World Vision International in Cambodia today, October 20 launched a 12-year development programme aimed at improving the lives of more than 33,000 people, including nearly 12,000 children, in Kratie province. The organisation’s assessments have reported persistent poverty, child malnutrition and limited access to education and sanitation in rural communities.
The Chetr Borei Area Development Programme, launched on October 20, will run from 2027 to 2038 and support 33,578 people, including 11,715 children and 365 persons with disabilities, across 27 villages in four communes of Chetr Borei district.
The initiative will be implemented in Bos Leav, Changkrang, Kou Loab and Sambok communes, explained the organisation, with a focus on health and nutrition, education, child protection, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and sustainable livelihoods.
World Vision’s assessments found that 35% of households in the area live in poverty, with the rate reaching 62% in Changkrang commune.
Child malnutrition also remains a major concern, with 21.8% of children under five suffering from stunting, 13.6% from wasting and 15.5% classified as underweight.
The findings also revealed gaps in educational access and attainment, with only 46% of children aged three to five attending preschool and just 42.3% of students completing secondary education.
Access to basic sanitation remains limited, with only 56% of households having access to basic sanitation services, while 17% do not have a household latrine.
World Vision also identified risks facing children, including violence, child labour, unsafe migration, human trafficking and other forms of exploitation, highlighting the need for coordinated interventions involving families, communities and local authorities.
Ny Sopharan, operations director of World Vision International in Cambodia, noted that the programme reflected a shared commitment to addressing the underlying causes of poverty and vulnerability while creating opportunities for children to grow up healthy, educated and protected.
“Lasting transformation is achieved through strong partnerships and community ownership,” he said.
“Through the Chetr Borei Area Development Programme, we will work alongside local authorities, communities, schools, health facilities, faith leaders, community volunteers and development partners to build on existing strengths and address the root causes of poverty and vulnerability affecting children and families,” he added.
Sopharan explained that the initiative would seek to strengthen community resilience and empower local people to take ownership of development activities, with the aim of ensuring improvements in children’s well-being could be sustained over the long term.
“Together, we can create greater opportunities for children to be healthy, protected, educated, and empowered to reach their full potential, while strengthening the resilience of communities for generations to come,” he said.
Beyond poverty and gaps in essential services, communities in Chetr Borei district face growing challenges from climate-related disasters, particularly seasonal flooding along the Mekong River.
According to World Vision, flooding in 2025 affected 457 households and 1,138 people in the district, disrupting livelihoods, education, transportation and access to essential services.
Agriculture and fisheries remain the main sources of income for many households in the predominantly rural district, leaving communities vulnerable to flooding and other climate-related disruptions.
Yin Vannak, governor of Chetr Borei district, welcomed the initiative, describing it as an important partnership supporting the district’s development priorities.
“We welcome the launch of the programme as an important partnership that contributes to the district’s development priorities,” he said.
“Through close collaboration among local authorities, communities, and World Vision, we will continue to promote child well-being, strengthen community resilience, and support sustainable socio-economic development that benefits children and families across the district,” he added.
Located along the Mekong River, Chetr Borei district comprises 10 communes and 80 villages, with a population of more than 83,000 people. The new programme will cover four of those communes, targeting some of the communities facing persistent socio-economic challenges.
The organisation noted that the long-term programme would seek to address interconnected challenges affecting children and families while supporting communities to build more resilient and sustainable livelihoods.