National Dialogue promotes integrated food system governance in Cambodia

On November 26, 2024, WorldFish, in collaboration with the International Water Management Institute, the Council for Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD), and Cambodia Development Resource Institute, held a National Dialogue on Integrated Decentralized Food System Governance, Food Security, and Nutrition. The event, held at the Council of Ministers in Phnom Penh, aimed to improve agri-food systems in the Cambodian Mekong Delta.

The dialogue focused on sharing experiences from two pilot projects: one on integrated decentralized food system governance at the district level and another on food security, nutrition, and health at the community level. The goal was to introduce a potentially vital institutional innovation that would support more integrated, decentralized, and inclusive food production systems. The dialogue also aimed to explore how these pilot projects could be adopted more broadly to help the government achieve its development goals, particularly in the Mekong Delta region.

The National Dialogue provided a crucial platform for partners and researchers of the CGIAR Initiative on Asian Mega-Deltas. During the event, His Excellency Dr. Ouk Rabun, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of CARD, and other high-level officials expressed their support for the district Technical Working Groups piloted by AMD and the CGIAR Initiative on Aquatic Foods in Cambodia. They recognized these groups as a valuable innovation that could help sub-national governments work together to improve system governance, food security, and nutrition at the local level, while protecting natural resources, fisheries, water, and agriculture in an integrated manner.

The officials noted that this approach aligns well with the government’s Sub-decree No. 184 of 2019, which delegates roles and responsibilities to district governments. They also emphasized the importance of connecting district-level working groups with provincial and national-level groups under CARD.

The high-level officials concluded that this innovative approach should be adopted nationwide to support integrated, decentralized, and resilient food systems.