The challenge
In Cambodia, the education system was destroyed during Khmer Rouge rule 1975-79. The school system had to be rebuilt from scratch. Reconstruction efforts have been hampered by poverty, political turmoil and Khmer Rouge guerilla activities (ended in 1998). Adult illiteracy in Cambodia is as high as 26% and in rural areas considerably higher. Only 52% of Cambodian children finish 6th grade. 

The organization
Save the Children Norway is a rights-based development agency recognized for its professionalism, thematic expertise and ability to cooperate well with local stakeholders. Of the 38 employees in the office in Cambodia, 37 are Cambodian nationals, many of them with decade-long experience in developing the Cambodian education system. 

The program that Voxtra supports
Voxtra supports the education program of Save the Children Norway in Cambodia with NOK 15 million in the period 2008-2010. The program improves the capacity and quality of the Cambodian education system through teacher training, building schools in remote areas, strengthening the capacity of the public education administration, and curriculum development. It focuses on remote areas such as Kampong Cham, Preah Vihear, Pursat and Koh Kong. Among its ambitious targets an increase in the net enrollment rate in the provinces to 92% (partly by building 120 new school buildings in remote areas, securing access to 16,000 children), a reduction of the drop-out rate by 3 %-points and enrollment of 120,000 children in a home-based early childhood education program. Voxtra is one of several sponsors of the program, contributing with ~22% of the total funding. 

Why Voxtra selected this program

• The program has an impressive track-record of innovations that have become national education policy. The success in developing and promoting these innovations rests on the organization’s deep understanding of challenges on the ground, motivation for problem-solving, ability to implement pilots, and close relations to local and national authorities.
• The program demonstrates best practice in working with the government and local communities to ensure the sustainability of the achievements.
• The program focuses on remote areas where the efforts of international development organizations often do not reach.
• Save the Children Norway has strong financial management systems and a high level of thematic competence. Save the Children Norway is widely recognized as one of the best Norwegian development NGOs.