Date: 7 August 2025
Location: Phnom Penh
The Disability Inclusion Workstream is one of three working groups in the ACCESS 2 governance structure, alongside Gender Based Violence and Rehabilitation. On 7 August 2025, the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation and the Disability Action Council Secretariat General co-chaired the six-monthly Disability Inclusion Workstream meeting. National and provincial counterparts, ACCESS 2 partners and the Australian Embassy reviewed progress and confirmed priorities for the next six months.
Who was in the room
Representatives from MoSVY, MoH, MoWA, MoI, DAC SG, the GS NSPC, Provincial Departments of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, and provincial focal points from Kampong Cham, Kampong Speu, Siem Reap and Ratanakiri. Strategic Implementing Partners working on disability inclusion, including Organisations of Persons with Disabilities, the Australian Embassy and ACCESS 2 team members, joined to share progress and lessons.
What moved forward
- Mapping of key progress and priorities for implementing the National Disability Strategic Plan 2024 to 2028.
- Priorities from the Department of Welfare for Persons with Disabilities on the Disability Identification Program and on disability inclusion within the Family Package.
- Priorities of the National Social Protection Policy Framework 2024 to 2035 relevant to persons with disabilities.
- UNICEF, PafID, CDPO and CARE outlined progress, lessons and challenges contributing to Royal Government of Cambodia priorities.
- Year 3 Annual Workplan priorities and indicators, July 2025 to June 2026.
- Upcoming key events over the next six months, including trainings and workshops with government counterparts.
“I would like to express my gratitude to the Government of Australia for supporting the disability sector in Cambodia for over two decades, especially through the second phase of the ACCESS 2 program. I strongly hope that, through collaboration and partnership within the framework of ACCESS 2, persons with disabilities will truly benefit.”
H.E. Srey Chan, Deputy Secretary General, DAC SG
Next steps
- Strengthen disability inclusion in planning and budgeting at sub national levels.
- Implement the Disability Identification Program more effectively.
- Enhance disability inclusive social protection to maximise benefits for persons with disabilities.
Why this matters
The workstream contributes directly to two ACCESS 2 intermediate outcomes, delivery of high-quality disability inclusion services and policies and planning that respond to the priorities of persons with disabilities. By supporting the NDSP 3 and broader Royal Government priorities, ACCESS 2 aims to ensure more persons with disabilities can access quality, coordinated services by the end of the investment period.
