The Australia–Cambodia Cooperation for Equitable Sustainable Services – Phase 2 (ACCESS 2) Disability Inclusion (DI) Workstream, in partnership with the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY), the Disability Action Council (DAC), and other stakeholders, is advancing disability identification and support, strengthening Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), and improving sub-national planning. These efforts align with policies of the Royal Government of Cambodia including the 3rd National Disability Strategic Plan, with support from the Australian Government. Priority areas include building OPD capacity, strengthening systems at the sub-national level, particularly Provincial Disability Action Councils (PDACs) and Investment Programs (IPs), and enhancing linkages to social protection programs.
On 21 May 2026, ACCESS 2 convened the DI Workstream Annual Work Plan Workshop in Phnom Penh, brought together representatives from MoSVY, the DAC Secretariat General, PDACs, the National Social Assistance Fund (NSAF), national and sub-national government focal points (including the Ministry of Planning’s IDPoor Department), OPDs, and Strategic Implementation Partners (SIPs).
The workshop reviewed progress and challenges in disability inclusion and discussed the 2026–2027 Workplan. Discussions focus on strengthening OPD participation, improving disability identification and its links to social protection, and supporting PDAC and IP integration into government systems.
Participants discussed progress, challenges, lessons learned, and recommendations. They focused on OPD engagement, expanding disability identification and its links to social protection, and improving sub-national planning and budgeting.level.
His Excellency Ung Sambath, Secretary General of the Disability Action Council and Co-Chair of the DI Workstream, called on ministries, partners, OPDs, and other stakeholders to deepen collaboration and share knowledge-sharing so that disability inclusion becomes an core part of inclusive development and public service delivery. He also thanked the Government of Australia, ACCESS 2 and all partners for their continued support and contributions.
Ms Sophia Cason, Team Leader of ACCESS 2, reaffirmed the Australian Government’s commitment to work alongside the Royal Government of Cambodia and partners to build an inclusive and equitable society that upholds the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. She thanked MoSVY and DAC for their leadership and acknowledged the important contributions of SIPs, OPDs, and local authorities in advancing disability inclusion across Cambodia.
Ms Chan SreyTun, a representative of the Commune Committee for Women and Children in Kampong Cham and a social service assistant, shared her experience in supporting persons with disabilities to access disability identification cards and related social services.
The workshop concluded with key inputs from partners to further strengthen the disability inclusion workstream, including enhancing OPD capacity, improving coordination at the sub-national level, and expanding disability identification coverage and its linkages to social protection. Looking ahead, efforts will continue to focus on strengthening systems, coordination, and knowledge at the sub-national level particularly PDACs and Investment Programs while further improving disability identification and its integration with social protection programs.
