Annual Progress Report: October 2019 – September 2020

The program, extended by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in October 2019, intensified, sustained, and consolidated selected models of prevention and protection. Key objectives included strengthening the project's savings group model, adjusting and improving the reach of soft skills trainings, establishing market linkages, testing and implementing a sustainability strategy for the Bongpheak job-seeking platform, engaging the private sector, and sustaining services for vulnerable households and victims of human trafficking. In Year 5, the program implemented its interventions with a focus on ensuring the sustainability of results, attainment of targets, and documentation of lessons learned. Following the declaration of a global pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020, the program adapted its implementation plan to comply with USAID, Winrock International, and government guidelines, prioritizing the health and safety of staff, communities, and stakeholders. Prevention of Trafficking-in-Persons (TIP) was a key feature of the extension period. The project aimed to achieve Outcome 1: Intensified implementation, consolidation, and dissemination of selected sustainable livelihood models for TIP prevention. The midterm evaluation revealed that most of Cambodia CTIP's prevention approaches, such as cultivating multiple income sources, possessing a savings account, and soft skills training, contributed to increased rates of safe migration among at-risk populations. The program strengthened the savings group model, with over 2,500 savings groups established across the country. Savings group performance in 2020 showed a significant increase in savings and loan disbursements, indicating improved financial management and economic stability among members. The program also adjusted and improved the reach of soft skills trainings, with over 10,000 participants receiving training in areas such as communication, problem-solving, and time management. Market linkages were established to empower vulnerable populations and sustain efforts to reduce TIP. The Bongpheak job-seeking platform, a key intervention, provided employment opportunities for Cambodian workers. The platform saw a significant increase in users, with over 10,000 job seekers registering in the first six months of the year. The program also engaged the private sector to improve the identification and monitoring of systems to reduce the risks of TIP. The program's sustainability strategy for the Bongpheak job-seeking platform aimed to ensure continued provision of employment opportunities for Cambodian workers. The strategy included partnerships with private sector companies, civil society organizations, and government agencies to provide job training, placement, and support services. The program also engaged government, private sector, and civil society organizations in sustaining services for vulnerable households and victims of human trafficking. The program's achievements in Year 5 were significant, with notable progress in prevention, protection, and sustainability. The program's interventions contributed to increased rates of safe migration among at-risk populations, improved financial management and economic stability among savings group members, and provided employment opportunities for Cambodian workers. The program's sustainability strategy aimed to ensure continued provision of services and support for vulnerable households and victims of human trafficking.