US Providing $51 Million in Health, Education and Other Aid

(Photo: Cambodia Express News)

Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Tuesday, 28 September 2010

Cambodia's economic growth and future development rely on “an educated and healthy population,” US Ambassador Carol Rodley said in Phnom Penh at a signing ceremony Tuesday.

The US on Tuesday provided more than $35 million to Cambodian health and education, part of more than $51 million in funding expected this week.

The US will provide $33.55 million in grant funds to reduce HIV and AIDS and prevent major diseases like tuberculosis and other dangers such as maternal and child health, officials said. And it will provide another $1.55 million for Cambodia's “education objectives,” including improving basic education and access to education.

Cambodia's economic growth and future development rely on “an educated and healthy population,” US Ambassador Carol Rodley said in Phnom Penh at a signing ceremony Tuesday.

Long Visalo, the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, accepted the funding Tuesday, calling health and education “the two highest priority sectors” for reducing poverty and increasing economic development.

The US is expected to provide another $16.44 million to Cambodia in a ceremony Wednesday, in a separate initiative to improve the country's business environment and enhance its agricultural capabilities.

Uncle Sam's aid for health and education in Cambodia ... if it does not end up in the pockets of the gov't officials

Press Releases

United States Provides $35.10 million for Health and Education in Cambodia

Released in Phnom Penh, September 27, 2010

The United States Government and the Royal Government of Cambodia will sign amendments to two bilateral agreements on September 28 that will provide $35.10 million in 2010 funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to support and strengthen Cambodian development priorities in health and education. U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia, Carol A. Rodley, will attend the ceremony and sign as a witness. H.E. Long Visalo, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Flynn Fuller, USAID Mission Director, will sign on behalf of their respective governments. USAID’s total funding commitment in health and education through the life of the bilateral agreement is over $277 million.

The amendment to the health agreement provides $33.55 million in grant funds that contribute to achievement of Cambodia’s national health objectives. Funds will support a variety of ongoing activities to reduce the transmission and impact of HIV/AIDS; to prevent and control major infectious diseases such as tuberculosis; to improve maternal, reproductive, and children’s health; and to strengthen Cambodian public health systems and the government’s national health priorities.

The amendment to the education agreement provides $1.55 million in grant funds to support the Cambodian government’s education objectives. These funds will support ongoing education programs aimed at improving the quality and relevance of basic education and increasing access to schooling for all children, including minorities, people with disabilities, and the very poor. Activities will also focus on reducing school dropout and repetition rates through improvements in teaching quality, school management training, and measuring student academic achievement.

In addition to health and education activities, USAID supports a broad range of programs designed to benefit all Cambodians in areas such as human rights, rule of law, local governance and decentralization, anti-corruption, natural resource management, economic growth, and combating trafficking in persons. USAID expects to commit a total of $69 million in assistance to Cambodia in 2010.

The signing ceremony will take place on Tuesday, September 28, 2010, at 15:30 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Members of the press are invited to attend the ceremony.

Health & Education In Cambodia

28 September 2009
Voice of America
Editorials
The following is an editorial reflecting the views of the US government

This month, the United States and Cambodia signed amendments to 2 bilateral agreements that will provide $34.8 million in 2009 funding to support Cambodian priorities in health and education.

U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia Carol Rodley presided over the September 8th signing ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Phnom Penh. Hor Namhong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Flynn Fuller, United States Agency for International Development [USAID] Mission Director, signed on behalf of their respective governments.

"I am pleased to be here to reaffirm the commitment of the American people to investing in the health and education of the Cambodian people," Ambassador Rodley said.

"By working side by side with our colleagues in the Cambodian government, we've helped stem the tide of HIV/AIDS, improve the quality of basic health services, and enhance the relevance and availability of education for thousands of youth."

The amendment to the first agreement consists of $31.6 million in grant funds to achieve health objectives. Funds will be used to promote a variety of activities to reduce the transmission and impact of HIV/AIDS; to prevent and control major infectious diseases such as tuberculosis; to fight avian influenza and other influenza-like illnesses; to improve maternal, reproductive, and children's health; and to strengthen Cambodian public-health systems.

The amendment to the second agreement will provide $3.2 million in grant funds to support the Cambodian government's education objectives. These funds will support the launch of a new program that will build on USAID's ongoing education program, which is improving the quality and relevance of basic education and increasing access to schooling for all children, including minorities, people with disabilities, and the very poor.

Activities will also focus on reducing school dropout and repetition rates through improvements in teaching quality, school-management training, and measuring student academic achievement. The total amount of direct, bilateral assistance through all foreign assistance accounts is $65.1 million in fiscal year 2009; of which USAID assistance accounts for $59.9 million.

The United States is committed to working with the government of Cambodia to help provide better education and health care to the Cambodian people.