Civil service minister Hun Many met with KOICA acting country director Shin Chung-yong on January 24. Supplied
The Cambodian Ministry of Civil Service and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) are aiming to enhance Cambodia-South Korea relations through the implementation of a project aimed at “Strengthening the Capacity of the Royal School of Administration (RSA) for Governance Reform and Institutional Advancement in Cambodia”.
KOICA has pledged financing of $11.7 million for the project, as discussed during a meeting between Minister of Civil Service Hun Many and acting KOICA country director Shin Chung-yong on January 24.
“The meeting focused on key measures for public administration reform in Cambodia, including the implementation of a civil servant selection system, institutional capacity building and incentive systems,” explained a ministry statement.
Chung-yong reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting the project, emphasising the importance of strengthening the RSA’s capacity through governance reforms.
“An in-depth study, conducted from January 20–24, involved KOICA specialists working alongside officials from Cambodia’s civil service ministry and the RSA,” according to KOICA.
This study focused on refining the project’s components and preparing for the Record of Discussions (RoD), which is expected to be signed within the first quarter of 2025.
KOICA has pledged financing of $11.7 million for a project which aims to strengthen the capacity of the Royal School of Administration. Supplied
“This project focuses on enhancing operational capacity by providing consulting services on civil servant recruitment and training systems, with a particular emphasis on supporting capacity building for ICT education,” added KOICA.
The establishment of an online education platform will enable civil servants to access training both online and offline, contributing to the RSA's goal of increasing the annual number of civil servants trained.
By developing an online education platform and strengthening ICT education for civil servants, the project will also support the Cambodian government’s priority area of digital transformation in public administration.
This initiative aligns with the government's efforts to modernise operations and create a more efficient, technology-driven civil service.
KOICA conducted the first feasibility study for the project in December 2023.
“The feasibility study yielded positive results, leading KOICA to approve the development of an $11.7 million project for a duration of five years, from 2025 to 2029,” explained the South Korean aid agency.
This marks an additional $1.7 million and a two-year extension compared to the original proposal of a $10 million project over three years.
