Today in Phnom Penh, Administrator Samantha Power announced new investments and support for the Cambodian people through a range of new and expanded U.S. activities in food security, the environment, civil society, media, and labor. Cambodia remains an essential partner to the United States as we work to achieve a shared vision for a free and open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific region.
As part of the U.S. government's commitment to strengthening agriculture and food systems, Administrator Power highlighted a new Food for Progress award of more than $29 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This funding will help Cambodia improve implementation and development of food safety regulations by improving post-harvest handling of soybean meal, increasing adoption of climate smart technologies, providing training on best food safety practices, and strengthening market linkages. Under the Mekong-US Partnership, USAID will also support new efforts to conserve the rich biodiversity of the lower Mekong River basin, which is home to more than 1,000 species of fish but increasingly threatened by the effects of climate change and infrastructure development. Underscoring the strong U.S. commitment to protecting biodiversity, USAID will extend and expand for the next five years its work with the government and local communities in Cambodia to conserve and sustain the wonders of the Mekong, as well as work with other countries of the lower Basin.
In a meeting with members of Cambodian civil society, Administrator Power also announced more than $6 million in new USAID funding for civil society, media, and labor in support of Cambodia's constitutional commitments to democratic rule, respect for human rights, and support for civil society. Additionally, Administrator Power announced $3 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Labor to increase collaboration and partnerships between and among persons with disabilities. This funding will help address the prevalence of child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking among persons with disabilities and reduce barriers that impede their access to decent work. USAID will also continue to support Cambodian returnees from the United States as they reintegrate into Cambodian society and establish stable, constructive, and independent lives.
