AKP Phnom Penh, March 25, 2025 -– 

Cambodia and the Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) have solidified their long-standing collaboration with a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focusing on enhancing Cambodia’s mine action capacity.

The signing ceremony, held on Mar. 25 at the Cambodia Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) headquarters, was attended by H.E. Ly Pannharith, Secretary-General of CMAA, and Mr. Hans Peter Risser, Country Director of NPA Cambodia.

In his speech, H.E. Dr. Ly Thuch, Senior Minister and First Vice President of CMAA, who presided over the signing ceremony, expressed gratitude and appreciation to NPA Cambodia and the Norwegian government for their significant contributions to Cambodia’s mine action efforts since 1992. 

These contributions include landmine clearance, technical assistance, human resource training, and other forms of support. 

Through the partnership between CMAA and NPA Cambodia, approximately 25 million square metres of mine-contaminated land have been cleared, transforming previously hazardous areas into land used for housing, schools, agriculture, and development projects. These efforts have played a crucial role in Cambodia’s socio-economic development and poverty reduction.

Dr. Ly Thuch emphasised that this MoU reflects the long-term commitment and strong partnership between both institutions, as well as the broader collaboration between Cambodia and Norway. 

Under this agreement, NPA Cambodia will continue to support CMAA by providing training in key areas such as quality management, information system management, gender mainstreaming, and operational efficiency. These initiatives aim to ensure the sustainability of Cambodia’s mine action efforts and contribute to the country’s long-term vision for a mine-free future.

Furthermore, H.E. Dr. Ly Thuch highlighted that mine action is not solely about land clearance but also about transforming lives, rehabilitating communities, and addressing the lasting scars of past conflicts.

By K. Rithy Reak