History of Padek in Cambodia
Padek was founded in 1986, but its existence goes back to 1981, starting of as a consortium organization of 5 donor organizations, i.e. FOS, Oxfam Belgium, Oxfam America, Oxfam Hong Kong and Oxfam Novib. Its work mainly focused on the alleviation of poverty by addressing the situation of food insecurity in six project areas in Cambodia. By 1991, the Padek found that it
became possible to introduce a process of change in its approach, which eventually resulted in the swing away from institutional and \ or infrastructure projects and more towards an integrated, non-sectoral approach to community and rural development. Thus, the organization progressively moved from relief to infrastructure rehabilitation and institutional support to rural development. At the same time, an increase in the field presence and in the logistic complexity of the organization made it necessary to open a permanent field office in the provinces and to engage the services of a permanent representative. It was also decided to increasingly recruit Cambodian staff to work alongside expatriates in the new project areas. These project areas were selected on the basis of a new range of criteria, including attention to and support for vulnerable groups, sustainability and maximum use of resources. These projects were each "adopted" by one of the member agencies of the Consortium, so as to create a simple system of accountability. As from the beginning of the nineties, Padek has been engaged in re-building the structure of the community. The establishment of the village development committees (VDCs) and the commune development committee (CDCs) in Padek’s chosen areas of work was the first big step towards the higher goal of people’s empowerment. It also determined Padek’s new focus on local organization building. After many years of slow economic growth, the rural population, individuals, via the VDC and the CDC, strengthen their economic base. Padek’s new policy became to support that effort by providing local groups with the training, organisation building, management, technical know-how, to augment their capacity to participate more fully in the development process, and decision-making on issues that affect their livelihood. Apart from the food security, Padek was also implementing other projects such as awareness raising on Millennium Development Goal (MDG) especially focused on CMDG, gender route project funded by Oxfam Novib. From 2002-2005 through Oxfam Novib, Padek implemented the Food Security Project funded by EC in 4 provinces and one urban: Svay Rieng, Prey Veng, Kompong Speu and Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. To be Cambodianization, in 2008 Padek registered with Ministry of Interior of Kingdom of Cambodia as a Local Non-Governmental Organization. Experience of similar actions, in relation to the role in the implementation of the proposed action
1. Food Security and Income Generation Project:
In working in partnership with Oxfam NOVIB, Padek received a grant from the European Commission for food security in 2002-2005. This project was implemented in 5 project areas, using the methodology of the Integrated Community Development Model.
2. Community-Based Livelihood enhancement project
In June 2004, Padek was awarded a contract as part of the Community Based Livelihood Enhancement (CBLE) funded by the ADB through the Ministry of Rural Development. This project is located in Siem Reap working with 11 villages in 2 communes. The purpose of the project was to enable the most vulnerable groups (female-headed households, war widows, demobilized soldiers, and disabled) to participate in village development and access services
3. North western Rural Development Project
Padek is also a partner in the North Western Rural Development Project, also funded by the ADB through the Ministry of Rural Development. This contract is for 3 years, and works with 33 poor villages in 12 communes in 3 districts in Siem Reap. The project aimed at supporting livelihood enhancement by involving and empowering the project beneficiaries, establishing small-scale village infrastructure at the village level, and establishing savings and credits initiatives at village and commune levels
4. Linking farmers with Market partnered with IDE for Prey Veng and Svay Rieng 2008-2010. The project was aimed to secure food and increased income of 500 small scale farmers through introducing and new innovative horticulture, participatory market chain approach and linking them to agricultural input suppliers and the collectors. Padek implement this project in 20 communes, 10 in Prey Veng and 10 in Svay Rieng province for the period of 28 months starting in August 2008 and finished in November 2010.
5. Livelihood Enhancement and Association of the Poor (LEAP) pilot project in SRP fund by World Bank
In 2010, Padek was awarded the eight months contract to pilot the livelihood enhancement project in two target communes of Peak Sneng in Angkor Thom and Sarsar Sdam of Pouk district. The overall goal of the project was To increase incomes and improve livelihoods of the rural poor in selected communes in Siem Reap by: a). Creating and strengthening self-sustaining institution of the poor b). Provide access to finance and c). Link them to markets and key value chains.
6. 2012 to present: HARVEST project in SRP and Kompong Thom on aquaculture development fund by USAID through FINTRAC
Padek enters the 3rd phase contract with HARVEST project in implementing aquaculture development component in Siem Reap and Kompong Thom province. The first phase covered 13 months from June 2013 to July 2013, the second covered 6 months from August 2013 to January 2014 and the 3rd phase will cover 22 months from February 2014 to November 2015. As service provider, Padek aquaculture technician will work closely with HARVEST staff to select lead clients and client, provision of technical supports to both clients, monitor the application of aquaculture techniques, assisting lead clients to disseminate to other interested farmers. The goal of the project is to improve livelihood and income generation of the fish farmers in Kompong Thom and Siem Reap through the application of appropriate aquaculture techniques. The project funds by USAID through FINTRAC and direct benefit to 511 lead clients and clients and indirect benefit to 2,300 households
7. 2010 to present: Livelihood approaches to food security, environment protection and community organizing fund by DFATD (former CIDA)
2014 is the 3rd and last year of the 3 years project implementation of livelihood approach to Food Security, Environment Protection and Community Organizing funds by CIDA through Canada Hanger Foundation (CHF). The main goal of the project is to enable the most vulnerable men and women in Oral district of Kompong Speu to improve their livelihoods through diversify agriculture production and income generation. To achieve the goal of the project, 4 main components are being focused including: 1. Increase and improve sustainable agriculture and livestock production, 2. Increase and diversified financial assets of the poor households, 3. Increase and improve social capital of the community and awareness, and 4. Improved gender-sensitive, food and economic security of the program. The project is implementing in 3 communes of 15 villages provides direct benefit to 700 extreme poor households with 3,500 people
8. 2013-present Emergency Food Assistance in Prey Veng fund by ADB and the royal government of Cambodia through PLAN International Cambodia
In September 2013, PLAN International Cambodia awarded a 14 months contract to Padek to implement an Emergency Food Assistance project in 120 villages of 10 communes within two districts of Prey Veng province. The ultimate goal of the project is to reduce vulnerability of food insecure households in Prey Veng through diversified livelihood, hygiene awareness and disaster preparedness and mitigation in the agricultural sector and to empower food-insecure women. The project consistent to Padek’s new strategy of improving livelihood of the poor and very poor households through promoting resilience agriculture and diversify livelihood options. In implementing this project, Padek will work closely with provincial line departments, the local authority and other community-based organizations in the target areas. The project will benefit to 9,000 poor and very poor households.
9. Irrigation and Community Resilience Project fund by AUSAID through Live and Learn Cambodia
Disaster resilience in agriculture is one of the important components of Padek’s strategy for the next four years in improving livelihood of the small scale farmers. Therefore, in September 2013, Padek received a 3-years contract from AUSAID through LIVE and LEARN Cambodia to implement the irrigation and resilience project in Kratie province. The goal of the project is to enhance food security and income generation through restoration water irrigation systems and water canal and increasing diversification agriculture production. The project implements in 15 villages of three communes within two districts. Within the project framework, Padek also work closely with provincial line departments and local authority to study small scale irrigation systems and draw participation from medium and small scale farmers to apply agriculture resilience techniques by selecting model farmers for demonstration and dissemination. The project will benefit to 2,000 households.
10. Cambodian Humanitarian Forum (CHF) fund by USAID/OFDA
In an effort to develop staff capacity in Disaster Risk Reduction and Humanitarian Response, Padek has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to lead the Humanitarian Response and Preparedness Capacity building to local and national NGOs and their counterpart through the establishment of Cambodia Humanitarian Forum and the provision of training courses at the national and sub-national level.
