Oxfam and NSPC launches the National Social Protection Broadcasting Mechanism (NSPBM)

The National Social Protection Broadcasting Mechanism is designed to provide information on social protection to the entire cross-section of the population of Cambodia, both urban and rural citizens from all socio-economic backgrounds including those in the Tonle Sap Biosphere and the indigenous mountain tribe citizens. Photo: Oxfam

Click HERE to download the press release in Khmer

Phnom Penh, 31 August 2021—Oxfam in collaboration with the General Secretariat of the National Social Protection Council (GS-NSPC), is developing a mechanism to broadcast information on social protection nationwide, which will also be capable of serving as an emergency broadcasting mechanism in the case of future pandemics, floods and other national emergency events.

This national mechanism involves a collaboration between the 11 Ministries within the National Social Protection Council, nine Civil Society Organizations representing over 700 CSOs and/or community-based organizations, and private sector media outlets, including television stations, social media, and forms of broadcasting.

"The initiative relies on a coordinated approach between CSOs and Ministries to make sure that citizens receive harmonized information on social protection," said Ms. Solinn Lim, Cambodia Country Director, Oxfam. "This mechanism will be complimented by a citizen-led Social Protection for All or SP4ALL platform aiming at facilitating the ´demand side´ to inform policy and decision making and greater social accountability. Each CSO stakeholder ranging from Community-Based Organisations operating in remote areas, established trade unions, networks of local and International NGOs, to emerging youth groups across the country, plays an essential role in the development and implementation of the broadcasting mechanism," she added

There is an urgent necessity for a social protection national broadcasting mechanism, which can clearly broadcast to Cambodian citizens the benefits available to them within both social assistance and social security schemes and programs. Previously, communication efforts have been dependent upon institutions working independently, rather than collaboratively, resulting in fragmented and uncoordinated communication efforts.

This has left vital segments of Cambodian society who live on the fringes, such as those in the Tonle Sap Biosphere and the indigenous mountain tribe citizens, unable to receive critical information on social protection schemes or potentially life-saving emergency information in a clear and timely manner.

H.E. Dr. Chan Narith, Under-secretary of State of the Ministry of Economy and Finance and Secretary General of the National Social Protection Council sayid: " It is essential that we raise the public’s awareness on social protection and develop a social protection culture so that we can expand the social protection system in Cambodia. We have a responsibility to educate the public towards the benefits that social assistance and social security will bring to citizens and the country alike. Individuals who are well informed about the benefits of social protection will be more proactive in accessing them."

This NSPBM initiative is being funded by a grant to Oxfam in Cambodia from GIZ - German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The EU Delegation in Cambodia’s support for the establishment of CSO Social Protection ´demand side’ has created CSO’s readiness and solid foundation for this project.