Why we are working in Cambodia

Across Cambodia, an estimated 50,000 children are living in Residential Care Institutions. Many of these institutions are privately operated and, alongside some NGO-run family placement programmes, have historically lacked consistent regulation and oversight.

Recognising the need to strengthen family-based care, the Cambodian government invited Care for Children to support the development of a national system that enables more children to grow up in safe, loving families rather than institutions.

Our Partnership

Care for Children first engaged with Cambodia in 2017, conducting research into the country's child welfare system. Building on this work, we established a strategic partnership with the government of Cambodia in 2021.

Today, we work closely with the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation to support the country's transition from institutional care towards sustainable family-based care. Our partnership combines direct support for Residential Care Institutions with efforts to strengthen national policy, standards and systems.

Our impact

Care for Children is supporting government Residential Care Institutions across Cambodia to develop and implement family placement programmes that help children move from institutional care into family environments.

Our team has already worked with institutions in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Battambang and continues to expand this work into additional regions across the country.

Alongside frontline programme development, we are helping to strengthen Cambodia's national child protection and family care systems. This includes supporting the development of foster care standards, building workforce capacity and promoting sustainable government investment in family-based care.

To date, Care for Children has trained more than 250 government staff and contributed to significant policy developments, including the introduction of National Minimum Standards. These reforms are helping to reduce reliance on institutional care while improving the quality of support available to children both in Residential Care Institutions and in family-based care settings.

Support our work in Cambodia

Help more children in Cambodia experience the love of a family. Your donation will enable Care for Children to continue working with local partners to transform children's lives and ensure more children can grow up in safe, loving families.