[Phnom Penh] On October 26,2023, Family Care First project hosted the 22nd Learning Summit at Himawari Hotel. The main objective of event updated on progress at national and sub-national levels, updated on FCF project implementation and shared the research on “Toward their Full Potential” study results.
In the speech, H.E Din Borey, General Director of Social Service Department, MoSVY highlighted that in order to ensure the implementing of project successfully, effectively and efficiently in the purpose of promoting well-being and serve the best interest of children, he urged each member of meeting, especially the implementing partners to monitor and lay out action plan aligned with child protection sector 2022-2026 and action plan of enhancing the alternative care 2023-2027 as well as other strategic documents issued by the ministry. At the same time, H.E Din Borey would like to thank the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) that has financially supporting for the implementation of Family Care First (FCF) since 2015 until the end of December of 2023 and extending until 2025. The implementation of Family Care First (FCF) has made a significant contribution to the development of child protection sector in Cambodia as well as the strengthening of the social protection system through the direct provision of services to children, families, and communities.
Ms. Edith Bennema, Chief of Party FCF, highlighted one of the underlying principles of the project to contribute to strengthening the child protection system and the capacity of government at national and sub-national level, and civil society to implement care reform has been to encourage shared learning and evidence-based advocacy and program design. FCF has had an impact at the policy level and has delivered direct services to families. Today, however, she would like to highlight some events that have had an impact on strengthening organizational capacities. These include:
• 227 Quarterly partner visits
• 40 Learning events such as 22 Learning Summits, and 10 community of Practice and eight Learning Exchange Visits
• 89 Bulletins
• Training for partners and network members on a variety of topics such as social work, case management, monitoring and evaluation, and local tax laws.
The project has supported 24 organizations – 75 per cent local organizations – to implement 28 projects since the start of the project in nine provinces. This collaboration has resulted in impact on an individual level:
• Nearly 500 children and youth reintegrated with biological families.
• More than 400 children placed in kinship and foster care – a relatively new form of alternative care that the project helped develop and implement in Cambodia.
• Nearly 45,000 beneficiaries have received support services through a case management approach.
• 39 residential care institutions (RCI) engaged in the process of transition or closure. Among that, 12 RCIs have closed. As an evidence-based organization, we have analyzed the challenges and reviewed the learning of the past years and are suggesting an alternative approach.
There were 70 participants to joint this event who were H.E Din Borey, General Director of the Social Service Department of MoSVY, Ms. Alyssa Moy, representative of USAID, Mr. Hong Reaksmey, Country Director of Save the Children in Cambodia, Ms. Edith Bennema, Chief of Party FCF, H.E Representative from National Social Assistant Fund (NSAF) of MoSVY, H.E Chairman for Provincial Women Consultative Council for Women and Children, DoSVY Directors and representative from FCF network partners.