Background
Gender and Development for Cambodia (GADC) is a local non-profit organisation, which was established by a group of women following the first National Conference on Gender and Development in Cambodia in 1999, to promote women’s rights as a human right. Since then, GADC has built its reputation as a leading voice on gender equality in Cambodia. GADC has worked for over twenty years with women, men, and youth to strengthen women’s participation in making decisions that affect their lives in the family and community, to access economic opportunities, take on leadership roles, increase women’s engagement in political and public processes, hold the state accountable for their responsibilities to establish gender equality. GADC also takes action to end gender-based violence (GBV) and discrimination against women and girls in communities with local authorities and central government as well as at regional and international forums.
Gender and Development for Cambodia’s Main Activities
GADC achieves its objectives through community outreach, advocacy, and networking, feminist education, and male engagement programs. It has developed long-term processes to build the understanding, self-reflection, critical thinking, knowledge, and skills of village volunteers, especially in four provinces – Pursat, Kampong Chhnang, Prey Veng, and Kampong Speu. GADC provides training and coaching and uses public forums as well as the Gender Café and Men’s Dialogue processes to inform people about gender inequalities and women’s rights. GADC also prompts self-reflection and mutual support with various groups of women, men, youths, government officials, and NGO staff. GADC has developed various toolkits and curricula on leadership and facilitation skills, advocacy, and campaigning, commune council planning and budgeting on domestic violence, life skills for youths, and gender mainstreaming, as well as gender-responsive budgeting. GADC has developed a long-lasting trusted relationship with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, in collaboration with other civil society actors, to provide quality analysis and advice on policy development, hold the government accountable for its commitments to gender equality, as well as to eliminate GBV and provide victims with services. GADC seeks out many kinds of alliances and collaborations to creatively utilise a variety of opportunities with others to speak out about gender injustice and to press for official gender policies to be developed, improved, funded, and implemented. GADC, as the main initiator, also serves as the Secretariat for the Gender and Development Network (GADNet), consisting of over 40 civil society organisations, and also hosts the Cambodian Men’s Network (CMN).
Partnership with Ponlok Chomnes
Under the Ponlok Chomnes II Program, GADC provides advisory support to Ponlok Chomnes Strategic Partners on gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI) in research, communication, dialogues, and networks, as well as supports the program to ensure GEDSI is embedded in its processes and activities, where relevant. GADC will also support the program as the SheThinks Network’s Secretariat in year 3 and 4 of the program (2025-2027).
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