Conservation in Mondulkiri

OneAction contributed to the development of sustainable economic alternatives to deforestation in eastern Cambodia, while ensuring food security for local communities and protecting local biodiversity.

Location

Topics

Conservation au Mondulkiri 2023 SDG - OneAction

Beneficiaries

Direct
438 participants

Indirect
500+ community members

Impact

8 revolving funds created

30+ families use the revolving funds

100+ people receive personalised coaching

300+ participants in village meetings with local authorities

Context

While more than a third of the population of Mondulkiri in eastern Cambodia lives in poverty, the rate is even higher among the indigenous communities (mainly Bunong), located in the Seima Protected Forest (SPF), where food security is extremely limited. Despite its status as a protected area, this region is threatened by intensive forest exploitation, including land grabbing, deforestation, and commercial hunting. These activities threaten not only the biodiversity of the region, but also the livelihoods of the indigenous people who depend on the forest’s natural resources.

Our partner

Conservation au Mondulkiri 2016 Equipe 1 - OneAction

The Cambodian Rural Development Team (CRDT) is a Cambodian initiative, which aims to improve food security, income and living conditions of disadvantaged rural Cambodian communities while working to protect the environment. In partnership with local and international conservation organisations, CRDT supports communities in the province by helping them to address the risks associated with intensive forestry through sustainable economic alternatives. The majority of employees are from rural Cambodia, which ensures that they are well received in the communities. OneAction and CRDT worked together between 2014 and 2018.

The project

In order to increase the food security of local communities and help them become more self-sufficient, OneAction and CRDT conducted training programmes for community-based organisations (CBOs) established in three villages. These CBOs were renewed and strengthened to carry out their day-to-day administration, manage their natural resources and implement various projects aimed at improving the community’s well-being. In parallel, the field team conducted workshops to support CBO members in vegetable-growing and poultry-raising using environmentally friendly methods. Thanks to these activities, as well as personalised coaching sessions, participants were able to increase their production for their own consumption, as well as for market sale.

In addition, in order to encourage local communities to develop micro-enterprises, OneAction injected revolving credit funds into CBOs to increase the accumulated wealth of their existing savings groups. Thanks to these funds, several families have been able to launch sustainable economic activities.

Furthermore, OneAction and CRDT have contributed to the improvement of existing infrastructure by building rainwater collectors, toilets and a community shop in collaboration with the population. Finally, the team carried out environmental awareness activities and provided specific ecological advice

The project in figures

Strengthened community-based organisations

30+

Families use revolving funds

Community shop and eco-farm set up

Revolving funds created

100+

People receive personal coaching

300+

Participants in village meetings with local authorities

Expected outcomes

The living conditions of target communities are improved, including their food security.
Community-based organisations are more effective in building sustainable livelihoods.
Market access is secured for community products.
A deeper knowledge and understanding of environmental issues is developed within communities.
Unsustainable activities are reduced and biodiversity is preserved, leading to soil enrichment, CO₂ sequestration, and groundwater restoration.

Sustainability

The necessary tools are passed on for community-based organisations to manage the activities independently.
Joint workshops create useful links between community-based organisations and local authorities.
An impact assessment was conducted at the end of the project to develop recommendations for the future.
OneAction disengages, and if necessary, CRDT, present in the field, is available to advise beneficiaries.

"I wish we could all improve our living conditions together, because we are all in the same community."

— M. Sitha, project beneficiary

Conservation au Mondulkiri 2016 Beneficiaires 6 scaled uai - OneAction

Our projects

Together with its partners, OneAction develops initiatives to protect nature and empower communities. These initiatives are designed to be holistic, sustainable and locally owned. In most cases, self-financing mechanisms are included in order to create models that can be replicated in different contexts.