What do Cambodian experts think about Australia’s development program? To find out, the Lab spoke to 40+ top development and foreign policy experts. Here’s what we found.
A short guide to the Pulse Check x Cambodia for policymakers
There are a number of big disruptions underway, and these will drastically affect development in every country.
You have 100 points. Allocate your points according to which of the below disruptions are most critical to address in your country.
Things like: the impact on livelihoods, infrastructure and people’s quality of life as the climate changes, the global push to reach net zero and beyond, biodiversity health and resource usage, disaster resilience
Things like: competing powers and their impact on things like trade and economic growth.
Things like: the rapidly growing digital and data economy, and the rise of artificial intelligence and advanced autonomous systems.
Things like: shifting demographics across age, education and healthcare, and rising inequality, gender equality, disability inclusion.
Things like: rapidly changing markets, trade conditions, stability and resilience to shocks, changing job opportunities and emerging industries.
Things like: shifting international norms and state structures, effective functions of the state, and disruptions to the international rules based order.
Things like: global stability and instability, internal conflict, humanitarian crises, external interference, maritime disputes.
Nearly all Pulse Check participants are convinced that climate change is the number one disruption to development in Cambodia. Many shared insights on how climate change is affecting livelihoods, with the country’s dependence on natural resources and agriculture making communities especially vulnerable to climate change impacts. Some observe that in rural areas, the rising prevalence of floods and droughts is eroding infrastructure and public health and diminishing quality of life. Participants are concerned that these issues are disproportionately impacting the poorest and most marginalised communities in the country.
Participants see the demographic profile of Cambodia—a young society with high levels of poverty and job vulnerability—as the second greatest disruption to development but one that offers substantial opportunities as well as challenges. While the young population boosts the workforce for economic growth, some are concerned about the quality of labour and job diversity available to Cambodia’s youth.
Some participants also flag the impacts of rapid urbanisation in Cambodia, with concerns that both rural communities and an economically disadvantaged urban populace lack access to quality education, healthcare,livelihood opportunities and infrastructure. Some note how poor road quality in rural areas complicates the transportation of goods to markets, stifling economic opportunities and entrenching poverty.
Lastly, respondents emphasise that gender inequality and societal roles in Cambodia limit women’s economic empowerment, higher education and political representation. People with disabilities also face significant barriers in accessing education, healthcare and employment. Many stressed that tackling these disparities is essential to promoting inclusive and sustainable development and improving the socioeconomic landscape in Cambodia.
‘Individuals with disabilities in Cambodia are confronted with a multitude of challenges, including pervasive inequality, inaccessibility and discrimination in accessing education,healthcare, employment, as well as social protection and justice.’
Pulse Check participants spoke extensively about the impact of geopolitical shifts and tensions on their country’s development. They are most concerned with the ongoing competition for political and economic influence over their country between the US and China and regional geopolitical tensions that risk spilling into conflict. Some emphasise that Cambodia has been subject to the damaging consequences of great power competition before, when US anxiety about the potential spread of communism in Indochina acted as a catalyst for its defence policy, which resulted in the mass bombing of Cambodia during the Vietnam War.
Today, Pulse Check participants see the scale of Chinese influence and investment in Cambodia,12 its physical proximity to a potential site of future conflict in the South China Sea and a de facto one-party system of governance that lacks credible democratic alternatives as the biggest geopolitical threats.
Many participants expressed concern that the country’s economic dependency on foreign markets and investment, particularly on China, may also be influencing Cambodia’s governance systems in ways, which, according to participants, have contributed to limited political competition, weakened potential for democratic reforms and less traction in tackling persistent social inequalities.
We know that to achieve social and economic development, an effective and accountable state is critical - and this is something that Australia is committed to working with partners on.
You have 100 points. Allocate your points according to where you would focus efforts to enhance social and economic development in your country, using the State Effectiveness Framework.
For example, commercial policy, private sector development, intervention by the state when the market experiences failure or crisis.
For example, a balanced security environment, when police, military and other security institutions are bound by the law and guidelines.
For example, public utilities - including water, electricity and roads.
For example, strong adherence to both formal and informal rules, high levels of predictability and stability of the enforcement of rules, and governance arrangements.
For example, investment in the citizens of a state through education and public health.
For example, strong and transparent forms of public financial management, effective public borrowing, and fiscal management.
For example, addressing barriers to equal opportunities through citizens rights which cut across gender, race, ethnicity, religion, class and location.
For example, state assets (including natural resources [water, land, the environment, extractives] and other intangible benefits [licenses and permits]).
For example, preparedness for disasters, state resiliency against crises such as drought, famine, and catastrophic weather.
For example, public sector management, uniform rules and guidelines, strong reforms to prevent corruption.
Participants named human capital as the top area to focus efforts on to enhance social and economic development in Cambodia. First, these participants want to see investment in health and education to ensure that Cambodia has a thriving, productive population that can support its transition to a middle-income country. Participants see this as the primary pathway to unlocking greater productivity, attracting more diverse international investment and improving Cambodia’s regional and global competitiveness.
Many highlighted enhancing healthcare in Cambodia as a secondary priority, particularly when it comes to access to quality services in rural and remote parts of the country.
Following human capital, Pulse Check participants ranked citizen engagement, governance and rule of law as the next highest priorities for an effective state, highlighting their strong connections to improving socioeconomic outcomes in Cambodia.
Many Pulse Check participants emphasise that increasing citizen participation is vital in Cambodia. For them, finding ways to increase engagement in governance processes is the top priority (and challenge) to ensure that government activity is more transparent and accountable. They argue that this will not only bring about more robust policymaking but also enable greater social cohesion and trust in policymakers among the broader community.
Following human capital development and citizen engagement, most Pulse Check participants emphasise the importance of more transparent, accountable and corruption-free governance and rule of law in Cambodia. They see these elements of state effectiveness as the bedrock for more equitable and sustainable development in Cambodia.
The biggest challenges in the minds of these participants include addressing the patron–client system and partisan practices in government, building a more robust legal framework that can attract diverse foreign investment, bolstering anti-corruption measures and building greater civil society coalitions to undertake advocacy and service delivery in areas neglected by the government.
'Non-government organisations (NGOs) play a crucial role in socioeconomic development, particularly in countries transitioning from least development country (LDC) status. They often fill gaps in services and advocacy that governments and private sectors may not.'
Australia's new development policy wants to foster connection between your country and ours. How is this best done within development?
You have 100 points. Allocate your points according to where you think efforts are best placed to bring our countries together through development cooperation.
Support from Australia to back your country's aspirations on things like gender equality, health assistance, rural development and education.
Support from Australia to back your country's aspirations on things like trade, market growth, regulatory reform, small-to-medium enterprise (SME) development and development finance.
Support from Australia to back your country's aspirations on things like peace and security, effective governance, food security, digital and cyber security, law and justice.
Support from Australia to back your country's aspirations on things like remittances, labour mobility, job creation, social and economic policy reform.
Support from Australia to back your country's aspirations on things like scholarships, policy dialogue, cultural exchange and institutional partnerships.
Support from Australia to back your country's aspirations on things like climate adaptation and mitigation, global health crises, transnational crime, joint cooperation in regional and multilateral fora, unregulated migration flows and major demographic changes.
Pulse Check experts are calling for Australia to connect for social capital, that is, to back Cambodia’s aspirations on issues such as gender equality, health assistance, rural development and education to bring the two countries closer through development cooperation.
In addition to prioritising where efforts are made, participants stress the importance of how Australia engages in development cooperation. These experts want to see Australia more actively involved with local communities and civil society organisations (CSOs) in Cambodia. To them, building trust and cooperation at the grassroots level ensures that development initiatives are inclusive and responsive to local needs. They argue that this can be achieved through more community-led development projects, participatory planning processes and programs like youth and NGO staff exchanges, which are seen as critical connections for promoting long-term development.
In addition to these social initiatives, respondents continue to emphasise the need for ongoing support from Australia in the education and health sectors. According to them, Australian efforts in these spaces are best focused on scholarships, vocational skills training, health, nutrition and infectious disease prevention.
Participants want to see a greater connection for knowledge sharing between Australia and Cambodia, both for the benefits of technical exchange and for more enduring people-to-people links. Some suggest establishing more policy dialogues and institutional partnerships between Australian and Cambodian universities, research institutions and government agencies, with a particular focus on the following issues: public sector reform, governance, sustainable agriculture and climate adaptation.
Participants want to see greater connectivity that fosters trade, investment and market growth between Cambodia and Australia, particularly through knowledge exchange and investments in key sectors, such as agriculture, agro-processing and infrastructure. The development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has emerged as a key priority for economic recovery and growth. Many call for greater financial and capacity-building support to strengthen SMEs, particularly in enhancing agricultural production and resilience. They also note that investments that target the clean energy and agriculture sectors are critical to Cambodia’s sustainable development and see a role for Australia in this.
Though not as high a priority as connecting for social capital, knowledge sharing and investment, some participants still spoke to the importance of strengthening connections for livelihoods between Australia and Cambodia. In particular, experts want to see better access to vocational training and employment opportunities in Australia, seeing this as a pathway for enhancing livelihoods by facilitating more travel and migration opportunities and increasing remittances that support Cambodian households. In addition, job creation in Cambodia is seen as a critical factor for development, with respondents underscoring the need for connections that bolster key sectors, such as agriculture, SMEs and rural development.
Australia works with your country through development cooperation in a variety of ways. What would you like to see here?
Australia's bilateral ODA allocation to Cambodia for FY 2023-2024 is $56.5 million. You have 100 points. How would you re-allocate Australia's bilateral funding to Cambodia across these categories using your 100 points?
Including policy and research to support economic growth, emerging industries and job markets, banking and financial services.
Including transport and storage, larger water, communications.
Including agriculture, fisheries and forestry, industry and mining and mineral resources.
Including policy and enabling markets.
Including governance programming, policy reforms, civil society strengthening, social protection measure and infrastructure.
Including support for feminist organisations and movements, support for disability organisations and services.
Including basic, secondary and higher education and scholarships.
Including basic health, infrastructure and basic water and sanitation.
Including climate mitigation and adaptation, energy infrastructure, environmental protection and management.
Including emergency response, disaster prevention and preparedness .
Pulse Check participants want to see the greatest proportion of Australia’s ODA in their country directed to education support. They consistently emphasise that improving human and social capital is a major driver of the country’s development, highlighting education as crucial to developing a skilled workforce and fostering economic growth.
Many participants highlight Australia’s strong track record in scholarships as a contributing factor to this preference. Beyond offering scholarships, some participants also proposed that Australia invest more technical assistance In developing education curricula and vocational training programs. Australia is also seen as having a comparative advantage aimed at reducing inequalities in access to education, particularly among marginalised groups, such as women, people with disabilities and rural populations. Participants underscore that access to education is critical for rural communities to pursue other economic opportunities.
Most Pulse Check participants believe Australia has a comparative advantage when it comes to strengthening civil society’s involvement in governance, and they want to see a larger proportion of ODA channelled towards it. Several participants spoke positively about Australia’s technical assistance in governance, particularly in enhancing institutional capacity and public administration. They want a stronger focus on improvements in resource management, service delivery quality, transparency, accountability and anti-corruption efforts.
Participants also stress the need to promote civil society participation and meaningful citizen engagement in governance processes to foster inclusivity and democracy. Some suggested that Australia is more likely than other major development partners to work on issues such as social protection, civic space and human rights. They believe that Australia should take a more proactive role in addressing these gaps and supporting areas that the government and other partners may not prioritise.
'Australia can support the development of civil society organisations, provide training for government officials and promote public participation in decision-making.’
Recognising Cambodia’s vulnerability to climate change, participants stress the necessity of prioritising climate adaptation in Australia’s development partnership with their country.
In particular, participants want to see further support in climate adaptation and sustainable and climate-resilient farming practices that not only safeguard the environment but also ensure the long-term sustainability of the agricultural sector, which is crucial for the economy and rural communities in Cambodia. Some also suggest partnering to drive advancements in agricultural technology to increase productivity and developing market linkages to improve farmers’ access to domestic and international markets.
‘It is important to see that Australia can provide its strong support for the agriculture sector, in particular through smart technology and [climate] resilience.’
Although work in trade and infrastructure is crucial for development in Cambodia, according to the participants, these areas are not high on the list of sectors within Australia’s comparative advantage. While some participants see value in Australian support here, most prioritise sectors such as education and governance, where they believe Australia has greater expertise and value-add vis-à-vis other development partners.
Alongside what is included in Australia's development cooperation with your country, we're interested in your views on how Australia delivers assistance.
You have 100 points. Allocate your points according to where you think Australia should focus to become a great development partner to your country.
Working in selective sectors where Australia can best assist your country, and doing it well. Perhaps operating in a less visible way, and much more impact-oriented.
Working at the forefront of development challenges and working with partners to get ahead of big, new challenges to development. Developing specific capabilities in response to development disruptions decades ahead.
Working with partners to leverage Australian expertise, and knowledge, and working with your country's knowledge ecosystem to solve the most difficult development challenges.
Connected to your communities, not just your Government. Australia as a whole-of-nation partner that connects across different levels: for example universities, businesses, and organisations. Squarely focused on delivering development outcomes for people and communities.
Working to back Australia's development partner's aspirations through things like ASEAN, multilateral arenas, and through bilateral arrangements.
When asked to prioritise, Cambodian participants want to see Australia be a People Partner first and foremost. This kind of partner invests in connections to communities at all levels, not just government, and is squarely focused on delivering development outcomes. For some, Australia’s history of fostering partnerships across civil society, the private sector and government puts it in good stead to realise this goal.
However, others suggest that Australia had further to go in building resilient relationships with local communities. To them, this is simply the most sensible route to better tailoring development interventions and directing development to being genuinely locally led. Several participants specifically call for Australia to enhance its localisation efforts by directly engaging local actors as delivery partners and empowering their decision-making and to reduce the domination of international managing contractors. To these experts, progress on these fronts would demonstrate Australia’s commitment to driving more meaningful and sustainable development solutions in Cambodia.
While some Pulse Check participants value a forward-looking partnership model like the Modern Development Leader, most do not see this as the primary choice for Australia’s cooperation with Cambodia. However, they acknowledge the importance of Australian expertise in addressing complex development challenges down the line.
To be future-ready, some participants suggest strengthening bilateral partnerships in developing specific capabilities to tackle disruptions such as climate change, demographic shifts and the impacts of geopolitical rivalry in the region. Others suggest Australia strengthen not only what it works on but also how it works by rapidly progressing its locally led development agenda to enable more direct funding of local partners and building better mechanisms to stay abreast of—and share knowledge on—future trends that could impact development in Cambodia.
Some participants support this model, particularly for utilising Australia’s strengths in specific sectors. Participants who prefer this model feel that Australia should adopt a targeted intervention approach, focusing on select high-impact areas where it has a comparative advantage, such as education, governance and agriculture. This would ensure that interventions are both efficient and effective within a small ODA envelope, making Australia’s efforts more visible and impactful.
