USAID Cambodia Countering Trafficking-In-Persons (CTIP) Program Quarterly Progress Report: October 1 – December 31, 2019

The program aims to strengthen its savings group model, soft skills trainings, and market linkages to empower vulnerable populations and reduce TIP; develop and implement a sustainability strategy for the Bongpheak model to provide long-term employment opportunities for Cambodian workers; and engage government, private sector, and civil society organizations to improve support and provide responsive and appropriate services to victims of trafficking. During the first quarter of year 5, Winrock International and its partners, the Cambodian Center for the Study of Development in Agriculture (CEDAC) and Sovann Phoum, mobilized their staff to provide technical guidance and motivational support to 134 savings groups in eight provinces. The support activities included training and coaching in savings and loan management, home visits to learn how small businesses can be improved, leadership coaching, campaigns for increased membership, knowledge sharing by stronger groups to weaker groups, use of proper bookkeeping, and review of savings group by-laws. Sovann Phoum reported a 66% achievement rate for this component, while CEDAC reported that it provided 21 groups with intensive support, resulting in nine medium performing groups moving to the strong category and seven weak groups now categorized as medium performers. CEDAC completed a simple market survey in three markets verifying that there exists a demand for locally grown vegetables and that sellers are willing to buy and sell these products. CEDAC organized an additional 28 producer's groups and improved the members' production capacity through training and follow-up support in improved agriculture and marketing and promotion strategies. CEDAC developed a production and supply plan for 20 producer groups, surpassing their target of 12 groups. Nineteen of them started to market their chickens and vegetables. Sovann Phoum has set up seven community collection points in preparation for rolling out their marketing strategy for their beneficiaries, many of whom are chicken, duck, or vegetable producers. Both Winrock and CEDAC have improved the capacity of its community animators through technical training on mentoring in savings group strengthening, use of more effective agricultural techniques, producer group mobilization, and leadership formation. A total of 28 community animators (23 supported by CEDAC and 5 by Winrock) now actively act as community-based volunteers who support all services for at-risk persons (ARPs) in their communities. Soft skills consultancy activities proceeded as scheduled, and the soft skills curriculum was updated to improve the relevancy of the material to the target ARPs. Community animators and CTIP staff were chosen to be full-time trainers in the echo trainings for ARPs in the next quarter. CTIP continued to follow up on 21 active cases of TIP survivors assisted through CTIP's case management system. During the reporting period, all 21 active client cases were reviewed by CTIP to assess the status of case management implementation, notably the multiple victim-centered services provided by CTIP's past partners, the Cambodian Center for the Protection of Children's Rights (CCPCR), the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC), and Legal Support for Children and Women Organization (LSCW). Sixteen TIP survivors were visited to assess their current status and reintegration experience. In general, 13 survivors who have jobs reported significant improvement in their living conditions, although more support is needed from their local authorities for various services to sustain their livelihood. Some reported receiving discriminatory treatment from local authorities for various reasons.