A new project will benefit over 31,000 people, including 3,000 children, across 25 villages in Katie province by 2029. World Vision
A new project, launched last week by World Vision, aimed to address child malnutrition and promote gender equality in one of the Kingdom’s most vulnerable regions.
The “Realizing Gender Equality, Attitudinal Change & Transformative System in Nutrition” (ReactsIn) project, officially unveiled on January 8, will benefit over 31,000 people, including 3,000 children, across 25 villages in Kratie province’s Prek Prasab district by 2029.
Funded by the Canadian government through Global Affairs Canada (GAC), ReactsIn takes a unique approach by tackling child malnutrition through the lens of gender equality.
The project focuses on improving nutrition, advancing nutrition-related rights and empowering women, adolescent girls and children under five years old.
“Cambodia is the fifth country to join the ReactsIn initiative, after Bangaldesh, Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania, bringing a unique approach to tackle child malnutrition through strengthened gender equality,” explained a World Vision statement.
Despite Cambodia's progress in reducing child malnutrition over the past decades, significant challenges remain.
Currently, added the statement, 22 per cent of Cambodian children under five suffer from stunted growth due to chronic malnutrition, hindering the country’s human development potential.
“Children thrive and reach their full potential when they receive care from both mothers and fathers,” said Asrat Tolosso, chief of party for the ReactsIn project at World Vision Canada.
“While mothers often bear the primary responsibility, particularly in areas like feeding and health services, fathers also play a crucial role in children’s development,” he added.
The project is being implemented in partnership with Cambodia’s Ministry of Health, Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Ministry of Rural Development.
With a budget of $434,074, the project directly supports the government’s Pentagonal Strategic Objectives, particularly human capital development and resilient, sustainable and inclusive development.
Kham Sopheap, deputy governor of Kratie province, emphasised the importance of collaboration.
“I encourage all participants in this project to pay attention to its implementation and be open to learning new things from it that will better serve our community and improve the health of children in Prek Prasab district,” she said, during the launch event.
The project aims to create long-lasting change by promoting gender-equitable roles in nutrition, health and reproductive rights while strengthening local service delivery and increasing awareness of gender equality through advocacy and policy dialogue.
World Vision, a Christian grassroots organisation has been operating in Cambodia for over 50 years, working towards improving the well-being of the country’s most vulnerable children.
In 2024 alone, its programmes positively impacted the lives of three million girls and boys across 20 provinces.
