Policy Talk

The Asia Foundation and My Village Organization co-hosted this virtual dissemination workshop to disseminate the findings from a study entitled “Investigation of Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemics on Local and Indigenous Communities’ Socioeconomics in Stung Treng Province” with key policymakers and policy practitioners.

According to the workshop, COVID-19 negatively impacted the indigenous community, including reduced income; loss of employment; limited access to healthcare services; and increased domestic violence. However, it also presented some positive impacts, such as improved hygiene practice and reduced illegal logging. Indigenous people have also adapted their lives to cope with COVID-19, including looking for new jobs and new income sources, using traditional medicine for healthcare, and other adaptive strategies to support their socioeconomics. The government has also supported them through various programs and activities such as cash support for low-income families, the COVID-19 vaccination program, quarantined measures for migrants, and other preventive and support measures. The policy talk welcomed 54 participants from the public and private sectors and NGOs.

This Policy Talk was supported by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australian Embassy, Cambodia) through The Asia Foundation’s Ponlok Chomnes: Data and Dialogue for Development in Cambodia program.