USAID Cambodia Countering Trafficking-In-Persons (CTIP) Program Quarterly Progress Report: April 1-June 30, 2020

The program aims to strengthen its savings group model, soft skills trainings, and market linkages to empower vulnerable populations and reduce TIP. CTIP provided integrated prevention activities benefiting at-risk persons (ARPs) individually or as members of community-based savings or producer groups through implementing partners Cambodian Center for the Study of Development in Agriculture (CEDAC), Sovann Phoum, and direct support from Winrock International. Learning exchanges among leaders of savings groups continued to improve the groups' financial management and application of problem-solving skills. CEDAC's highest-performing saving groups acquired 30 computers, with CEDAC contributing 50% of the cost and the groups covering the other 50%. Training for savings group leaders reached 19 of 31 savings groups, with CEDAC's assessment finding that 69 out of 100 savings groups can operate on their own, while 31 groups require continued technical support. Groups assisted by Sovann Phoum had no observed changes for this period, with four remaining at medium performance and four remaining strong. Winrock supported five groups in Koh Kong, which have significantly improved since the beginning of Winrock's direct support in 2019. Small business support was also provided by Winrock, CEDAC, and Sovann Phoum in their respective target areas, supporting 102 ARPs in starting and maintaining their businesses through in-kind grants. Chick farms in Kampong Cham and Koh Kong provided learning platforms for improved chicken raising methods for 28 model farmers trained by Sovann Phoum, as well as a source of chickens for chicken raisers, most of whom are ARPs in the community. CTIP transferred incubators to Banteay Meanchey and Kampong Thom, extending benefits to ARPs through support to two well-maintained chick farms. Twenty-three community animators received training, preparing them to continue support for beneficiaries in target areas after the project end. Animators began to link CTIP beneficiaries to civil society organizations with livelihood services, such as technical support to savings groups and improved agricultural practices, in their communities. Producer group members, many of whom are also members of savings groups and in-kind grant beneficiaries, improved their market linkage strategies and increased their production. At the close of CEDAC's subagreement, it assessed that 15 out of 52 producer groups were capable of meeting market demands, while 37 require assistance in improving their production capacities to reach their target market. CEDAC plans to link the groups to Husk Venture, an organization providing small livelihood support in Cambodia. Soft skills activities were revised due to restrictions from COVID-19, organizing large gatherings. CTIP trainers reached an estimated one million Facebook users, composed of returned migrants from Thailand and at-risk persons, ages 18-34 years, through Facebook live sessions on gaining local employment skills and working abroad. Revised soft skills sessions ensured that key messages about migrating abroad incorporated labor migration information from Thailand as well as measures on how migration can be done safely during the pandemic. CTIP assessed its active TIP survivor cases and determined that it could close 14 out of its 19 cases. Five survivor cases are in step 4, with case plans currently under implementation and review. However, these survivors remain vulnerable due to the COVID-19 pandemic, low employment skills, mental health problems, and the continued need for skills training and support to ensure they earn sufficient income for their families. The five remaining clients received counseling, baby care supplies supporting vulnerable mothers, and materials such as fishing nets and animals providing livelihood support. Future training is being coordinated with service providers for provision of required training for two survivors. CTIP also provided case management training to former protection partners, basic supervision training for The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC), and training for community animators to continue support for beneficiaries in target areas after the project end. The program's activities and performance against Year 5 objectives are being closely monitored and evaluated to ensure the effectiveness of the interventions and to identify areas for improvement.