Battambang province – LIFE WITH DIGNITY (LWD) and Battambang Provincial Administration signed on March 15 a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the collaboration and support to the implementation of social land concession in Boeng Pram zone, Ampil Pramdeum commune, Bavel district of Battambang province.
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The project named “Securing Rights to Land and Sustainable Livelihoods”. It was funded by the European Union (EU) and is jointly implemented by LWD, CEDAC and DanChurchAid (DCA). The project cost 700,000 Euro and takes three years (2011-2013).
LWD received 439,748 Euro of the total amount for implementing its specific activities. The implementation of the project includes two steps—land allocation and empowerment of the poor settling in the area to improve their livelihoods.
LWD Executive Director Dr. Sam Inn said the project was part of the support to the implementation of land administration reform program of the government aiming to reduce poverty of the rural poor.
Dr. Sam Inn added that the overall objective of the project is to alleviate rural poverty by securing access to land through Social Land Concession (SLC) and by improving quality of life of vulnerable households. The project will benefit 1,736 land poor and landless families in 7 villages in the area.
On behalf of the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning, and Construction, Dr. Sareth Boramy, Permanent Deputy Secretary General, National Committee for Social Land Concession, highly appreciated active contributions of LWD to supporting the rural poor to improve their sustainable livelihoods. It is in line with the goal of SLC program, he said.
He said to ensure that the poor could live in SLC area, the second top priority was sustainable rural development. If there is no rural development and no delivery of some basic services such as roads, school buildings, deep wells and agricultural activities, the SLC project would not be sustainable.
H.E Sieng Sout Thong, Battambang Deputy Governor, expressed his deep thanks to EU, LWD, CEDAC, and DCA for supporting the project. He also appealed to other relevant institutions for more support to the project. The development will not move forward if there is no participation from all parties, he said.
For more information, please, contact Leak Ratna (Mr.), LWD Communication Coordinator | E-mail:ratna@lwd.org.kh | Phone: 012 819 121