health); substance abuse (including smoking, alcohol, and drugs); violence (including general violence, domestic violence, and violence at school); child marriage; trafficking in persons; child labor; food safety and diet; and health and safety in the workplace.

Research has shown that the internal factors that underlie these issues can be common, such as youth having insufficient soft skills like critical thinking, strong values, strong sense of self, good communication skills, and understanding how to manage interpersonal conflict, so they lack the confidence to speak up, or have a lack of agency, and act out in violent ways, being influenced by social media toward materialism. External factors that contribute to the issues include parental migration; cultural norms and values; insufficient community social protection; insufficient law enforcement; insufficient infrastructure such as roads, sanitation, and so on; insufficient health and social welfare services; and a lack of accountability on the part of duty bearers to improve social services.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS This section presents key conclusions and recommendations. Please refer to the main report for the full set. Recommendations are directed toward USAID in considering what to prioritize in its next CDCS.

Education is of central importance. ● Focus programming on improving access to quality education, especially for youth living in poverty in rural areas and PLWD youth. This can include scholarships and sponsorships to cover the costs of dormitories, transportation, textbooks, and living expenses. All employment sectors are growing and have potential if youth can access them: the priority is helping bridge the gap between new workers and employers. ● Focus on reducing the gap between new labor market entrants and employers through apprenticeships, job readiness training, and practically oriented vocational training. Youth lack information and guidance on the labor market and work options. ● Focus on improving employment information and career counseling to youth, build on existing efforts to create a job-sharing platform (launched as part of USAID’s Countering Trafficking in Persons, C-TIP, project) to further increase youth awareness and use of the platform across the country. Despite reductions in the poverty rate, many youth and families hover just above the poverty line and are very vulnerable to any shock. ● Partner with other donors and NGOs to bolster programming on social protections to withstand shocks and balances for the poorest families, both in rural areas and those in migrants. Explore measures to address the increasing debt crisis amongst the poor. While rural areas are viewed as economically stagnant, there is both need and potential to generate more income-making opportunities for youth. ● Include programming on rural entrepreneurship and business skills to support start-ups, especially in rural communities. Poverty and lack of economic opportunity in their home communities are the main drivers of migration, including risky migration. Efforts to inform potential migrants of the importance of, and process for, migrating legally have been effective. ● Continue to support ongoing efforts to inform migrants (including potential migrants) on how to migrate legally, and of risks and their rights while migrating. Cambodians migrating legally to other countries and domestic migrants continue to face poor work conditions and frequent exploitation from employers. ● Continue and consider expanding programming to inform workers of their rights, while strengthening labor laws and workers’ rights in Cambodia and regionally. Youth’s desire to be engaged and have a voice is a key motivating factor.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | vi ● Create opportunities to empower youth and youth groups. Local authorities are not sufficiently capacitated to engage youth in commune planning processes. ● Build on existing efforts by youth-led and youth-focused organizations to integrate messaging on good citizenship, voting rights and processes, and civic processes into the regular school curriculum as well as strengthen the promotion of civic activities. ● Support efforts that maintain civil society space where youth can freely and without fear of retribution express their opinions through public discourse. Youth are able to create awareness and mobilize solutions on safety and well-being issues in their community. ● Build on existing efforts of existing youth-led and youth-focused organizations, such as Khmer Youth for Social Development and World Vision, to form or strengthen local youth groups to advocate on community issues. Include marginalized groups, especially PLWD and LGBTQ. Shifting social norms and values are key to social behavior change and form the foundation of social protection mechanisms. ● Support community dialogues to understand and seek solutions to problematic behaviors. ● Complement the above by supporting projects that address the root causes driving the practice of these norms, for example, poverty and addiction to alcohol. Mental health is potentially a significant issue. ● Fund a study on the state of mental health for youth in Cambodia and viable mental health support options. Representation and social protection of vulnerable groups is a concern. ● Programs to empower and engage youth should make explicit provisions to include and engage youth from poor families, indigenous youth, LGBTQ youth, and PLWD youth. Youth issues are cross-sectoral. ● Continue considering youth issues as they pertain to each development objective, while also considering interlinkages. Engaging youth takes special effort. ● Consider creating specialized youth programming overseen by a dedicated team at the technical office.

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USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | viii 1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 ASSESSMENT PURPOSE This document presents findings and recommendations for the Cross-Sector Cambodia Youth Assessment (CCYA). The results from this assessment will be used to inform the next USAID five-year Cambodia Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS), project approval documents, and activity designs, and provide data for evidence-based decisions, possible interventions, models, and approaches that benefit current and future USAID/Cambodia programming related to youth.

The assessment is intended to inform USAID’s interventions that support, protect, prepare, empower, and engage youth and enable them to participate in addressing the development challenges of their communities and country. The assessment is intended to address issues that affect all youth in Cambodia, from ages 15 to 30, following the Government of Cambodia definition. As Cambodian youth have varying perspectives and needs, the assessment considers the specific and varied needs of different youth cohorts in Cambodia, including cohorts by age group, geographic context (rural/urban), indigenous/nonindigenous, employment status, gender, sexual orientation, and youth considered at-risk because they are orphaned, are affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS), are living in poverty, or have other risk factors, as determined through the assessment.

1.2 YOUTH IN CAMBODIA ARE AWASH IN CHANGE Of the 16.4 million Cambodians, youth 15 to 30 years of age make up 32 percent of the population, or about 5.18 million people, with a gender ratio of 0.98 male/female.1 Forty years after the Cambodian genocide, these youth are one or two generations removed from that dark period and must still face its legacy in the guise of trauma manifesting in high levels of domestic violence and addiction, and an authoritarian regime. Meanwhile, the country they live in is changing fast, with an economy growing at an average rate of 7.7 percent per year from 2000 to 2015.2

Cambodia’s population is predominantly rural, although it is urbanizing rapidly. The 1998 census data showed 18.6 percent of Cambodians lived in urban areas, whereas the 2017 Cambodia Socio-Economic Survey (CSES) puts the proportion at 31.6 percent.3 While agriculture remains important, the number of people working in this sector has also decreased from about 58 percent in 2009 to about 37 percent of the population (and 70 percent of youth) in 2017 (46.5 percent of those in rural areas).4

Poverty rates in Cambodia have fallen in the past few decades to 17.7 percent in 2017, equating to a per capita income of US$1,423.5 This has been accompanied by positive reductions in the rate of child labor and child mortality. Incidence of wasting and stunting due to poor child nutrition have reduced, and household consumption levels increased. Yet the reduction in poverty has slowed in recent years, and the World Bank warns that many families hover just over the poverty line, meaning that just a small shock that reduces average consumption rates by US$0.50 would double poverty rates.6

Migration is a central facet of Cambodian life, including high rates of domestic migration, with about one quarter of the population having changed their location of residence.7 Despite rapid urbanization, a 2012 study showed that the greatest rates of migration in Cambodia are rural–rural, as people travel

1 OECD DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, “YOUTH WELL-BEING POLICY REVIEW OF CAMBODIA.” 2 WORLD BANK, “CAMBODIA’S FUTURE JOBS: LINKING TO THE ECONOMY OF TOMORROW” (TECHNICAL REPORT). 3 OECD DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, “YOUTH WELL-BEING POLICY REVIEW OF CAMBODIA.” 4 NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STATISTICS, “CAMBODIA SOCIO-ECONOMIC SURVEY 2017,” 2018. 5 WORLD BANK, “CAMBODIA’S FUTURE JOBS: LINKING TO THE ECONOMY OF TOMORROW” (TECHNICAL REPORT). 6 WORLD BANK, “CAMBODIA ECONOMIC UPDATE: RECENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS AND OUTLOOK.” 7 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION (IOM), “ASSESSING POTENTIAL CHANGES IN THE MIGRATION PATTERNS OF CAMBODIAN MIGRANTS AND THEIR IMPACTS ON THAILAND AND CAMBODIA.”

1 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV seasonally to work as agricultural laborers.8 Most migrants are youth. Some migration appears driven by the consequences of climate change, to which Cambodia is particularly vulnerable. Cambodia has also seen rapid rates of deforestation and large land concessions granted to private companies, further increasing risks to rural dwellers. Both young women and young men migrate in large numbers. Some studies find that educational levels tend to be lower for women, they receive less pay, and they are more likely to be driven to migrate by debt.9

Another remarkable change is the rapid uptake of smartphones, even in rural areas. Cambodia has more cellular phones than people, and an increasing proportion of those phones are smartphones, meaning that most people have access to internet and social media.10

Amid all these changes, the word “change” itself has become politicized. In 2017, the Royal Government of Cambodia dissolved the main opposition party and arrested one of its leaders.11 In 2019, the opposition party was reportedly mobilizing youth through social media using a slogan using the word “change.” This caused at least one non-governmental organization (NGO) to remove the word “change” from the title of one of their youth-oriented programs.12 Young people in Cambodia are taught to always defer to their elders and have further learned that they should not criticize the government. In the course of this assessment, youth often asked for permission to share their opinions and whether it was too political to, for example, comment on the poor conditions of their roads. Concern over Cambodia’s poor and deteriorating democracy and human rights has prompted the European Union to begin the process to remove preferential trade treatment under their Everything But Arms policy in 2019.13

The government drafted a National Policy on Youth Development in 2011.14 The strategy has six goals, which include a focus on education, vocational training, encouraging innovation, promoting gender equity, helping youth to be good, moral citizens, providing opportunities for youth to participate in community decision making, and calling on all sectors of society to contribute to youth development. However, the implementation of this policy largely stalled, and in 2019 the action plan was revised. It is now to be implemented through a series of youth development councils established for this purpose and going from national level down to commune level, funded through the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport (MoEYS). Some aspects of this plan were evident in MoEYS’s current activities, but overall national coordination on youth development remains weak or nascent. Many Cambodian youth feel unsupported and ignored by decision makers as they transition to adulthood in an uncertain world.15

8 MINISTRY OF PLANNING, “MIGRATION IN CAMBODIA: REPORT OF THE CAMBODIAN RURAL URBAN MIGRATION PROJECT (CRUMP).” 9 10 PHONG, SROU, AND SOLÁ, “MOBILE PHONES AND INTERNET USE IN CAMBODIA 2016: RESEARCH STUDY.” 11 HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH, “WORLD REPORT 2018.” 12 DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH NGO REPRESENTATIVE, SIEM REAP. 13 WORLD BANK, “CAMBODIA ECONOMIC UPDATE: RECENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS AND OUTLOOK.” 14 ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF CAMBODIA, “NATIONAL POLICY ON YOUTH DEVELOPMENT.” 15 THIS FINDING IS BASED ON INPUT FROM YOUTH FROM GROUP DISCUSSIONS ACROSS ALL SITES. IT WAS A COMMON, BUT NOT UNANIMOUS POINT OF VIEW, AND APPEARED TO VARY DEPENDING ON LOCAL COMMUNE COUNCIL LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY DYNAMICS.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 2 2 ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS The assessment is guided by the following four assessment questions (AQs):

1. What are the key opportunities and constraints that youth face in preparing for and/or attaining a livelihood, whether through formal or informal means?

a. What are the sectors with the greatest potential for youth (male and female)? In answering this question, take into account employment demographics, labor demand trends, and education stocks and flows.

b. What are the main factors that enable or limit youth to engage with these sectors?

2. What are the current drivers of risky youth migration (domestic and international), and what can be done to address them? 3. What factors motivate Cambodian youth to participate actively and collectively in civic and community decisions, processes, and institutions? What factors inhibit the collective activism and participation of Cambodian youth? 4. What conditions drive risk factors that threaten the safety and well-being of youth in Cambodia? These can include both internal factors, such as addictive or violent behavior, and external factors, such as drivers toward exploitation by others. For each question, consider the current situation that youth in Cambodia are living, including their current needs and aspirations, and which needs appear to be greatest. Include consideration by subpopulation, specifically including the most marginalized youth populations, in both urban and rural areas. Guided by the current CDCS results framework and USAID Cambodia programming, identify key successes, missed opportunities, and lessons learned in implementing effective programming that engage and benefit youth in relation to each AQ.

3 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV 3 ASSESSMENT DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

3.1 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK USAID’s youth development policy focuses on FIGURE 1: KEY THEMATIC AREAS COVERED BY THE ASSESSMENT programming that supports youth to be safe, healthy, and able to play an active role in their communities, socially, economically, and politically. This CCYA aims to take a broad look at the status of youth in Cambodia and the programs that exist to support them.

The study conceptualized three main thematic areas broadly encompassing the interests of the assessment: economic well-being (which includes education and work), civic and community engagement, and health and safety. These are diagrammed in Figure 1. Each of the four areas of the assessment framework correlates to an AQ. Three of the areas also correlate/overlap with the three development objectives within the existing CDCS. Migration has elements that cut across these areas, although it is primarily driven by the search for employment, thus most closely tied to economic well-being.16

3.2 DATA COLLECTION This assessment employed a mixed-methods approach with four main data sources:

Literature review: The assessment team reviewed over 100 documents for this assessment. These documents provide important statistical data at a national level, information about existing policies and programs, and also include reports and assessment on similar or relevant topics. This helped broaden the scope of the current assessment as well as providing further information for validation against other sources.

Key informant interviews (KIIs): Key informants included individuals from government agencies, community leadership, youth organizations, NGOs, donors, and USAID project implementers. Sampling was done by targeting a number of KIIs for each category of respondent, and then adjusting based on input from other KIIs and contacts regarding which were most active on youth topics, and on availability. Interviews were semi-structured and tailored to the role and experience of the interviewee, covering topics under whichever AQs were most relevant. Interviews took approximately one hour to complete.

Focus group discussions (FGDs) with youth: Included youth stratified by sex (male, female) and age (15–19, 20–30). FGDs included specific subpopulations as well: garment workers, young people living with disabilities (PLWD), at-risk youth with risk, Cham youth, indigenous youth from highlands, rural and urban youth, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth, and youth in vocational training. FGDs typically took 90 minutes to complete, and covered topics on overall aspirations, education, work, civic engagement, and health and safety. The CCYA team engaged with local actors, including NGOs, youth associations, commune leadership, and school directors to select and gather youth for the FGDs according to the provided criteria. Locations (see next) for the FGDs were decided in conjunction with USAID during the inception phase.

16 IOM, “ASSESSING POTENTIAL CHANGES IN THE MIGRATION PATTERNS OF CAMBODIAN MIGRANTS AND THEIR IMPACTS ON THAILAND AND CAMBODIA.”

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 4 Youth Self-Expression Video Workshops: In parallel to the rest of the assessment, team members invited youth in four provinces to submit short video clips about the issues they faced as youth and the suggestions that they had for USAID and others. Youth were supported to create clips in orientation workshops. Some clips were made at the workshops, while others were developed and submitted by the youth independently. In each province, there was then a final selection workshop in which youth were invited to review all videos submitted to their province and vote on the top three, resulting in a total of 12 selected videos.17 The team working on this component used a similar methodology as used for mobilizing FGDs, although they did not go through commune leaders. They attempted to reach as diverse a group of youth as possible, including garment workers, construction workers, indigenous “highlander” youth, Cham youth, PLWD, LGBTQ youth, and youth from all levels of educational attainment. Youth response to the opportunity to submit clips was high, and the diversity of backgrounds is represented within the clips. There was a bias toward more educated youth—in part because of working through a high school and a university in two locations.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF FIELD SITES The team visited a total of seven provinces and included visits to both rural and town sites in two of these provinces (Ratanakiri and Siem Reap). These were selected based on input from USAID and to capture a broad diversity of youth from rural and urban areas and including provinces with low Human Development Index rankings. Not all data collection methods were carried out in all sites. Figure 2 shows the geographic distribution of activities.

FIGURE 2: GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF DATA COLLECTION

In total, 36 KIIs and 25 FGDs were completed, and 69 video submissions were collected in the course of the assessment. Table 1 shows the breakdown of these by location.

17 VOTING TOOK PLACE THROUGH A THREE-PART PROCESS: FIRST YOUTH GATHERED IN SMALL GROUPS TO REVIEW THE VIDEOS, DISCUSS, AND AGREE ON THEIR TOP THREE. NEXT, EACH GROUP PRESENTED THEIR SELECTIONS TO THE PLENARY, EXPLAINING THEIR CHOICES, AND THE GROUP VOTES WERE TALLIED TOGETHER. LAST, EACH YOUTH WAS ABLE TO VOTE INDIVIDUALLY ON THEIR TOP THREE, RESULTING IN THE FINAL SELECTION.

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TABLE 1: SUMMARY OF ALL DATA COLLECTION LOCATION KIIS FGDS VIDEOS Phnom Penh 20 7 21 Siem Reap 6 4 19 Ratanakiri 5 6 20 Kampot 1 1 Kampong Thom 9 Kampong Cham 2 Sihanoukville 4 5 TOTAL 36 25 69

3.3 DATA ANALYSIS Data analysis was primarily qualitative, as almost all data collected for the report was qualitative. Some basic quantitative analysis was done on demographic information collected from FGD participants, used mainly to check for biases in participant selection, and in categorizing themes from video submissions. Statistical data from secondary sources is referenced throughout the report and was particularly important for looking at educational stocks and flows, as part of the response to AQ1.

Qualitative analysis was done largely by categorizing content from FGDs and KIIs by theme and AQ. For AQ1, content was further broken into the broad categories of education and work. Within each category, FGDs and KIIs were separately analyzed for recurring issues and correspondences. Differences and/or similarities across sex and subpopulations (ethnic minorities) and specific issues pertaining to vulnerable or minority groups of youth were also noted.

The content of the video submissions proved useful in validating the content of the FGDs, given that the content was generated in a much more open-ended way, and yet many of the same themes and points were raised in both. Analysis of videos was done by basic category, in addition to the stand-alone 12-clip video compilation resulting from the youth’s submissions and voting.

3.4 LIMITATIONS AND BIASES This assessment ran into three main limits, which should be taken into account when reading the findings. These are:

1. Oppressive/charged political context: The political situation in the country was charged at the time of field research (October–November 2019). The political opposition had been mobilizing and gathering youth, which meant the government looked on any attempt to gather youth and seek their opinions with suspicion. This meant the assessment team met with some resistance when trying to organize FGDs and video workshops in some areas, although it was able to overcome this. In two FGDs, local government representatives or youth working on their behalf attempted to take photos of the group and monitor proceedings.

Biases and omissions resulting from this:

● Under-expression of unpopular views and “sensitive” topics: Youth were likely to self- censor on political issues, given the tense political climate. The assessment team also acted cautiously to avoid risks to youth.

2. Limited time: The field team had 3 weeks to organize and carry out primary data collection and complete initial analysis of findings. This meant that trade-offs were made in terms of who to speak with, and sometimes convenience sampling was used.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 6 Biases and omissions resulting from this:

● Overrepresentation of educated youth (a result of convenience sampling): While this study did not use quantitative methods that required a formal random sample, demographic information collected from FGD participants demonstrates a bias toward more educated youth, with 73 percent of FGD participants currently in school, 43 percent in upper secondary, 24 percent in vocational, and 23 percent in university. Of those out of school, 20 percent completed primary, 27 percent lower secondary, 38 percent upper secondary, and 15 percent university. These figures are high in comparison to national averages and means that the perspectives of youth who left school early are underrepresented. As the main reason for early school leaving is family poverty, it is likely that the sample is equally biased toward youth from economically better- off families.

● Underrepresentation of some vulnerable subpopulations of youth: Some specific subpopulations of youth were not included because of time restrictions—these include children of soldiers, youth from areas of high migration, returned migrants, homeless youth, and youth in the criminal justice system.

● Regional variation is not fully captured: as coverage was not at that level. However, the study showed that region makes a difference. For example, youth in Ratanakiri spoke of early marriage, which was not an issue in the other regions covered.

3. Some secondary statistical sources were out of date or incomplete: meaning the most recent statistics available were sometimes five years old. This is an issue because Cambodia is undergoing rapid change with respect to many aspects of life, including urbanization and high levels of foreign direct investment (FDI). In addition, inconsistencies were observed in some of the statistics available.

Biases and omissions resulting from this:

● Some statistics in this report are likely to be inaccurate reflections of the current situation.

These limitations are mitigated by two factors:

1. Use and comparison of multiple sources: The assessment team used data from multiple sources: this allowed for both cross-validation of sources and for filling in gaps from some sources. For example, KIIs with NGO representatives working with vulnerable youth populations meant these individuals could raise issues that youth in an FGD would be unlikely to raise.

2. Reader awareness: Readers need to keep in mind that a report of this nature cannot capture all the nuances in a country or within all youth subpopulations, yet these nuances might still be relevant to future programming. Hence, this report should be used as a road map and first step in orienting youth-related priorities, and should be followed up as needed with relevant, more narrowly focused, studies during program design phases. Statistics in the report should be taken as imperfect indicators of the overall situation, and should be verified in the future, as the full results of the 2019 census and an updated demographic health survey are due soon.

7 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV 4 FINDINGS

4.1 ECONOMIC WELL-BEING AQ1: What are the key opportunities and constraints that youth face in preparing for and/or attaining a livelihood, whether through formal or informal means? a. What are the sectors with the greatest potential for youth (male and female)? Take into account employment demographics, labor demand trends, and education stocks and flows. b. What are the main factors that enable or limit youth to engage with these sectors?

SECTION OVERVIEW This section begins by considering the aspirations that youth have for their work lives. This helps frame the discussion on the potential of different kinds of work in terms of youth’s priorities. Before considering the labor market itself, the next section overviews education stocks and flows, which shows the proportion of youth completing primary, lower secondary, upper secondary, and postsecondary studies. It then looks in more detail at the factors that are shaping youth’s educational attainment, and particularly decisions about whether to stay in formal education or drop out. The next section looks at the labor market itself in terms of the key sectors that are identified in recent labor market assessments as being “high opportunity” for youth: agriculture, construction, garment and footwear manufacturing, tourism, and small businesses, with civil service included because youth express frequent interest in working in it. The section then reviews factors that enable or limit youth to engage with the labor market, with evidence suggesting that these factors cut across sectors. Finally, this section wraps up by reviewing relevant policies and programs run by the Cambodian government, NGOs and social enterprises, and USAID projects.

YOUTH ASPIRATIONS In all FGDs, youth were asked what they wanted in their future. Most expressed a desire to stay in their own communities and to find a job that would allow them to support themselves and their families. Indigenous youth in Ratanakiri spoke of the importance of maintaining their traditions while gaining new knowledge and skills to help their communities. Those who were in secondary school or higher often aspired to use their education to help others in their community, and aspired for more children to benefit from education in the future. The potential of education to transform lives was the most predominant theme in both the FGDs and in the video submissions. The importance of education and the weakness of the existing education system was the single most prevalent theme in the videos that youth made, followed by the need for skills training to help youth qualify for jobs (see Table 2).

Although about 70 percent of youth in the FGDs across all sites, when asked, said they preferred to stay in their own communities, some key informants noted that the majority of youth who left for further education did not return home but stayed and found jobs in the city, suggesting that for some, aspirations change as opportunities broaden. Across all the FGDs, some youth were resigned to the likelihood of having to leave their communities because of a lack of local options and said that was ok, although if they had the choice, they would rather stay.

In terms of the types of work youth aspired to, agriculture was not a popular option, despite it being a mainstay in many of the youth’s home communities. Only about 20 percent or less of youth mentioned this as their preferred option.18 Some youth were decidedly pragmatic, saying they were happy with any work that allowed them to make enough to support their families. Some aspired to small businesses or

18 SELECTION BIAS MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED THIS RESULT, SO IT SHOULD BE INTERPRETED WITH SOME RESERVATION: AS SAMPLES WEIGHTED TOWARD THOSE IN SCHOOL, THOSE WHO PREFER AGRICULTURE APPEAR MORE LIKELY TO CHOOSE TO LEAVE SCHOOL EARLIER. NONETHELESS, THIS TREND WAS LARGELY CONFIRMED BY OTHER SOURCES.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 8 trades such as tailor and electrician. The most common preference was for government jobs—especially to become teachers or police officers.19 It wasn’t uncommon for all participants in an FGD to state they would like to work for the government and be teachers.

Youth aspirations appear to be constrained by limited information about work options. Indeed, a number of youths raised their concerns about not knowing their options and wanting guidance, and this was also raised as a key issue by numerous key informants. Youth aspirations also are constrained by practical considerations and worries about education—the quality of education they can access, and what will happen when they are done. In most FGDs, participants noted that parents are frequently unsupportive of their children’s educational aspirations. They spoke of some of their peers as being “lazy” and dropping out to hang out with friends and use drugs. While dropouts were underrepresented in the sample, most dropouts said they did so because of family financial pressures. Youth also noted that peers would drop out of school when they became discouraged because of domestic violence, suggesting that psychosocial well-being is an important factor in youth’s life aspirations, as is the role of peer support or peer pressure. Finally, youth noted that decisions of whether to stay in school or drop out to work were often made at the family level, and some siblings had to “sacrifice themselves” and go to work so that their brothers or sisters could go to school. There were mixed reports as to whether this affected girls more or boys more, although most concrete examples given were of sisters dropping out for brothers. Birth order was also reported as important, with older siblings often expected to drop out to support the family.

TABLE 2: YOUTH CONCERNS FROM VIDEO SUBMISSIONS VIDEOS THEME(S) SUBMITTED 17 25% Education (including low education limits work options/life options, few schools in rural areas, barriers to education—especially for girls, rural residents, poorer residents, indigenous) 6 9% Need for skills training 4 6% Youth lack confidence to speak up 3 4% Deforestation (related to climate change, creates negative impacts) 3 4% Travel, roads, infrastructure (poor roads in rural areas) 2 3% Need for counselling (on job, education options, youth not sure of their options) 2 3% Jobs gap, low wages of jobs for school graduates in Cambodia 2 3% Tourism (in decline, poor working conditions) 2 3% Child labor (due to poverty, parental choice) 1 1% Want libraries in communities 1 1% Want youth centers in communities 1 1% Importance of labor rights 1 1% Importance of learning English 1 1% Agriculture (misuse of pesticides, dangerous chemicals with negative health impacts) 1 1% PLWD right to work, discrimination free 47 (of 68% Videos related to economic well-being (education/work) 69)

EDUCATION STOCKS AND FLOWS The diagram in Figure 3 shows education stocks and flows for Cambodia. It draws upon the most up-to- date figures available, which are from the 2017 CSES and from UNESCO’s 2017 data on completion and transition rates. The data does not give a full picture of what is happening in terms of the workforce

19 YOUTH REFERRED SPECIFICALLY TO “GOVERNMENT JOBS.”

9 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV because the CSES only includes comprehensive data on the education levels of those 25 and above in the labor force, omitting youth from ages 15 to 24, who constitute 32.4 percent of the labor force.20

Despite the limitations of available data, this diagram highlights several important trends. One is that the gender gap between male and female enrollment and completion has disappeared at the primary and secondary levels, although it is still somewhat apparent at the tertiary level. The second is that a much higher proportion of youth entering the workforce have completed secondary school or have some postsecondary education than in the past, a trend that appears to be continuing.21 However, in terms of work readiness, key informants suggest that gains have been more modest.

To further unpack these trends, it is important to recognize that there are large regional disparities and urban/rural disparities in educational completion, and there are major concerns about the quality of education and the degree to which it sufficiently prepares youth to be strong and effective actors in the labor market.22 Then with the labor market itself, the nature of work, including location, salaries, required skill levels, and working conditions, also continue to influence youth decisions about education and work.

FIGURE 3: EDUCATION STOCKS AND FLOWS IN CAMBODIA

PREPARING FOR LIVELIHOODS: EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING Compared with previous generations, Cambodian youth are better educated. Youth aged 15 to 24 have the highest literacy rates of any age group, with female youth, at 96 percent, having slightly higher literacy rates than males, at 94 percent.23 Some key informants, especially at NGOs working with youth, suggest that functional literacy is lower than this because of weaknesses in the education system. At the national level, 80 percent of youth complete primary school, with the majority of these going on to secondary school. However, completion rates for secondary school drop rapidly, with only 43

20 DALBERG GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORS, “YOUTHSTART GLOBAL INCEPTION PHASE—YOUTH ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES ECOSYSTEM ANALYSIS.” 21 FOR COMPARISON, THE YOUTHSTART REPORT IN 2016 REPORTED 45.8 PERCENT OF NEW ENTRANTS TO THE JOB MARKET HAD PRIMARY LEVEL EDUCATION OR LESS. DALBERG GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORS. 22 THESE CONCERNS WERE RAISED BY YOUTH THEMSELVES IN FGDS, KIIS, EMPLOYER SURVEYS BY THE NEA, AND NUMEROUS STUDIES OF THE LABOR AND EDUCATION SYSTEM IN CAMBODIA. 23 NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STATISTICS, “CAMBODIA SOCIO-ECONOMIC SURVEY 2017,” 2018.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 10 percent of youth completing lower secondary and 20 percent of youth completing upper secondary and either joining the labor market or going on to further education.24

Youth in FGDs report widely varying levels of educational attendance in different areas, although most of the barriers and concerns raised are true across the country. Please see Table 3 for a summary of factors associated with school attendance or dropping out. The most frequently given reason for leaving school is family economic problems. Families sometimes need income and ask the youth to drop out of school and work, or else youth themselves aspire to support their families and gain material goods for their own use. Sometimes friends or recruiters present youth with immediate work opportunities—something that seems to happen more frequently for male youth, and might be one reason why the dropout rate for males is now reportedly higher than for females according to key informants and FGD participants in this study, and reflected in national secondary enrollment statistics.

Youth also frequently mentioned that both parents and youth in their communities did not see the value of education. For youth in rural areas25, traveling to secondary school can be challenging. There are an increasing number of secondary schools at the commune level, but even then, the poor condition of roads and lack of transport options mean that getting to school can be difficult. Dangers include traffic accidents, criminals,26 and for young women, being at risk of harassment or sexual assault. In Ratanakiri, there has been a growing issue of young women being targeted for assault, which seems to be linked both to drug traffickers and an influx of workers on corporate agricultural plantations.27 Also in Ratanakiri, the issue of early marriage was frequently mentioned as a reason for dropping out, which did not come up in other areas.28

Of equal concern, there is a shortage of teachers, especially in rural areas, a shortage of supplies, and the quality of education is often questionable. Students, especially at higher levels of secondary school, are frequently compelled to pay for extra classes from their teachers.29 Young women are also sometimes seen by both males and females as being more serious academically, and some FGD participants claimed that young women are now braver and more active than boys.30

Secondary students nearing their graduation worry about what confronts them in the work world. There is a lack of information about their options, and the salaries for jobs for high school graduates in Cambodia are low. Sometimes unskilled jobs in casinos, construction sites, or garment factories pay just as much or more.31

For the 20 percent of youth who manage to complete secondary school, more than half go on to postsecondary education. Vocational training provided through the MoEYS is primarily targeted at school dropouts and consists of 3- to 6-month basic courses.32 The Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training (MLVT) offers both informal short courses, which have no prerequisites, and longer courses from 2 to 8 years in length, which requires youth to have completed grade 9. There are 39 public technical and vocational education and training (TVET) schools and an additional 41 private schools in Cambodia, with 48,215 (22,589 female) students graduating from formal TVET in 2018, and a

24 UNESCO 2017 FIGURES. 25 OUTSIDE PHNOM PENH ARE CONSIDERED RURAL AREAS 26 YOUTH IN FGDS MOST COMMONLY USED THE TERM “GANGSTER” TO REFER TO UNDEREMPLOYED YOUTH WHO WOULD SOMETIMES PROVOKE FIGHTS AND ROB PEOPLE. 27 MENTIONED BY SEVERAL KEY INFORMANTS IN RATANAKIRI AND RAISED IN SEVERAL FGDS, IT IS ALSO ALLUDED TO IN ONE OF THE VIDEOS SUBMITTED. 28 SOME YOUTH SAID THEY KNEW GIRLS AS YOUNG AS 12 WHO HAD BEEN COMPELLED INTO MARRIAGE BY THEIR PARENTS, AND MARRIAGE AT 13 IS STILL TYPICAL IN SOME VILLAGES. 29 THE 2017 CSES REPORTS THAT 77 PERCENT OF FEMALES AND 72 PERCENT OF MALES TOOK EXTRA CLASSES IN UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOL, AND ABOUT 41 PERCENT IN POSTSECONDARY. 30 THIS TREND WAS ALSO NOTED IN SEVERAL KIIS, INCLUDING GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND COMMUNE LEADERS. 31 MENTIONED BY SEVERAL KEY INFORMANTS, ESPECIALLY IN PHNOM PENH AND SIHANOUKVILLE; CONCERN REGARDING LOW SALARIES FOR GRADUATES WAS ALSO RAISED BY STUDENTS IN FGDS AND IN THE VIDEO SUBMISSIONS. 32 DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, OCTOBER 2019.

11 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV further 38,887 (21,256 female) graduating from vocational short courses.33 Common areas of study for the short courses include agriculture, motor repair, and work in beauty salons. Long courses are more strategically focused on supporting the industrial development of the country and include construction, electronics, auto mechanics, manufacturing, business, and information and communication technology (ICT).34

Although educational enrollment and completion levels have improved in recent years, 80 percent of youth remain with less than a high school diploma, and even for those who graduate high school, the formal education system in Cambodia is not doing well in preparing its graduates for the labor market. The quality of education is often weak because of under-resourcing and corruption.35 Within the TVET system, formal vocational courses tend to be too theoretical and lack practical aspects. Both youth and key informants report a need for more skills training to help youth prepare for the workforce. There is a need for greater training on soft skills such as communication, problem solving, time management, as well as critical thinking and greater self-confidence. Employers across sectors, and especially in service and tourism sectors, increasingly want graduates to have ICT and English skills, which they typically do not gain in secondary school.36

TABLE 3: KEY FACTORS IN DECIDING WHETHER TO CONTINUE EDUCATION (SUMMARIZED FROM FGDS) FACTORS TO DROP OUT OF SCHOOL FACTORS TO CONTINUE SCHOOL

• Families cannot afford the cost and/or wants/needs the • There are an increasing number of schools in rural income, so youth should drop out and work. areas at both the primary and secondary level. • Lack of support for slower learners or learners with • Some youth are able to get scholarships—especially disabilities—any youth struggling in school may need to at the postsecondary level. repeat a year and become discouraged. (This is affecting boys more than girls.) • Some youth are highly motivated to succeed in school and their personal life goals and avoid • In addition to any school fees, there are hidden and negative peer pressure, so they do not socialize with associated costs that can be prohibitive for families, those who take drugs, etc. such as payment for “extra classes.” • Some families encourage their children to go to • Schools are too far away—no reliable way to travel school. there, or youth would need to relocate to live by the school. Travel can be dangerous, especially for female • Some youth, and some families, can see education as youth. Distance also interferes with farming a long-term investment that will pay off. responsibilities on a seasonal basis for youth in rural • Positive peer pressure and role models. areas and disrupts the continuity of rural life (one reason why some parents do not support their • Some community leaders encourage youth and their children’s schooling). families to see the value of education. • The quality of schooling is poor; there are no teachers, • Many youth look for options to stay in town—with or the teachers don’t teach; there are not sufficient relatives, and to work and study at the same time. supplies. Some youth report being bullied or belittled by Such options allow them to continue studying. In teachers. one dramatic example given by a KII in Siem Reap, an NGO staff member had accessed secondary • Some youth must sacrifice themselves and work to school by taking a taxi from her community to the support the education of their siblings. Mixed reports as provincial town with her own money and placing to whether males or females are most likely to be asked herself in an orphanage. to sacrifice. • Some youth see a better payoff in going into business rather than tertiary education. • Youth and/or families don’t see the value of education. • Youth are led to drop out by peer pressure/negative influences. • Youth are materialistic because of smartphones and social media; they want to make money for consumer goods.

33 FIGURES PROVIDED DIRECTLY BY THE MINISTRY OF LABOR. 34 BASED ON INTERVIEWS WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND DONORS. 35 MANY CAMBODIANS HAVE ANECDOTES ABOUT BUYING CERTIFICATES AND THE NEED TO PAY FOR “EXTRA CLASSES.” A DETAILED DISCUSSION OF CORRUPTION IN THE CAMBODIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM IS FOUND IN JOEL BRINKLEY, “CAMBODIA’S CURSE: THE MODERN HISTORY OF A TROUBLED LAND,” PUBLIC AFFAIRS, 2011. 36 THIS POINT WAS RAISED BY MULTIPLE KII AND FGD PARTICIPANTS, AND ALSO NOTED IN LABOR MARKET REPORTS BY NEA.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 12 • Family migration can force children/youth to change school frequently and can lead to early dropouts. • Some youth drop out because of domestic violence— they feel depressed/discouraged and cannot continue. • Early marriage (in Ratanakiri). • Prefer Islamic/Arabic schools (mentioned by Cham female youth only).

KEY SECTORS IN LABOR MARKET Cambodia’s economy has been characterized by high rates of growth and job creation in recent years, with strong FDI, especially by China.37 Despite this, the labor supply has grown faster than demand, with most youth entering the job market being absorbed by the agricultural sector.38 The Cambodian labor market is also characterized by high rates of domestic and international migration and rapid urbanization. The four main drivers of Cambodia’s economy, and the sectors into which most people are employed are agriculture, construction, garment and footwear manufacturing, and tourism. These are still considered as the best options for youth employment by most sources. A 2016 detailed assessment of employment opportunities for youth considers each of these sectors as important for youth employment, and in addition recommends small businesses providing goods and services (such as mechanics, beauty salons, and shops) to be another priority sector for employing youth.39 We now briefly consider each of these five sectors in terms of key characteristics, ease of entry, and potential for youth employment.

AGRICULTURE

Agriculture employs over 50 percent of the population, and about 70 percent of youth. However, youth working in agriculture face underemployment and low wages. Most are working as informal laborers, and the work is seasonal.40

Agriculture has been the mainstay of the Cambodian economy and still employs more people than any other sector (just over 50 percent of the population), although it only contributes about one third of the gross domestic product (GDP).41 Most agriculture remains smallholder subsistence agriculture, although large commercial farming operations are on the rise, and smallholders are reducing, often when they sell their land off because of poverty and debt.42, 43 Some reports note that agriculture has been absorbing youth when they are unable to access jobs elsewhere, and FGDs support this, with most participants describing agriculture as something of a last resort. Because Cambodia has poor irrigation, poor road infrastructure, and limited mechanization, its agricultural productivity is low compared with its neighbors. Domestic demand is relatively low because of poverty, and it is difficult for farmers to compete with cheap imports. Most agricultural exports are unprocessed, as electricity costs are high, and it is cheaper to process in neighboring countries. Further, climate change is making agriculture riskier, and some people have observed declining soil fertility from unsustainable farming practices. In poor villages in provinces such as Preah Vihear, a single drought year can force people to migrate, pushing them into debt and deeper poverty.44

Youth tend to work as agricultural laborers or work on family smallholdings, in the informal economy. The work is seasonal, and they are often underemployed. As the government has given land to large

37 WORLD BANK, “CAMBODIA’S FUTURE JOBS: LINKING TO THE ECONOMY OF TOMORROW” (MAIN REPORT).” 38 Dalberg Global Development Advisors, “Youthstart Global Inception Phase—Youth Economic Opportunities Ecosystem Analysis.” 39 DALBERG GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORS. 40 WORLD BANK, “CAMBODIA’S FUTURE JOBS: LINKING TO THE ECONOMY OF TOMORROW” (TECHNICAL REPORT). 41 WORLD BANK, “CAMBODIA’S FUTURE JOBS: LINKING TO THE ECONOMY OF TOMORROW” (TECHNICAL REPORT). 42 IOM, “DEBT AND THE MIGRATION EXPERIENCE: INSIGHTS FROM SOUTH-EAST ASIA.” 43 NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STATISTICS, “CAMBODIA SOCIO-ECONOMIC SURVEY 2017,” 2018. 44 KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEW WITH NGO REPRESENTATIVE.

13 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV corporations, there has also been interprovincial, or even intraprovincial, migration to work on corporate rubber and palm oil plantations.45

Some youth assessments have identified agriculture in general and agricultural processing specifically as areas of high potential for youth engagement.46 Although this is possible, this study did not identify any proven initiatives in this area, and the issues mentioned above are substantial. However, agriculture will remain important for poor rural youth, even if as a last resort. Rural areas have long traditions of farming and forest use, so there are also concerns and questions about cultural continuity, mentioned particularly amongst indigenous youth in Ratanakiri.47 Some youth in this study expressed concern about the misuse of chemical fertilizers and the consequences on both human health and the natural environment.48

CONSTRUCTION

The construction industry has been growing in Cambodia, driven by FDI, primarily by China.49 As of 2018, construction was estimated to employ 718,000 workers, with growth of 14.4 percent in 2017.50 Employers in the sector have reported difficulties in filling vacancies, particularly for skilled workers.51 Construction investment has been most dramatic in Sihanoukville, although evidence of new construction is obvious throughout the country. Construction has been a major source of new jobs, primarily for men. In Sihanoukville, the inpouring of investment for new buildings—primarily casinos— has driven up real estate prices, forcing some local businesses to relocate. Most construction workers come from out-of-province. They frequently bring their families and live on the building sites because of the shortage of housing.52

Construction workers are usually domestic migrants, and construction work is typically short term. Recruiters will go to rural areas to find laborers for their projects.53 Some rural dwellers will work in construction between farming seasons, leaving their home area for short periods and then returning. Other construction workers will move from construction site to construction site as one building project finishes and a new one begins.

Although construction provides employment, it is often low pay and unstable. Observation at any construction site in Cambodia reveals a lack of adherence to basic safety standards. Workers are often in open-toed sandals and without hard hats, for example. The lifestyle can mean children are moved from school to school, and the living conditions on construction sites are makeshift and frequently lack proper water, sanitation, and electricity services. Nonetheless, people who cannot find a way to generate income in their home communities are happy for the employment.54

GARMENT AND FOOTWEAR MANUFACTURING

Garment and footwear manufacturing employs 17 percent of Cambodian women.55 After farming, it is the biggest employer in Cambodia and has experienced rapid growth, employing 660,327 people as of December 2018 and growing by 8 percent in 2017.56 It is also one of the better regulated areas of the

45 MINISTRY OF PLANNING, “MIGRATION IN CAMBODIA: REPORT OF THE CAMBODIAN RURAL URBAN MIGRATION PROJECT (CRUMP).” 46 OECD DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, “YOUTH WELL-BEING POLICY REVIEW OF CAMBODIA”; DALBERG GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORS, “YOUTHSTART GLOBAL INCEPTION PHASE—YOUTH ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES ECOSYSTEM ANALYSIS.” 47 THE 2017 CSES REPORTS THAT 68 PERCENT OF HOUSEHOLDS PARTICIPATE IN HUNTING AND FORESTRY ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING GATHERING OF FIREWOOD, FRUITS, VEGETABLES, HERBAL MEDICINES, HONEY, AND FIBERS. 48 THIS WAS MENTIONED BY YOUTH IN KAMPONG THOM, SIEM REAP, AND RATANAKI RI, PLUS SOME YOUTH ASSOCIATIONS IN PHNOM PENH. 49 WORLD BANK, “CAMBODIA’S FUTURE JOBS: LINKING TO THE ECONOMY OF TOMORROW” (TECHNICAL REPORT). 50 NEA, “CAMBODIA JOB OUTLOOK 2018.” 51 NEA. 52 BASED ON DIRECT OBSERVATION AND KIIS IN SIHANOUKVILLE. 53 KII, SIHANOUKVILLE. 54 KII, SIHANOUKVILLE. 55 WORLD BANK, “CAMBODIA’S FUTURE JOBS: LINKING TO THE ECONOMY OF TOMORROW” (TECHNICAL REPORT). 56 ILO, “CAMBODIA GARMENT AND FOOTWEAR SECTOR BULLETIN.”

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 14 Cambodian economy, and the only sector with a mandated minimum wage. Despite this, conditions in garment factories are often difficult, with working and living conditions making it hard for young mothers to care for their children.57 Garment workers who rent living space complain that their rental rates increase at the same pace as the wage increases.58 Because of high living costs around Phnom Penh, where most of the factories are located, the remittances sent back home by garment workers tend to be low, about US$10 to US$20 per month.59 Most garment workers are young women, and many of them are domestic migrants, although some manage to find work at a factory within commuting distance of their home.60

While garment manufacturing is a critical part of the Cambodian economy, it is the part of the value chain with the lowest returns for the clothing and footwear industry, and involves low-skilled labor. It is also subject to downturns in the global economy. At present, there is a high risk that the European Union, which receives about 30 percent of current garment exports, will remove trade privileges from Cambodian imports because of human rights concerns.61 For youth to benefit more from the sector, it would be better for Cambodia to get into other parts of the value chain—such as design, as well as diversify to reduce the risk of overreliance on a single sector, and to maintain positive diplomatic relations with trading partners.

TOURISM

The tourism sector in Cambodia has been growing, with 6.2 million foreign visitors registered in 2018, an increase of 11 percent from the previous year.62 Still, Cambodia receives much fewer tourists in comparison to Thailand and Vietnam, suggesting potential for further growth. Some key informants and youth in the video workshops and contributions raised concerns about a decline in tourism in Siem Reap because of poor management and poor service orientation toward tourists. There are also concerns about who gains from tourism, as some tourist facilities are foreign-owned or owned by well-connected Cambodian elites. For Cambodian youth, tourism is an important employer. This can include working in hotels, resorts, restaurants, bars, and casinos, and as tour guides. For these jobs, English language and customer service skills are often critical, and employers cannot find enough youth who have these credentials. Both youth and commune council leaders expressed a desire for more foreign language instruction available so that youth can benefit from these jobs.63

What tourism looks like and what it means for youth and communities varies widely. Some tourism- related jobs appear marginal and/or potentially exploitative, whereas others provide employment within local communities and can provide incentives to protect natural and cultural resources. Young women working in casinos in Sihanoukville can reportedly earn US$300 a month without any formal credentials.64 However, they are also vulnerable to potential sexual harassment and exploitation. Some hotel and service jobs can reportedly earn as little as US$70 a month, making them marginal jobs by any standard. Social enterprises such as Artisans Angkor have managed to create high value opportunities for youth through targeting quality crafts to visitors. In Ratanakiri, some youth and key informants worried that environmental degradation and the loss of traditional cultural practices were weakening the province’s tourist appeal.

57 WORLD BANK, “CAMBODIA’S FUTURE JOBS: LINKING TO THE ECONOMY OF TOMORROW” (TECHNICAL REPORT). 58 MENTIONED IN ONE OF THE VIDEO SUBMISSIONS MADE BY TWO FEMALE GARMENT WORKERS. THE GOVERNMENT INCREASES THE LEGAL MINIMUM WAGE FOR GARMENT WORKERS, TYPICALLY EVERY JANUARY. 59 PLAN INTERNATIONAL, “INTO THE LIGHT: YOUNG FEMALE MIGRANT WORKERS IN THAILAND’S SEAFOOD SECTOR AND THEIR ACCESS TO DECENT WORK,” 2018. 60 FGD WITH GARMENT WORKERS. 61 EU BULLETIN, “‘EVERYTHING BUT ARMS’: CAMBODIA FACES LOSING EU TRADE PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT.” 62 WORLD BANK, “CAMBODIA ECONOMIC UPDATE: RECENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS AND OUTLOOK.” 63 MENTIONED EXPLICITLY IN PHNOM PENH, SIEM REAP, AND RATANAKIRI—APPEARED TO BE CROSSCUTTING. 64 BASED ON KIIS AND FGDS IN SIHANOUKVILLE.

15 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV SMALL BUSINESSES/ENTREPRENEURSHIP

A sizable proportion of youth in FGDs expressed interest in running their own small business in their own community. Common areas of interest included being a tailor or designer, owning a fashion shop, being a barber or owning a beauty salon, or providing mechanical and electronic repair services.

One key advantage to this type of work is that it allows youth to stay in their home communities. Although rural economies are often described as stagnant, they benefit from remittances that are used to fund the construction of homes and meet other family needs. They could also be useful seed money for small business start-ups. One KII noted that there are signs of development in rural communities, including an expansion of the banking sector into rural areas, improved roads, and the construction of gas stations. National employment inventories show “other services” as one of the main employment sectors, experiencing growth in line with the overall growth in the country.65

Another possible opportunity related to small enterprise start-ups is the incredible rapid penetration of smartphones and the internet, reported to be well over 80 percent even in rural areas of Ratanakiri.66 This can create improved information flows and business opportunities, although key informants report that youth mainly use the technology for social purposes and need guidance on how to be more effective information consumers.

Challenges to starting up a small business include limited access to credit, the risk of taking on high-risk, inflexible loans that lead to indebtedness, limited entrepreneurial skills, and a lack of ability to innovate.67 Some reports find rural youth tend to duplicate existing businesses, leading to high failure rates.

CIVIL SERVICE

Government jobs are not mentioned as a sector of opportunity in labor market assessments, but they rate highly in the minds of many youth. As of 2018, 8.6 percent of GDP goes toward public service wages, with the minimum wages set at US$293 for civil servants, US$318 for teachers and doctors, and US$314 for national police.68 Youth in rural communities see the government as an important employer and government jobs potentially as a form of serving and developing the community.69

FACTORS THAT SHAPE YOUTH’S ENGAGEMENT WITH THE LABOR MARKET Factors that shape youth engagement with the labor market can be classed into two groups: factors that shape the overall labor market and factors that pertain to individual youth.

FACTORS SHAPING THE OVERALL LABOR MARKET

A majority of work opportunities are low skilled, low paying: Most of the jobs in the Cambodian labor market, including within the sectors described in the previous section (with the exception of government employment, which is not identified as a “high opportunity” sector in other assessments), consist primarily of low-skilled employment. However, within each sector, there is the potential for movement toward an up-skilled labor force, which would strengthen the sector as a whole and improve the quality of employment opportunities. Please see Video Transcript 1 to hear more about the issue of low paid work.

The labor force is low skilled with low productivity: Throughout Cambodia’s current period of economic growth, stemming from the late 1990s to the present, its labor market has been characterized as poorly educated and low skilled, with low levels of productivity. Although these have shifted in a

65 WORLD BANK, “CAMBODIA’S FUTURE JOBS: LINKING TO THE ECONOMY OF TOMORROW” (TECHNICAL REPORT). 66 REPORTED IN MULTIPLE KIIS AND FGDS IN RATANAKIRI. THIS FINDING IS ALSO REPEATED IN MULTIPLE REPORTS, INCLUDING PHONG, SROU, AND SOLÁ, “MOBILE PHONES AND INTERNET USE IN CAMBODIA 2016: RESEARCH STUDY.” 67 WORLD BANK, “CAMBODIA’S FUTURE JOBS: LINKING TO THE ECONOMY OF TOMORROW” (TECHNICAL REPORT). 68 WORLD BANK, “CAMBODIA ECONOMIC UPDATE: RECENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS AND OUTLOOK.” 69 THIS FINDING APPLIES ACROSS ALL STUDY SITES.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 16 positive direction in recent years, gains are modest.70 There is also a widely held perception that education is a poor investment, with youth complaining that the jobs they are likely to find upon graduating secondary school will pay poorly.71 One reason for this is that secondary school does not prepare its graduates adequately for the labor market, and neither does the formal vocational training offered by the government. Another reason is that what youth choose to study is not in line with the needs of the economy. About half of university students, for example, study business, and only 2 percent study tourism.72

Skills gap: Although youth struggle to find adequate employment, employers struggle to find qualified candidates to fill jobs. The National Employment Agency (NEA) reports that almost half of employers they surveyed across all sectors reported having had recruitment challenges.73 There are stories of international employers bringing skilled employees into the country because of these shortages.74 Most common skill shortages mentioned by employers include soft skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, customer relations, teamwork, communication, and attitudinal orientations such as being reliable, punctual, and not giving up easily. Many employers want employees with English language and ICT skills and have a hard time finding adequate candidates. Employers across all sectors also have difficulties finding people with specific technical qualifications, with many potential employees lacking adequate experience.75 As Cambodian youth have a high level of workforce participation and a low level of unemployment, the main challenge they face is not the availability of work, but rather its quality.

Urbanization and work migration: Another key aspect of the overall labor market is that there is a scarcity of appealing work opportunities in the home communities of many youth, causing them to migrate either domestically or internationally. The decision making and consequences of migration on individuals and families is discussed further in the next section of this paper. One broad consequence of this is that certain areas can lose their potential labor force. This has reportedly impacted some youth- oriented programs, including vocational training programs, which have had problems attracting and retaining youth because so many youth have migrated out.76 It could also have a dampening effect on local economies, although this could be balanced out by remittances. The trend to urbanization means that it is likely that most new jobs will be in towns and cities, rather than the countryside. The poor performance of the agricultural sector, land concessions for corporate farms and plantations, continuing deforestation, and debt driving poor families to sell land are all contributing to push poor youth out of rural areas.

70 WORLD BANK, “CAMBODIA’S FUTURE JOBS: LINKING TO THE ECONOMY OF TOMORROW” (TECHNICAL REPORT). 71 WHILE THIS VIEW IS WIDELY HELD AND SEEMS TO HAVE SOME ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE IN ITS FAVOR, A PHD THESIS LOOKING AT THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR EDUCATION FOUND IT WAS SIMILAR FOR CAMBODIA AS IT WAS FOR OTHER COUNTRIES: HUMPHREYS, “EDUCATION IN CAMBODIA: RATE OF RETURN AND PERSONAL EQUITY FINANCE,” 2015. 72 DALBERG GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORS, “YOUTHSTART GLOBAL INCEPTION PHASE—YOUTH ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES ECOSYSTEM ANALYSIS.” 73 NEA, “SKILLS SHORTAGES AND SKILLS GAPS IN THE CAMBODIAN LABOUR MARKET: EVIDENCE FROM EMPLOYER SURVEY 2017.” 74 KII IN PHNOM PENH. 75 NEA, “SKILLS SHORTAGES AND SKILLS GAPS IN THE CAMBODIAN LABOUR MARKET: EVIDENCE FROM EMPLOYER SURVEY 2017”; NEA, “CAMBODIA JOB OUTLOOK 2018”; ILO, “YOUTH EMPLOYMENT POLICY SUMMARY: CAMBODIA”; DALBERG GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORS, “YOUTHSTART GLOBAL INCEPTION PHASE—YOUTH ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES ECOSYSTEM ANALYSIS.” 76 KII IN PHNOM PENH.

17 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV VIDEO TRANSCRIPT 1: GARMENT WORKERS’ WAGES ARE LOW KHUN PHARY AND YANN CANTHOU ARE GARMENT WORKERS Hello, we are Phary and Chanthou. We would like to talk IN PHNOM PENH. about the monthly base wage of garment workers. Our salaries are only US$182 per month. We spend it on supporting our family’s expenses, renting a room, and daily food for ourselves. The owners increase the price of room rental every year when our wages are increased. Our income does not cover our expenses. Consequently, most women are forced to find an extra job to support their families. Normally, workers work until 6 p.m. at the factory. After 6 p.m., some work at restaurants; some work as sex workers; and some use illegal drugs. This is creating social unrest . . . We want a salary that is enough to support our daily expenses including room rental, and that home owners stop increasing room rental prices whenever our salaries increase. This is very hard for the workers!

FACTORS SHAPING LABOR MARKET ENGAGEMENT OF INDIVIDUAL YOUTH

Family economic status: Family poverty is one of the main factors determining how long youth will attend school, and whether they need to leave and begin assisting the family financially at a young age. Within poor families, trade-offs are often made with some siblings dropping out of school and others attending. The vulnerability of poor families to shocks such as sickness or drought and increasing prevalence of debt can further drive early dropouts. Once in the labor market, the ongoing need to support family financially continues to shape the work decisions that youth make.

Location: As already described, rural youth are more likely to have limited opportunities to access quality education, especially at higher levels. They also have limited local employment opportunities, causing many to migrate. Rural youth are also more likely to be from poor families.77 Another element of location is the dynamics of their particular communities: some communities have supportive leadership and stronger social networks, including peer support. These appear to create meaningful differences to youth.

Personal efficacy and mental well-being: Youth in FGDs emphasize the drive and focus that they need to persist with education, often in the face of multiple obstacles. In contrast, they observe that some of their peers lose motivation when they have difficult home situations characterized by domestic violence. Peer pressure and exposure to drugs and excessive drinking were also noted as undermining influences.78

Soft skills: Although critical thinking, problem solving, and other soft skills should ideally be a product of a good education, youth in Cambodia are typically not gaining these skills through their education, and employers are noticing. Individuals demonstrating these skills have a significant advantage in the job market. Chances to engage in volunteerism and youth leadership roles can help develop some of these skills.

Education: The educational attainment of youth is a major factor shaping their employment options, as described earlier in this section. The quality of the education that youth receive is generally weak in Cambodia, with the World Bank estimating that the average child today will complete 9.5 years of schooling, but it is only equivalent to 6.9 years of schooling because of the poor quality.79 The overall education system needs improvement. In the meanwhile, the success of individual youth will depend on

77 THIS OBSERVATION WAS MADE BY KII AND FGD PARTICIPANTS IN SIHANOUKVILLE, PHNOM PENH, SIEM REAP, KAMPONG CHAM, AND RATANAKIRI. 78 THESE WERE COMMON THEMES THROUGHOUT FGDS IN ALL SITES. THERE APPEARED TO BE A VARIATION IN THE DEGREE THAT THESE ISSUES WERE FACED BY YOUTH WITHIN A PARTICULAR COMMUNITY, BUT IT ALSO APPEARED THAT THE VARIATION COULD BE FROM ONE VILLAGE TO THE NEXT, INFLUENCED BY VERY LOCALIZED DYNAMICS, SO IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO GENERALIZE ABOUT SPECIFIC PROVINCES FROM THE DATA IN THIS STUDY. 79 WORLD BANK, “CAMBODIA’S FUTURE JOBS: LINKING TO THE ECONOMY OF TOMORROW” (TECHNICAL REPORT).

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 18 being able to access better schools in cities or being lucky with having teachers who are more dedicated than average. Money is a factor, with youth from wealthy families seven times more likely to attend university than youth from poor families.80

Relevant Vocational Skills: Although education is important, employers do not always value formal credentials in Cambodia because of the mismatch with their needs. Evidence of actual skills is more important, and those youth who have managed to acquire such skills will again enjoy a significant boost in the labor market.

Access to career counseling and job market information: Youth and those working with them consistently noted the need for better career counseling and access to job market information. Many youth pursue work opportunities based on what their family and friends are doing, or because they come in contact with recruiters. Their limited knowledge means that they cannot make fully informed decisions and often do not pursue the best educational strategies to prepare for work. They also frequently don’t know how to apply for jobs and go through the recruitment process. Please see Video Transcript 2 for a youth perspective on this issue.

Gender: Many jobs are highly gendered, with construction dominated by men and garment work by women. Men have higher earning potential than women, averaging 4 percent across all industries, although this varies by sector and by education level.81 The return on educational investment is much lower for young women who study TVET than young men, and somewhat lower for women who obtain university degrees compared with men, whereas the expected wages and return on investment is similar for both sexes for lower levels of education.82 Gender expectations also affect prospects for the LGBTQ community, especially trans people, who are likely to face discrimination in some sectors.83

PLWD: Labor force participation statistics for PLWD are inconsistent. A 2017 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report shows 43 percent of youth with disabilities are out of school and not actively seeking employment.84 Qualitative information from interviews suggests that PLWD face discrimination and barriers in accessing employment opportunities even when they want to work.

RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROGRAMS GOVERNMENT

Focusing more specifically on labor market preparation and the workforce directly, the MLVT is the government body most directly charged with addressing these. The NEA, under the MLVT, provides labor market information and assesses employment outlooks and opportunities. It also runs some employment centers. The MoEYS also offers short-term TVET courses for school dropouts.

Two key national policies related to this are the National Employment Policy (NEP) 2015–25 and National TVET Policy 2017–25. On TVET, the government has noted weaknesses in the existing system and is attempting to rectify them with improved links to employers and an apprenticeship program. Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation is currently the main donor supporting TVET and works closely with the UN, the MLVT, and MoEYS.85 The National Policy on Youth Development (2011) also includes education, training and capacity building, and entrepreneurship as three of its twelve strategic action areas to support youth. However, its operationalization to-date has been weak.

80 TECH AND WOOD, “CAMBODIAN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INDEX (CYDI ).” 81 HUYNH, “ILO ASIA-PACIFIC WORKING PAPER SERIES ASSESSING THE GENDER PAY GAP IN ASIA’S GARMENT SECTOR.” 82 DALBERG GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORS, “YOUTHSTART GLOBAL INCEPTION PHASE—YOUTH ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES ECOSYSTEM ANALYSIS.” 83 KII IN SIHANOUKVILLE. 84 OECD DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, “YOUTH WELL-BEING POLICY REVIEW OF CAMBODIA.” 85 KII IN PHNOM PENH.

19 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV The MoEYS also supports youth study clubs that encourage youth to stay in school and provide peer support. A UNESCO Basic Education Equivalency Program has been recently introduced by MoEYS to help youth school dropouts to qualify for TVET entrance, which requires grade 9 completion. MoEYS also has an online program that aims to allow migrant youth to continue their studies. Most of these programs are being carried out with the support of the UN and other donors. Many of them are fairly new and do not have full national coverage, and it is unclear to what degree they will be sustained over the long term. For example, the online program is on a project basis, and only has 20 students registered in Siem Reap, with none having completed the program yet.

Official support for PLWD to access education or get extra support with job placement does not exist.86

The MoEYS offers some education at early grades in indigenous languages to communities in areas such as Ratanakiri, but these are phased out entirely by grade 4, when all instruction is in Khmer.

NGOS & SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

There are numerous NGOs working in Cambodia, often focused on one or several specific regions. Many appear to have strong community links and responsive programming based on a good assessment of the issues on the ground. Some depend on donor funding, and their specific efforts depend on what the funding allows, leading to a more fragmented approach.87 Others have managed to take a longer- term strategic approach that allows for continuity. The NGOs are an excellent source of information about the challenges facing youth in communities and in many cases have developed relevant solutions to these challenges. The issue is often the degree to which such solutions can be scaled up, and the impact of short-term project funding on the integrity of their work. Fundamental challenges such as the lack of rural jobs and the vulnerability of agriculture to external shocks do not have ready solutions, and so the responses of small-scale NGOs are, in the words of one NGO representative, “band-aid solutions.”88 The MLVT has memorandums of understanding with 26 NGOs and associations that offer vocational training.89

In addition, some of the types of programming NGOs run that directly help youth engage with the labor market include:90

● Initiatives to encourage youth to stay in school: scholarships; housing; and incentives such as bicycles, gifts, or recognition for those completing key grades ● Offering soft skills and life skills training ● Offering job placement support and career counseling ● Providing jobs directly through social enterprises, including artisan workshops, craft markets, and restaurants ● Employee rights training ● Targeted support to underserved or disadvantaged youth subpopulations: PLWD, youth at risk, indigenous youth ● Offering entrepreneurial training

Based on KIIs with NGO staff, these initiatives appear effective but often fall far short of the scale necessary to meet the needs of the whole youth population.

86 KII WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL. 87 BASED ON ALL KIIS WITH NGO REPRESENTATIVES. 88 KII WITH NGO REPRESENTATIVES, USAID IPS. 89 KII WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL AND PROVIDED MLVT STATISTICS. 90 THESE ARE COMPILED FROM INFORMATION GIVEN IN KIIS IN PHNOM PENH, SIEM REAP, SIHANOUKVILLE, AND RATANAKIRI.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 20 VIDEO TRANSCRIPT 2: GRADUATES NEED SUPPORT FINDING GOOD JOBS SAY KIMSAN AND KEO PICHDARA ARE GRADE 12 STUDENTS IN KAMPONG THOM. We would like to talk about what we should do after we finish school. We have the ability and capacity to do work, but there isn’t a market for it. After we finish school, we hope to have good jobs, but the salaries are very low. They don’t match the ability. We hope to get high salaries to support our families. Low salaries that don’t match our abilities is the reason that we feel like education is useless, and we prefer to make our own business. We would like to suggest that USAID creates a market to help youth and graduates find jobs so that everyone can get jobs.

USAID-FUNDED PROJECTS

Most current USAID initiatives related to youth employment are under development objective 3 of the revised CDCS: “Sustainable and Resilient Pathways out of Poverty Strengthened.” The strategy under development objective 3 has focused on an economic growth strategy led by agriculture and natural resources management as being the most pro-poor.91 Although the logic is sound, trends are making agriculture an increasingly difficult way to make a living, and an increasing number of youth are moving out of agriculture.

Some of the existing or recently ended USAID projects relevant to youth employment include:

Harvest 2: Feed the Future’s flagship program focuses on the horticultural value chain. Harvest 2 has met its youth targets, but without having a youth-specific strategy in place. Harvest 2 officials have made special efforts to engage youth as agricultural extension experts and found that qualified youth have little interest in these types of jobs, leading to high turnover.

Development Innovations: This is a USAID project that began in 2013 and finished at the end of 2019. Development Innovations’s remit includes supporting civil society organizations (CSOs) with using ICTs for development solutions, but also targeted training on information technology and entrepreneurship to youth and supported tech start-ups, including special support for women and girls in technology. A final assessment suggests future initiatives see youth as information and technology disseminators. Unfortunately for this report, the lessons learned focused on the overall approach and engagement with CSOs and did not include findings in terms of improved youth work outcomes.92

Cambodia Countering Trafficking in Persons (C-TIP): Running from 2015 to 2020, while this is a counter trafficking project, it includes vocational training and job placement support for those considered at risk, the majority of whom are youth.

4.2 MIGRATION AQ2: What are the current drivers of risky youth migration (domestic and international), and what can be done to address them?

SECTION OVERVIEW Risky migration has commonly been understood to refer to illegal/undocumented migration abroad. However, the evidence is that legal international migration and domestic migration are also associated

91 USAID, “COUNTRY DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION STRATEGY FOR CAMBODIA 2014–2018.” 92 PIERCE AND PLOSTINS, “DEVELOPMENT INNOVATIONS CONSOLIDATED RESULTS AND LEARNING ASSESSMENT 2013– 2019.”

21 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV with risk. This section therefore begins by defining risky migration and outlining what it entails in terms of risks faced by migrants and their families before looking at the drivers of risky migration and suggested solutions. Many of these solutions have been implemented in full or part, so the section ends with a review of existing responses.

Although migration itself is driven primarily by the search for work, factors that are associated with increased risk include: lack of information (about risks, about how to migrate legally, etc.), lack of alternative work, the decline of agriculture and rural livelihood options, lack of safety nets, debt, and limited recourse against exploitation. Please see Video Transcript 3 for Leang’s story of being an undocumented migrant in Thailand.

By and large, the problems around undocumented migration appear to be well understood, and responses to address this have been put in place and have resulted in a substantial increase in the proportion of documented migrants. Responses include national measures encouraging potential migrants to do so through legal means, explaining the risks of illegal/undocumented migration, registering recruiters, providing predeparture training, and providing complaint mechanisms for migrants who have legal complaints. Despite this, migrant workers, both domestic and international, remain vulnerable to exploitation by employers and others. More is required to improve working conditions and workers’ rights in Cambodia and in countries with significant migrant populations. Another major thrust to focus on is reducing the skills gap by increasing the availability of vocational skills training to youth. Existing efforts need to be sustained and expanded to reach all migrants and potential migrants who are at risk of exploitation.93

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT 3: I WAS EXPLOITED AS AN UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANT Hello, my name is Leang. I worked in Thailand for five years. I had a lot of challenges. I was arrested by the Thai Police for being an illegal migrant. Sometimes I didn’t have rice to eat for three days in a row. The salary I earned was taken by the manager and the recruiter. I worked without getting any wage. If you were me, you would know how much hurt this caused. I suggest to USAID and the government, please help to create vocational training centers and create more employment for all youth. Thank you!

KIM LEANG EANG IS 21 YEARS OLD AND WORKS AS A BARBER, LIVING IN THE OUTSKIRTS OF PHNOM PENH.

DEFINING “RISKY MIGRATION”: RISKS FACED BY MIGRANT YOUTH There is no a single definition of risky migration, although most people understand the term to refer primarily to international migration undertaken by undocumented workers, or those choosing to go through informal/illegal channels.94 Undocumented migrants do not have any legal protections and so are vulnerable to exploitation and abuse by anyone who knows this and wishes to take advantage of it. However, it is clear that the risks surrounding migration, and as they relate to youth particularly, are multilayered and extend beyond the risks faced by undocumented workers. Recent studies by International Labour Organization (ILO) and others suggest that while illegal migration has reduced, risks to migrants remain high and have sometimes risen. Risks can relate to surroundings, working conditions, exploitation by employers or others, and negative consequences to families and communities left behind. However, as one NGO representative noted, it is important to avoid assumptions about risks and coercion without evidence: this person pointed to previous research showing that most

93 EFFORTS HAVE FOCUSED ON REGIONS WITH HIGH OUT-MIGRATION, SO COVERAGE IS NOT 100 PERCENT BUT APPEARS TO BE QUITE GOOD. THE MAIN ISSUE IS TO MAKE SURE GAINS ARE NOT LOST, ESPECIALLY AS YOUTH AGE INTO BECOMING LIKELY CANDIDATES FOR ECONOMIC MIGRATION. 94 FROM KIIS IN PHNOM PENH, SIEM REAP, SIHANOUKVILLE, AND RATANAKIRI.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 22 migrant beggars did so by choice and that some women chose sex work and gained status because of the money they made.95

Given this, it is useful to juxtapose risky migration with safe migration, which might best be defined as migration as an informed choice by someone who is fully aware of and able to assert their rights. As a choice, migration can have both positive and negative points and be a critical part of an individual or family’s economic strategy.

Specific migration-related risks that were mentioned by KII respondents and FGD participants include:

● Loss or withholding of legal status: Legal migrants can become illegal when their papers expire or can be deprived of rights when their documents are seized by employers. A recent ILO report found this practice was widespread and had increased from 2013 levels, affecting 30 percent of Cambodians working as fishers in Thailand.96 ● Employers underpay or do not pay at all: This is a risk faced by those migrating abroad, especially but not exclusively those without legal papers.97 The same ILO report found high prevalence of pay withholding. Another study by International Organization for Migration (IOM) found 40 percent of women migrants received less than minimum wage for the jurisdiction they were working in.98 ● Risk of being trafficked and forced into outright slavery: This is a known risk for both males and females, for example working on fishing boats in Thailand or as domestic workers. Shockingly, the 2018 ILO study found only 29 percent of migrant Cambodian fishers reported no forced labor indicators.99 ● Physical and psychological risks: Both male and female youth face potential isolation and increased risk of exploitation when they leave the social protection of their home communities to work in cities or abroad. ● Risks to children left by migrant parents: Several sources note that children of migrant workers who are raised by others face increased risks of poverty, neglect, and abuse, as well as psychological trauma. A study by World Vision suggested that adolescents are particularly at risk. ● Risks to children traveling with migrant parents: The primary risk mentioned is that frequent relocation can affect school performance or lead to early school dropouts. ● Specific targeting of vulnerable populations: Some specific groups of people may be at greater risk of being targeted by traffickers. For example, one key informant in Ratanakiri said that some traffickers have seemed to target indigenous people, who sometimes face additional language and cultural barriers when they leave their communities. ● Harassment and sexual exploitation: Especially for females working in entertainment, tourism, and domestic work. ● Traffic accidents and criminals: This is true for youth working in Cambodian cities and commuting, especially females traveling at night. ● Poor access to health care/high risk of work injury or illness: This was mentioned most often for those working as laborers internationally, but is also a concern for domestic workers. For example, construction workers in Sihanoukville often live with their families on construction sites in poor conditions. ● Being detained by authorities and separated from family members: When, for example, Thai authorities find and detain undocumented workers, children are sometimes separated from their parents and detained for several years because of the way policies are interpreted and enforced.

95 FRIENDS INTERNATIONAL, “THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF THE FOREIGN CHILD BEGGAR ISSUE (ESPECIALLY AS RELATED TO CAMBODIAN CHILD BEGGARS) IN BANGKOK.” 96 ILO, “BASELINE RESEARCH FINDINGS ON FISHERS AND SEAFOOD WORKERS IN THAILAND.” 97 MENTIONED BY SEVERAL KIIS. ONE YOUNG MAN PARTICIPATING IN AN FGD IN KAMPONG CHAM RECOUNTED AN EXPERIENCE OF GOING TO MALAYSIA AND ONLY BEING PAID A THIRD OF HIS WAGES, WHICH CAUSED HIM TO LEAVE. 98 IOM, “ASSESSING POTENTIAL CHANGES IN THE MIGRATION PATTERNS OF CAMBODIAN MIGRANTS AND THEIR IMPACTS ON THAILAND AND CAMBODIA.” 99 ILO, “BASELINE RESEARCH FINDINGS ON FISHERS AND SEAFOOD WORKERS IN THAILAND.”

23 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV ● Being married into servitude: Cambodian women, sometimes underage, are sometimes sought for marriage by men in China, or older Cambodian men living overseas. Many find themselves living as servants or domestic slaves.

UNDERLYING FACTORS The drivers and motivations for migration are typically the same for both risky and safe migration. However, specific factors associated with increased risk include:

● Lack of information: about job opportunities locally, about risks, about how to migrate legally, about how to identify high risk situations/red flags, about rights, and about how to claim them. ● Lack of work alternatives: Youth take risks when they feel they don’t have a choice. This applies especially to youth with limited education and skills, and youth in rural areas with limited employment options. ● Lack of safety nets: Many rural families are facing increasing debt, reduced/irregular agricultural productivity, and increased costs of inputs. If there is a drought or a family member gets sick, they are put into financial crisis that can force labor migration.100 ● Increasing debt: There is significant evidence that indebtedness is a factor driving migration. Indebtedness in turn is driven by breakdowns in social safety nets, aggressive lending by microfinance institutions, and a lack of financial literacy. Those in debt and unable to repay migrate as a way of escaping creditors, and/or to seek means of repayment.101 ● Lack of recourse/protection: Although this is especially true for undocumented workers, it is also true for Cambodians who go out of the country legally and those migrating domestically.102 Workers often do not know their rights and do not know how to enforce them. Cambodia itself ranks poorly in terms of working conditions and workers’ rights. Cambodians working in marginal jobs in poor conditions abroad often comment that it is not any worse than home.103 ● Undermining of existing ways of life (agriculture, gathering forest products): FGD participants and KIIs note that in many communities, smallholder agriculture is becoming increasingly unsustainable so people are forced to find alternatives. This in turn is from land concessions encroaching on community land, deforestation, the small size of most land holdings, climate change, and poor agricultural practices leading to decreasing soil fertility.104

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT 4: WE BECAME MIGRANT WORKERS BECAUSE OF POVERTY AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Hello our names are Soy Sochan and Muon Sreyneang. Today we want to talk about the problems that pushed us to work in Phnom Penh. First, there was economic shortage in the family. As I am a woman, and I am also the oldest child, I had to sacrifice my education to come to work to support my siblings’ education and to help my family. The second problem is violence. Parents are in such shortage, they are always frustrated and make trouble for each other; they fight each other and drink alcohol. This causes their children to feel a lack of comfort. Therefore, we want to suggest to USAID to please help the poor children, children who are in need of study materials, to help them to get enough study materials. MUON SREYNEANG AND SOY SOCHAN ARE BOTH GARMENT WORKERS IN PHNOM PENH.

100 NOTED BY SEVERAL KEY INFORMANTS AND REINFORCED BY ALL RECENT REPORTS. 101 IOM, “DEBT AND THE MIGRATION EXPERIENCE: INSIGHTS FROM SOUTH-EAST ASIA.” 102 UNESCO ET AL., “OVERVIEW OF INTERNAL MIGRATION IN CAMBODIA.” 103 OLIVIER, SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR MIGRANT WORKERS IN ASEAN: DEVELOPMENTS, CHALLENGES, AND PROSPECTS. 104 PLAN INTERNATIONAL, “INTO THE LIGHT: YOUNG FEMALE MIGRANT WORKERS IN THAILAND’S SEAFOOD SECTOR AND THEIR ACCESS TO DECENT WORK.”

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 24 SOLUTIONS Ways of addressing risk factors go back to the definition of safe migration, and includes implementing watchdog and regulatory measures, creating mechanisms for redress, and providing youth with the capacity to make informed choices about migration, including resourcing them to pursue alternative employment routes domestically. Specific solutions mentioned by key informants working on this issue include:

● Monitor and regulate brokers: Illegal migration is done through brokers, so regulating brokers, creating legal channels, and cracking down on illegal brokers can reduce the likelihood that migrants will be exploited. ● Monitor high-risk destinations and high-risk recruitment sites/channels: For example, Cambodia banned labor migration to one country seen as high-risk and has tried to prevent Cambodians from marrying foreigners outside of Cambodia by refusing to recognize such marriages.105 ● Empower youth with information: Inform youth about migration and the law, labor rights, recourses, staying safe, and spotting red flags for exploitation and trafficking. ● Skills development and job placement: Help youth, especially those with little formal education, to upgrade skills so they can find alternatives that don’t require them to migrate. Migrant youth can also be targeted so that they can choose to return and find work in Cambodia. ● Strengthen safety networks for the poorest of the poor: The desperation of poverty creates conditions for exploitation. Rural people without land need safety nets—these can include savings activities, cow banks, rice banks, small-scale farming support, and support with small business and vocational training. ● Buy out the debt from indebted families: Debt can force people into high-risk migration. Buying out the debt or finding mechanisms to forgive debt is one proposed solution.106 ● Make sure that policies are evidence-based and monitor them for unintended consequences: Sometimes policies meant to reduce risk can unintentionally create new risks. For example, a crackdown on brothels in Cambodia pushed sex workers on the streets where they have less support and are much more vulnerable to rape. ● Create mechanisms for migrants to register complaints.

EXISTING RESPONSES With coordinated efforts between international agencies and the Royal Government of Cambodia, many of the solutions mentioned above have been implemented to some extent. Key informants believed that although the drivers of migration remain, the number of undocumented workers going through unregistered brokers is greatly reduced. The literature bears this out.107

GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND INITIATIVES

Policy on Labor Migration: Dating from 2014, this policy aims to protect migrants though regulations such as banning unregistered recruiters from advertising on TV and radio, and creating and/or improving social protection and legal dispute mechanisms for migrants and returnees. The policy also focuses on sharing safe migration messages, providing predeparture training to migrants, and targeting TVET to build migrant skills. A 2017 assessment of policy implementation found that progress had been made, although there were gaps. Areas where more attention is needed include on reintegration of returning migrants, ensuring

105 MENTIONED IN A KII IN SIEM REAP, THIS CAUSES SOME CHALLENGES BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN GENUINE VS. TRANSACTIONAL/EXPLOITATIVE MARRIAGES. IN ADDITION TO LABOR MIGRATION, OTHER FACTORS SUCH AS AGE AND INCOME ARE CONSIDERED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN MARRIAGE REFUSALS. 106 THIS SUGGESTION WAS MADE IN A KII, ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS THAT IT WOULD BE HARD TO IMPLEMENT. THE ISSUE OF INDEBTEDNESS AND HOW TO ADDRESS IT IS A CRITICAL ONE WITH NO OBVIOUS AND CLEARCUT SOLUTION. 107 IOM, “ASSESSING POTENTIAL CHANGES IN THE MIGRATION PATTERNS OF CAMBODIAN MIGRANTS AND THEIR IMPACTS ON THAILAND AND CAMBODIA.”

25 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV that migrants receive compensation awarded through complaints mechanisms, and understanding the impact of migration to other family members. Although the registration of recruitment agencies has been implemented (through MLVT), the report also noted that many migrants are still using irregular/informal channels.108 Need for improved data management: Government officials and IOM officials have noted that anti- trafficking data sharing and management across ministries requires improvement, as there is duplication of information collected by ministries and no easy way to track trafficking data across them.

Passing of protective regulations: The government has passed regulations restricting Cambodians to work in countries known as high-risk, and has also implemented measures aiming to protect Cambodian women from transactional marriage arrangements. Specifically, in 2011 the government enacted a partial ban on Cambodian women marrying foreign men, requiring men to be younger than the age of 50 and meet certain income requirements.109

UNITED NATIONS

Both the IOM and ILO have focused on migration issues in Cambodia. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has also focused on trafficking issues. UN agencies have worked with the government on policies and supported them to inform migrants. The IOM has focused its efforts on policy and capacity building and has also conducted studies.

NGOS AND YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS

Numerous NGOs and youth organizations have run projects—largely to inform youth of the risks of migration and how to address safe migration. Peer education workshops have been the most common approach. In many cases, the projects were funded by donors and driven by donor interest—many NGOs reported that they were no longer running these sessions because funding had ended. Although this study did not gather enough information to map the extent of this, if efforts have wound down, this could be a problem because new waves of youth become likely candidates for migration, facing the same risks.110

As a few instructive examples of ongoing and upcoming work, Friends (an NGO) continues to conduct information campaigns targeting regions along the border, and also provides transitional homes for young returnees, providing them with vocational training and attempting to reunite them with families where possible. Plan International is planning a new program to address the safety of girls moving to urban areas. Cambodian Human Rights Development Association addresses legal rights of workers.

USAID PROJECTS

USAID has previously supported IOM and is currently funding the C-TIP project implemented by Winrock, which began in 2011 and runs until 2020. This program focuses on four Ps: partnership, protection, prevention, and prosecution. It has focused on helping set up government policies, strengthening capacities on the National Committee on C-TIP and helping trafficking victims seek legal redress. It has also supported TVET training and a job placement platform, described briefly in the previous section.

4.3 CIVIC AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

108 AUSTRALIAN AID AND ILO, “ANALYSIS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POLICY ON LABOUR MIGRATION,” 2017. 109 FOR FURTHER DETAIL, PLEASE SEE: HTTPS://WWW.BBC.COM/NEWS/WORLD-ASIA-PACIFIC-12802339 110 KHMER YOUTH ASSOCIATION, KHMER YOUTH FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, AND WORLD EDUCATION ARE ALL EXAMPLES OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY, BUT ARE NO LONGER, RUNNING YOUTH INFORMATION SESSIONS.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 26 AQ3: What factors motivate Cambodian youth to participate actively and collectively in civic and community decisions, processes, and institutions? What factors inhibit the collective activism and participation of Cambodian youth?

SECTION OVERVIEW This section addresses the factors that motivate and inhibit Cambodian youth to engage in civic and community processes at the individual, family, and community levels, as found through the various sources from this assessment and summarized in Table 4. It first considers youth aspirations, then the current situation, and the policy and program response.

TABLE 4: MOTIVATING AND INHIBITING FACTORS FOR YOUTH CIVIC AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MOTIVATING FACTORS INHIBITING FACTORS Want to be heard and involved Low levels of education Youth Mortality ● ● ● Desire to increase knowledge, skills, ● Low levels of experience prestige ● Low levels of confidence ● Have access to social media Supportive parents/caregivers Lack of parental/caregiver support Family ● ● Existing groups in schools and Low community capacity to self- Community ● ● community organize ● Some teachers provide incentives ● Safety concerns, especially for for volunteering females ● Exclusion of PLWD, LGBTQ ● Cultural expectation: youth listen to elders, not vice versa; youth should just focus on studies and working Existing groups in government/ Censorship Government/National ● ● supported by government* ● Insufficient capacity of government ● Volunteer service recognition structures to involve youth, framework especially PLWD, LGBTQ ● Some commune leaders invite youth ● Corruption: lack of interest by to join in the commune planning government counterparts to be processes held accountable, especially on specific issues, e.g., deforestation ● Nepotism

*These include youth groups organized within government ministries as well as government-endorsed youth groups, such as Scouts and the Red Cross. There is also the Union Youth Federations of Cambodia, which is led by one of the Prime Minister’s sons and is seen by most as quasi-governmental.

YOUTH ASPIRATIONS Youth expressed a desire to be invited to share about their ideas, the problems they see in the community (such as deforestation, developing human resources, preserving their culture, reduction in violence), and to find solutions together in unity to develop their country. They identified that this engagement can begin at a young age within the school system. They shared that they believe at an early age, children can learn about the importance of being engaged in the community. There is a desire that the government organize annual youth congress or forums. Youth desired that there would be funds to implement their own projects and were interested in international exchange programs. Youth envision young women having a voice.

Despite these desires, there remains a strong reliance on external support, such as from NGOs to support youth engagement.

CURRENT SITUATION

27 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV Policy environment: The current policy environment provides a strong foundation for youth civic and community engagement. Under the Kingdom of Cambodia’s constitution (1993), young people have the right to vote and stand to be elected into office (Article 34).111 In addition to this, the 2011 National Policy on Cambodia Youth Development includes several aspirational strategies contributing to this domain:

● Strategy 5.6 aims to enhance youth participation; key elements include: o creating an enabling environment and formal mechanisms for effective participation by youth with civil society; o promoting greater involvement in community and national development, as well as youth representatives in councils at all levels; o promoting participation, expressions, and decision making by young people in the education sector; o organizing programs for youth capacity development so that they can collect, analyze, produce, and share information that is relevant for them; and o mobilizing support for youth voices in policy and legal instruments and development processes that benefit youth. ● Strategy 5.7 aims to promote more leisure, recreational and sports (which form the basis of some youth clubs); ● Strategy 5.8 promotes arts and cultural activities (which help to preserve culture); ● Strategy 5.10 promotes volunteerism; and ● Strategy 5.11 focuses on the promotion of gender equality, which includes promoting “female youth to take up leadership roles and exercise their rights in decision making in their family, community, and society.”

Another policy development of note is the Strategic Plan on Social Accountability for Subnational Democratic Development (2013), which sets out a plan for a social accountability framework (SAF). It operationalizes the National Program for Subnational Democratic Development, which defines ways forward for decentralization reform to enable greater local democratic governance. The strategic plan addresses more specifically the aspect of citizen engagement and social accountability that is defined in law and how civil society can engage with elected councils and service providers. In addition, the Implementation Plan for the SAF (I-SAF) 2015–2018 was developed jointly with the National Committee for Subnational Democratic Development and CSOs in Cambodia. In the past year, USAID, as well as other donors, have been providing funds to move I-SAF forward. The aim of I-SAF is to: (1) provide more access to information (including performance and compliance information) and open budgets; (2) facilitate citizen-led monitoring, interface meetings, and joint action planning; (3) build capacity of state and nonstate actors to facilitate the engagement and social accountability process; and (4) ensure learning and monitoring throughout the process.

The Government of Cambodia also has in place a volunteer policy and has recently developed a volunteer framework and launched a website with the support of UN Volunteers that will connect volunteers with hosting organizations. It also provides a framework for which volunteers can get recognition for their contributions by providing a certificate after 200 volunteer hours logged.

The Ministry of Women’s Affairs’ (MoWA) Neary Rattanak IV: Five-Year Strategic Plan for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, 2014–2018, includes as an objective the promotion and participation of women in decision making at all levels, through increasing the number of civil servants and elected leaders as well as strengthening their capacity and opportunities for promotion.

111 YOUTH COALITION FOR UNITY AND DEVELOPMENT, “STATUS OF YOUTH POLICIES OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN CAMBODIA AND PROPOSED YOUTH POLICY FORMULATION GUIDELINE,” 2018.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 28 VIDEO TRANSCRIPT 5: POLICY MAKERS SHOULD ENGAGE PLWD

SOKHIM IS A YOUTH LIVING IN PHNOM PENH. Hello, my name is Sokhim. I want to talk about engaging people with visual disabilities in social affairs. In order to engage people with visual disabilities, first, the relevant party should provide opportunities such as training. People with visual disabilities should be included in policy making in order for them to understand the policies and for the policy makers to understand and think about them. Second is sharing knowledge and experiences with them through encouragement. The third point is changing interactions between people without disabilities and people with visual disabilities. I hope that through this video USAID and relevant stakeholders consider these concepts to make policies or plans in order to let people with visual disabilities have a voice and engage with some work.

Youth participation: Youth participation in Cambodia is most often manifested through social volunteerism, such as cleaning the environment, minor infrastructures repairs, and assisting in social support for the poor and vulnerable, or those affected by humanitarian situations, for example, flooding. There are some cases where youth are empowered to input into local-level decision making, but more often youth are not invited to participate and do not feel their opinions are sought or would be respected. Youth sometimes reported being deliberately sidelined, especially those living with disabilities and LGBTQ youth, although many would like to engage. Please see Video Transcript 5 and Video Transcript 6 for youth perspectives on the need for greater engagement. If youth are invited to participate in civic events, it is often to provide the pretense of youth involvement, but it is merely token participation and does not give them a chance to actively contribute in decision making on issues that affect their lives. Often their involvement, even in development projects, is to further the objectives of the organization or institution rather than those of the youth or youth groups themselves.

Youth voting: In terms of participation in Cambodia’s democratic processes, a downward trend in youth voting decreased the participation domain in the Cambodian Youth Development Index across most of the provinces.112 In addition, a survey conducted for Youth Resource Development Program (YRDP), with 1,484 youth who had completed grade 12 or higher across 13 regions in Cambodia, showed that 57 percent voted in the 2013 national assembly election and 34 percent voted in the 2012 commune/Sangkat council election. The study showed that there were lower participation rates among younger voters, though nearly all participants (95 percent) said that they would vote in the next elections.113 Reasons given for not voting include not knowing how to register to vote or believing that the process is too complicated, being busy, lack of interest, not believing that their vote will change the election result, and migration. Thirteen percent also note that they did not have legitimate documentation to vote. This could be because not all youth have their birth certificates. A survey of 1,304 parents/caregivers indicated that 75.7 percent of children under 5 have their birth registration, confirmed by 75.2 percent of caregivers who have birth registration.114

Youth in leadership: The number of elected youth commune councilors and chiefs has been steadily increasing. The percentage of youth aged 25–35 years old holding elected commune/Sangkat councilor positions grew from 1.4 percent of the 11,353 elected positions in 2007 to 7.45 percent in 2017, according to official National Election Council reports.115

112 TECH AND WOOD, “CAMBODIAN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INDEX (CYDI),” 2017. 113 YOUTH IN ACTION FOR SOCIETY, “YOUTH’S PERSPECTIVES ON YOUTH CANDIDATES FOR NATIONAL AND SUBNATIONAL ELECTED BODIES: SUMMARY OF RESEARCH FINDINGS,” 2016. 114 WORLD VISION CAMBODIA, “LEAP 3 BASELINE REPORT: TECHNICAL PROGRAMMES AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SPONSORSHIP PLAN.” 115 YOUTH COALITION FOR UNITY AND DEVELOPMENT, “STATUS OF YOUTH POLICIES OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN CAMBODIA AND PROPOSED YOUTH POLICY FORMULATION GUIDELINE,” 2018.

29 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV The YRDP study showed that few (3 percent) youth have ever stood for election, but about one third (34 percent) would be interested if they felt there was an opportunity.116 The main reason others were not interested in political involvement is that they “didn’t want to get into trouble.” Participants of FGDs and key informants in that study shared stories of intimidation incidents that had occurred in Cambodia. One youth shared how when they joined with an NGO, they were trying to address land issues in Sihanoukville against powerful, rich people. The authorities threatened them not to talk about it, and the authorities stopped their meeting. Another key informant shared about how a citizen has been arrested for their posts on Facebook. The activities of one group that works to maintain civil society space, especially for youth, has been monitored by the armed police, and their office has been raided. Other reasons provided included: lack of interest (40 percent); not knowing how to become involved (37 percent); lack of experience (35 percent); and low education (33 percent). In addition, 42 percent felt that youth leadership was not promoted within political parties.117 An interesting finding is that these, and other reasons, show a lack of faith in the political avenues, such as nepotism in candidate selection and a lack of fair and transparent processes; 71 percent of respondents felt it was more productive to volunteer for an NGO rather than be part of a political party.118

In terms of gender, there has been positive progress. In 2018, 41 percent of civil service workers were female, which meets the target that lies between 20 and 50 percent. Also, women comprise 24 percent of leaders in decision making in government.119

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT 6: YOUTH SHOULD ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY DECISION MAKING RETH SODAVANN IS A FOURTH-YEAR UNIVERSITY STUDENT LIVING IN PHNOM PENH. Youth must know how to use their rights correctly for engaging in social affairs for their own benefits and for the benefit of the country. I request commune chiefs and village chiefs to encourage youth to engage in community development meetings and share their ideas. Youth should take this opportunity to learn about what the community needs to improve and how to help our communes be transparent and accountable.

Youth groups: Although this assessment did not compile a comprehensive list of youth groups, the MoEYS estimates that there are at least 85 active and registered youth-focused NGOs working in Cambodia (NGO forum). The list below gives an indication of the different types of groups existing at different levels in Cambodia.

Government endorsed/supported: ● Red Cross: They assist in humanitarian crisis and provide support for vulnerable households. ● Scouts: They build life skills of members and raise awareness about road safety. ● School-based groups, such as children’s councils and youth councils, operate within schools. They can support school events and cleanups as well as also provide some opportunity for life- skills building and leadership development. ● Youth groups within ministries like MoWA do various tasks such as organizing events like debates, sports, and entertainment; mobilizing volunteers for community needs; and facilitating capacity development. Locally led youth groups:

116 YOUTH IN ACTION FOR SOCIETY, “YOUTH’S PERSPECTIVES ON YOUTH CANDIDATES FOR NATIONAL AND SUBNATIONAL ELECTED BODIES: SUMMARY OF RESEARCH FINDINGS,” 2016. 117 YOUTH IN ACTION FOR SOCIETY. 118 YOUTH IN ACTION FOR SOCIETY. 119 REPRESENTATIVES FROM MOWA.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 30 ● Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia: This group may be the group that has the largest reach. It is led by Hun Manet, son of the Prime Minister. It aims to help train Cambodian youth to become the pillars and backbone of the nation and as potential successors to preserve past achievements and to achieve socioeconomic development in the future. ● Youth Coalition for Unity and Development: This is a coalition of several established youth groups that promote youth participation in development in Cambodia, including: Khmer Youth Association, Youth for Peace, Youth Council of Cambodia, YRDP, Khmer Youth for Social Development, Khmer Institute for National Development, and People Center for Development and Peace (PDP-Center) ● Local groups mobilized by an NGO: There was evidence of local youth groups that were mobilized at the village level by organizations like World Vision. There may be other such organizations, but this assessment did not conduct a comprehensive study on this point. UN: ● Youth Advisory Panel: A group of youth from NGOs that work with youth to advise UN programming and policy development.

In addition to these groups, there are several youth-focused NGOs that engage youth in civic and community development processes by mobilizing youth groups to build their capacity and contribute to the well-being of their communities. There are also youth wings in most of the main political parties that have been involved in media campaigns, lobbying, and demonstrations.120

Despite the legal and structural framework to participate, the YRDP study found only a small percentage of youth who said they were members of a youth organization (7 percent), political party (8 percent), or a community-based organization (7 percent). The results showed that of these few, only just over half (55 percent) participated in meetings, with females sharing that they never participated in meetings.121 Although the coverage for participation in youth groups is small, the engagement of marginalized groups is even smaller. Groups that continue to be excluded include PLWD, LGBTQ, youth living in remote and rural areas, and migrant workers.122

Youth voice and empowerment: Youth participation in policy and decision making remains limited. Although there are processes in place for community members, including youth, to engage in community-level planning and influence the allocation of commune investments, representatives from the community, especially youth and more especially those from marginalized groups, such as PLWD and LGBTQ, are not included. NGOs support including community representatives in the process. The assessment team heard about how in Sihanoukville, there was a time when local authorities included youth and other key stakeholders in their planning processes with the support of Licadho, but after the NGO closed its programs in the province, the commune leaders have been too “busy” or “forgetful” to hold community meetings.

From a broader perspective, the World Vision Youth for Change survey involving 1,451 youth aged 14 to 24 years old found that only 34.7 percent of youth can identify a platform to raise issues to a duty bearer. The range of averages for their geographical programs ranged from 14.3 percent to 67.1 percent.123, 124 From the same survey, 7.9 percent of youth reported that their views are sought and incorporated into the decision making by local government.125

120 OECD, “KEY ISSUES AFFECTING YOUTH IN CAMBODIA.” 121 YOUTH IN ACTION FOR SOCIETY, “YOUTH’S PERSPECTIVES ON YOUTH CANDIDATES FOR NATIONAL AND SUBNATIONAL ELECTED BODIES: SUMMARY OF RESEARCH FINDINGS.” 122 OECD, “KEY ISSUES AFFECTING YOUTH IN CAMBODIA.” 123 WORLD VISION CAMBODIA, “LEAP 3 BASELINE REPORT: TECHNICAL PROGRAMMES AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SPONSORSHIP PLAN.” 124 INTERPRETATION OF “DUTY BEARER” BY RESPONDENTS WAS VERY BROAD. IT INCLUDED YOUTH CLUB, SCHOOL, CHURCH, COMMUNE CHIEF, POLICE, AND VILLAGE LEADER. 125 WORLD VISION CAMBODIA, “LEAP 3 BASELINE REPORT: TECHNICAL PROGRAMMES AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SPONSORSHIP PLAN.”

31 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV ENABLING FACTORS/OPPORTUNITIES Access to technology and social media: The increased access to the internet and social media has been a game changer in many ways, but especially in providing an opportunity for youth to get access to information independently. In 2015, about 40 percent of Cambodians had access to the internet and/or Facebook.126 The YRDP study found that 85 percent of respondents used internet, and 58 percent used smartphones, while half of the respondents (51 percent) felt that the internet or social media was the most reliable source for seeking political information.127 This presents both an advantage as well as some risks to youth in all the domains discussed in this report. In terms of civic and community engagement, social media, mostly Facebook, has allowed youth to be better informed about events not just in their own community, but across the country, as well as enables them to be more vocal.128

Despite these broader trends, there are still remote areas of the country where internet connectivity is poor or nonexistent. In addition, posting on social media does not guarantee impunity. There has been at least one case where someone posting perceived anti-government information on Facebook was tracked down and arrested. Although several of the government ministries do have a website and/or Facebook page, they are not always updated or used frequently. Government staff do not have government-issued emails. Though most have personal email accounts, connecting with government staff is still best done in person or through letter request, and in some cases, through phone or messaging apps.

Parental Support: From the FGD respondents and other studies,129 support from parents was an important enabling factor to youth participating in civic and/or community engagement. Cambodians hold strong family values. The lines of trust generally run along familial ones. Several motivations often stem from a duty to family. The parents of most youth would have been alive during the Pol Pot era and, given the current political climate, would be justified in having a healthy reticence to allowing their children to engage in what could be considered political or anti-government activities.

Volunteerism: There is a growing interest in volunteering as the country has stabilized. Those who volunteer see it as a benefit both for the community and themselves, as youth could gain soft skills in volunteer roles,130 such as leadership, coordination, project management, that they would not otherwise have opportunities to obtain because businesses are looking to hire people with that experience already.

CONSTRAINING FACTORS/GAPS Constricting civil society space: The current situation in Cambodia of civic and community engagement is overshadowed by the constricting civil society space. Since the 2013 elections, there are ongoing examples of intimidation by the dominant political party, who now hold all the seats in parliament, including the dissolution of the opposition party (with one leader in exile and another arrested for treason); the crackdown on free media (including the shutdown of independent newspaper companies and arrests of many journalists); and the monitoring of group meetings, especially with youth by the police. There has even been reported cases where someone has been imprisoned for what has been posted on their Facebook site. As such, “civic engagement and political involvement are widely associated with risks, which leads to a lack of support and encouragement from parents and communities.”131 Against this backdrop, there are other challenges to youth having opportunities to voice their opinions to influence decision making.

126 TECH AND WOOD, “CAMBODIAN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INDEX (CYDI ).” 127 YOUTH IN ACTION FOR SOCIETY, “YOUTH’S PERSPECTIVES ON YOUTH CANDIDATES FOR NATIONAL AND SUBNATIONAL ELECTED BODIES: SUMMARY OF RESEARCH FINDINGS.” 128 OECD DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, “YOUTH WELL-BEING POLICY REVIEW OF CAMBODIA.” 129 SOK AND MEAS, “YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IN SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE CIVIC SPACE IN CAMBODIA,” 2017. 130 OECD DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, “YOUTH WELL-BEING POLICY REVIEW OF CAMBODIA.” 131 OECD, “KEY ISSUES AFFECTING YOUTH IN CAMBODIA.”

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 32 Cultural factors: Cambodian culture is hierarchical, where elders are respected as they are seen to have more education and experience. Youth should not be perceived to be challenging elders. As indicated from the FGDs and research studies,132 youth themselves feel that even if they join development processes, their opinions would not be taken under consideration. Where youth-focused NGOs have built the capacity of youth in target communities, they have successfully found ways to empower youth to share their thoughts and ideas in culturally appropriate ways.

Capacity of government structures: Several key informants shared that many local government staff do not have the capacity to organize community meetings. They also are not held accountable for ensuring representation from the community and are not aware of how to include people from marginalized groups, such a PLWD and LGBTQ. One PLWD who worked with a local NGO shared that she went to her home commune council and asked to be involved, but she was told to go back to her organization. One transgender shared that she was invited to be part of an official event, but it was more to be a token representative on stage rather than to lend voice to those from her community. In addition, to include marginalized people, funding is often needed for those who are from remote areas or poorer households because they are not able to afford the cost of transportation to attend the meeting.

Community capacity to mobilize: Where communities have had the capacity to organize (usually through the support of an NGO with external funding), youth were involved in and/or mobilized into groups to address issues in their community. The implications of this is that with the trend of less donor funding overall, several NGOs in the country have been closing or reducing their scope and support.

Access to information about volunteer opportunities: Several FGD and KII respondents confirmed studies that indicated youth lacked access to information about volunteer opportunities. Aside from social media and the internet, common ways that youth get information include radio, television, or family and friends. Some information comes through the schools. A common way that communities become aware of local events is through a recorded message that is announced through a microphone ridden on the back of a bicycle through the community.

PROGRAMS In the USAID/Cambodia CDCS 2014–2020, it aimed to increase youth’s civic engagement, especially those of females and especially in the area of human rights. Its efforts have been mainly in the area of increasing the rights of garment factory workers, such as through the funding of Better Factories Cambodia initiative, which is a partnership between the ILO and the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank Group. The program aims to improve working conditions while boosting the competitiveness of the garment industry through engagement with workers, employers, and governments. In addition to many services, such as training and research, a key function is the implementation of factory assessments to ensure that factories are compliant with core international labor standards and working conditions based on Cambodian labor laws. The reports from these assessments are made public for international brand companies. Companies with corporate social responsibility strategies include the results from this assessment as part of their criteria for engaging with factories. Those with better assessment results are more desirable to such companies and would gain them more business.

USAID/Cambodia has also funded civic education programs for youth, as well as voter education programs, which may not have targeted youth specifically, but would have included them.

Other promising practices by other organizations in the country include the work of many of the local youth groups, such as those involved in Youth Coalition for Unity and Development, which educate youth on how to engage in civic and community processes as well as empower them to share their

132 YOUTH IN ACTION FOR SOCIETY, “YOUTH’S PERSPECTIVES ON YOUTH CANDIDATES FOR NATIONAL AND SUBNATIONAL ELECTED BODIES: SUMMARY OF RESEARCH FINDINGS.”

33 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV opinions in ways that can influence decision making. Of special note is the work of PDP-Center, which builds capacity in political parties to develop youth policies. In addition, there are several youth-focused NGOs that have successfully worked with youth to increase social accountability, like World Vision, by building capacity of youth groups to analyze policy entitlements in sectors that affect them, such as health or education, and to conduct assessments, to then engage with the wider community and local duty bearers to find solutions together to address gaps in the implementation of those policies.

4.4 SAFETY AND WELL-BEING AQ4: What conditions drive risk factors that threaten the safety and well-being of youth in Cambodia? These can include both internal factors, such as addictive or violent behavior, and external factors, such as drivers toward exploitation by others.

SECTION OVERVIEW Many of the issues discussed in other sections of this report already identify key drivers affecting the safety and well-being of youth in Cambodia because poverty is an underlying root cause for many struggles that youth face. The resulting migration from a lack of economic opportunity in communities erodes the social safety net that would help to protect youth. Migration also forms a disconnect between the youth and local government or community structures that could also assist them in ensuring their rights to protection.

Key issues that arose from this assessment regarding youth safety and well-being include: youth health (including overall health, sexual reproductive health, and mental health); substance abuse (including smoking, alcohol, and drugs); violence (including general violence, domestic violence, and violence at school); child marriage; trafficking in persons; child labor; food safety and diet; and health and safety in the workplace. See Table 5 for statistics regarding youth health.

YOUTH ASPIRATIONS There are many things that can threaten the safety and well-being of youth in Cambodia, so this assessment has focused on the main issues that were identified through high-level youth profiles developed by multilateral agencies as well as the issues that the youth themselves raised during this assessment.

From the FGDs, youth’s main concern was about reducing substance abuse, which was linked to violence, especially from gangsters and domestic violence, and crimes, such as theft and robbery. Where law enforcement is effective, it reduced drug abuse, crime, and violence; alternatively, where there were cases of corruption, the issues prevailed. Traffic safety was another major area that concerned youth. To address this issue, they envisioned better roads, more lights, and enforced traffic laws. A sanitary environment, organic produce, sufficient sanitation facilities, ending child marriage, improved support for mental health, and good diet and exercise were also aspirations mentioned, as well as accountability and access for quality and friendly health services.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 34

TABLE 4: SUMMARY STATISTICS FOR YOUTH HEALTH SUMMARY STATISTICS Youth life expectancy has been increasing over the last ten Youth Mortality ● years.133 ● Youth mortality rate decreased by 40 percent.134 ● Youth maternal mortality rate improved by 53 percent between 2005 and 2015.135 ● Ratio of people who died from a traffic accident increased from 2,256/100,000 in 2013 to 2,834/100,000 in 2015.136 The percentage of youth with knowledge of HIV/AIDS Sexual and Reproductive Health ● preventing HIV/AIDS by using a condom declined from 2010 to 2014.137 ● Only 1 percent of young females reported having used a condom during last intercourse (2011).138 ● Deaths caused by HIV/AIDS decreased by 86 percent between 2005 and 2015.139 ● The percentage of youth who reported having a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or STI symptoms increased from 3.75 percent in 2005 to 5.5 percent in 2014,140,141 with more women being exposed to STIs.142

CURRENT SITUATION/TRENDS

Youth Health: There has generally been an overall improvement in overall health statistics for youth as seen in a decrease in mortality and morbidity as well as HIV/AIDS prevalence rates; however, there remain considerable inequalities based on geographic location, gender, and marital and socioeconomic status.143 Health care costs, whether for chronic diseases or a health emergency, can shift vulnerable families below the poverty line. Debts incurred as a result of high health expenses can drive the factors described in earlier sections.

Sexual and reproductive health is an area of growing concern. Despite previous positive trends, there have been increases within some populations of HIV/AIDS and STI rates, especially among at-risk groups, such as entertainment workers and LGBTQ communities.144 This could be a result of reduced NGO support because of decreased funding. The statistics show a significant knowledge-behavior gap for condom use, especially for females, as well as a higher rate of STIs. This issue is also linked to issues like child marriage and gender-based violence, as well as unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and pregnancy-related illness (especially related to young/early pregnancies). Early pregnancy can put both the mother and child at risk for poor health and nutrition, which can affect the intellectual and physical development of the child, and lead to issues with education and later employability. However, this topic was not one that was mentioned much in the fieldwork for this assessment, likely because of the sensitive nature of the topic.

Mental health was an area of concern noted by several youth respondents in the assessment. Please see Video Transcript 7. Awareness of mental health is limited in Cambodia, despite the trauma of the country’s recent history and high rates of domestic violence and substance abuse. The norm is for

133 TECH AND WOOD, “CAMBODIAN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INDEX (CYDI).” 134 TECH AND WOOD, “CAMBODIAN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INDEX (CYDI).” 135 TECH AND WOOD, “CAMBODIAN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INDEX (CYDI).” 136 TECH AND WOOD, “CAMBODIAN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INDEX (CYDI).” 137 TECH AND WOOD, “CAMBODIAN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INDEX (CYDI).” 138 OECD, “KEY ISSUES AFFECTING YOUTH IN CAMBODIA.” 139 OECD DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, “YOUTH WELL-BEING POLICY REVIEW OF CAMBODIA.” 140 TECH AND WOOD, “CAMBODIAN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INDEX (CYDI).” 141 NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STATISTICS, DIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR HEALTH, AND ICF INTERNATIONAL, “CAMBODIA DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEY 2014.” 142 OECD DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, “YOUTH WELL-BEING POLICY REVIEW OF CAMBODIA.” 143 OECD DEVELOPMENT CENTRE. 144 UNDP AND USAID, “BEING LGBT IN ASIA: CAMBODIA COUNTRY REPORT, 2014.”

35 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV families to hide mental illness from others.145 Statistics for this are sparse and outdated. A 2002 study estimated that 40 percent of Cambodians suffered from mental health and psychological problems.146 A study published in 2009 estimated that 14 to 33 percent of Cambodians older than 18 suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).147 These rates are considered alarming since the worldwide prevalence sits at less than 0.4 percent.148 Looking at proxy indicators, the incidence of mental health could be increasing because one of the leading causes of death for youth aged 15 to 29 is from self- harm, which increased from 7.8 percent in 2005 to 11.3 percent in 2015, with a greater increase for males during this time.149

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT 7: YOUTH NEED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TREONG PONLEAU IS A YOUTH LIVING IN SIEM REAP. Hello! Today I will be talking about youth and depression. Some youth suffer from depression, which can be caused by family, friends, and education. Depression from family may happen because families are separated. The second is the friend factor, which happens if youth see their friends using material things but do not have them. The third is learning and working factors because many youth work while studying, which is more complicated, causing youth to give up on both. At this point, I would like to urge USAID to launch a youth mental health program to encourage youth to move forward and achieve their dreams.

TABLE 5: SUMMARY STATISTICS FOR YOUTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE SUMMARY STATISTICS

150 Addiction ● 7.3 percent of youth aged 15 to 24 use tobacco. ● Male youth (64.7 percent) consume more tobacco than female youth (2.9 percent).151 ● 14.2 percent of youth aged 11–18 consume alcohol.152 ● In 2010, National Authority for Combating Drugs estimated between 5,000 and 6,000 drug addicts, of which 60 percent were aged between 18 and 25.153 ● Number of addicts seeking treatment at public and private drug rehabilitation centers increase from 1,162 in 2012 to 1,286 in 2014.154

Illegal Drug Abuse: Although no clear recent statistics exist, respondents from the FGDs and other global reports155 seem to indicate that the prevalence of drug use is increasing. Please see Table 6 for statistics regarding youth substance abuse. Several respondents shared that they knew where drugs were being dealt or used in their community. Another proxy indicator is the number of addicts who are seeking treatment, which has also been increasing. Youth in FGDs and the video self-expression project often associated drug use in their community with increasing social problems and crime. Please see Video Transcript 8. Although the common perception is that drug users often come from poorer households, one key informant shared that there is an increase in youth from middle-class households who are drug addicts and that they are increasingly the ones who are committing bag snatching in cities

145 ROYAL UNIVERSITY OF PHNOM PENH, “CAMBODIAN MENTAL HEALTH SURVEY,” 2012. 146 DE JONG, TRAUMA, WAR AND VIOLENCE, 2002. 147 SONIS ET AL., “PROBABLE POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AND DISABILITY IN CAMBODIA. ASSOCIATIONS WITH PERCEIVED JUSTICE, DESIRE FOR REVENGE, AND ATTITUDES TOWARD THE KHMER ROUGE TRIALS.” 148 MCLAUGHLIN AND WICKERI, “SPECIAL REPORT—MENTAL HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN CAMBODIA.” 149 OECD DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, “YOUTH WELL-BEING POLICY REVIEW OF CAMBODIA.” 150 OECD, “KEY ISSUES AFFECTING YOUTH IN CAMBODIA.” 151 NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STATISTICS, DIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR HEALTH, AND ICF INTERNATIONAL, “CAMBODIA DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEY 2014.” 152 OECD, “KEY ISSUES AFFECTING YOUTH IN CAMBODIA.” 153 OECD, “KEY ISSUES AFFECTING YOUTH IN CAMBODIA.” 154 OECD. 155 OECD DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, “YOUTH WELL-BEING POLICY REVIEW OF CAMBODIA.”

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 36 to fund their addictions. The use of drugs is also linked with violence and intimidation, leading to a fear for personal safety, especially for young females in urban settings who may need to travel at night for school or work.

Alcohol Abuse: The 2017 OECD “Youth Well-Being Policy Review” reports that the trend for alcohol consumption has been on the rise and that Cambodia has the highest level of alcohol consumption among 15- to 19-year-olds in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, with more males (42 percent) than females (27 percent) who are current drinkers. This trend is concerning because it is linked to the incidence of traffic accidents as well as violence, especially domestic violence. Smoking: The issue of smoking was not raised much from youth during this assessment, and the OECD “Youth Well-Being Policy Review” states that tobacco use is reducing in younger adolescent boys (ages 15–17), although it remains high for youth aged 18–24. Statistics suggest that the prevalence rate for males increases with age. Very few young women smoke tobacco.156 Both key informants and youth spoke about the impact of smoking that affected the cardiovascular health of the youth that worked in casinos.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT 8: DRUG USE IS SPREADING AND WE DON’T KNOW HOW TO STOP IT Hello! We are indigenous youth from Ratanakiri province. Today, we want to talk about drugs. Drug use has spread across the country including the indigenous villages. Some villagers use drugs. They stop using drugs temporarily when local authorities and police come to villages. Once the local authorities leave the villages, they start using drugs again. This is not a good example because the youth want to follow their steps.

Drugs are widely available. In my village, as example, adults and young people use drugs. They copy each other, especially youth who have stopped going to school. They use drugs after dropping school. We don’t have a suggestion, but rather a question: “How do we prevent drug use in the young generation?” THEAH SOK THEAN AND AE THEA (NOT PICTURED) LIVE IN RATANAKIRI PROVINCE.

Violence: Cambodia has high rates of all types of violence among youth. Children with disabilities are also more vulnerable to abuse, neglect, and abandonment.157, 158 LGBTQ are more vulnerable to sexual harassment, bullying, and violence.159, 160 Some studies mention that youth and their parents confirm observing a lot of violence in their communities.161 Domestic violence rates being high, it could be that youth are learning a norm of violence behavior starting at home. Rates of gang rape in Cambodia are among the highest in the region. Five percent of men in Cambodia reported participating in gang rape compared with 1–2 percent in other countries. Most perpetrators were young men, many of whom first committed rape when under the age of 15. Most youth violence in Cambodia is sexualized violence. There is a cultural practice of male bonding called “bauk” that involves gang rape as part of showing male prowess.162 Violence, especially domestic violence, is often linked to drug and alcohol consumption, low levels of education, and poverty. Violence is a cause of mental health issues, addictions, dropping out of school, and violent behavior.

156 OECD DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, “YOUTH WELL-BEING POLICY REVIEW OF CAMBODIA.” 157 UNICEF, “A STATISTICAL PROFILE OF CHILD PROTECTION IN CAMBODIA.” 158 AM AND NGUON, “SITUATION ANALYSIS FOR DISABILITY-INCLUSIVE GOVERNANCE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN CAMBODIA.” 159 SALAS AND SORN, “AN EXPLORATION OF SOCIAL EXCLUSION OF LESBIANS, GAY, AND TRANSGENDER PERSONS IN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES IN SOME AREAS OF CAMBODIA AND THEIR WAYS OF COPING.” 160 CAMBODIAN CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, “LGBT BULLYING IN CAMBODIA’S SCHOOLS.” 161 WORLD VISION CAMBODIA, “LEAP 3 BASELINE REPORT: TECHNICAL PROGRAMMES AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SPONSORSHIP PLAN.” 162

37 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV Violence at school is a cause for dropping out of school, especially for females and LGBTQ. One transgender person respondent shared how they were spanked by their teacher for wearing the girls’ uniform. Discrimination from teachers and teasing from other students discouraged LGBTQ members from going to school. Globally, violence and bullying have psychosocial effects on youth.

In terms of sexual violence and abuse, often cases are hard to prosecute because there is a common cultural norm of mediation. The police first work to negotiate a sum where the perpetrator compensates the survivor’s family for the offense. If the survivor’s family does not accept the results of the mediation, then they often seek support for prosecution. There are also gaps of capacity in knowing the process for evidence for sexual abuse cases, such as obtaining a medical examination soon after the incident. Please see Table 7 for statistics on violence.

TABLE 6: SUMMARY TABLE OF YOUTH AND VIOLENCE SUMMARY STATISTICS Violence in general ● Approximately 60 percent of youth 18 to 24 years old experienced at least one form of physical, emotional, or sexual violence during their childhood (2013).163 ● 49 percent of adolescents in World Vision operating areas report having experienced physical violence and/or psychological aggression in the past 12 months (2019).164 ● 80 percent of adolescents in World Vision operating areas reported getting into physical fights.165 Domestic violence ● Ratio of domestic violence decreased from 8.32/1,000 people in 2013 to 7.81/1,000 in 2015.166 Violence at school ● 73 percent of students (boys (76 percent ); girls (70 percent)) report experiencing at least one form of violence in school, with 63 percent reporting an experience in the last 6 months.167 ● Girls especially have safety concerns when traveling to and from school.168

Child Marriage: Child marriage is a cultural norm in some communities in Cambodia. A root cause of child marriage is poverty. Child marriage is also traditional practice that is widespread in some rural communities, including some indigenous highland communities. Teenage pregnancy can also be a reason for child marriage, as the girl who gets pregnant, whether by rape or mutual consent, is often married to the perpetrator/father to save her/her family’s honor. Child marriage itself is a cause for dropping out of school, early pregnancy, and other related health issues for females. Lack of birth registration in some cases make it hard to verify and prosecute incidences of child marriage. Affected youth often lack knowledge of their rights and self-agency to avoid being engaged in marriage when it is against their will. Please see Table 8 for statistics on child marriage.

TABLE 7: SUMMARY STATISTICS ON CHILD MARRIAGE SUMMARY STATISTICS ● Ratio of domestic violence decreased from 8.32/1,000 people in 2013 to 7.81/1,000 in 2015.169 ● Approximately 60 percent of youth 18 to 24 years old experienced at least one form of physical, emotional, or sexual violence during their childhood (2013). ● 49 percent of adolescents in World Vision operating areas report having experienced any physical violence and/or psychological aggression in the past 12 months (2019).

163 MINISTRY OF WOMEN’S AFFAIRS, UNICEF CAMBODIA, AND U.S. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, “FINDINGS FROM CAMBODIA’S VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN SURVEY 2013: SUMMARY.” 164 WORLD VISION CAMBODIA, “LEAP 3 BASELINE REPORT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SPONSORSHIP PLAN.” 165 WORLD VISION CAMBODIA. 166 TECH AND WOOD, “CAMBODIAN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INDEX (CYDI ).” 167 INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR RESEARCH ON WOMEN (ICRW); PLAN INTERNATIONAL, “ARE SCHOOLS SAFE AND GENDER EQUAL SPACES? FINDINGS FROM A BASELINE STUDY OF SCHOOL RELATED GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN FIVE COUNTRIES IN ASIA.” 168 USAID DATA SERVICES, “DO 1 DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE.” 169 TECH AND WOOD, “CAMBODIAN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INDEX (CYDI).”

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 38 Trafficking in Persons: The U.S. Department of State trafficking in persons rating for Cambodia was upgraded to Tier 2 in 2016, but has since been downgraded to the Tier 2 Watch List in 2019.170 This is because the Government of Cambodia had been making efforts to address trafficking, but the efforts slowed in recent years, and the system continued to be plagued by corruption. Though sexual trafficking has declined, labor trafficking remains a significant and growing concern in Cambodia.171

Sometimes parents are complicit in trafficking their children because it can be used as a coping mechanism for poverty. Sometimes, youth are lured by illegal recruiters or become trafficked if they become disenfranchised by their existing work conditions once they are abroad. As shared by several key informants, there is also a practice of marriage brokers who come from other countries, like China or Middle Eastern countries or representing Cambodian diaspora abroad, to negotiate marriage agreements that can end with young women becoming more or less slaves.

Youth who have been trafficked are often abused and exploited and have no access to basic rights. As a result of the parents’ involvement in their being trafficked, youth can experience attachment and trust issues as well as mental health problems.

Child Labor: Key informants and reports indicate that child labor, especially those that work in hazardous forms of labor has decreased. As discussed in section AQ1, youth often drop out of school for high paying, low skill jobs. Though the Ministry of Labor allows for youth 15–17 to work, companies that employ them need to register them with the ministry. There are also limitations on the type of work that they can do. This aspect is being monitored as part of the Better Factories Cambodia initiative. However, despite the legislation and monitoring in place, there are often stories of faked IDs because youth aged 15–18 want to be able to work. Please see Table 9 for statistics on child labor.

TABLE 8: SUMMARY STATISTICS ON CHILD LABOR SUMMARY STATISTICS ● 19 percent of youth 15–17 years old were child laborers,172 and among them, 6 percent worked in hazardous jobs.173

Health and safety in the workplace: According to key informants, overall workplace health and safety for people working in factories has improved because of the efforts from the Better Factories Cambodia initiative. Staff generally are provided with training and orientation on workplace hazards, and provided with health and safety information to prevent accidents in the workplace. There should also be a doctor/health care professional who is there to support staff if they have any health issues. Though one common audit finding is that personal protective equipment is sometimes not used, even though it is provided. There were also some cases where staff were affected by some of the chemicals used, for example, for cleaning materials. Another issue is that the doctor, although available, may not comply with the legal requirement of the number of hours s/he should be available, which is dependent on the number of workers in the factory. Otherwise, the main audit issues for compliance with legal aspects generally relate to working overtime and leave compensation, which can lead to stress and burn out.

170 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, “2019 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT.”

171 UNICEF, “A STATISTICAL PROFILE OF CHILD PROTECTION IN CAMBODIA.” 172 AS DEFINED BY THE NATIONAL ACTION PLAN ON THE ELIMINATION OF WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOUR. 173 ROYAL GOVERMENT OF CAMBODIA AND STEERING COMMITEE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN, “ACTION PLAN TO PREVENT AND RESPOND TO VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN 2017–2021.”

39 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV DRIVING FACTORS Though the issues and the approaches to address them are multifaceted, this assessment identifies some of the most key factors to consider in the domain of youth safety and well-being.

INTERNAL

Lack of soft skills: Youth have a vision for a better life and opportunities for their future, but they seem to lack the ability to know how to achieve it. Several youth spoke about how they needed the critical thinking skills to know what skills they needed to obtain their goal because some youth drop out of postsecondary education because part way through, they realized that it was not what they wanted to do.

The youth in the assessment, key informants as well as other studies,174 spoke of the youth not having the soft skills needed to succeed in education and the workplace. They lacked a goal orientation, perseverance, interpersonal communication skills, especially in the area of managing interpersonal conflict in a healthy manner, self-efficiency, positive personal values (including caring, integrity, responsibility and restraint), and a sense of positive self-identity (including self-esteem and a sense of purpose).

Youth also lack agency in terms of knowing who can support them in helping them when they are in a difficult situation. This may stem from low knowledge on their rights and the social protection mechanisms that should be in place to support them.

Social Media: With the increase of access to the internet and social media, youth are exposed to many ideas that are outside their community. Key informants and youth spoke about how this has driven a sense of materialism in youth, making them dissatisfied with their lives and community, in turn driving migration and the pursuit of low skill, high paying jobs. Leaving their communities often takes them outside of their normal social security networks and often into riskier and less sanitary situations, like low rent or temporary housing or on construction sites. Pursuing similar low skill, high paying jobs abroad may also lead them into exploitative situations.

EXTERNAL

Parental Migration: An IOM study conducted in 2019 in 56 districts across 13 provinces where migration is high, found that 85 percent of the households had at least one migrant parent. The study found that though the nutritional status and psychological well-being was similar to their peers in non- migrant households, they showed lower resiliency scores. In addition, there was evidence that the youth left behind, especially girls, were less likely to be positively attached to their caregivers.175 Key informants also shared that youth were often more at risk for verbal and physical abuse and exploitation by their caregivers, especially in homes where both parents migrated for work for extended periods. A common theme from assessment respondents and studies is that youth often follow the work of their parents. For example, if the family migrated to work in construction, the youth often followed along as well, even if this meant dropping out of school.

Cultural Norms and Values: The key cultural practices that affect youth identified for this assessment are early marriage and discrimination against youth, especially PLWD and LGBTQ youth. When the underlying values of a community justify such practices, it can be difficult to change behavior. Often community dialogues are needed to discuss the implications of these practices that have been in place for generations, the way it may affect youth’s rights and well-being, and to seek solutions or new ways of addressing the root causes underlying the practices, for example, poverty. It is often key to

174 WORLD VISION CAMBODIA, “LEAP 3 BASELINE REPORT: TECHNICAL PROGRAMMES AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SPONSORSHIP PLAN.” 175 IOM, “MIGRATION AND HEALTH IMPACTS ON CAMBODIA CHILDREN AND FAMILIES LEFT BEHIND.”

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 40 involve key stakeholders and influential leaders in this process, and in the case of domestic violence and gender-based violence, engaging both males and females is important.

Insufficient Community Social Protection Mechanisms: Even if robust laws are in place for social protection, they need to be supported by functional community social protection mechanisms. Community groups that are informed and aware of social protection issues, and can respond to them, are an important component for addressing safety and well-being issues in the community generally, but also for youth. Because of Cambodia’s history during the war, community cohesion and organization are often a gap. In communities where they have been able to organize around such issues, usually with NGO support, there were positive outcomes for social protection issues, such as decreases in drug- related issues and more social protection for vulnerable households. In communities that were not as unified or lacked leadership, there were higher incidences of social problems. The ability to mobilize social protection groups is often dependent on shifting underlying social values and norms.

Insufficient Law Enforcement: Though it may seem self-evident, the results from this assessment confirmed that in communities where local authorities and police enforced the law, traffic violations and accidents, drug issues, and crime rates were low. Alternatively, communities where reported infractions were not followed up on or where perpetrators were able to buy justice, the issues persisted. In these communities, youth expressed disillusionment and distrust in law enforcement in general. As a result, there is also a practice in Cambodia of vigilantism, where in communities where law enforcement is weak, a mob of people may attack perpetrators.

Insufficient Infrastructure: This was a recurring theme that affected the safety and well-being of youth arising from discussions with them. The common areas of deficiency are:

● Poor road conditions and insufficient lights on roadways lead to traffic accidents and threaten the safety of youth, especially young women who may need to travel home from work or school. ● Insufficient water and sanitation and waste management infrastructure especially in rural areas, low income housing areas, and construction sites, can affect health. ● Insufficient agricultural infrastructure, such as irrigation, causes low crop yields, which cause farmers to use more pesticides. Another example is the lack of insufficient food storage, leading to the need to import foods, which are also unregulated. Together, these create concerns in youth about the ingesting of pesticides in their food.

Insufficient Health and Social Welfare Services: Access to health care continues to be a limitation, especially in rural areas and for the poor and marginalized groups, including PLWD and LGBTQ persons. Although the government has defined guidelines for youth-friendly health services, it lacks funds to implement them. PLWD respondents in the study shared that their ability to access health care remains challenging. Those who are deaf/mute are not able to communicate with health care professionals. Parents often delay bringing their child to the health center as a result. In addition, facilities also are often not adapted for those who have physical disabilities. LGBTQ respondents spoke of difficulty in accessing health care services. This can be related to discrimination and shyness on the part of the individual.176 They felt more comfortable when there was someone to support their access to health visits and needed medications. Access can also be related to poverty. Although the government does have a mechanism in place to ensure the poorest households can obtain basic health care through the Health Equity Fund, the quality of the service and medication can vary. Some youth shared that health care professionals can be rude and discriminate against the poor.

The Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans, and Youth Rehabilitation is the ministry tasked with addressing most social issues in the country. However, few, if any, of the staff are actually trained in the field of social work. Social affairs officers exist only down to the provincial level (e.g., in the province of

176 SALAS AND SORN, “AN EXPLORATION OF SOCIAL EXCLUSION OF LESBIANS, GAY AND TRANSGENDER PERSONS IN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES IN SOME AREAS OF CAMBODIA AND THEIR WAYS OF COPING.”

41 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV Sihanouk, there are 10 officers for approximately 303,000 people). Some NGOs employ and train social workers, especially if they are working with the vulnerable population.

Lack of Social Accountability: As described more in detail in the civic and community engagement section, there are few formal avenues for raising issues related to policy implementation and the provision of services accessible to youth. With the shrinking civil society space, there are decreasing opportunities for youth to raise up issues that are important to them so that these issues affecting their safety and health can be addressed by duty bearers. There were several cases where youth asked to be part of processes and were rejected. On some issues, such as deforestation, local authorities were not interested in listening to the concerns of the youth because of their vested interest in the situation (since they would be receiving benefits from allowing large companies to develop the land).

RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROGRAMS GOVERNMENT

The government has several policies that address the safety and well-being issues identified in this section; they are housed under different ministries, as highlighted below:

Access to youth-friendly health care:

● Identification of Poor Households program, Ministry of Planning: This program categorizes poor households so that they can have access to the Health Equity Fund, which enables them to receive free health care.177 ● National Guideline on Adolescent Youth Friendly Services, Ministry of Health (MoH): This was recently revised and approved by the MoH to align with the World Health Organization and international best practice guidance in 2016 with support from UN Population Fund (UNFPA). They also supported the development of the National Reproductive Health Program for the MoH, which has been used to train health care providers in 20 percent of public health facilities in 9 provinces by the end of 2017.178 ● Comprehensive Sexuality Education curriculum, MoEYS: This curriculum integrates basic sexual and reproductive health issues as part of overall life skills for the peer education program, and it will be a compulsory topic in public schools, which will be rolled out beginning the 2018–2019 school year.179

Women’s safety and well-being:

● Neary Rattanak IV: Five-Year Strategic Plan for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, 2014–2018, MoWA: This includes the promotion of and access to quality and affordable health services that respond to women’s specific health needs, and ensures safety for women and girls in the family and society through awareness raising and by implementing relevant action plans, laws, and regulations to prevent gender-based violence

General protection:

● Village/Commune Safety Policy (2010), Ministry of Interior: This defines that communes/sangkats are responsible for ensuring that there is: (1) no stealing or robbery; (2) no producing and dealing in

177 ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF CAMBODIA, “LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND: CAMBODIA NATIONAL POVERTY IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM.” 178 NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STATISTICS, DIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR HEALTH, AND ICF INTERNATIONAL, “CAMBODIA DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEY 2014.” 179 KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA, “SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH OF ADOLESCENTS AND YOUTH IN CAMBODIA: ANALYSIS OF 2000–2014 CAMBODIA DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEY DATA.”

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 42 illegal drugs; (3) no prostitution and children trafficking, or domestic violence; (4) no gangsters; and no illegal games or use of illegal weapons and crimes.

Human trafficking and sexual exploitation:

● National Committee for Counter Trafficking: o Law on the Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation (2008) o Policy and Minimum Standards for Protection of the Rights of Victims of Human Trafficking (2009) o Monitoring and Evaluation Tool for Implementation of Policy and Minimum Standards for Protection of the Rights of Victims of Human Trafficking (2015) 180 o National Plan of Action on Counter Trafficking 2014–2018, 2019–2023 This body of these laws, policies, and tools aims to address the human trafficking issues in Cambodia. The National Plan of Action 2014–2018, which was developed with the support of USAID, aims to: (1) strengthen the laws and policies and enhance cooperation; (2) enhance prevention; (3) enhance criminal justice response to human trafficking; and (4) protect victims with gender- and age-appropriate supports. In October 2019, the government launched a new plan that now includes new forms of human trafficking—surrogacy and sex trafficking at nightclubs, which has increased from use of the internet.181

Child Protection:

● Policy on Child Protection in Schools (2016), MoEYS: This aims to protect primary and secondary school students against any form of violence and safeguard their welfare. It also includes guidance for forming school-level safety committees and raising awareness. This policy includes both public and private schools. Though developed in 2016, this policy was launched in 2018. ● Action Plan on Violence Against Children (2017–2021), Steering Committee of Violence Against Women and Violence Against Children: The main strategies aim to: (1) improve coordination and cooperation among relevant ministries and institutions; (2) increase efforts in prevention through awareness raising and capacity building of key actors; (3) strengthen multisectoral child protection response mechanisms, involving all relevant social service providers, such as health, education, justice, and child protection entities; (4) strengthen legislative and policy frameworks; and (5) ensure monitoring and evaluation of the issues by developing a comprehensive data collection system. ● Civil code (2007): This law sets the minimum age of marriage at 18 years old. However, individuals can marry at 16 years with the consent of their parents or guardians.

Life Skills: The government does have a number of life skills programs, but they are mostly focused on technical or hard skills. The government is starting to focus on soft skill development, but their target is not on vulnerable youth in communities. In addition, the government’s new volunteer framework may also help with the development of some soft skills, but it would need to be integrated into a strategic approach.

The education curriculum does include a type of civics course, which includes topics on moral living, virtue, social work, and religion. It is taught from grade 7 to 12. However, there was inconsistency in responses as to whether this course is offered in all schools or whether it is dependent on the human resources to provide it. In at least one school, the teacher who offered the course often did not show up for that class.

Social Accountability: As already summarized in the civic and community engagement section, the government has outlined a decentralization policy that includes I-SAF. This aims to improve social services.

180 WORLD VISION, “CHILD PROTECTION POLICY BRIEF 2017.” 181 SAVI, “NATIONAL PLAN TO ADDRESS TRAFFICKING LAUNCHED.”

43 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV NGO & OTHERS

Social Accountability: As mentioned above, several CSOs have partnered with the government to implement the I-SAF. Several organizations have been involved in similar interventions in the past, but this initiative represents a coordinated way forward that coordinates with all actors in a sustainable manner.

Life Skills: It was not possible within the scope of this assessment to determine a comprehensive list of organizations working in life skills, especially soft skills, such as critical thinking, goal orientation, having positive identity, and values. For example, World Vision runs programs such as One Goal, which forms local football teams to engage the most vulnerable adolescents (12–18 years old) and supports them to develop positive relationships and gain essential life skills; and Youth for Change, which works through youth-led clubs to engage, develop, and prepare youth to contribute positively to their own lives and the lives of those around them. Youth for Change innovatively is implemented by trained youth using an iterative service-learning approach.182 Friends International also has a comprehensive life skills program that provides both hard and soft skills, as well as practical experience for the at-risk youth they work with. Youth who are accepted into their program can choose one of three work streams: vocational training (provides training and experience in working as a hospitality, barber, hair dressing, nail technician, barista); basic business administration skills; or entrepreneurship. They are also creating another stream for artists (e.g., photographers, painters, etc.). All streams include basic soft skills that work on social skills needed to succeed.

Despite these best practices, the programs for life skills, both hard and soft, is pocketed and fragmented. The government, organizations, and donors are often focused on minors under 12 years old and individuals 18 years and older when it comes to education and life skills, but there is a gap in focus on youth 12–18 years old, which seems to be a critical age when many youth drop out of school, are making critical choices that will direct their future, and are forming a good part of their character and personal values.

There were successful programs run by NGO/social enterprises, like Friends International/Mith Samlanh, Sovanna Phum, Epic Arts, Artisans Angkor, Cambodian Living Arts, and the One Goal program implemented by World Vision. Youth in the assessment also echoed a desire to increase opportunities for culture preservation, especially among indigenous populations.

182 WORLD VISION CAMBODIA, “YOUTH CAPACITY STATEMENT.”

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 44 5 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS This assessment has covered the broad gamut of issues facing youth through the lens of the four AQs in the areas of economic well-being, migration, civic and community engagement, and safety and well-being. Several central themes and observations emerge from this. This section presents conclusions and recommendations for each AQ, plus those that are cross-cutting. Recommendations are directed toward USAID in considering what to prioritize in its next CDCS.

5.1 ECONOMIC-WELL BEING Though rural areas are viewed as economically stagnant, there is both need and potential to generate more income-making opportunities for youth. Although construction, garment manufacturing, and tourism are the economic sectors generating most new opportunities for youth employment, creating and expanding small and medium local businesses may offer the best option for localized youth employment. Many youth would prefer to stay in their communities, while the same communities are receiving income through remittances, which can stimulate the local economy. Main areas of potential growth are in agricultural value-addition (processing) and niche market (organics/pesticide-free) products, general services, and retail.

● Include programming on rural entrepreneurship and business skills to support start-ups, especially in rural communities. Program design should include consideration of credit sources and how to manage risks, so businesses have start-up funds so that they do not fail and push youth into poverty.

Education is critical to youth aspirations. In FGDs, and especially in the video clips that youth submitted, education is raised time and again as the most critical issue for youth because it provides the best hope for a route out of poverty and a life of limitation. Garment workers, a returned migrant who had faced exploitation, those escaping domestic violence, and those concerned about drug use often see the solution as education, and particularly education will help them make a livelihood that doesn’t require them to migrate or accept poor working conditions and salaries that cannot sustain their families.

Recommendations:

● Focus programming on improving access to quality education, especially for youth living in poverty in rural areas and PLWD youth. This can include scholarships and sponsorships to cover the costs of dormitories, transportation, textbooks, and living expenses. ● Focus on improving educational quality within secondary and high schools: more teachers/reduced class size, improved teaching methodology, better supplied schools, and so on.

Helping bridge the gap between new workers and employers is a priority. A large proportion of youth cannot find satisfactory jobs, and about half of employers cannot find satisfactory candidates. This dilemma can be solved by working with the TVET system and employers to offer apprenticeships and other on-the-job training, and finding solutions that help employers and employees be more satisfied with each other would help this. Finding ways to help low-skilled workers upskill to better opportunities within their sectors, or to shift to other sectors is another priority area.

Recommendation:

● Focus on reducing the gap between new labor market entrants and employers through apprenticeships, job readiness training, and practically oriented vocational training oriented

45 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV toward current labor market needs.183 Work with employers and youth to understand both sets of perspectives and find solutions that address both.

Youth lack information and guidance on the labor market and work options. Youth are often unaware of work and self-employment opportunities, and unaware of how to access them or gain the required skills. Although many youth have access to vast amounts of information through their smartphones, they do not know how to use these for job searching and applications. Most youth decide on what to do in a fairly passive way, following friends, relatives, or sometimes recruiters. This limits their choices and exacerbates the gaps in the labor market.

Recommendations:

● Focus on improving employment information and career counseling to youth, starting at the start of lower secondary school (before most youth begin dropping out). Consult with NGOs, the MoEYS, and the MLVT, who are already working on this to find the best way to support and further existing efforts. ● Build on existing efforts to create a job-sharing platform (launched as part of USAID’s C-TIP project) to further increase youth awareness and use of the platform across the country.

Despite reductions in the poverty rate, life remains marginal for many youth and families. USAID has made rural poverty reduction a focus through supporting smallholder agriculture and natural resources management. Most youth in our study expressed little interest in agriculture, and statistics show its declining role in both employment and the overall GDP. Nonetheless, agriculture remains most important for the rural poor, and finding ways to support viable agricultural livelihoods for youth will remain relevant, along with forms of insurance and social protection to withstand shocks from climate or family health issues. Beyond this, families need support with coping mechanisms against shocks. The issue of debt is a critical one: once families are indebted, even programs that target the poor cannot help them because they have less than no resources to leverage. Finding ways to turn the tide of indebtedness, and finding programs for loan forgiveness or buying out debt from the poorest of the poor would help.

Recommendation:

● Partner with other donors and NGOs to bolster programming on social protections to withstand shocks and balances for the poorest families, both in rural areas and those in migrants. This programming should include consideration of indebtedness, ways to reign in microcredit debt, and means of recourse for the poorest of the poor who are trapped in debt.

5.2 MIGRATION Poverty and lack of economic opportunity in their home communities are the main drivers of migration, including risky migration. These factors are exacerbated by poor social protections, the decreasing viability of smallholder agriculture, increased indebtedness, and the prevalence of domestic violence.

Recommendation:

● All recommendations on economic well-being provided above are also relevant in addressing issues of risky migration by giving youth more skills, employment information, and work opportunities.

183 SUCH NEEDS SHOULD BE ASSESSED DURING THE INCEPTION PHASE OF ANY PROGRAMMING INVOLVING VOCATIONAL TRAINING.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 46 Efforts to inform potential migrants of the importance of, and process for, migrating legally have been effective. All recent reports show that the number of illegal migrants has reduced.

Recommendation:

● Continue to support ongoing efforts by the Cambodian government, IOM, ILO, and NGOs to inform migrants on how to migrate legally and of risks and their rights while migrating. Assess the degree to which existing efforts are sustainable.184

Cambodians migrating legally to other countries and domestic migrants continue to face poor work conditions and frequent exploitation from employers.

Recommendations:

● Continue and consider expanding USAID’s programming to inform workers of their rights, while strengthening labor laws and workers’ rights in Cambodia. ● Support agencies such as ILO and IOM to improve enforcement of labor laws for international migrant workers within the region and improve migrants’ access to justice when rights are violated.

5.3 CIVIC AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Youth’s desire to be engaged and have a voice is a key motivating factor that should be fostered. Both the youth FGDs and video workshops conducted as part of this assessment made it evident that youth have few venues and opportunities to share their voice and be heard. They were often painfully shy (especially at the younger ages) and impressively articulate. Their own assessment and prioritization of issues often mirrors those found in research reports. Youth often commented on their lack of self-confidence (the topic of four video clips submitted by youth), and yet they want the opportunity to speak up and be heard. Their interest in participating in the video workshops and the thought that they put into their submissions is evidence of this.

Recommendations:

● Create opportunities to empower youth and youth groups. To do this, USAID should first define a clear definition for the type of youth participation and empowerment that it desires to fund through its programs to avoid tokenistic involvement of youth. ● Consider a funding mechanism, such as subgrants as part of a larger project, that supports— either directly or indirectly—projects that contribute to the goals of youth groups rather than trying to fit it into USAID’s, or another organization’s, institutional objectives. Creating competitions for solutions to broad outcomes, such as select sustainable development goals, that youth groups can apply and implement is a method of doing this. The process can involve shortlisting several groups that would then receive further capacity building to move to the next level of selection. This was suggested through the FGDs and was shown as being a successful methodology for some soft skills building initiatives that have already been implemented. ● Support projects that include increasing awareness of youth on the National Policy on Cambodia Youth Development and the Youth Action Plan. This could be the starting point for mobilizing youth. ● Complete a comprehensive assessment of what youth groups and youth-focused NGO programs exist and what they are already doing in the civic and community engagement space with youth. This assessment could include lessons learned and best practices from the interventions implemented by these groups. The results from this assessment could inform in

184 THOUGH IT WAS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE CURRENT REPORT TO ASSESS THIS, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT A NUMBER OF ACTORS HAD STOPPED ACTIVITIES AIMED AT INFORMING YOUTH ABOUT MIGRATION ISSUES. THE TEAM DOES NOT KNOW IF THAT IS BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN ADEQUATELY TAKEN UP ELSEWHERE, OR WHETHER IT REPRESENTS A GAP THAT COULD LEAD TO A BACKTRACKING ON THESE POSITIVE GAINS.

47 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV more detail the types of interventions that would be effective to improve civic and community engagement of youth. This could be the basis for the selection criteria for youth projects that could be funded as recommended above. ● Support efforts that strengthen local youth groups in communities, which links them with subnational and national youth assemblies in a way that moves beyond social service activities to provide a forum for debate and a platform to engage with decision-making structures, such as having youth representation in the national assembly or local development councils.185

Local authorities are not sufficiently capacitated to engage youth in commune planning processes. There were several examples where youth, including PLWD and LGBTQ, tried to engage local government and were flat out rejected. Engagement with representatives from the community is often not the norm unless there is intervention from an NGO. As such, the enabling environment for youth to engage in civic and community decision making needs to be strengthened.

Recommendations:

● Partner with other organizations and institutions to build the capacity of local political authorities, so they have the capacity to engage with youth, especially those from marginalized communities, e.g., ethnic minorities, PLWD, LGBTQ. ● Consider scaling up work being done with all respective political parties (e.g., by PDP-Center) to develop youth policies that outline engagement with youth. This could also include supporting efforts to ensure youth quotas in all political parties. ● Build on existing efforts by youth-led and youth-focused organizations to integrate messaging on good citizenship, voting rights and processes, and civic processes (e.g., where to get information and how local government plans are set) into the regular school curriculum, as well as strengthen the promotion of civic activities. ● Support efforts that maintain civil society space where youth can freely and without fear of retribution express their opinions through public discourse. This could include supporting the development of social media and online codes of conducts that define clear rules and regulations, so youth can participate in ways that are respectful but without censorship.186

5.4 SAFETY AND WELL-BEING Youth lack the soft skills that would minimize risk-taking behavior. Many respondents spoke about how youth usually follow the examples of their family or friends, often without questioning what the benefits and risks would be for themselves. Studies have shown that if youth have soft skills, such as critical thinking, goal orientation, and positive identity and values, together with sufficient personal support, they demonstrate less risky behaviors and increase positive behaviors that benefit their well- being that result in improved developmental outcomes overall.187 There are many programs targeting basic education (especially under 12 years old), which is an important foundation, and postsecondary (over 18 years old), when youth are considered adults. However, the soft skills that youth acquire from ages 12 to 18 years can shape their character and form the foundation for their prospects for the future.

Recommendation:

● Support programs that include soft skills training for youth to complement hard/technical/vocational skills training. Consult with MLVT, MoWA, MoEYS, UN bodies

185 OECD DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, “YOUTH WELL-BEING POLICY REVIEW OF CAMBODIA.” 186 OECD DEVELOPMENT CENTRE. 187 SCALES, ROEHLKEPARTAIN, AND FRAHER, “DO DEVELOPMENTAL ASSETS MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN MAJORITY-WORLD CONTEXTS?”

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 48 (UNICEF, UNFPA, ILO), and NGOs who are already working on finding the best way to further support existing efforts.

Sexual and reproductive health issues are a threat to the safety and well-being of youth. USAID/Cambodia has predominantly been focusing on maternal and child health and nutrition through its programming. This is an important focus; however, in terms of having a youth focus, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) is an area of health that is most relevant. Some of this already overlaps with maternal and child health and nutrition (MCHN) programming. SRHR can also be integrated into projects as a cross-cutting issue based on the target group the USAID chooses to focus on or the sector that is prioritized. For example, basic SRHR messages can be promoted in any approach, whether it is for survivors or youth at risk of trafficking, recipients of agricultural extension support and inputs, or education interventions. This focus would be particularly complementary for any projects addressing the root causes of child marriage.

Recommendations:

● Integrate SRHR messaging into all projects targeting youth, especially at-risk youth, where appropriate. ● Consider budgeting for projects that ensure funding is allocated for the full implementation and roll out of the National Guideline on Adolescent Youth-Friendly Services. This could include ensuring extension services to remote areas, depending on the target geographic location. ● Consider funding projects to ensure sufficient resources for the training and implementation of the comprehensive sexuality education curriculum in schools

Youth can create awareness and mobilize solutions on safety and well-being issues in their community. There are several different successful examples of where youth are leading the change in their communities, mostly through existing local youth groups and/or with the support of NGOs.

Recommendation:

● Build on existing efforts by youth-led and youth-focused organizations to form or strengthen local youth groups, so they are empowered to work with key stakeholders to generate dialogue with the community and duty bearers to address the priority issues that affect the well-being of youth in their community. Ensure the inclusion of marginalized groups, especially PLWD and LGBTQ.

Shifting social norms and values are key to social behavior change and form the foundation of social protection mechanisms. Often development interventions that target social behavior change fail because they do not take into consideration the cultural and religious values that underpin certain practices. It is important that these are identified, as well as the influential leaders who promote them as the part of any project aiming to change social behavior.

Recommendations:

● Build on existing efforts by NGOs who mobilize youth and the community to conduct dialogue around existing norms that cause harm to children and youth and to create awareness and solutions that address the issues. If implemented well, the youth can influence and engage with local authorities and cultural leaders to support messaging and provide strong leadership for social behavior change. One result from these dialogues should be to strengthen local social protection mechanisms that help to monitor and promote change on the identified issues. ● Complement the above by supporting projects that address the root causes of these norms (e.g. poverty, addiction to alcohol).

Mental health is potentially a significant issue. Youth face high stress, and many live in households with domestic violence—a large proportion of which is likely driven by PTSD related to the genocide.

49 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV While the topic was not overtly raised as frequently as others, some youth did mention it, and one video addressing it was selected by peers as a top issue. Youth often spoke of their peers being fatalistic and demotivated, and easily influenced by peers to abuse drugs. There are little to no counseling services available to youth, and the topic of the genocide is omitted from the Cambodian school curriculum.188 Conducting more research on the topic of youth mental health and including mental health support explicitly in youth-oriented programming is worth pursuing.

Recommendation:

● Fund research to explore the state of mental health for youth in Cambodia. This could build on existing research done on the topic of mental health as well as recent studies on soft skills.

Drug and alcohol consumption have increased and is a main concern of youth. The consumption of drugs and alcohol is linked with outcomes of violence that affect the safety and well- being of youth. Drug use is also a driver for crimes such as robbery and theft. Youth feel strongly about this issue and desire that it be addressed.

Recommendations:

● Support projects that improve policy regulation and implementation that defines a minimum legal drinking age that is enforced and that puts restrictions on the frequency, location, tone of messaging, and types of promotions from alcohol companies. For example, alcohol ads should include “don’t drink and drive” and “drink responsibly” messaging. ● Build on existing efforts of youth-led and youth-focused organizations that mobilize youth (and community groups) to create social accountability for the enforcement of drug laws and address corruption issues.

5.5 GENDER ISSUES Different needs of youth from different socioeconomic backgrounds, sexes, gender orientations, and ethnic and religious backgrounds have been considered as much as possible within this study. While it was not possible to be exhaustive, given the broad scope of the study, the key conclusions with relation to gender are summarized by the AQs in Table 10.

188 DY, “CHALLENGES OF TEACHING GENOCIDE CURRICULUM IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.”

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 50 TABLE 9: SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS AQ CONCLUSIONS RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Economic The gender gap has decreased at lower levels Monitor the situation: high drop-out rates for boys Well-Being of education and girls appear to be might require specialized response. outperforming boys. Girls in some communities face a greater risk of child Address child marriage in any social protection marriage, associated with dropping from activities. school. Apply recommendations under economic well- While many sectors and jobs are gendered being. (e.g. construction jobs predominantly male and garment worker jobs predominantly female), the barriers that male and female youth face are largely the same.

2. Migration Both male and female youth face risks of Include information about risks of sexual abuse labor exploitation, and drivers appear to be and exploitation in any information programs similar. Female and LGBTQ youth are more targeted at youth. likely to be sexually abused or exploited. Some KIIs also suggested that indigenous Continue to support C-TIP efforts. youth were more targeted by recruiters. Include an assessment and planned response to Young women face the additional risk of this issue in any ongoing and future C-TIP being ‘lured’ into marriage or being targeted activities. for sex trafficking. They also seem slightly more likely to migrate to escape domestic abuse.

3. Civic and Youth and KIIs report that girls and young Any efforts to support youth empowerment Community women tend to be more deferent than young should consider creating some gender-segregated Engagement men and opt to stay quiet at meetings. There venues, and should also explicitly address issues of is some evidence that is changing, with inclusivity. several youth FGDs and workshops claiming that “girls are now more outspoken than boys.”

4. Health and Issues of substance abuse are highly Any efforts to address substance abuse should also Well-Being gendered, with use and abuse reportedly include components on mental health, addressing being almost entirely done by male youth, stress and conflict, and understanding gender- some of whom then act out violently against based violence young women. Efforts to monitor and create more transparency Female youth are frequently reported as and dialogue on gender-based violence, provide being victims, or potential victims, of sexual victim health and counseling services for victims of harassment and assault, which can limit their gender-based violence, and allow for justice and freedom to move around their community. social healing should be supported and integrated into other health and well-being initiatives wherever possible.

5.6 GENERAL AND CROSS-CUTTING Representation and social protection of vulnerable groups is a concern. The tendency for the viewpoints and needs of vulnerable populations to be overlooked or excluded is cross-cutting: this includes indigenous persons, youth from poor families or living in rural areas, LGBTQ youth, and PLWD. In areas of education, work, and access to health care, bullying and discrimination are risks for LGBTQ youth and PLWD particularly.

Most youth are somewhat vulnerable to peer pressure, social forces, the impacts of poverty, and domestic violence. Those who are seen as different or have extra needs and challenges rarely get extra consideration. On the contrary, they are often subject to extra discrimination and find it even harder to have a voice. LGBTQ youth can face discrimination that increases their risk of dropping out of school and can push them out of some vocational paths. Youth living with disability are among the most vulnerable because they are likely to be deprioritized by their families for education opportunities and typically excluded from community decision making. There are few formal supports available to them.

51 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV Poor youth from all backgrounds report that discrimination in receiving health services is typical, and they face much greater barriers to accessing quality education than youth from better off families. The ethnic minorities (Khmer Loeu and Cham people) consulted in this assessment had their own community supports and did not report any discrimination on an individual level, but they observed that their communities were neglected by the government.

Recommendations:

● Make explicit provisions to include and engage youth from poor families, indigenous youth, LGBTQ youth, and youth with disabilities in all programs to empower and engage youth. ● Include discrimination and inclusion awareness raising in any life skills programming for youth supported by USAID.

Youth issues are cross-sectoral. Although this assessment focused on the four key areas defined through the AQs, it is clearly evident that each links to the other. The economic and psychosocial health of the family that the youth grows up in shapes their opportunities and outlook. Many drop out of school early and migrate domestically or internationally for work. They have little voice in decision making, and many find themselves working in difficult conditions and being poorly paid. Some face isolation, depression, discrimination, and addiction.

Recommendation:

● Continue considering youth issues as they pertain to each development objective, while also considering interlinkages. Identifying issues that appear as the root or that intersect with many others can point toward areas of strategic leverage: education and vocational training appears to be one such area, as are areas of creating spaces for youth to express themselves and participate, to build self-confidence, and to learn to resolve conflicts.

Engaging youth takes special effort. For any donor that wants to support youth in Cambodia, it is important to recognize that youth can be a difficult population to engage and addressing their needs may require more than adding target youth numbers to an existing project. For one, the political context encourages self-censorship and creates real risks of reprisals for anyone who is seen to criticize the regime. Any project focused on civic engagement and collective action will need to carefully monitor the landscape and identify potential risks to participants against potential benefits. Many youths are difficult to engage because they work very long hours, sometimes in multiple jobs, or they work and study. They have little spare time. High migration rates can make youth populations unstable, and some implementing partners have reported difficulties finding enough youth to engage.

Recommendation:

● Consider creating specialized youth programming overseen by a team at the technical office.

Many solutions already exist. The issues reviewed in this assessment have been examined and discussed by development actors in Cambodia for years, often decades. Policies and actions have been taken, and there has been significant progress and lessons learned. Whatever further action is taken, building on what exists and coordinating with others will be key to its relevance and success.

Recommendations:

● As program design proceeds on finally selected priorities, do a full mapping of actors and initiatives in the relevant domain, and engage with those actors. ● Participate in multi-stakeholder working groups on topics that affect youth (e.g., anti-trafficking). ● Support and connect to the National Youth Development Policy, where possible, as a potential unifying framework for youth development efforts.

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EU Bulletin. “‘Everything but Arms’: Cambodia Faces Losing EU Trade Preferential Treatment.” Accessed November 1, 2019. https://www.eubulletin.com/10261-everything-but-arms-cambodia-faces-losing-eu- trade-preferential-treatment.html.

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Friends International. “The Nature and Scope of the Foreign Child Beggar Issue (Especially as Related to Cambodian Child Beggars) in Bangkok,” 2006.

Government of Cambodia, Ministry of Health. “National Strategy for Reproductive and Sexual Health in Cambodia,” 2017.

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Hinson, L., C. Kapungu, C. Jessee, M. Skinner, M. Bardini, and T. Evans-Whipp. “Positive Youth Development Measurement Toolkit: A Practical Guide for Implementers of Youth Programs.” Washington, DC, 2016. https://www.youthpower.org/sites/default/files/YouthPower/resources/PYD Measurement Toolkit Final.pdf.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 54 Human Rights Watch. “World Report 2018.” Phnom Penh, 2018. https://www.hrw.org/world- report/2018/country-chapters/cambodia.

Humphreys, John. “Education in Cambodia: Rate of Return and Personal Equity Finance.” University of Queensland, 2015.

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IOM. “Assessing Potential Changes in the Migration Patterns of Cambodian Migrants and Their Impacts on Thailand and Cambodia.” Bangkok, 2019.

IOM. “Debt and the Migration Experience: Insights from South-East Asia.” Bangkok, 2019. www.iom.int.

IOM. “Migration and Health Impacts on Cambodia Children and Families Left Behind.” Phnom Penh, 2019.

Jones, Lisa, Mark A. Bellis, Sara Wood, Karen Hughes, Ellie McCoy, Lindsay Eckley, Geoff Bates, Christopher Mikton, and Tom Shakespeare. “Prevalence and Risk of Violence against Children with Disabilities: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.” The Lancet 380, no. 9845 (2012): 899–907. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60692-8.

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Kingdom of Cambodia, Ministry of Planning. “Women and Migration in Cambodia Report,” 2013. https://cambodia.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/Women%26MigrationinCambodia%28copied1 %29.pdf.

55 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV Kingdom of Cambodia, National Institute of Statistics, Ministry of Planning. “Cambodia Inter-Censal Population Survey 2013, Analysis of CIPS Results Report 5: Disability.” Phnom Penh, 2013. https://cambodia.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/Disability26Dec2013.pdf.

Kingdom of Cambodia, National Institute of Statistics, Ministry of Planning, and Directorate General for Health, Ministry of Health. “Further Analysis of the Cambodian Demographic and Health Surveys: Urban and Rural Disparities in Reproductive and Maternal Health, 2000–2014.” Phnom Penh, 2015.

Koenig, Andrea. “Assessment Report: Profile of Returned Cambodian Migrant Workers.” Phnom Penh, 2016.

LICADHO and Sahmakum Teang Tnaut, “Collateral Damage Land Loss and Abuses in Cambodia’s Microfinance Sector,” 2019. www.twitter.com/licadho.

LO/FTF Council. “Labour Market Profile 2014: Cambodia.” Copenhagen, 2014.

LO/FTF Council. “Labour Market Profile 2015: Cambodia,” 2015.

Maguire, Patricia. “Doing Participatory Research: A Feminist Approach.” Participatory Research & Practice. Amherst: Center for International Education at ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst, 1987. http://scholar works. umass.edu/ cie_participatoryresearchpractice/1.

Mansfeld, Christina. “Youth in Cambodia: A Force for Change.” Phnom Penh, 2008. http://ticambod ia.org/library/wp-content/files_mf/1473760820YouthinCambodia_aforceforchange.pdf.

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Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport. “Education Congress: Education, Youth and Sport Performance in the Academic Year 2017–2018 and Goals for the Academic Year 2018–2019.” Phnom Penh: Royal Government of Cambodia, 2019.

Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport. “Education in Cambodia: Findings from Cambodia’s Experience in PISA for Development.” Phnom Penh, 2018.

Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training. “Labour and Vocational Training Statistics.” Phnom Penh, 2018.

Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training. “National Technical Vocational Education and Training Policy 2017–2025.” Phnom Penh: The Royal Government of Cambodia, 2017.

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Ministry of Women’s Affairs, UNICEF Cambodia, and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Findings from Cambodia’s Violence Against Children Survey 2013: Summary.” Phnom Penh, 2014.

Mortensen, Carol. “Challenges and Opportunities for Active Citizenship Political Economy Analysis of Civic Space in Cambodia.” Phnom Penh, 2014.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 56 Napier-Moore, Rebecca. Protected or Put in Harm’s Way? Bans and Restrictions on Women’s Labour Migration in ASEAN Countries, 2017. www.ilo.org/publns.

.Phnom Penh, 2018 .הנוטע עלון ”.NEA. “Cambodia Job Outlook 2018

NEA. “Skills Shortages and Skills Gaps in the Cambodian Labour Market: Evidence from Employer Survey 2017.” Phnom Penh, 2018.

National Institute of Statistics. “Cambodia Socio-Economic Survey 2017.” Phnom Penh, 2018.

National Institute of Statistics. “Cambodia Labour Force and Child Labour Survey 2012.” Phnom Penh: International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour, National Institute of Statistics, and ILO, option=com_dbook&task=read&ﻧوﯾن ھﺎی رﺳﺎﻧﮫ و ﻓرھﻧﮓ=http://www.ghbook.ir/index.php?name .2013 online&book_id=13650&page=73&chkhashk=ED9C9491B4&Itemid=218&lang=fa&tmpl=component.

National Institute of Statistics, Directorate General for Health, and ICF International. “Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey 2014.” Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Rockville, Maryland, USA, 2015.

Office of Food Security and Environment/USAID. “Natural Resource Management Youth Analysis: An Analysis for USAID/Cambodia’s Environment Project Design Process.” Washington, DC, 2015.

Olivier, Marius. Social Protection for Migrant Workers in ASEAN: Developments, Challenges, and Prospects. Bangkok: ILO, 2018. www.ilo.org/publns.

OECD. “Key Issues Affecting Youth in Cambodia.” Accessed November 12, 2019. https://www.oecd. org/dev/inclusivesocietiesanddevelopment/youth-issues-in-cambodia.htm.

OECD. “Youth Well-Being Policy Review of Cambodia.” Paris: OECD Development Centre, 2017.

Oudry, G., K. Pak, and C. Chea. “Assessing Vulnerabilities and Responses to Environmental Changes in Cambodia.” Phnom Penh, 2016.

Peltzer, Karl, and Supa Pengpid. “Prevalence and Determinants of Tobacco Use among School Going Adolescents in Cambodia and Vietnam: A Cross-Sectional Study.” Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association 67, no. 7 (2017): 1024–1029.

Phong, Kimchhoy, Lihol Srou, and Javier Solá. “Mobile Phones and Internet Use in Cambodia 2016: Research Study.” Phnom Penh, 2016.

Pierce, Laurie, and Inta Plostins. “Development Innovations Consolidated Results and Learning Assessment 2013–2019,” 2019.

Plan International. “Into the Light: Young Female Migrant Workers in Thailand’s Seafood Sector and Their Access to Decent Work,” 2018. https://doi.org/10.1038/483S38a.

Plan International. “Time to Act! Accelerating Efforts to Eliminate Early and Forced Marriage in Asia,” 2018.

Powers, Jane L., and Jennifer S. Tiffany. “Engaging Youth in Participatory Research and Evaluation.” Journal of Public Health Management Practice November (2006): 79–87.

57 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV Rethy, Chhem, Ouch Chandarany, Song Sopheak, Roth Vathana, Srang Sarot, and Liv Yi. “Industry 4.0: Prospects and Challenges for Cambodia’s Manufacturing Sector.” Phnom Penh, 2019.

Royal Government of Cambodia. “General Population Census of the Kingdom of Cambodia 2019: Provisional Population Totals.” Phnom Penh, 2019.

Royal Government of Cambodia. “Leave No One Behind: Cambodia National Poverty Identification System.” Accessed October 1, 2019. https://mop.idpoor.gov.kh/.

Royal Government of Cambodia. “National Policy on Youth Development.” Phnom Penh: Royal Government of Cambodia, 2011. http://www.youthpolicy.org/national/Cambodia_2011_Policy_ Youth_Development.pdf.

Royal Government of Cambodia, Ministry of Interior. “Safety Village Commune/Sangkat Policy Guideline.” Phnom Penh, 2010. http://sithi.org/admin/upload/law/Village Commune Safety Policy (Eng) - 2010.pdf.

Royal Government of Cambodia and Steering Committee on Violence Against Women and Violence Against Children. “Action Plan to Prevent and Respond to Violence Against Children 2017–2021.” Phnom Penh, 2017. https://www.unicef.org/cambodia/Full_VAC_Action_Plan_En_Final_AP.pdf.

Royal University of Phnom Penh. “Cambodian Mental Health Survey,” 2012.

Ruiz, Henry R. “Evaluation of Adolescent and Youth Participation in UNICEF Cambodia.” Phnom Penh, 2012. https://www.unicef.org/evaldatabase/files/Cambodia_FINAL_REPORT_Full_Parts_1-2.pdf.

Salas, Vicente S., and Srun Sorn. “An Exploration of Social Exclusion of Lesbians, Gay and Transgender Persons in Families and Communities in Some Areas of Cambodia and Their Ways of Coping.” Phnom Penh, 2013. https://www.aidsdatahub.org/sites/default/files/publication/Cambodia_Journal_GLBT_for _publication.pdf.

Save the Children. “Changing Lives in Our Lifetime: Global Childhood Report 2019.” Global Childhood Report, 2019.

Save the Children. “Child Rights in the Tonlé Sap,” 2018. https://cambodia.savethechildren.net/sites/ cambodia.savethechildren.net/files/library/ChildRightsintheTonleSap-Report-D3.pdf.

Savi, Khorn. “National Plan to Address Trafficking Launched.” Phnom Penh Post, 2019. https://www. phnompenhpost.com/national/national-plan-address-trafficking-launched.

Scales, Peter C., Eugene C. Roehlkepartain, and Kathleen Fraher. “Do Developmental Assets Make a Difference in Majority-World Contexts?,” 2012. www.searchRinstitute.org.

Search for Common Ground. “Youth-Led Research.” Washington, DC: Search for Common Ground, 2017.

Seiha, Heng, and Chheat Sreang. “The Enduring Gap: Decentralisation Reform and Youth Participation in Local Rural Governance.” Working Paper Series No. 94 (2014). www.kya-cambodia.org.

Shier, Harry, and Play Á. Train. “Pathways to Participation: Openings, Opportunities and Obligations.” Children & Society 15 (2001): 107–17.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 58 SOGIESC-SRHR. “Social Discrimination against LGBTIQ People: Factsheet,” 2018. https://ilga.org/ downloads/SOGIESC_Advocacy_paper_CAMBODIA_UPR32.pdf.

Sok, Pitour, and Nee Meas. “Youth Engagement in Social and Political Activities to Promote Civic Space in Cambodia,” 2017.

Sonis, Jeffrey, et al. “Probable Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Disability in Cambodia. Associations with Perceived Justice, Desire for Revenge and Attitudes Toward the Khmer Rouge Trials.” Journal of the American Medical Association 302, no. 5 (2009).

Steering Committee on Violence Against children, UNICEF. “Findings from Cambodia’s Violence Against Children.” Phnom Penh, 2014.

Tech, Chey, and Gemma Wood. “Cambodian Youth Development Index (CYDI).” Phnom Penh: UNFPA, 2017.

Treleaven, Emily, and They Kheam. “Women and Migration in Cambodia.” CRUMP Series. Phnom Penh, 2013.

Tsang, Tiffany, and Chansocheata Poum. “Factors Affecting Women Engaging in Tech Careers in Cambodia.” USAID Rapid Design Research, no. June (2018).

UNDP. “Human Development Indices and Indicators: 2018 Statistic Update—Cambodia,” 2018. http://hdr.undp.org/en/data.

UNDP, Sweden Government, and BBC Media Action. “Reaching and Engaging the Cambodian Youth on Issues of Civic Participation.” Phnom Penh, 2014. http://ticambodia.org/library/wp-content/files_mf/ 1437984460ReachingandEngagingtheCambodianYouthonIssuesofCivicParticipation.pdf.

UNDP and USAID. “Being LGBT in Asia: Cambodia Country Report.” Bangkok, 2014.

UNESCO, UNDP, IOM, and UN-HABITAT. “Overview of Internal Migration in Cambodia.” Bangkok, 2017.

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UNFPA. “Literature Review on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Migrant Garment Factory Workers in Cambodia,” 2014. https://cambodia.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/SRHRofGarment FactoryWorkerLiteratureReview_2.pdf.

UNFPA. “Report on Urbanization and Its Linkage to Socio-Economic and Environmental Issues,” 2014.

UNFPA Cambodia. “Cambodia Youth Data Sheet 2013,” 2013. https://cambodia.unfpa.org/sites/ default/files/pub-pdf/Youth-Data-Sheet.pdf.

UNFPA Cambodia. “Migration in Cambodia: Factsheet,” 2014. https://cambodia.unfpa.org/ sites/default/files/pub-pdf/FactsheetMigration %281%29.pdf.

UNICEF. “A Statistical Profile of Child Protection in Cambodia.” Phnom Penh, 2018. https://www.unicef .org/cambodia/media/711/file.

59 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV UNICEF Cambodia. “Child Protection and Education Needs for the Children and Adolescents of Phnom Penh’s Urban Poor Communities.” Phnom Penh, 2018. https://www.unicef.org/cambodia/reports/child- protection-and-education-needs-children-and-adolescents-pps-urban-poor-communities.

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United States Department of State. “2019 Trafficking in Persons Report,” 2019.

United States Department of State. “Cambodia 2018 Human Rights Report Executive Summary,” 2018. https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/CAMBODIA-2018.pdf.

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UNVAC and UNICEF. “Violence against Children—Looking beyond Experience: Participatory Assessment Tool,” n.d.

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USAID. “Cambodia Gender Assessment.” Phnom Penh, 2016.

USAID. “Country Development Cooperation Strategy for Cambodia 2014–2018.” Washington, DC, 2013.

USAID. “End of Project Performance Evaluation of the Improved Basic Education in Cambodia Project.” Phnom Penh, 2014.

USAID. “Understanding the Youth Perspective in the Western Highlands: The Participatory Youth Assessment 2015.” Washington, DC, 2015.

USAID. “Youth in Development: USAID Policy on Youth.” Washington, DC, 2012.

USAID Data Services. “DO 1 Democracy and Governance.” Washington, DC, 2019.

USAID Data Services. “DO 2 Health and Education.” Washington, DC, 2019.

USAID Data Services. “DO 3 Food Security and Environment.” Washington, DC, 2019.

USAID, Worker Health, Marie Stopes Cambodia, and Evidence. “Workplace Health and the Garment Sector in Cambodia: Policy Brief,” 2017.

Workforce Connections Project. “Education Stocks and Flows Diagram: A Tool for Implementing Labor Market Assessments.” Washington, DC, 2015. http://www.wfconnections.org.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 60 World Bank. “Cambodia Economic Update: Recent Economic Developments and Outlook,” 2019.

World Bank. “Cambodia’s Future Jobs: Linking to the Economy of Tomorrow (Technical Report),” 2019.

World Bank and Management Science for Health. “Reproductive Health at a Glance: Cambodia,” 2011.

World Education. “Youth on the Move Cambodia.” Phnom Penh: World Education, 2014.

World Vision. “Child Protection Policy Brief 2017,” 2017, 14–15. http://www.unicef.org/cambodia/ 2.Child_Protection.pdf.

World Vision Cambodia. “LEAP 3 Baseline Report: Community Engagement and Sponsorship Plan.” Phnom Penh, 2019.

World Vision Cambodia. “LEAP 3 Baseline Report: Technical Programmes and Community Engagement and Sponsorship Plan.” Phnom Penh, n.d.

World Vision Cambodia. “Youth Capacity Statement.” Phnom Penh, 2018.

Yeung, Wesley, Wei-yee Leong, Kimsong Khoun, Warren Ong, Sundesh Sambi, Su-min Lim, and Bill Bieber. “Alcohol Use Disorder and Heavy Episodic Drinking in Rural Communities in Cambodia: Risk Factors and Community-Perceived Strategies.” Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, 2015, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1177/1010539515607961.

Yi, Siyan, Sovannary Tuot, Kunthearith Yung, Sanh Kim, Chhorvann Chhea, and Vonthanak Saphonn. “Factors Associated with Risky Sexual Behavior among Unmarried Most-at-Risk Young People in Cambodia.” American Journal of Public Health Research 2, no. 5 (2014): 211–220. https://doi.org/10.12691/ajphr-2-5-5.

Youth Coalition for Unity and Development. “Status of Youth Policies of Political Parties in Cambodia and Proposed Youth Policy Formulation Guideline,” 2018.

Youth in Action for Society. “Youth’s Perspectives on Youth Candidates for National and Sub-National Elected Bodies: Summary of Research Findings.” Phnom Penh, 2016.

61 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV ANNEX 2: ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY This annotated bibliography includes brief descriptions of key documents related to each of the four AQs, plus documents of overall relevance to youth in Cambodia. The first AQ on factors enabling or inhibiting youth’s engagement in the labor force is divided into two sections: education and work.

Youth (General)

OECD. “Youth Well-Being Policy Review of Cambodia.” Paris: OECD Development Centre, 2017.

This report investigates the barriers youth face regarding health, employment, education, and civic participation in Cambodia and provides recommendations to address these barriers.

Office of Food Security and Environment/USAID. “Natural Resource Management Youth Analysis: An Analysis for USAID/Cambodia’s Environment Project Design Process.” Washington, DC, 2015.

Because of the high youth population in Cambodia, this analysis was commissioned by USAID to determine what are effective ways to engage youth in natural resource management programming and lessons learned from past programing.

Royal Government of Cambodia. “National Policy on Youth Development.” Phnom Penh: Royal Government of Cambodia, 2011. http://www.youthpolicy.org/national/Cambodia_2011_Policy _Youth_Development.pdf.

Tech, Chey, and Gemma Wood. “Cambodian Youth Development Index (CYDI).” Phnom Penh, 2017.

This is Cambodia's first youth development index, following the global trend to focus more on youth in policy making.

Education

MoEYS. “Cambodia Education Statistics.” Phnom Penh, 2017. https://www.ceicdata.com/en/cambodia/ education-statistics?page=2.

This data looks at the number of children out of school by year, age, and gender as well as the current education expenditures by percentage in primary, secondary, and tertiary public institutions.

MoEYS. “Education Congress: Education, Youth and Sport Performance in the Academic Year 2017– 2018 and Goals for the Academic Year 2018–2019.” Phnom Penh: Royal Government of Cambodia, 2019.

MLVT. “National Technical Vocational Education and Training Policy 2017–2025.” Phnom Penh: The Royal Government of Cambodia, 2017.

This report provides a brief overview of Cambodia’s New Technical and Vocational Education and Training Policy. It lays out the current situation in Cambodia, discusses the challenges the current system faces, their vision, policy goals and objectives, and method of evaluation.

MoEYS. “Education in Cambodia: Findings from Cambodia’s Experience in PISA for Development.” Phnom Penh, 2018.

This report discusses the education policy in Cambodia and presents the results of Cambodia’s participation in the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment for Development (PISA-D). The evidence discussed in this report will assist policy makers in identifying the issues pertaining to the education policy in Cambodia and provide appropriate and effective strategies and policies.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 62 National Institute of Statistics, Directorate General for Health, and ICF International. “Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey 2014.” Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Rockville, Maryland, USA, 2015.

The 2014 Cambodian Demographic and Health Survey surveyed 15,825 households, with majority of the people being women. The survey’s purpose is to provide “policy makers and planners with detailed information on fertility and family planning; infant, child, adult, and maternal mortality; maternal and child health; nutrition; and knowledge of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections.”

OECD. “Youth Well-Being Policy Review of Cambodia.” Paris: OECD Development Centre, 2017.

The Youth Inclusion project conducted “Youth Well-being Policy Review,” which discusses the challenges that the youth are faced with, provides solutions for better policies, and advises governments on how to involve the youth in national development processes.

Tech, Chey, and Gemma Wood. “Cambodian Youth Development Index (CYDI).” Phnom Penh: UNFPA, 2017.

UNDP. “Human Development Indices and Indicators: 2018 Statistic Update—Cambodia,” 2018.

UNDP and USAID. “Being LGBT in Asia: Cambodia Country Report.” Bangkok, 2014.

Over the years, the LGBTQ community has made major strides in Cambodia, with Cambodia’s former King, His Majesty King Father Norodom Sihanouk publicly announced his support of same-sex relations in 2004. This report compares transgender females, transgender males, men who have sex with men, and lesbians, then further breaks down the areas of family affairs, education and schooling, employment and work, community and society, health, media, and other issues.

USAID. “Cambodia Gender Assessment.” Phnom Penh, 2016.

USAID. “End of Project Performance Evaluation of the Improved Basic Education in Cambodia Project.” Phnom Penh, 2014.

Work

Asian Development Bank. Cambodia: Addressing the Skills Gap. Mandaluyong City, Philippines: Asian Development Bank and ILO, 2015.

This study highlights the skills gap in education despite the great progress Cambodia has made in the last two decades toward sustainable and rapid economic growth. Lack of decent jobs has been found to be the root of the problem with several nuances that are identified in this study.

BIPO. “Understanding the Cambodian Labour Market.” Bangkok, 2018. www.biposervice.com.

Bruni, Michelle, Likanan Luch, and Somean Kuoch. “Skills Shortages and Skills Gaps in the Cambodian Labour Market: Evidence from Employer Skills Needs Survey.” ILO Asia-Pacific Working Paper Series. Phnom Penh, 2013.

This paper identifies important findings from the Employer Skills Needs Survey in 2012. The survey was aimed at understanding the needs of employers in finding and hiring workers. The survey focused on six of Cambodia’s growing sectors: accommodation, construction, finance, food, garments and footwear, and rubber and plastics.

Chan, Penhleak. “Tech Innovation Sector of Phnom Penh: Landscape Scoping and Narrative of Change 2013–2018.” Phnom Penh, 2018.

63 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV This paper takes findings from key informant interviews, attendance at events, and desk research and primary collection data to provide a wholistic picture of the technical innovation landscape in Phnom Penh since 2013.

Choeun, Hong. “Cambodia Labor Market Information System and Public Employment Service Cambodia.” Jeju Island, Republic of Korea: NEA, 2016.

This report identifies findings on the labor market information system and public employment services through graphs and tables on GDP growth, GDP share, employment and population, and factors in age as well. It also highlights sectoral growth forecasts and employment change by skill set and identifies recommendations for next steps.

Dalberg Global Development Advisors. “Youthstart Global Inception Phase—Youth Economic Opportunities Ecosystem Analysis.” Phnom Penh, 2016.

This analysis speaks to the economic sustainment and growth in Cambodia, specifically in regard to employment and the growing youth population to emphasize the importance of addressing the needs of the future generation.

Huynh, Phu. “Assessing the Gender Pay Gap in Asia’s Garment Sector.” ILO Asia-Pacific Working Paper Series, 2016. www.ilo.org/publns.

This paper focuses on the gender pay gap in the garment, textile, and footwear industry in nine developing Asian economies, including Cambodia. The findings acknowledge that women are more likely to be on the lower end of the wage gap and that age and education are also a contributing factor. This paper presents evidence of findings and discusses means of reducing gender disparities and discrimination.

ILO. “Youth Employment Policy Summary: Cambodia,” 2017. https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/ public/---asia/---ro-bangkok/---sro-bangkok/documents/publication/wcms_534260.pdf.

Cambodia has a notably large youth population with an equally notably high school dropout rate because of economic reasons. For this reason, many youths are employed in the informal economy and earn low wages. This summary identifies the approaches to addressing these barriers to employment.

ILO. “Cambodia Garment and Footwear Sector Bulletin.” Phnom Penh, 2019.

This bulletin marks key characteristics and developments of the footwear sector through analysis, graphs, and figures. It includes statistics on current trends in the industry as well, specifically in Cambodia.

LICADHO and Sahmakum Teang Tnaut; “Collateral Damage Land Loss and Abuses in Cambodia’s Microfinance Sector,” 2019. www.twitter.com/licadho.

This article highlights the details of Cambodia’s microfinance institution sector, specifically the human rights abuses within the sector based on research conducted across 10 communes in four provinces, and Phnom Penh.

LO/FTF Council. “Labour Market Profile 2015: Cambodia,” Copenhagen, 2015.

This labor market profile on Cambodia focuses on the overall market profile without in-depth analysis. It is divided into 11 thematic sections on labor ranging from age, gender, migration, formal vs. informal economy, and legislation.

MLVT. “Labour and Vocational Training Statistics.” Phnom Penh, 2018.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 64 MLVT. “National Technical Vocational Education and Training Policy 2017–2025.” Phnom Penh: The Royal Government of Cambodia, 2017.

With Cambodia’s rising economy throughout the past several years and the sustained economic growth, the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training identifies a strategy to address TVET for the workforce that will respond better to the growing labor market demand.

.Phnom Penh, 2018 .הנוטע עלון ”.NEA. “Cambodia Job Outlook 2018

With an overall growing economy, Cambodia’s job outlook for 2018 is high in nearly all sectors. This report highlights the details of the market situation as of 2018 and the best opportunities based on areas of profession.

NEA. “Skills Shortages and Skills Gaps in the Cambodian Labour Market: Evidence from Employer Survey 2017.” Phnom Penh, 2018.

National Institute of Statistics. Cambodia Labour Force and Child Labour Survey 2012. Phnom Penh: International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour, National Institute of Statistics, and ILO, 2013.

This survey provides information on Cambodia’s labor force and economic activity, including national and regional statistics relating to employment and unemployment. It provides information regarding households, education, training, the youth labor force, and earnings, among other topics.

National Institute of Statistics. “Cambodia Socio-Economic Survey 2017.” Phnom Penh, 2018.

This survey has been conducted annually since 2007 and contributes to the development of living standards of the people in Cambodia. It provides a comprehensive set of indicators concerning the living conditions of those in Cambodia.

National Institute of Statistics, Directorate General for Health, and ICF International. “Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey 2014.” Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and Rockville, Maryland, USA, 2015.

This survey provides information relating to family planning, infant and child mortality, women’s health care, HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, and other important health factors that contribute to the overall societal well- being.

Tsang, Tiffany, and Chansocheata Poum. “Factors Affecting Women Engaging in Tech Careers in Cambodia.” USAID Rapid Design Research, no. June (2018).

This research is founded on qualitative data collection through interviews with key stakeholders and tech leaders in Cambodia. This report details the importance of education and developing an early interest for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) at an early age.

UNDP. “Human Development Indices and Indicators: 2018 Statistic Update—Cambodia,” 2018.

This statistic update includes a wholistic statistical annex and data that gives insight into the state of development across the world, specifically looking at long-term trends across multiple dimensions. It captures the progress made thus far and identifies future developmental approaches.

World Bank. “Cambodia’s Future Jobs: Linking to the Economy of Tomorrow” (Technical Report), 2019.

This report encompasses the major trends surrounding Cambodia’s job market and growing economy, while factoring in long-term trends that are projected to effect Cambodia’s future employment economy. The

65 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV report includes Cambodia’s current development strategy and identifies how current developments will affect future employment development.

World Bank. “Cambodia Economic Update: Recent Economic Developments and Outlook,” 2019.

This report identifies the recent developments in Cambodia’s economy, the risks and challenges associated with this development, and the outlook of Cambodia’s economic development.

Migration

Australian Aid and ILO. “Analysis of the Implementation of the Policy on Labour Migration,” 2017. https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---asia/---ro-bangkok/documents/publication/wcms_ 618786.pdf.

The “Policy on Labour Migration” was implemented in 2014 by the Government of Cambodia. Under this policy, they implemented both long-term and short-term activities that were then divided and presented in four different groups for further discussion and recommendations; they included: policy action, skills training, cost of migration and monitoring and evaluation tools and systems, and return and reintegration.

Harkins, Benjamin, Daniel Lindgren, and Tarinee Suravoranon. Risks and Rewards: Outcomes of Labour Migration in South-East Asia, 2017. www.ilo.org/publns.

In the ASEAN region, there is a lack of emphasis on the importance of low-skilled and labor-intensive jobs, and how these sectors are critical to the economic growth and prosperity of these countries. Since there is a lack of data and empirical evidence on migration in the region, this report set out to fill any remaining gaps. The report concluded that “the goal needs to be reframed as an increased number of migrants who have holistically beneficial labour migration experience, rather than over-emphasizing the importance of an expanded national remittance account.”

International Organization for Migration. “Assessing Potential Changes in the Migration Patterns of Cambodian Migrants and Their Impacts on Thailand and Cambodia.” Bangkok, 2019.

Cambodian migrants move into Thailand because of the labour shortages in the rural areas of Cambodia. This study analyzes the impact that migration has on development in the monetary sense but also includes “family dynamics, education, health and the acquisition and use of labour market skills.” Most migrants are young women, and many migrate because of low income and unemployment. This report provides recommendations to the Thai government and the Cambodian government, so they can develop appropriate migration policies and programs that maximizes the economic and societal return of both countries.

IOM. “Debt and the Migration Experience: Insights from South-East Asia.” Bangkok, 2019. www.iom.int.

This report featured a case study in which 10 migrants from Myanmar and Cambodia were interviewed to discuss their experiences with debt and indebtedness in the migration process.

Ministry of Planning. “Migration in Cambodia: Report of the Cambodian Rural Urban Migration Project (CRUMP).” Phnom Penh, 2012.

Over the years, there have been increased migration into Phnom Penh, and this project investigates the well-being of these urban migrants, the effects it has on the rural areas in which these migrants originated, and the strategies that can be implemented in other countries facing high rates of migration.

Napier-Moore, Rebecca. Protected or Put in Harm’s Way? Bans and Restrictions on Women’s Labour Migration in ASEAN Countries, 2017. www.ilo.org/publns.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 66 This report discusses the restrictions on women’s migration in the ASEAN states specifically, “bans suspending migration for domestic work in Myanmar—Singapore and Cambodia—Malaysia migration corridors.” It also discusses the effects of the restrictions and provides alternatives to these restrictions.

Office of Food Security and Environment/USAID. “Natural Resource Management Youth Analysis: An Analysis for USAID/Cambodia’s Environment Project Design Process.” Washington, DC, 2015.

Olivier, Marius. Social Protection for Migrant Workers in ASEAN: Developments, Challenges, and Prospects. Bangkok: ILO, 2018. https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---asia/---ro-bangkok/documents/ publication/wcms_655176.pdf

With increased migration, whether it be within ASEAN states or beyond, ASEAN places an obligation on states to preserve, promote, and respect migrant workers. Social protection remains an issue with migrant workers since they are the least protected population. This report emphasizes the importance of the collaboration of ASEAN states to “implement fair labour migration systems that respond equitably to the interests of governments, employers, and migrant workers.” A multilateral agreement composed of ASEAN states is needed so that further integration within ASEAN can continue and so that workers and their social security are protected.

Plan International. “Into the Light: Young Female Migrant Workers in Thailand’s Seafood Sector and Their Access to Decent Work,” 2018. https://doi.org/10.1038/483S38a.

The report discusses the harmful work conditions, discrimination, and low pay that a group of young Cambodian women face in the seafood sector in Thailand.

UNFPA. “Report on Urbanization and Its Linkage to Socio-Economic and Environmental Issues,” 2014. https://cambodia.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/Urbanizationreport%282015%29.pdf

With increasing urbanization of Cambodia comes the environmental and socioeconomic problems that are associated with this development. There has been a lack of studies conducted that addresses this problem. UNFPA looks at the sexual and reproductive health of the people living in urban settings and draws attention to the existence of poverty. They also proposed recommendations that will assist with the sustainability of urbanization in Cambodia.

UNFPA. “Literature Review on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Migrant Garment Factory Workers in Cambodia,” 2014. https://cambodia.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/SRHRofGarment FactoryWorkerLiteratureReview_2.pdf.

UNFPA conducted a literature review and read desk reviews and conducted KIIs to delve deeper into the current SRHR of female adolescents and youth working in the factories in Cambodia.

UNFPA Cambodia. “Migration in Cambodia: Factsheet,” 2014. https://cambodia.unfpa.org/ sites/default/files/pub-pdf/FactsheetMigration %281%29.pdf.

This fact sheet provides a brief overview of migration of people in Cambodia from rural to urban communities and their motivations, which include: transfer of work; looking for work; education; marriage; lost their land/home or other; the impact of migration; health of urban migrants; migrant networks; and contact with village origin. Additionally, the fact sheet breaks down migrant characteristics by age, education levels, marital status, and gender.

World Education. “Youth on the Move Cambodia.” Phnom Penh: World Education, 2014.

Aims.worlded.org is a website as well as an Interactive Voice Response that provides the youth with information and safety tips on migration. It was funded by Dream Blue Foundation and implemented by World

67 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV Education Cambodia. With the pilot’s initial success, World Education is seeking to expand its’ efforts through a creation of an app, stronger media presence, and its’ goal of countering human trafficking.

Civil and Community Engagement

BBC World Service Trust. “Youth Civic Participation in Cambodia: Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Media,” 2010. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/57a08af7ed915d622c0009f9/452_UNDP _Youth_Civic_ParticiationKAPstudy1.pdf.

This study examines youth civic participation and found that community life, safety, and security were the youth’s main concerns; most had difficulty discussing issues.

Kampuchean Action for Primary Education. “Empowering Youth in Cambodia Today: Youth Situation Analysis—Education for Youth Empowerment Project (EYE),” 2014. http://kapekh.org/files/report_ file/46-en.pdf.

Save the Children International’s original program targeted children under 12 but has shifted to include children between 12 and 24. The Education for Youth Empowerment (EYE) Situation Analysis was implemented to provide insight and a guide to the development of their new strategy and plan.

Ruiz, Henry R. “Evaluation of Adolescent and Youth Participation in UNICEF Cambodia.” Phnom Penh, 2012. https://www.unicef.org/evaldatabase/files/Cambodia_FINAL_REPORT_Full_Parts_1-2.pdf.

This report evaluates four UNICEF-supported adolescent and youth participation projects. The study was focused on assessment and analysis, articulation and advocacy, planning, action, and monitoring and evaluation based on five criteria: 1. Efficiency, 2. Relevance, 3. Effectiveness, 4. Sustainability, and 5. Impact. Action and accomplishment of their projects had the strongest participation whereas assessment and analysis and advocacy and articulation ranked weakest.

Seiha, Heng, and Chheat Sreang. “The Enduring Gap: Decentralisation Reform and Youth Participation in Local Rural Governance.” No. 94 (2014). www.kya-cambodia.org.

Without intermediaries, such as youth associations, commune councils, and village chiefs, youth participation in local rural governance is limited.

UNDP, Sweden Government, and BBC Media Action. “Reaching and Engaging the Cambodian Youth on Issues of Civic Participation.” Phnom Penh, 2014. http://ticambodia.org/library/wp-content/files_mf/143 7984460ReachingandEngagingtheCambodianYouthonIssuesofCivicParticipation.pdf.

The youth make up 30 percent of Cambodia’s population. The country’s future and prosperity largely depend on the youth’s engagement in civic life. A few years ago, the lack of knowledge and participation by the youth was concerning, but a recent study was conducted to measure the impact that Loy9, “multi-media programme on youth civic participation in Cambodia,” had and found a positive impact on youth civic engagement. The Swedish and Cambodian government are conducting another knowledge, and attitudes and practices study on the youth population in hopes that this will aspire more civic participation and engagement.

United States Department of State. “Cambodia 2018 Human Rights Report Executive Summary,” 2018. https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/CAMBODIA-2018.pdf.

This report focuses on the human rights infractions that exist in Cambodia under the current Prime Minister Hun Sen and provides a brief overview of different sectors and freedoms.

World Vision Cambodia. “LEAP 3 Baseline Report Community Engagement and Sponsorship Plan.” Phnom Penh, 2019.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 68 Youth in Action for Society. “Youth’s Perspectives on Youth Candidates for National and Sub-National Elected Bodies: Summary of Research Findings.” Phnom Penh, 2016. http://www.yrdp.org/download/ research-summary-report-on-youth-perspective-on-youthcandidate-2016/

Health and Safety

De Jong, Joop, ed. Trauma, War and Violence. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, 2002.

This book focuses on the large amount of mental and psychosocial health issues that are the result of armed conflict and terrorism in many low-income countries, specifically focusing on Africa and Asia. It also describes the public health services available in conflict and postconflict situations in these areas.

United States Department of State. “2019 Trafficking in Persons Report,” 2019.

This report highlights the U.S. Government’s response to the international issue of human trafficking and methods and examples of what has been done to combat this issue; it focuses on several country narratives.

Mclaughlin, Daniel, and Elisabeth Wickeri. “Special Report-Mental Health and Human Rights in Cambodia.” Fordham International Law Journal 35 (2017). http://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/ilj.

This journal article acknowledges the high prevalence of depression and various mental health issues and the fact that marginalized groups are disproportionately affected by mental health problems. More specifically, this journal article focuses on Cambodia’s mental health landscape and the psychological impact of the Khmer Rouge regime.

National Institute of Statistics, Directorate General for Health, and ICF International. “Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey 2014.” Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and Rockville, Maryland, USA, 2015.

This report provides information on various topics affecting the health sector of Cambodia, including HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, family planning, maternal mortality, infant and child mortality, and women’s health care.

Peltzer, Karl, and Supa Pengpid. “Prevalence and Determinants of Tobacco Use among School Going Adolescents in Cambodia and Vietnam: A Cross-Sectional Study.” Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association 67, no. 7 (2017): 1024–1029.

This study explores the prevalence of tobacco use among school-going adolescents in Cambodia.

Royal Government of Cambodia, and Steering Committee on Violence Against Women and Violence Against Children. “Action Plan to Prevent and Respond to Violence Against Children 2017–2021.” Phnom Penh, 2017. https://www.unicef.org/cambodia/Full_VAC_Action_Plan_En_Final_AP.pdf.

This action plan is the result of multiple findings regarding violence against children and physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. This action plan is a means to address these abuses and lay out a framework for combating such violence.

Royal Government of Cambodia, Ministry of Interior. “Safety Village Commune/Sangkat Policy Guideline.” Phnom Penh, 2010. http://sithi.org/admin/upload/law/Village Commune Safety Policy (Eng.) - 2010.pdf.

This guidance policy addresses the importance of peace, stability, and security as the basic principles that allow economic development and social affairs to grow. It lays out a step-by-step guidance on how to achieve these principles.

69 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV Save the Children. “Child Rights in the Tonlé Sap,” 2018. https://cambodia.savethechildren.net/sites/ cambodia.savethechildren.net/files/library/ChildRightsintheTonleSap-Report-D3.pdf.

This report is the result of sampling 36 villages in the Tonle Sap region of Kampong Chhnang and Pursat provinces, working in tandem with the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport to improve access to and quality of Early Childhood Care and Development services throughout the community.

Savi, Khorn. “National Plan to Address Trafficking Launched.” Phnom Penh Post, 2019. https://www. phnompenhpost.com/national/national-plan-address-trafficking-launched.

This article speaks to the launch of the National Committee for Counter Trafficking’s National Plan of Action 2019–2023. It addresses new forms of human trafficking, specifically sex trafficking at night clubs and surrogacy.

Scales, Peter C., Eugene C. Roehlkepartain, and Kathleen Fraher. “Do Developmental Assets Make a Difference in Majority-World Contexts?” 2012. www.searchRinstitute.org.

This study discusses the correlation between international development priorities and development assets among youth in Cambodia.

Sonis, Jeffrey, et al. “Probable Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Disability in Cambodia. Associations with Perceived Justice, Desire for Revenge, and Attitudes Toward the Khmer Rouge Trials.” Journal of the American Medical Association 302, no. 5 (2009).

As a result of the Khmer Rouge era, this journal article addresses the millions of Cambodians who suffered trauma because of the inhumane actions of this time and the resulting Khmer Rouge trials.

UNFPA. “Literature Review on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Migrant Garment Factory Workers in Cambodia,” 2014. https://cambodia.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/SRHRofGarment FactoryWorkerLiteratureReview_2.pdf.

This literature review is to explore the SRHR currently affecting the migrant factory workers of Cambodia, specifically the female adolescent and youth population living around Phnom Penh. It is based off information found in desk reviews and backed up by interviews with key informant persons.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 70 ANNEX 3: WORK PLAN OF ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES DATE (2019) TASKS OUTPUTS PREPARATION Sept 9–17 Draft Inception Report, including draft work plan/schedule Submission of Final Inception Report to USAID, Sept 17 Sept 25 Mission feedback on draft Inception Report Sept 27 Review and approval of draft Inception Report Sept 9–30 Document review Complete logistics (e.g., schedule interviews, organize Interview invitations sent out and confirmed; FGD Sept 30–Oct 11 participants for FGDs) participants confirmed WORKSHOP/FIELDWORK Oct 18 Arrival of international team members in Cambodia Oct 19 Training with Assessment team Half-day in-briefing at USAID Mission: Inception Presentation presentation, including discussion of Assessment Oct 21 instruments, methodology, and finalize fieldwork plan Half-day training with Assessment team Assessment team training, including field testing and Interview notes Oct 22–23 finalization of tools Finalize assessment tools Fieldwork: national level interviews Fieldwork: sites 1 (Phnom Penh) and 2 (Kompong Cham, Siem Reap) (teams to split up), including travel to next site Interview notes; FGD summaries Oct 24–29 Remote midterm brief with USAID Cambodia Mid-brief presentation Fieldwork: site 3 (Sihanoukville) and 4 (Ratanakiri) Interview notes; FGD summaries Oct 30–Nov 4 (teams to split up), including travel to next site Nov 5–7 Data consolidation and preliminary analysis days Half day exit briefing at USAID Mission: sharing of Out-brief presentation, Debriefing memo preliminary results Nov 8 Continue data consolidate and analysis with Assessment team

71 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV Nov 9 International team members depart Cambodia REPORTING Nov 11–22 Data analysis and prepare preliminary rough draft Submission of preliminary rough draft to SI management Internal review of preliminary rough draft Assessment Nov 25–29 Report Nov 29 Submit draft Assessment Report to USAID Submission of draft Assessment Report to USAID USAID review of draft Assessment Report Consolidated comments from draft Assessment Report Dec 2–6 (amended to review Dec 13) Submitted to SI on December 13, 2019 instead Dec 10–13 (amended to Revise and submit final Assessment Report Submission of Final Assessment Report to USAID, Dec 13 Dec 21) (amended to Dec 21) Submission of Assessment Datasets to USAID after approval of Final Assessment Report Dec 20 (amended to USAID approval of Final Assessment Report Dec 31)

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 72 ANNEX 4: ASSESSMENT DESIGN MATRIX

AQ DATA SOURCE DATA COLLECTION DATA ANALYSIS METHOD METHOD 1. What opportunities and constraints do Demographic data from secondary sources—the 2019 Collection and review of Comparison of statistical data among Cambodian youth face in preparing for and/or census, national educational and workforce statistics, documents from the internet, different subpopulations of youth, attaining a livelihood, whether through formal or reports on youth in the labor force, etc. USAID sources, and key informants consideration of education stocks and informal means? flows in relation to labor market needs Government officials, donor and project staff, and NGO a. What sectors hold the greatest potential for staff working on youth employment issues youth (taking into account employment demographics, labor demand trends, and Youth, including male/female, rural/urban, and poorer Qualitative coding by AQ and emerging education stocks and flows)? subpopulations KIIs theme b. What are the main factors that enable or limit youth to engage with these sectors? FGDs Qualitative coding by AQ and emerging theme

2. What are the current drivers of risky youth Written reports on migration generally and youth Collection and review of Review of documents while flagging migration (domestic and international), and what migration specifically, reports on human trafficking documents from the internet, passages and themes relevant to the AQ. can be done to address them? USAID sources, and key informants Possible coding to subthemes. Government officials, international organization officials (especially the IOM), and NGOs working on migration, returning migrants, human trafficking and associated risks KIIs Qualitative coding by AQ and emerging Youth living near a border area (our selected area is Koh theme Kong, near the Thai border).

FGDs Qualitative coding by AQ and emerging theme

3. What factors motivate Cambodian youth to Documents on youth political and civic engagement in Collection and review of Review of documents while flagging participate actively and collectively in political Cambodia documents from the internet, passages and themes relevant to the AQ. decisions, processes, and institutions? What USAID sources, and key informants Possible coding to subthemes.

73 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV factors inhibit the collective activism and Representatives of youth associations, human rights participation of Cambodian youth? organizations, and NGOs working on youth political engagement KIIs Qualitative coding by AQ and emerging theme

Qualitative coding by AQ and emerging Youth, including a broad range of subpopulations FGDs theme

4. What factors are associated with the safety Documents on youth safety and well-being in Cambodia, Collection and review of Review of documents while flagging and well-being of youth in Cambodia? What including specific documents on addiction, and violence documents from the internet, passages and themes relevant to the AQ. factors increase risks to the safety and well-being by/to youth USAID sources, and key informants Possible coding to subthemes. of Cambodian youth? Representatives of youth associations, human rights a. What factors are associated with risky organizations, and NGOs working on youth protection, behavior by youth, including addictive or violent including vulnerable groups, such as orphans, LGBTQ, etc. KIIs Qualitative coding by AQ and emerging behavior? What can be done to address them? theme b. What factors increase the risk of youth being Qualitative coding by AQ and emerging exploited or otherwise victimized by others? Youth, including a broad range of subpopulations FGDs theme What can be done to address them?

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 74 ANNEX 5: LIST OF RESPONDENTS

ORGANIZATION POSITION

GOVERNMENT

MoWA Undersecretary of State: Women and Women’s health & Lead UYFC in WA Undersecretary of State, role with gender and climate change, chair of MoWA youth network

Ministry of Education Deputy director of youth center management department

Independent consultant leading development of National Youth Action Plan

MLVT Deputy Director General (Directorate of General of TVET)

NEA Deputy Director of NEA

Department of Education in Siem Reap Chief of Youth Office and Chief Commissariat of Cambodian Scouts in Siem Reap province

Department of Education in Sihanoukville Deputy head of youth office

Department of Education in Ratanakiri Deputy Director, leader of Eschool project/youth volunteer project

High School Teacher (Transgendered)

Commune in Siem Reap CCWC

Commune in Ratanakiri CCWC/CC

Commune in Sihanoukville CCWC

NGO

Khmer Youth Association President

USAID Project Development/Gender Specialist

Khmer Youth for Social Development Executive Director and Founder

PDP-Center President

World Vision Associate Program Quality Director Youth/Child Participation & Protection Technical Manager Youth/Child Participation & Protection Officer

IOM Chief of Mission

Artisan Angkor Secretary General

Winrock Deputy of Chief of Party Capacity Building Manager

Oxfam Head of Programs/Interim Country Director

Friends International Executive Director

75 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV Friends International in Siem Reap Chief of Youth Office

Ponheary Ly Foundation Operations Director

Plan International Program Unit Manager

Swiss Development Corporation Program Manager

UNFPA Gender Officer Youth and HIV Program Officer

Epic Arts Operations Manager

Mlop Tapang Admin Manager Project/Operations Manager

Highlanders Association Staff

Cambodian Human Rights Development Provincial Coordinator Association in Sihanoukville

Harvest Executive Director

Private Sector

M&S Social Compliance Manager

H&M Social Sustainability Program Responsible Sustainability Manager Cambodia & Vietnam

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 76 ANNEX 6: DATA COLLECTION PROTOCOLS This section contains three data collection instruments: the youth focus group guide, the KII guide, and the prediscussion survey for FGD participants in English and Khmer.

Focus Group Discussion Guide for Moderators

AGENDA OVERVIEW:

A. INTRODUCTIONS: 15 min B. EDUCATION: 15 min C. WORK: 15 min D. HEALTH & SAFETY: 15 min E. CIVIC/COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: 15 min F. WRAP UP & THANKS: 5 min

[Note: Migration is only included here tangentially under the work section. Additional questions on migration might need to be added in if we are able to convene some FGDs of domestic migrants and/or returned international migrants.]

[A note on timing: Some topics will be more relevant to a group than others. Or the group might get into a discussion that seems important. So, this agenda timeline is a guide, but it is flexible. For example, if we are talking to younger groups, we’ll emphasize education more. With older groups, we’ll emphasize work more. This guide provides the basic framework.]

A. INTRODUCTIONS: [15 min]

Thank you for being here today.

[Introduce yourself and other team members and their roles.]

We are here to find out about your experiences, ideas, and dreams as youth. We will use this information to help USAID know what is most important to focus on in the coming five years to best support youth. We will be focusing on four areas:

● Education ● Work ● Health and Safety ● Civic and community engagement

We will be asking you to write down your thoughts as well as taking notes throughout the discussion so that we can make sure to capture the thoughts, opinions, and ideas we hear from the group. We want people to share honestly and openly. No names will be attached to these notes. You do not have to answer any question you don’t want to answer, and you can stop participating in the discussion at any time. We ask everyone here to be respectful of everyone’s opinion and everyone’s privacy. Whatever people share inside this discussion, please do not share it outside.

Does everyone agree to continue this discussion? If not, you may leave now.

About the focus group today:

● The discussion should take about an hour and a half. ● Let’s try to arrange ourselves in a comfortable way so we can all see each other—ideally, we can sit in a circle.

77 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV ● Please feel free to move about and help yourself to refreshments. ● We learn from you (you can speak whatever you feel is true for you . . . it is not about getting right answers, it doesn’t matter if it is positive or negative). ● It is ok if you disagree with someone else—we don’t need everyone in the group to agree. We can listen to different opinions. The important thing is to give everyone a chance to say what they think and why. ● If possible, please turn off your cell phone. If you need to answer a call, please take it outside the room. ● Please no recording or photo taking during the FGD. ● Is there anything you think is important to make sure that everyone can feel comfortable and enjoy the discussion today? [note these on a flip chart]

Okay, now let’s begin by introducing ourselves: Begin with a round of introductions, where everyone says their name, their age, and one fun fact about them [it could be their favorite song, favorite movie, favorite food . . . the facilitator can pick.]

Now we will begin our discussion. [Facilitator to explain the “Force field analysis” diagram.] For each of the four topics, we want to know:

1. What is the current situation for youth in your community? (e.g., challenges, opportunities) 2. What is the future youth want to see in their community? (e.g., hopes, fears, what do they want to see for the next generation of youth, if no barriers . . ., can use imagination) 3. What recommendations do you have to improve the life for youth in the future?

[Note: Questions below are prompting or probing questions if these points are not raised after asking the main question. Not all questions need to be asked. It is more important to allow time for youth to speak and to keep to time.]

B. EDUCATION: [15 min]

1. What is the current situation of education for youth in your community? a. Demographics i. Have most youth in your community gone to school? ii. Have most youth completed high school? iii. Do most youth in your community see the value of education? iv. Do youth migrate for education? If so, how far? For what reasons? v. Do many youth migrate from their community? If so, what impact does this have on education? b. What supports for education do youth have? i. What people support youth in their education? ii. What systems and/or structures support youth in their education? iii. What about for vulnerable or marginalized youth? c. Challenges: what are challenges for youth to achieve their hopes and vision in education? i. If some youth drop out of school in your community, why do they drop out? ii. Are there any youth in your community who are not able to go to school, or who are not able to finish school? Who are they? How common is this? Why aren’t they able to go? iii. What are the gaps in education so that it can be more useful?

2. What are your hopes or dreams for education for youth in the future? (e.g., in 5 years) a. What sorts of topics are youth interested in studying (that may not be sufficiently available right now)? b. What is the desired quality of education like in the future?

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 78 3. Recommendations: What do you recommend to improve the situation of education for youth in the future? a. Are there any particular kinds of education that are more useful? Less useful?

4. Other follow-up questions: a. Any other comments on education?

C. WORK: [15 min]

1. What is the current situation of work for youth in your community? a. Are most youth working in your community? b. Is it hard for youth to find work in your community? c. When people can’t find enough work in this area, what do they do? d. Do they work in your community? Or do they migrate somewhere else? If they migrate, how far? e. What are the common types of work that youth do in your community?

2. What are your hopes or dreams for work for youth in the future? a. What types of work would youth like to do in your community?

3. Recommendations: What do you recommend to improve the situation of work for youth in the future? a. Are there any particular kinds of work that are more useful? Less useful?

4. Other follow-up questions: a. Any other comments on work for youth?

D. HEALTH & SAFETY: [15 min]

Some of these questions might be sensitive for some of you, so I want to remind you that you don’t have to talk about anything you don’t feel comfortable about. Also, we don’t want to name specific people—just about what is happening in the area.

1. What is the current situation of health and safety for youth in your community? a. Do you know any youth in this area who do things you think are risky or dangerous? Or maybe even yourself, are there some things that you do that you think are probably risky. i. What sorts of things do they do? [if people get stuck here, you can probe about specific risky behaviors—excessive alcohol or drug use, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS (unprotected sex with multiple partners), gang membership, any other form of violence, etc.] ii. Do many youth in this area do these things? Or is this very rare? iii. Are there any particular kinds of youth who you think are more likely to do these things? Why? iv. Why do you think they do these things? b. Do you know any youth in this area whose safety and well-being are threatened by other people? This could even be yourself, someone you know well, or someone you don’t know very well. i. What sorts of dangers do youth in your area face, and from whom? [if people get stuck here, can probe: violence against them, being manipulated, forced labor, any form of exploitation, etc.] ii. Do you think there are many youths in this area who face these sorts of dangers? Or is this very rare?

79 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV iii. Are there any particular kinds of youth who you think are more likely to experience these things? Why? iv. Why do you think these things happen? v. Do you have any ideas about how we can help youth to stay safe and protected from this kind of thing?

2. What are your hopes or dreams for health and safety for youth in the future? (e.g., in 5 years)

3. Recommendations: What do you recommend to improve the situation of health and safety for youth in the future?

4. Other follow-up questions: a. Any other comments on health and safety for youth?

E. CIVIC & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: [15 min]

1. What is the current situation of civic and community engagement for youth in your community? a. Are most youth in your community part of a club or a community group? Why or why not? b. How are youth involved in the community development process in your community? (e.g., how do they share their ideas in this process?)

2. What are your hopes or dreams for civic and community engagement for youth in the future? (e.g., in 5 years)

3. Recommendations: What do you recommend to improve the situation of civic and community engagement for youth in the future? a. What would help youth to be more involved in community development in your community?

4. Other follow-up questions: a. Any other comments on civic and community engagement for youth?

F. WRAP UP & THANKS: [5 minutes]

Ok, everyone—we have reached the end. I would like to thank each and every one of you for a wonderful discussion and for sharing your ideas with us! I would also like to remind everyone to respect everyone’s confidentiality. That means, please don’t repeat what someone said outside this group, unless you have checked with that person, and she or he said it is ok.

Before we finish, I want to check if any of you have questions about what we’ve just done, and what we do with the information?

Is there is anything else any of you would like to mention?

[Once that is covered, thank everyone again and close the meeting.]

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 80 Key Informant Interview Guide

[Fill table before interview as much as possible.]

Organization Date of interview

Name of interviewee # of years in position

Current role/position # of years with organization

Name of interviewer Name of notetaker

A. INTRODUCTIONS: [5 min]

Thank you for agreeing to this interview. The interview should take approximately 60 minutes.

[Introduce yourself and the notetaker.]

We have been contracted by USAID to conduct a youth assessment to help them to prepare their next Country Development Cooperation Strategy. As a key informant, we would like to ask your expert opinion about the current situation of youth in Cambodia, and what can be done to improve the capacities and enable the aspirations of youth so that they can contribute to and benefit from more stable, democratic, and prosperous communities.

We will be taking notes throughout the discussion so that we can make sure to capture your thoughts, opinions, and ideas correctly. You do not have to answer any question you don’t want to answer, and you can stop participating in the interview at any time. Your response will remain confidential, and responses will be aggregated; any quotes would be referred to by type of respondent, and no names or specific positions will be mentioned.

Do you agree to continue with the interview?

Agree to continue? Choose yes/no.

Note, for all questions, inquire about whether their perspectives apply for at-risk groups as well, such as people living with disabilities, LGBTQ, street youth, trafficking in persons, youth from minority groups, youth from migrant families, etc., or whether these groups face different opportunities/challenges.

1. Please tell us more about your organization and role. Please highlight what work you do with youth.

B. YOUTH LIVELIHOODS: [15 min] 1. What opportunities do Cambodian youth face in preparing for and/or attaining a livelihood, whether through formal or informal means? a. What sectors hold the greatest potential for youth (taking into account employment demographics, labor demand trends, and education stocks and flows)? b. What are the main factors that help/support youth to engage with these sectors?

81 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV 2. What challenges do Cambodian youth face in preparing for and/or attaining a livelihood, whether through formal or informal means? a. What sectors have less youth interest? Is this a good or bad thing? Why? b. What are the main factors that are challenges for youth to engage with these sectors?

C. YOUTH MIGRATION: [15 min] 1. In your opinion, have youth migration rates been increasing or decreasing? Do you have any studies to support this opinion? 2. From your perspective, do you see this as a concern? Why or why not? 3. What are the current drivers of risky youth migration (domestic and international)? a. What can be done to address them?

D. YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: [15 min] 1. Do you believe that youth have an important role to play in civic engagement and/or community development? If so, in what ways? 2. From your perspective, what factors motivate Cambodian youth to participate actively and collectively in civic engagement and/or community development? 3. What challenges are there for Cambodian youth to participate actively and collectively in civic engagement and/or community development?

E. YOUTH SAFETY AND WELL-BEING: [15 min] 1. What factors are associated with the safety and well-being of youth in Cambodia? What factors increase risks to the safety and well-being of Cambodian youth? a. What factors are associated with risky behavior by youth, including addictive or violent behavior? What can be done to address them? b. What factors increase the risk of youth being exploited or otherwise victimized by others? What can be done to address them?

F. WRAP UP & THANKS: [5 minutes]

Do you have any documents (e.g., reports, research, working papers) that can be shared with us that would be helpful for this assessment?

We have reached the end of the interview. Is there anything else you would like to add with respect to the aims of this assessment?

Do you have any questions for us?

Thank you for your time.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 82 Prediscussion Survey for FGD Participant

For facilitator to fill in:

Respondent #...... Group Type: ......

Location: ...... Date: ......

To fill in during the registration period with assistance from FGD facilitators.

Please tell us a bit about you, so we can know who is taking part in this discussion.

1. What is the name of the town or the village where you live? 2. What province is this in? 3. What is your sex? Female/Male/Other 4. How old are you? 5. Are you currently in school or training? Yes/No 6. If yes, what level are you currently in? a. Primary Year: ___ b. Secondary Year: ___ c. High School Year: ___ d. Vocational School e. University f. Other: ______7. If no, what was the last level that you completed? a. Primary Year: ___ b. Secondary Year: ___ c. High School Year: ___ d. Vocational School e. University f. Other: ______8. How far do you expect to go in your schooling? a. Primary Year: ___ b. Secondary Year: ___ c. High school Year: ___ d. Vocational School e. University f. Other: ______9. Are you currently working? 10. If yes, what is your work? ______11. Who employs you? a. No one/self-employed b. Family member c. Neighbor d. A private company e. The government f. Other: ____

83 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV 12. Who do you currently live with? Check all that apply. a. My mother b. My father c. My siblings d. My grandparents e. My spouse f. My child/children g. My uncles and aunts h. My cousins i. Nonrelatives j. I live alone. 13. How many people are in your house? 14. What languages do you speak in your house? (Mark all that apply and circle the one that is the main language spoken.) a. Khmer b. English c. Cham d. Other: ______15. Do you contribute financially to your house? Yes/No 16. Are you the main financial support for your house? Yes/No 17. Have you ever moved for work? Yes/No a. If yes, where did you move from? What year? 18. Have you ever moved for another reason? (i.e., not work)? Yes/No a. If yes, where did you move from? What year?

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 84 ក䮚មងសំណួរ ស䮚�ប់អ�កចូលរម䮚កួ មពិ�ក��

ស䮚�ប់អ�កស䮚មបស䮚ម�ល េលខេរៀងអ�កចូលរ ួម䮚ក �មពិ�ក�...... 䮚បេភទ䮚ក �មពិ�ក�...... ទីកែន�ង...... � ល ប រ �េ ច� ទ ......

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85 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV a. �រ�រខ� �នឯង b. ស�ជិក䮚គ��រ c. អ�កជិត�ង d. 䮚ក �មហ៊ុនឯកជន e. �រ�ររដ� f. េផ䮟ងៗ: ____ 12. េតើអ�កកំពុងរស់េ��មួយអ�ក�? (ចេម�ើយ�ច�នេលើសពីមួយ) a. �� យ b. ឪពុក c. បងប� �នបេង�ើត d. ជដី ូ នជ�ី e. ប� ី/䮚បពន� f. កូ ន g. មីង និងពូ h. បងប� �នជដី ូនមួយ i. មិន�ប់�ច់�តិ j. ខ��ំរស់េ���ក់ឯង 13. េតើ�នមនុស䮟ប៉ុ��ន�ក់េ�ក��ងផ�ះរបស់អ�ក? 14. េតើ��អ�� អ�កនិ�យេ�ក��ងផ�ះរបស់អ�ក? (ចេម�ើយ�ច�នេលើសពីមួយ) a. ��ែខ� រ b. ��អង់េគ�ស c. ���ម d. េផ䮟ង: ______15. េតើអ�ក�នផ�ល់ថវ�រស䮚�ប់�រចំ�យេ�ក��ងផ�ះេនះែដរឬេទ� ? a. �ទ/�ស b. េទ 16. េតើអ�ក �អ�កផ�ត់ផ�ង់ថវ�រ�ចម䮔ងេ�䮚គ��ររបស់អ�ក� ? a. �ទ/�ស b. េទ 17. េតើអ�ក��ប់ចំ�ក䮚ស �កេដើម䮔ីេធ���រ�រែដរឬេទ? a. �ទ/�ស b. េទ (រ�លងេ�សំណួរទី 18)

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USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 86 ANNEX 7: SUMMARY OF FGD DEMOGRAPHIC SURVEY This provides a demographic overview of the participants in the FGDs.

Q1 Province name Freq. Percent Cum. Banteay Meanchey 1 0.49 0.49 Battambang 1 0.49 0.98 Kampong Cham 24 11.71 12.68 Kampong Chhnaing 2 0.98 13.66 Kampong Thom 3 1.46 15.12 Kampot 14 6.83 21.95 Kandal 4 1.95 23.9 Phnom Penh 32 15.61 39.51 Preah Vihear 2 0.98 40.49 Prey Veng 2 0.98 41.46 Ratanakiri 51 24.88 66.34 Siem Reap 43 20.98 87.32 Sihanoukville 23 11.22 98.54 Takeo 3 1.46 100 Total 205 100

Q2 Sex of Respondent Freq. Percent Cum. Male 86 41.95 41.95 Female 119 58.05 100 Total 205 100

Q3 How old are you? Obs. Mean SD Min Max Age 205 19.84878 3.468565 15 30

Q4 Are you currently in school or training? Freq. Percent Cum. Yes 150 73.17 73.17 No 55 26.83 100 Total 205 100

Q5 If yes, what level are you currently in? Freq. Percent Cum. Secondary 14 9.33 9.33 High school 65 43.33 52.67 University 34 22.67 75.33 Vocational School 36 24 99.33 Other 1 0.67 100 Total 150 100

Q6 If no, what was the last level that you Freq. Percent Cum. completed? Primary 11 20 20 Secondary 15 27.27 47.27 High school 21 38.18 85.45 University 8 14.55 100 Total 55 100

87 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV Q7 How far do you expect to go in your Freq. Percent Cum. schooling? Secondary 4 1.95 1.95 High school 27 13.17 15.12 University 134 65.37 80.49 Vocational School 40 19.51 100 Total 205 100

Q8 Are you currently working? Freq. Percent Cum. Yes 62 30.24 30.24 No 143 69.76 100 Total 205 100

Q9 If yes, what is your work? Freq. Percent Cum. Barber 2 3.23 3.23 Civil Servant 2 3.23 6.45 Coffee shop 1 1.61 8.06 Consultant for investment 1 1.61 9.68 Electrical designer 1 1.61 11.29 Farming assistant 1 1.61 12.9 Garment worker 3 4.84 17.74 HR 1 1.61 19.35 Internship 3 4.84 24.19 Run own business 1 1.61 25.81 Salon 3 4.84 30.65 Security guard 1 1.61 32.26 Staff 1 1.61 33.87 Teacher 2 3.23 37.1 Vendor 2 3.23 40.32 Volunteer 4 6.45 46.77 Water supply designer 1 1.61 48.39 Cashier 1 1.61 50 Chef 1 1.61 51.61 Farmer 3 4.84 56.45 Farming 1 1.61 58.06 Garment factory 3 4.84 62.9 Home business 3 4.84 67.74 Marketing 8 12.9 80.65 Motor repairing 1 1.61 82.26 Service 2 3.23 85.48 Sewing 2 3.23 88.71 Small business 3 4.84 93.55 Staff in private shop 1 1.61 95.16 Teacher 2 3.23 98.39 Teacher at preschool 1 1.61 100 Total 62 100

Q10 Who employs you? Freq. Percent Cum. No one/self-employed 20 32.26 32.26

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 88 Family member 2 3.23 35.48 Neighbor 1 1.61 37.1 A private company 26 41.94 79.03 The government 4 6.45 85.48 Other 9 14.52 100 Total 62 100

Q11 Who do you currently live with? Freq. Percent Percent Youth currently live with (check all that apply): of cases Mother 132 26.45 64.39 Father 122 24.45 59.51 Siblings 127 25.45 61.95 Grandparents 25 5.01 12.2 Spouse 14 2.81 6.83 Child/children 4 0.8 1.95 Uncles and aunts 18 3.61 8.78 Cousins 13 2.61 6.34 Non-relatives 41 8.22 20 Alone 3 0.6 1.46 Total 499 100 243.41

Q12 How many people are in your house? Obs Mean SD Min Max 199 7.18 4.57 1 20

Q13 Languages speak in house Freq. Percent Percent of cases Khmer 160 65 65 English 14 6 6 Cham 22 9 9 Charay 13 5 5 Kachok 2 1 1 Kouy 1 0 0 Kreng 4 2 2 Tumpun 29 12 12 Total 245 100 100

Q14 Do you contribute financially to your house? Freq. Percent Cum. Yes 57 27.94 27.94 No 147 72.06 100 Total 204 100

Q15 Are you the main financial support for your Freq. Percent Cum. house? Yes 20 9.76 9.76 No 185 90.24 100 Total 205 100

Q16 Have you ever moved for work? Freq. Percent Cum. Yes 14 6.83 6.83 No 191 93.17 100

89 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV Total 205 100 Q16a If yes, where did you move from? Freq. Percent Cum. Kampong Cham 2 14.29 14.29 Kampong Chhnaing 1 7.14 21.43 Kampong Speu 1 7.14 28.57 Kampong Thom 1 7.14 35.71 Kampot 2 14.29 50 Kandal 1 7.14 57.14 Oddor Meanchey 1 7.14 64.29 Phnom Penh 1 7.14 71.43 Sihanoukville 1 7.14 78.57 Thailand 3 21.43 100 Total 14 100

Q16b What year did you move? Freq. Percent Cum. 2005 1 7.14 7.14 2009 1 7.14 14.29 2010 2 14.29 28.57 2011 1 7.14 35.71 2017 5 35.71 71.43 2018 3 21.43 92.86 2019 1 7.14 100 Total 14 100

Q17 Have you ever moved for another reason? Freq. Percent Cum. Yes 38 18.54 18.54 No 167 81.46 100 Total 205 100

Q17a If yes, where did you move from? Freq. Percent Cum. Banteay Meanchey 2 5.26 5.26 Battambang 2 5.26 10.53 Egypt 1 2.63 13.16 Kampong Chhnaing 1 2.63 15.79 Kampong Thom 3 7.89 23.68 Kampot 14 36.84 60.53 Kandal 3 7.89 68.42 Oddor Meanchey 1 2.63 71.05 Preah Vihear 1 2.63 73.68 Prey Veng 3 7.89 81.58 Siem Reap 4 10.53 92.11 Takeo 3 7.89 100 Total 38 100

Q17b What year? Freq. Percent Cum. 2005 1 2.63 2.63 2010 1 2.63 5.26 2012 1 2.63 7.89 2014 2 5.26 13.16

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 90 2015 2 5.26 18.42 2016 1 2.63 21.05 2017 8 21.05 42.11 2018 21 55.26 97.37 2019 1 2.63 100 Total 38 100

91 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV ANNEX 8: SUMMARY OF VIDEO CLIPS BY PROVINCE

RATANAKIRI Youth in Ratanakiri submitted 20 video clips.

1. Youth gangster • Fighting • Using drugs • Insecurity for the village

2. Lack of education of indigenous youths • School far away from the village • Insecurity for traveling to school, especially for the female students • Families do not have enough money to support the children to further higher education. • Some parents do not value education.

3. Dropout of school • Having education: Parents should send children to school to get knowledge. • No education: Most parents force children to work on the farm or to take care cattle. Therefore, most children stop going to school to help their parents.

4. Lack of school building and library • The school building is in bad condition. The school’s roof and windows are broken. • There is no library in the village. • I want USAID and other NGOs to build a library and renovate the school. • I am worried that the next generation will not have a school or library. Other nearby villages do have one.

5. Lack of accommodation for the students who pursue higher education • Most students cannot pursue higher education because of accommodation. The high schools are far away from their houses. • Parents cannot afford to rent housing for the children to stay. • Scholarship: This refers to the university. Some parents can afford to pay for the high school but not the university.

6. Road conditions • Most road conditions are bad (both wet and dry seasons). • It is difficult to travel to anywhere during both seasons.

7. Foreign language for the indigenous people. • Improving foreign language training, especially English • Learning foreign languages is important students. It is easy to communicate with other people.

8. Deforestation • Illegal cutting • Most forest and trees have been illegally cut. • Want to plant more trees • Preventing more illegal logging • I want to suggest government or other institutes help to address this issue.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 92 9. Using drugs • I am an indigenous youth from Ratanakiri province. Today, I want to talk about “drugs.” Drugs have been widely spread across the country including the indigenous villages. Some villagers use drugs. • They stop using drugs temporarily when local authorities and police come to villages. Once the local authorities leave the villages, they start using drugs again. This is not a good example for the youth; the youth want to follow their steps. • Drugs have been widely spread out across provinces, districts, communes, and villages. In my village, for example, adults and young people use drugs. They copy each other, especially school dropout youth. They use drugs after dropping from school. • “How do we prevent using drugs among the young generation?”

10. Garbage and waste management • Villagers throw garbage everywhere. • There is no properly waste management. • Its affects the villagers’ health. • I would like to suggest the local authorities and NGOs raise awareness on waste management to the villagers.

11. Early marriage • Marriage at a young age is not good because they should receive knowledge and experience from the teachers and the world. • If they get married at a young age, they cannot get higher education and opportunities to get good jobs. • They do not have skills to earn money to support the families. • I would like to suggest local authorities and other institutions raise awareness about the disadvantage of getting married at a young age.

12. Deforestation in the community • Illegal logging in the forest • They export timber to sell. • Please stop cutting timber, and preserve it for the next generation. • More than 800 hectares of forests have been destroyed. • Many trucks came to carry the timber out.

13. Garbage and waste management • I am worried that in the near future, the whole street will be covered up by rubbish. • It effects health. • I would like to suggest that USAID should conduct public awareness on the impacts of garbage and how to manage it. • We should not throw garbage on the street. • USAID and other institutions should provide trash cans to the community.

14. Chemical fertilizer uses in agriculture • Most villagers use chemical fertilizers for their crops. They rarely use natural fertilizers. • If they use chemical fertilizers a lot, it will affect their health. • Overuse of chemical fertilizers! • We do not think about our health, but we think only of our crops. Actually, health is very important! • I want to suggest that the villagers should wear masks to protect themselves and not overuse the chemical fertilizers.

15. Using drugs • Some teenagers use drugs. When they use drugs, they stop studying.

93 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV • Parents lose hope and expectations for their children’s future because of the drugs. • When they use drugs, they do not want to be involved in community development or any social works. • They drive motos very fast and disturb the villagers and cause accidents. • They cannot control their feelings and are emotional when they use drugs. • They spend money a lot, so they end up with no money. Their parents do not have a lot of money because they are only farmers. They have enough money for only to pay for food.

16. The need of the indigenous youth • There is no bridge to cross the lake. • Suggestion: NGOs or other relevant institutions should build a wood bridge or drainage system, so that the youth can travel easily.

17. Training center within the village • I want to build the training center within my village, but I cannot afford to build it. • We lack school materials and funding. • The training center provides English and computers to the indigenous people in the village. • The center can also display the indigenous products and books.

18. Children’s concerns for the future • There is no secondary school within the village. The children have to travel very far to the secondary school. • The road conditions are very difficult to travel to schools at the district or other communes. • We want to have the secondary school in the village. • If they go to get further education, they have to travel to the province.

19. Poor road conditions • The road conditions are very difficult. Because of the poor road conditions, one person died from an accident. • It is difficult to travel in both wet and dry seasons. • Suggestions: USAID and other institutions renovate the road, so we can travel easily.

20. Lack of pumping wells for community consumption • Not enough pumping wells • Suggestion: USAID publicly and widely share this video clip.

SIEM REAP Youth in Siem Reap submitted 19 video clips.

1. Youth and Depression (Three factors that cause depression): • Families or parents get divorced. • Materialism: Friends have many things that you do not have. • Some youth have to study hard and earn money at the same time to support themselves. • Please launch a youth mental health program to encourage youth to move forward and achieve their dreams.

2. Drugs and impacts • Drugs affect ourselves, families, and the society as a whole. • Two factors: (a) Some youth do not fully understand the impacts of using drugs; and (b) Law enforcement is not fully implemented.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 94 • Suggestions: USAID launches a program on “the impacts of using drugs.” In addition, the government should enforce law implementation and conduct wide awareness on the impacts of drugs to the community people.

3. Hygiene and proper waste management • Please do not throw garbage in public. If we do not throw garbage in public, the surrounding environment and our health conditions would be perfectly fine.

4. Youth and migration • Lack of vocation training skills, capacity, and experiences. Some youth do not receive higher education. • Lack of financial households: some youth have to drop out of school and migrate to work outside the country. • Some youth want to explore the outside world. • The impacts: when they come back, they bring many issues such as drugs and gangsters. • Please provide vocational training and capacity to the youth.

5. Lack of youth participation in volunteer jobs • No benefits (no salaries) • Some youth do not want to have experiences and knowledge. • No commitment • Youth should take part in the volunteer jobs and opportunities, please!

6. Lack of capacity, technical skills among youth • Youths’ lack of capacity and technical skill. • Lack of vocational training centers • Please establish more vocational training centers!

7. Unemployment among youth • Lack of education • Lack of information • Long distance of the schools • Financial family constraints • Please launch program on vocation trainings at the community levels. They can study and create new activities or products to improve family living conditions.

8. Vocational training center and salary condition • The government and NGOs should create more vocational training centers and jobs that can provide a decent salary. This can prevent Cambodian youth from migrating for work in other countries.

9. Obstacles of youth in education sector • Youth do not pursue the higher education that they dream about. • Parents should: o encourage children to get a higher education, o not force children to stop studying in order to earn money, and o not force children to marry at a young age. • If children have higher education, they have decent employment opportunities.

10. Youth, drugs, and gangsters • This is because some youth lack education. The villagers live in fear because of them. The drug-addicted youth can cause problems within the villages such as thieves and

95 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV rapists. The government, local authorities (commune chiefs and police), and NGOs should address these issues.

11. Lack of education • When I was young, I didn’t go to school properly. I wasn’t able to go to school because there wasn’t enough money, and no one encouraged me to continue. • Today, I am a father, and it is very difficult to earn enough money for my house to raise my family. • I would like to tell all the youth that if you have an opportunity to study, please study hard in order to have knowledge to work with others in the future. • Don’t just go to school, taking money from home and spending it, but try very hard so that after you have graduated, you will be able to work. • If you just graduate without putting in the effort, then you won’t be as capable, so no one will hire you. • For me, I work as a construction worker, but even they didn’t want to hire me because I don’t know how to calculate or measure properly. If you have a chance to study, you should study hard so you can know things and speak about them. This is all I have to suggest for the youth. • To all parents, if your children want to study, please don’t stop them or discourage them. You have to encourage them. Even if they failed an exam or are slower than the class, please continue to encourage them to study harder for their future. These are all the suggestions I have for the parents and myself. I would like to suggest to the government and organizations to pay more attention and monitor the schools in rural and remote areas because the schools often don’t have enough teachers or materials.

12. Youth and voice expression • Cambodia youth are afraid of expressing ideas in public and the schools comparing them with youth in other countries. • Because of our culture, the expression of any opinions of youth is not valued by the old generation. The majority of adults do not value the youths’ voice or ideas. We should change this mind-set because we are the future leaders of the country. We should change! • Youth should express their ideas and voices anywhere, including schools. • Make a change, raise your hand, make a voice!

13. Differences between youth in the rural areas and youth in the cities • There are a lot of public and private schools in the cities but not many in the rural areas. • The public and private schools in the cities have: o enough school materials, o well-equipped teachers, and o well-received support from the government. • The rural public schools do not have: o enough school materials, o enough computers or technologies, and o enough teachers. • The government pays less attention for the rural public schools (both materials and quality). • Please help to tackle these gaps, so the rural students have the same opportunities as the city students.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 96 14. Drugs and gangsters in the villages • Villagers are worried about these issues. This creates many problems such as robberies and thieves. • The main causes are: o families do not pay much attention to take care or educate children, and o the external factors such as friends. • Local authorities should crack down on drug use and gangsters!

15. Injustice and a lack of freedom of expression at the office • Offices force staff to betray their ideas (fraudulent documents) • Injustice inside the company • Staff are not able to express their ideas. They have to follow their managers’ ideas or decisions. • Suggest that the managers who hold power decisions should respect staff ideas.

16. Female students and education in the cities • Female students face difficulty to pursue higher education. Some students have to work and study at the same time. • Female students have to come and live in the cities alone without families. • Some rooms are insecure for female students. • Should create a program that supports female students to get higher education in the cities. • Should provide accommodations that are safe for them.

17. Youth and domestic violence • Family domestic violence comes from a lack of education. The poverty is also one of the main factors. • Conduct awareness raising on domestic violence to youth because youth are the leaders and future of the country. • Youth should not commit violence (both family and the society).

18. Youth and the impacts of expressing their voices • Youth are not brave enough to express their voice and concerns. • Parents and teachers do not encourage them to express their voices because of their young age. • They are afraid that if they express their voice, this may affect the parents and powerful people. They may face danger. • Youth should brave to express their ideas without fears. • USAID should protect and encourage youth to express ideas.

19. Concerns over fewer tourists at Siem Reap province • I am doing business in Siem Reap around Angkor temple. Currently, I am facing a crisis with my daily earnings because of a decreasing number of tourists. • There are three factors that caused this decrease. o First, the Ministry of Tourism did not promote tourism in areas such as Siem Reap province. o Second, tourists would visit places, and afterward, they would not put garbage in plastic bags properly or in the bin. o Third, the police did not care about tourist safety, even when there was stealing. My request to the government is to please pay more attention, prevent unsafe conditions for tourists and the environment, and promote more tourist areas in Cambodia.

97 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV KAMPONG THOM Youth in Kampong Thom submitted 8 video clips and 1 audio clip.

1. Rubbish is everywhere, messed up by Cambodian people. • There should be more dissemination to people to be aware of the impacts of rubbish. • Youth should be aware of how to manage rubbish properly.

2. Youth and children lack confidence in making comments because they are afraid of making mistakes and being bullied by others. • There should be more workshops/events conducted, with small group discussions/activities to give them a chance to speak, to be confident, and get used to asking and answering.

3. What to do next after graduation? • Youth have capacity, but there is a lack of market demand; or there is employment but with low salaries, which do not fit the capacity of the youth. This results in youth feeling discouraged, and they give up. • There should be support for graduate students to be able to get a good job with an appropriate salary.

4. Migration to overseas • Youth cannot seek good jobs with high enough salaries to support their family inside the country, which resulted in migration overseas. • The government should create more jobs, or increase local jobs, with a decent salary for youth to be able to support their family.

5. The impacts of deforestation • It is also a ruin of wildlife habitat. It leads to climate change and natural disasters. • We should encourage youth to love and protect the forest. • Let’s replant all together!

6. Youth do not understand the impacts and do not properly take care of their own rubbish. • Relevant ministries of government and school should disseminate to youth to take responsibility and know the impacts of rubbish.

7. Youth have financial problems while pursuing their education in the city. • They have capacity but lack a budget, a residence, and means for going to school. • They prefer to also work while learning. • Please provide them skills, so they can also be employed while pursuing their education.

8. Students should already learn to be aware of their own strengths and weaknesses while in grade 11 or 12 in order to make decisions easily/correctly, on what subject to study (at university), to avoid making mistakes in choosing that which results in the change of university/subject, which causes them the loss of time and money. • Need for job/subject orientation for high school/nearly graduated students?

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 98 PHNOM PENH Youth in Phnom Penh submitted 21 video clips.

1. Garment factory work and low salaries • We would like to talk about the monthly base wage of garment workers. Our salaries are only $182 per month. We spend it on supporting our family’s expenses, renting a room, and daily food for ourselves. • The owners increase the price of room rental every year when our wages are increased. Our income does not cover our expenses. Consequently, most women are forced to find an extra job to support their families. Normally, workers work until 6 p.m. at the factory. After 6 p.m., some work at restaurants; some work as sex workers; and some use illegal drugs. This is creating social unrest. • We want a salary that is enough to support our daily expenses including room rental, and that home owners stop increasing room rental prices whenever our salaries increase. This is very hard for the workers!

2. Youth and good governance • I am a fourth-year university student. As a university student and a youth, I would like to talk about a relevant topic to the youth right now. • My topic is that youth must know how to use their rights correctly for engaging in social affairs for their own benefits and for the benefit of the country. As you know, our country is a developing country; therefore, the potential of youth engagement in our society is very powerful in developing our country. • As you see, some people and youth in our country are careless or ignore the social affairs in our country such as, what is happening in their communities. I also request that the commune chief and village chief invite or encourage the youth to engage in community development meetings with the commune councils or other development meetings in order for the youth to bring up their ideas. • At the same time, the youth should take this opportunity to learn about what the community needs to improve and develop or what we should do to help our commune be transparent and accountable to ensure that the programs in our communities are responding to all the youth problems. The youth can also voice their opinions in the meetings, at other events, or in other workshops.

3. Youth and study oversee • Youth who study abroad do not want to come back to the country. There are three factors: o living conditions are better than Cambodia, o infrastructure and other benefits are better, and o good salary. • Youth should bring knowledge to develop the country. • NGOs and other relevant stakeholders should create new programs that youth can join and improve their capacity.

4. Youth and domestic violence • Our names are Sochann and Muon Sreyneang. Today we want to talk about the problems that pushed us to work in Phnom Penh. o First, there was an economic shortage in the family. As I am a woman, and I am also the oldest child, I had to sacrifice my education to come to work to support my siblings’ education and to help my family. o The second problem is violence. Parents are in such shortage, they are always frustrated, and make trouble for each other; they fight each other and drink alcohol. This causes their children to feel a lack of comfort. Therefore, we want to suggest to USAID to please help the

99 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV poor children, children who are in need of study materials, to help them to get enough study materials.

5. Youth and technologies • The knowledge of technologies in our country is very limited. • Youth do not know how to use the technologies properly. • Some know how to use technologies but do not know how to write or post interesting and safe messages. • NGOs should provide training on how to stay safe on technologies. • We should start with us to improve the technologies in our country.

6. Poor school conditions for the rural students • Only primary schools are in the rural areas, while secondary schools or universities are in the cities. • Most rural students cannot pursue higher education because the schools are far away from their houses. They do not have transportation to travel. • Please provide transportation and school materials (computers) to the remote schools.

7. Obstacles of youth to study in the cities • Many good schools are in the cities. • Some students do not have opportunities to get higher education in the cities. • Should have more universities in the provinces. This is the need of the youth and parents. • More human resources!

8. Alcohol and health • The government should cut down alcohol commercials on TV. • NGOs and government should conduct awareness raising on the impact of the alcohol to youth.

9. Obstacles of youth to pursue higher education • Cambodian youth have both strong and weak points. They have all these assets but do not have financials to pursue higher education, including no money to buy clothes, transportation, and pay for other expenses. • The government and other donors should provide supports to the students from the remote areas, so they can pursue their dreams and create more human resources for the country.

10. Lack of high school in the rural areas • Only primary schools are in the rural areas, while secondary schools or universities are in the cities. • The road conditions are poor. Some students do not have transportation to travel. • Should have more high school buildings in the rural areas.

11. Problems with stress, lack of encouragement • Mother! I hate; I am tired with the pressure! • Mother! I do want to have: love, encouragement, attention from you!

12. University/job orientation/guidance • When students finish high school, they do not fully receive guidance on potential jobs and skills.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 100 • Should conduct “job orientation” to the students, so they are aware of potential subjects and skills that they need to study. They can study skills and subjects that fit with their capacity.

13. The root causes of migration among youth: • Youths’ lack of education and capacity. • Youth cannot find jobs in the country.

14. Youth should speak up about their concerns • Do not address the problem alone.

15. Youth and social media • After study hours, most youth spend 2–3 hours on social medias; 80 percent of youth have smartphones, Facebook, or other social media accounts. All technologies come from abroad. Do youth know how to use all these technologies properly? • When we click or share information, we do not know what information is real or fake news. Both Cambodia and other countries face this issue. • We should teach youth, especially remote youth, on how to use social media and technologies, and how to analyze the news. • Youth should speak up!

16. Disabled people and policy participation • I want to talk about engaging people with visual disabilities in social affairs. In order to engage people with visual disabilities, first the relevant party should provide opportunities such as training. People with visual disabilities should be included in policy making for them to understand the policies and for the policy makers to understand and think about them. • Second is sharing knowledge and experiences with them through encouragement. • The third point is changing interactions between people without disabilities and people with visual disabilities. • I hope that through this video, USAID and relevant stakeholders consider these concepts to make policies or plans to let people with visual disabilities have a voice and engage in some work.

17. Youth and depression • Youth have to leave the family to pursue education in the cities. They have to study and work at the same time. They have met many problems along the way. • They tell their peers or parents about the issues but do not receive support or encouragement. Consequently, youth feel unmotivated and receive heavy pressure. • Youth should listen and encourage each other. • Help each other to find the solutions. • Should conduct workshops on how to cope with depression/stress in youth.

18. Child labor • Parents force children to earn money or marry at a young age, although children do not want to do it. • I want to study! I want to have knowledge! • But my mother gave birth to me! I have to pay you back! • Give money to parents! • I am tired! I am too young! I want to have freedom!

101 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV 19. Youth and migration

• My name is Leang. I worked in Thailand for five years. I had a lot of challenges. I was arrested by the Thai Police for being an illegal migrant. Sometimes I didn’t have rice to eat for three days in a row. The salary I earned was taken by the manager and the recruiter. I worked without getting any wage. If you were me, you would know how much hurt this caused. • I suggest to USAID and the government, please help to create vocational training centers and create more employment for all youth. Thank you!

20. Case study of youth

• I want to tell all youth about my story. In the past, I always escaped from the class many times. I destroyed my family. Since grade 9 to 11, I did not go to school; I went out with bad friends; and had fights many times. I caused many problems for my parents! I had bad experiences! • Today, my life is miserable! This is because I did not listen to my family and parents. Youth please study hard for your future, family, and the country. • I hope you are better than me!

21. Youth and education

• Video shows a man pulling water from the well. The man leaves, and a voice comes out of the well. There is a young man in there, and it is very dark. • I want to get out of this well. I want to see more of the sky above the mouth of this well. I want to show my potential to outsiders! I can’t leave this well by myself because of this thicket of moss. Please reach out your beautiful hand and pull me out of this well. • Only education can lead you out of the darkness into beauty.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 102 ANNEX 9: SUMMARY DATA ON VIDEO SUBMISSIONS A total of 69 video clips were received. This shows some basic information about the submissions and the people who submitted them, with the number of clips submitted per category by location, clip format, number of people submitting each clip, sex of those submitting, age, level of education, and occupation.

LOCATION TOTAL Kampong Thom 9 Phnom Penh 21 Ratanakiri 20 Siem Reap 19 Grand Total 69 CLIP FORMAT TOTAL Audio 1 Photo 1 Video 67 Grand Total 69 NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN GROUP SUBMITTING CLIP TOTAL 1 43 2 18 3 6 4 1 8 1 Grand Total 69 SEX TOTAL Female 32 Male 32 Mixed group 5 Grand Total 69 AGE TOTAL 18+ 59 Below 18 8 Mixed 2 Grand Total 69 EDUCATION TOTAL 17 High school 12 Primary 4 Secondary 11 University 16 Unknown 9 Grand Total 69 OCCUPATION TOTAL Unknown 12 Barber 1 Cook 1 Driver 1 Fixer 2 Staff 1 Student(s) 44 Tattoo maker 1 Worker 6 Grand Total 69

103 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV Broad categorization of the topics covered by the video clips:

THEMATIC CATEGORY # CLIPS ADDRESSING Agriculture 1 Alcohol 1 Career/education counselling 2 Child labor 2 Deforestation 3 Domestic violence 1 Drugs and criminality 6 Early marriage 1 Education 17 Governance 1 Jobs gap, migration 2 Labor rights 1 Languages 1 Libraries 1 Mental health 2 Migration 1 Need for skills training 6 PLWD 1 Social media 2 Tourism 2 Travel, roads, infrastructure 3 Volunteerism 1 Waste management 5 Water 1 Youth center 1 Youth lack confidence to speak up 4 Grand Total 69

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 104 ANNEX 10: TRANSCRIPT OF “WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY: CAMBODIAN YOUTH SPEAK!” VIDEO

1. Nob Sokin

I will be talking about the education of indigenous groups in the Ratanakiri province of Cambodia. I think we are facing some problems related to education. The first problem is family economics, the second is safety, and last, school is too far. Parents lack the education to encourage children to go to school. Regarding safety, I think even if I continue going to school, I don’t feel safe traveling all the way from home to school. My parents also worry that I won’t be safe on the way. Second, we don’t have the money or the ability to continue to higher level schooling because of family economics. People don’t have the money for renting rooms, tuition fees, and other areas. Related to safety, females are the most at risk. Also, school is very far. We don’t have vehicles to travel to far away schools, and we don’t have a place to stay to continue education. Parents think that it’s not safe to go far away from home because we don’t have relatives to take care of us near the school. Finally, I would like to suggest that the government, relevant stakeholders, or USAID set out solutions to support the indigenous groups in Ratanakiri province.

2. Seuy Sophy

Hello, my name is Seuy Sophy. I’m from the indigenous Tompun group in Ratanakiri province. Today I would like to talk about the problem of roads in general and the impact on villagers and students traveling back and forth between school and home. It’s hard to travel in both the rainy season and the dry season. During the rainy season, the roads are slippery, and in the dry season, it is dusty, making it hard to travel. I would like to request that donors see the problems indigenous groups and other communities are facing. It’s not just my community; other communities face similar challenges. Thank you.

3. Sev Bran

My name is Sev Bran from the Charai (indigenous group). Today I will be talking about the issue of early marriage. Why do I say that early marriage is a problem? Because when we are young, we should be learning and receiving more experiences. If we get married when we are young, we will lose work opportunities and won’t be able to find proper jobs to support our families. Therefore, I have a suggestion: educate youth about marriage at a young age because this problem can weaken the economic state of the family and society. Finally, I would like to suggest to authorities or stakeholders to educate youth about early marriage.

105 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV KAMPONG THOM 4. Say Kimsan and Keo Pichdara

Hello, my name is Say Kimsan, and this is Keo Pichdara. Today we would like to talk about what we should do after we finish school. We have the ability and capacity to do work, but there isn’t a market for it. After we finish school, we hope to have good jobs, but the salaries are very low. They don’t match the ability. We hope to get high salaries to support our families. Low salaries that don’t match our abilities is the reason that we feel like education is useless, and we prefer to make our own business. Last, I would like to suggest that USAID create a market to help youth and graduates to find jobs so that everyone can get jobs.

5. Ban Lython

Hello, my name is Ban Lython. I would like to talk about a problem youth face. Youth lack the finances to continue schooling. Youth need housing, food, and transportation so that they can continue education in town. They prefer to also work while learning so that they can support their family.

6. By Kaknika

Hello, my name is By Kaknika. I am in high school. I would like to talk about some issues youth face. Youth that have the ability to excel in school cannot afford schooling when they want to go to school in town. They want to work while learning so they can afford to go to school. So I would like to request that the donor USAID support vocational training, both theoretical and practical. That’s all I have to say to USAID.

7. Chea Sophearith

My name is Chea Sophearith. I am a first-year student at Cambodia University. I want to address a youth issue. Specifically, the challenges high school graduates face while choosing a major. I think that students should think ahead about their own strengths, weaknesses, what they want to study, and what their goals are, to avoid following their parents or friends so that they don’t end up switching their major after their first year of university. If students aren’t passionate about their subject, they are more likely to stop studying, and they will have wasted money and time. I suggest that they should find their

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 106 strength and weaknesses while they are in grade 11 and 12, which will help them when they move to study in Phnom Penh, so they can learn what they want to learn.

SIEM REAP 8. Tav Tra

Hello my name is Tav Tra. Today I would like to talk about my daily life. When I was young, I didn’t go to school properly. I wasn’t able to go to school because there wasn’t enough money, and no one encouraged me to continue. I stopped studying to go look after the cows and catch fish in the rice fields. Today, I am a father, and it is very difficult to earn enough money for my house to raise my family. I would like to tell all the youth that if you have an opportunity to study, please study hard in order to have knowledge to work with others in the future. Study hard. Don’t just go to school, taking money from home and spending it, but try very hard so that after you have graduated, you will be able to work. If you just graduate without putting in the effort, then you won’t be as capable; so no one will hire you. For me, I work as a construction worker, but they didn’t even want to hire me because I don’t know how to calculate or measure properly. If you have a chance to study, you should study hard, so you can know things and speak about them. This is all I have to suggest for the youth. To all parents, if your children want to study, please don’t stop them or discourage them. You have to encourage them. Even if they failed an exam or are slower than the class, please continue to encourage them to study harder for their future. These are all the suggestions I have for the parents and myself. I would like to suggest to the government and organizations to pay more attention and monitor the schools in rural and remote areas because the schools often don’t have enough teachers or materials.

9. Anonymous

Hello, I am doing business in Siem Reap around Angkor temple. Currently, I am facing a crisis with my daily earnings due to a decreasing number of tourists, and I think there are three factors that caused this decrease. First, the Ministry of Tourism did not promote tourism in areas such as Siem Reap province. Second, tourists would visit places and after would not put garbage in plastic bags properly or in the bin. Third, the police did not care about tourist safety even when there was stealing. My request to the government is to please pay more attention, prevent unsafe conditions for tourists and the environment, and promote more tourist areas in Cambodia.

107 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV 10. Treong Ponleau

Hello, my name is Treong Ponleau. Today I will be talking about an issue related to youth. This issue is youth and depression. Some youth suffer from depression, which can be caused by family, friends, and education. Depression from family may happen because families are separated. The second is the friend factor, which happens if youth see their friends using material things but do not have them. The third is learning and working factors because many youth work while studying, which is more complicated, causing youth to give up on both. At this point, I would like to urge USAID to launch a youth mental health program to encourage youth to move forward and achieve their dreams. I would like to end with a thank you. [Siem Reap]

PHNOM PENH 11. Sokhim

Hello, my name is Sokhim. I want to talk about engaging people with visual disabilities in social affairs. In order to engage people with visual disabilities, first, the relevant party should provide opportunities such as training. People with visual disabilities should be included in policy making in order for them to understand the policies and for the policy makers to understand and think about them. Second, is sharing knowledge and experiences with them through encouragement. The third point is changing interactions between people without disabilities and people with visual disabilities. I hope that through this video USAID and relevant stakeholders consider these concepts to make policies or plans in order to let people with visual disabilities have a voice and engage with some work. [Phnom Penh]

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 108 12. Reth Sodavann

Hello, I am a fourth-year university student. As a university student and a youth, I would like to talk about a relevant topic to the youth right now. My topic is that youth must know how to use their rights correctly, for engaging in social affairs for their own benefits and for the benefit of the country. As you know, our country is a developing country, therefore, the potential of youth engagement in our society is very powerful in developing our country. As you see, some people and youth in our country are careless or ignore the social affairs in our country such as what is happening in their communities. I also request that the commune chief and village chief invite or encourage the youth to engage in community development meetings with the commune councils or other development meetings for the youth to bring up their ideas. At the same time, the youth should take this opportunity to learn about what the community needs to improve and develop or what we should do to help our commune be transparent and accountable to ensure that the programs in our communities are responding to all the youth problems. The youth can also voice their opinions in the meetings, at other events, or in other workshops. Thank you.

13. Voice from the Bottom of the Well by Uth Saroeun, Produced by Uk Rasy

Video shows a man pulling water from the well. The man leaves, and a voice comes out of the well. There is a young man in there, and it is very dark.

I want to get out of this well. I want to see more of the sky above the mouth of this well. I want to show my potential to outsiders! I can’t leave this well by myself because of this thicket of moss. Please reach out your beautiful hand and pull me out of this well.

Epilogue: Only education can lead you out of the darkness into beauty.

[End credits]

109 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV ANNEX 11: CONSENT SCRIPTS

The following are reference guides only, intended to assist semistructured interviews as needed in conjunction with the Assessment Design Matrix (Annex 1). They are not questionnaires, and they may be supplemented with additional questions. Revisions may be made after the assessment in-brief.

Consent Script: Focus Group Discussions

Hello, my name is ______, and I am with Social Impact, a U.S.-based research organization working under contract with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). We are conducting a Cross-Sectional Youth Assessment to inform USAID’s next five-year strategy and future project and activities in Cambodia.

Today we would like to conduct a group interview with you and 5–9 other individuals to better understand your experiences. You have been randomly selected for involvement in this research because of your age group or because you represent a specific subset of Cambodian youth.

We appreciate your taking the time to meet with us. The discussion today is expected to take 60–90 minutes. We are here to find out about your experiences, ideas, and dreams as youth. Please feel free to share openly. Your involvement in this discussion is completely voluntary, and you are under no obligation to participate. You can stop participating or leave the room at any point without consequences. If during this group discussion, we ask any questions that you do not wish to answer, you do not have to respond. We will be taking notes, but all your responses will be kept confidential and any information you provide that might identify you will be kept confidential to the fullest extent under local law and U.S. Government policy. For reports we write about the research, your answers will be combined with those of other people and presented in a summary format.

There is no payment or direct benefit to you for participating in this discussion. We do not anticipate any major risks to you for participating other than losing time you could spend on other things. We ask that all focus group participants agree not to share anything that is discussed with anyone outside of this group once this conversation ends.

If you have any concerns, you may contact the Social Impact Institutional Review Board at [email protected] or +1 703 465 1884 with questions about the study or results. Additionally, you may contact [insert name and contact information for local contact in each country]. I will leave a copy of this form with you.

Do you have any questions?

Do you understand that your participation is voluntary? Yes ______No ______

Do you understand that you can stop participating at any time? Yes ______No ______

CONSENT STATEMENT: I understand and agree to participate in this study.

Respondent provided consent (verbal): Yes _____ No _____

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 110 Consent Script: Key Informant Interviews

Hello, my name is ______, and I am with Social Impact, a U.S.-based research organization working under contract with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). We are conducting a Cross-Sectional Youth Assessment to inform USAID’s next five-year strategy and future project and activities in Cambodia. As a key informant, we would like to ask your expert opinion about the current situation of youth in Cambodia and what can be done to improve the capacities and enable the aspirations of youth so that they can contribute to and benefit from more stable, democratic, and prosperous communities.

Thank you for taking the time to meet with us. The interview today is expected to take 45–60 minutes, though you can stop participating or leave the room at any point without consequences. If during this interview, we ask any questions that you do not wish to answer, you do not have to respond. We will ask you questions about youth livelihoods, youth migration, youth participation in policy making, and youth safety and well-being [tailor for each KII respondent category].

Your involvement in this discussion is completely voluntary, and you are under no obligation to participate. You can stop participating or leave the room at any point without consequences. If during this interview, we ask any questions that you do not wish to answer, you do not have to respond. We will be taking notes, but all your responses will be kept confidential and any information you provide that might identify you will be kept confidential to the fullest extent under local law and U.S. Government policy. For reports we write about the research, your answers will be combined with those of other people and presented in a summary format.

There is no payment or direct benefit to you for participating in this interview. We do not anticipate any major risks to you for participating other than losing time you could spend on other things.

If you have any concerns, you may contact the Social Impact Institutional Review Board at [email protected] or +1 703 465 1884 with questions about the study or results. Additionally, you may contact [insert name and contact information for local contact in each country]. I will leave a copy of this form with you.

Do you have any questions?

Do you understand that your participation is voluntary? Yes ______No ______

Do you understand that you can stop participating at any time? Yes ______No ______

CONSENT STATEMENT: I understand and agree to participate in this study.

Respondent provided consent (written if possible): Yes _____ No _____

111 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV Consent Script: Survey

Social Impact, a U.S.-based research organization working under contract with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is conducting a Cross-Sectional Youth Assessment to inform USAID’s next five-year strategy and future project and activities in Cambodia.

As part of the assessment, we would like to conduct a survey of youth perspectives on key areas. The results of the survey and the assessment will be used to inform USAID’s next five-year strategy and future project and activities in Cambodia, especially regarding youth.

The survey is expected to take about 10–15 minutes, though you can stop participating at any point and you are free to skip any questions that you do not feel comfortable or knowledgeable to answer.

Your involvement in this survey is completely voluntary, and you are under no obligation to participate. All your responses will be kept confidential, and any information you provide that might identify you will be kept confidential to the fullest extent under local law and U.S. Government policy. For reports we write about the research, your answers will be combined with those of other people and presented in a summary format.

There is no payment or direct benefit to you for participating in this survey. We do not anticipate any major risks to you for participating other than losing time you could spend on other things.

If you have any concerns, you may contact the Social Impact Institutional Review Board at [email protected] or +1 703 465 1884 with questions about the study or results. Additionally, you may contact [insert name and contact information for local contact in each country].

Do you understand that your participation is voluntary? Yes ______No ______

Do you understand that you can stop participating at any time? Yes ______No ______

CONSENT STATEMENT: I understand and agree to participate in this study.

Respondent provided consent: Yes _____ No _____

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 112 ANNEX 12: ASSESSMENT TEAM COMPOSITION The assessment team includes a Team Leader, Dr. Sarah Parkinson who is supported by Ms. Elaine Stavnitzky, Senior Gender and Inclusive Development Specialist. Additionally, the assessment team is supported by two national youth specialists, two national youth researchers, a logistician, and two interpreters for in-country fieldwork. At SI headquarters, assessment team members were supported by a Project Director Julie Younes, Project Manager Soham Banerji, and Project Assistant Charity N. Whitehead.

TEAM COMPOSITION Dr. Sarah Parkinson, Team Leader: Sarah has over 17 years of experience in program evaluation, impact assessment, organizational learning, and communication for development. She has worked in over 14 countries in Africa, Asia, South America, and the Caribbean. She has worked on complex, multicountry, multiagency evaluations.

Sarah’s approach is pragmatic and user-focused. She has extensive experience in designing and facilitating participatory and collective processes of data collection, analysis, and results sharing. Sarah has content expertise in youth and women’s economic empowerment, gender and development, rural development, education (formal and informal), community development, and information and communication technologies for development.

Elaine Stavnitzky, Youth and Inclusive Gender Specialist: Elaine has experience leading and implementing a wide range of strategic, programmatic, and quality assurance processes to support leadership and staff in international development and humanitarian aid programs since 2002. To date, her expertise has covered on-going learning and improvement in 30 countries across 11 sectors, including adolescent programming; MCHN; education; community engagement; child rights; participation and protection; gender; and inclusion.

Elaine has extensive experience in managing mixed-method evaluations across multiple country contexts and sectors, including recently leading a meta-evaluation that involved 20 different countries globally. In 2018, she led a four-country gender evaluation in MCHN. Through her experience, she has a diverse tool kit for youth empowering monitoring, evaluation, and learning processes. Highlights include leading the contextualization of SEARCH Institute’s adolescent Development Assets Profile survey in Cambodia and Vietnam.

113 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV

ANNEX 13: STATEMENT OF WORK

CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT STATEMENT OF WORK

INTRODUCTION

Cambodia’s future development will increasingly be shaped by its large youth population, with over 30 percent of the population between the ages of 15 and 29. This generation does not have a personal history with genocide and past political struggle, and polling indicates the majority of Cambodians believe that the United States has a positive influence on their country. Many Cambodian youth seek economic opportunity and political freedom. However, young Cambodians face several challenges to reaching their potential and contributing to the country’s journey to self-reliance. According to the Youth Multidimensional Deprivation Indicator, one young person out of five is deprived in two or more well-being dimensions at the same time, including health, employment, education, and civic participation, while 40 percent fare poorly in at least one of these dimensions.1 If trained in relevant skill areas, and allowed to flourish, this potential demographic dividend will be a major asset for Cambodia’s development trajectory.

The overarching goal of USAID’s Youth in Development Policy is to improve the capacities and enable the aspirations of youth so that they can contribute to and benefit from more stable, democratic, and prosperous communities and nations.

This policy recognizes that young people are both individuals transitioning through life’s developmental stages, and actors in the development of their countries and communities. As young people, they experience physical, cognitive, emotional, and social changes that influence their needs, identities, and behavior as well as their opportunities. Research shows they also make choices and respond to incentives differently than do young children and adults. Better understanding of the biological, social, and cultural dimensions of youth behavior will facilitate the design of programs that better support them, helping them to become part of the solution to today’s challenges.

PURPOSE

The youth assessment will help inform the next five-year Cambodia Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS), project approval documents, and activity designs; provide data for evidence-based decisions, possible interventions, models, and approaches that benefit current and future USAID/Cambodia programming related to youth.

The assessment is intended to inform USAID’s interventions that support, protect, prepare, empower, and engage youth and enable them to participate in addressing the development challenges of their communities and country. Such interventions may include features of positive youth development, including building skills, assets, and competencies; healthy relationships and role models; fostering a sense of membership and belonging; clear norms, expectations, and perceptions; youth engagement and contribution; providing safe spaces (recognizing recent closing of space for civic participation and crackdowns on political opposition and independent media in Cambodia, it is critical that USAID programming intentionally incorporates principles of “Do No Harm” with respect to operating within the local context); and providing access to integrated youth- friendly services (For more information on positive youth development, see http://www.youthpower.org/positive-youth-development).

The assessment is intended to address issues that affect youth across various cohorts in Cambodia, for example, unemployed or underemployed, rural, indigenous, LGBTQ, and including at-risk youth. At-risk youth include orphans and vulnerable youth, youth affected by HIV/AIDs, and other factors that place youth at risk, as determined through the assessment.

1 OECD. 2017. “YOUTH WELL-BEING POLICY REVIEW OF CAMBODIA.” HTTPS://WWW.OECD.ORG/DEVELOPMENT/INCLUSIVE SOCIETIESANDDEVELOPMENT/YOUTH-WELL-BEING-POLICY-REVIEW-CAMBODIA.PDF

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 114 KEY AQS

The youth assessment will provide a detailed understanding of the following:

● Needs of youth populations in Cambodia and how they vary by subpopulation (e.g., female/male, urban/rural, extreme poor, ethnic minorities, religious minorities, LGBTQ youth, youth with disabilities, separate age cohorts2). ● Areas of greatest need among these youth populations. ● Conditions that drive youth toward risky behavior, including but not limited to, drug and alcohol use, risky sexual behavior, and potentially violent behavior. ● Programming opportunities—including workforce development—that have potential for impact.

Overarching Key Questions:

1. Guided by the current CDCS results framework and USAID/Cambodia programming, what are the key successes, missed opportunities, and lessons learned in implementing effective programming that engage and benefit youth, including the most marginalized youth populations, particularly in rural areas? 2. What are the key opportunities and constraints that youth face in accessing formal and informal employment? o What are the sectors with the greatest potential for youth (male and female)? o What are the employment demographics, labor demand trends, and education stocks and flows? o What are the current private and public efforts to support youth workforce development? o What key employment policy and regulatory issues exist that could be addressed through advocacy/youth activity? 3. What can be done to address the drivers of risky migration by youth (domestic and international)? 4. What are the factors that motivate Cambodian youth to participate actively and collectively in political decisions, processes, and institutions? What factors inhibit the collective activism and participation of Cambodian youth?

ASSESSMENT DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

The contractor must propose the assessment plan and methodology to answer the assessment’s overarching key questions. USAID recommends a participatory approach, conducted in collaboration with local partners, trained youth-led researchers, and others in the work plan development and implementation phases. The contractor must provide in its evaluation plan the rationale behind the methods selected, why they are appropriate, how they provide rigor to answering the proposed questions, as well as how data quality will be assured. The contractor must specify the age range utilized when defining based on either USAID policy (ages 10–29) or the Cambodian National Youth Policy (ages 15–30), with preference given to consistency with the USAID definition where feasible.

In accordance with USAID ADS 205.3.2, the assessment must include a robust discussion of the different roles, human rights, responsibilities, and entitlements of male and female youth (including LGBTQ youth) and other gender-related issues where relevant. Findings should be disaggregated by region, sex, and rural vs. urban youth, and age cohorts where appropriate.

2 RECOMMENDED AGE COHORTS: 10–14; 15–19; 20–24; 25–29. THIS ALIGNS WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT MEASUREMENT TOOLKIT, 2017, PG. 42 (HTTPS://WWW.YOUTHPOWER.ORG/SITES/DEFAULT/FILES/ YOUTHPOWER/RESOURCES/PYD%20MEASUREMENT%20TOOLKIT%20FINAL.PDF)

115 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

USAID requests that the contractor complete the following table as part of its detailed assessment plan. Please note that another format may be used if the table is not preferred, but any chosen format should contain all the information specified for each question.

AQ DATA SOURCE DATA COLLECTION DATA ANALYSIS METHOD METHOD (INCLUDING (QUALITATIVE SAMPLING DATA ANALYSIS METHODOLOGY, APPROACH, WHERE QUALITATIVE DATA APPLICABLE) COLLECTION, WHERE APPLICABLE)

The approach and methods proposed by the contractor are subject to USAID’s approval. The contractor must consider the following methodological approaches:

● Comprehensive literature review of pertinent documents, including, but not limited to: ○ USAID/Cambodia CDCS 2014–2020; ○ USAID’s Youth in Development Policy and other relevant policy documents; ○ Evaluations of current and past USAID youth development programs and programs in other sectors that include youth; ○ Relevant USAID/Cambodia assessments and USAID programming in relevant sectors (e.g., democracy, human rights, and governance, gender, LGBTQ); ○ Synthesis of existing reports and assessments on youth programming in Cambodia (completed by the Knowledge Services Center in December 2018); ○ Royal Government of Cambodia National Policy on Youth Development; and ○ Other studies, assessments, and data sets concerning youth issues from the Royal Government of Cambodia, donors, NGOs, and the academic community (including the OECD, “Youth Well-Being Policy Review of Cambodia,” 2017).

● Geographic site selection criteria for this assessment will be selected based on: ○ Balance of USAID and non-USAID intervention programs related to youth (this should include a predominant focus on rural areas where most of USAID activities are currently focused, as well as some urban and peri-urban centers identified as potential high impact areas for potential future youth programming); ○ High prevalence rate of poverty; ○ High prevalence rate of youth drop out of schools; ○ Locations where youth tend to gather/live; ○ Locations with high numbers of youth who have migrated internally and internationally;3 and ○ Areas where there are potential USAID cross-sectoral program collaborations.

3 SEE REPORTS SUCH AS THE FOLLOWING FOR INFORMATION: KOENIG AND IOM, “ASSESSMENT REPORT: PROFILE OF RETURNED CAMBODIAN MIGRANT WORKERS.” HTTPS://WWW.IOM.INT/SITES/DEFAULT/FILES/COUNTRY/DOCS/IOM- ASSESSMENTREPORTRETURNEDMIGRANTS2016.PDF

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 116 TEAM COMPOSITION AND REQUIRED EXPERTISE

The contractor must propose the composition of the assessment team for USAID/Cambodia’s approval prior to the commencement of the assessment. At least one member of the team must have at least eight years of experience in youth development, field research methodologies, and multisector youth assessment. The assessment team must consist of members of both sexes. As a team, there must be the following core competencies (each team member does not have to have all of the competencies, but at least one person must have each of them):

1. Extensive experience (at least five years) in youth development or youth programming, including understanding of youth cohorts that may be at risk for exclusion from development interventions; 2. Expertise in research methods and assessments, including experience conducting workforce development assessments; 3. Significant experience (at least three years) managing and conducting youth assessments, or similar research in the development field; 4. Understanding of the Cambodia country and political context as well as development challenges; 5. Awareness of gender issues in the Cambodia context, including gender norms and how gender interacts with other identity elements; 6. Strong team management and interpersonal skills; and 7. Strong oral communication, presentation, and writing skills.

The team leader will be responsible for the development of the assessment plan and methodology and communicating with USAID/Cambodia during the assessment. The team leader will also oversee overall team coordination, including ensuring that team members adequately understand their roles and responsibilities and assigning individual data/information collection and reporting responsibilities.

The assessment team must include local professional(s) with an appropriate mix of expertise in relevant sectors as determined by the contractor. Local expert(s) must have a bachelor’s degree in development studies, social work, social science, or other relevant degree, with at least four years of work experience in development, or a master’s degree with at least three years of relevant work experience. Local expert(s) must have strong English language skills in writing and speaking and can conduct data collection in English and Khmer. It is required that the assessment team includes some Cambodian youth researchers, including male and female youth, as team members. For guidance on youth-led research, see https://www.youthpower.org/resources/supporting-design-and-implementation-youth-led-research.

USAID will be closely involved with the assessment and considered part of the extended team. In addition to reviewing and approving assessment deliverables, USAID may also contribute personnel to guide the strategic focus of the assessment, strengthen sectoral expertise, and/or interact with relevant stakeholders within USAID, the donor community, and the Government of Cambodia. Even though USAID personnel will be part of the extended team as observers, USAID personnel will not be involved in drafting reports, providing interpretation, and/or arranging logistics. In addition, the assessment team can determine whether USAID personnel participation may influence or bias findings in particular situations and request that participation be limited in these cases.

KEY DELIVERABLES

1. Work plan/schedule: The contractor must submit a work plan by the due date that includes: (1) a detailed assessment methodology matrix that links the AQs in the statement of work to data sources, methods, and the data analysis plan; (2) draft questionnaires and/or other data collection instruments or their main features; (3) list of potential interviewees and sites to be visited; (4) the anticipated schedule and logistical arrangements; and (5) plan to engage with youth. Quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis methods must be done with comparable levels of rigor.

117 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV 2. In-briefing: The assessment team will have an in-briefing with USAID/Cambodia senior leadership and other relevant USAID/Cambodia staff to discuss the team’s understanding of the assignment, initial assumptions, AQs, methodology, and work plan.

3. Weekly Check-in: Progress reports to the activity manager (mission’s youth assessment partner point of contact) starting on a weekly basis during in-country work.

4. Mission Outbrief: The assessment team will present the preliminary major findings of the review in a presentation to the Mission staff and leadership for feedback. The team will receive comments from USAID and incorporate them into the report at the end of the fieldwork.

5. Draft Assessment Report: Within the agreed timeline, the assessment team must submit a written draft assessment report that clearly describes findings, conclusions, and recommendations. The report must include responses to all the key questions listed above. The report must also contain an executive summary. USAID will provide comments within two weeks of submission. In sections where sensitive issues may occur as part of the assessment, USAID will require those sensitive issues to be kept for “internal use only.” The assessment team must then provide two copies of the documents, in which one is for “internal only” and another one for the “public.” The report must be submitted in English. The report must include:

● Youth Workforce and Skills Development Gap Analysis: USAID/Cambodia recognizes that workforce development is a gap in current programming and knowledge relative to the demands of a large youth population to access employment that will enable them to achieve their aspirations and goals. As such, the assessment must include a section focused on assessing employment demographics, labor demand trends, education stocks and flows, and current private and public efforts to support workforce development.

6. Final Assessment Report: The assessment team will submit a final assessment report that incorporates responses to USAID comments and suggestions as specified in the contract. The final report should be no more than 50 pages (excluding covers, executive summary, abbreviation list, annexes, and a required annotated bibliography of sources). The final assessment must include an executive summary (no more than 4 pages), suggest overall development hypotheses and theories of change for empowering youth, and provide actionable recommendations for immediate and short-term needs and priorities for youth programming as well as priorities, strategic approaches, and potential activities for a medium-term (e.g., five-year) youth section of the new USAID/Cambodia CDCS. The final report must be delivered in English and respond to “internal only” and for the “public” version, if a request is made by USAID (ref: Draft Assessment Report).

7. Draft Khmer Translation of Final Assessment Report: When the assessment team submits the public version of the final assessment report in English, it must also submit a draft translation of the public version final assessment report in Khmer. USAID will provide comments on the translation within five working days of the submission date.

8. Final Khmer Translation of Final Assessment Report: The assessment team will provide a final Khmer translation of the final assessment report that incorporates responses to USAID comments and suggestions within five working days of receiving written comments from USAID.

9. Dataset: The assessment team must provide the final, cleaned, and anonymized dataset used to conduct the data analysis to USAID in a nonproprietary, common format in electronic form in accordance with the Open Data Policy. Code book, analysis codes, and relevant metadata must be provided with the dataset. Datasets are to be submitted to USAID along with the final report.

10. Final Submission: Submission of the USAID-approved assessment report to the Development Experience Clearinghouse and dataset to the Development Data Library as required in the USAID Open Data Policy, ADS 579.

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 118 ILLUSTRATIVE SCHEDULE AND LEVEL OF EFFORT

WEEK 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Level of Effort

Team Leader

Local Experts

Activity/Deliverable

Literature review x x

Submission of draft x x work plan/schedule

Mission feedback on

draft work x plan/schedule

Review and approval x of work plan/schedule

Logistics, interviews x x scheduled, field visits scheduled

In-briefing at the x mission

Fieldwork—Data x x x collection

Data analysis and x x x x report drafting

Exit briefing at the x mission

Submission of draft x assessment reports

Mission’s feedback on

draft assessment x reports

Submission of final

assessment x report/uploading final report to USAID

119 | FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT USAID.GOV ESTIMATED TIME FRAME

The estimated time frame for the assessment is from the date of award to mid-October 2019.

ROLE OF THE USAID MISSION

The USAID Mission will provide the assessment team with:

• A list of key documents to review (Note: USAID/Cambodia has already collaborated with the USAID Knowledge Services Center to synthesize findings from existing studies, which should lower the level of effort required for reviewing background documents); • A list of key agencies, implementing partners, and donors to be contacted; • Key documents regarding USAID’s CDCS results framework and current programming; • Review and feedback on the draft analysis report; • Arrange internal meeting with USAID staff; and • Mission staff (number of staff to be determined) will join the assessment team as an observer and may be able to clarify questions that the assessment team may have over the course of the fieldwork.

ANNEX I: GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THE ASSESSMENT TEAM ● Coordinating with U.S. government interagency and partner efforts: The U.S. Mission in Cambodia functions using a whole-of-government approach including multiple interagency initiatives. It is essential that this assessment reflect the Mission’s whole-of-government approach and include coordination with the U.S.-funded partners engaged in programming for youth.

● Linking with government structures, policies, and programs: The assessment itself, as well as recommended strategic approaches to youth programming, should consider priorities and policies established by the Government of Cambodia.

● Leverage existing resources: Many studies regarding youth have already been conducted by USAID and others in Cambodia. USAID/Cambodia has worked with the USAID Knowledge Service Center to synthesize findings from several existing studies. The assessment team should leverage these resources to facilitate the desk review and to tailor questions to fill gaps in the existing knowledge base rather than duplicate previous efforts.

● Using a cross-sectoral focus: Key U.S. government priorities for a multisector youth strategy include fostering livelihoods and economic growth, addressing basic health needs, and promoting peace, stability, and development in Cambodia. The youth assessment will not only explore the linkages between sectors that support positive youth development, but also those instances where such linkages present challenges. Assessments of the linkages between sectors will help to provide ideas for the Mission on how to create synergies and support youth with innovative and cross- cutting programs. The assessment team will work with U.S. Government sector staff to map its current and planned programs and its effects on youth. This mapping exercise will allow the assessment team to work with each sector in detailing its programs and the ways youth are, or are not, included in activities.

● Creating a cross-cultural assessment team: The assessment team will include both Cambodian and international experts at all stages of the work. Because of the diversity of opinions and backgrounds, a cross-cultural team can produce a multitude of benefits, including reductions in bias and creative problem solving.

● Engaging youth as assessment team members: Youth will function as active members of the assessment team at all stages of the activity. Doing so provides increased capability to youth,

USAID.GOV FINAL REPORT: CROSS-SECTOR CAMBODIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT | 120 deeper knowledge of those issues affecting youth, and local buy-in from communities where future youth programming may be implemented. For any engagement with Cambodian youth, the assessment team must make sure that those youth are well informed of the objectives of their engagement and that they are volunteering to do so at their own best preferred time.

● Working in partnership with USAID: The contractor will work closely with the USAID Mission in the design and implementation of the assessment. Close communication will allow the assessment to be customized to the strategic objectives and funding streams of the Mission.

● Including voices from key stakeholders: The contractor will solicit diverse participant samples. The assessment team will recruit participants from youth, relevant ministries, implementing partners, other donors and the private sector, among others. This data diversity supports the validity of findings while also creating a nuanced picture of youth development in a given setting.

● Employing rigorous social science methods: Valid conclusions can only be drawn from valid data. The contractor will ensure the integrity of its data and findings through a carefully crafted research design based on rigorous social scientific methods (e.g., sampling strategies, data collection, data analysis, data display). Wherever possible, the contractor will employ a mixed methodological approach, thereby offering both qualitative and quantitative data.

● Generating development hypotheses and theories of change: The assessment should suggest an overall development hypothesis (or multiple if needed) that provides a logical foundation to USAID’s interventions to empower youth and can be tested to check whether underlying assumptions remain valid in the future.

● Providing actionable recommendations: Findings and recommendations should identify immediate and short-term needs and priorities for youth programming (e.g., interventions that can produce results within a two-year time frame) as well as priorities, strategic approaches, and potential activities for a medium-term (e.g., five-year) youth section on the CDCS or strategic paper. These recommendations will be based on valid conclusions drawn from the assessment data and vetted within a group of key stakeholders that include young people. These recommendations will provide USAID with strategic guidance in current and subsequent youth programming, noting areas where successes can be replicated, and areas needing improvement. The assessment should also highlight gaps in existing knowledge, suggest ways to test innovative new approaches, and provide guidance on ways to strengthen monitoring, evaluation, and learning practices to inform decisions and adaptations throughout the period of the new CDCS.

For USAID Youth Development Policy Guiding Principles, please see https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1870/Youth_in_Development_Policy_0.pdf

[END OF ATTACHMENT 1]

[END OF TASK ORDER NO. 72048619F00001]

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