Cambodia Family Package Programme
Social assistance for Cambodia’s poorest and most vulnerable households
Highlights
Despite rapid economic progress over the last two decades, almost 20 per cent of Cambodians continue to live below the national poverty line. The Cambodia Family Package Programme provides integrated social assistance to poor and vulnerable families, consolidating existing cash transfers for priority groups such as pregnant women, young children, school-aged children, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and those living with HIV/AIDS.
Eligible households receive KHR 34,000 (US$8.30) per month plus additional grants for each different vulnerability type in the household. The Royal Government of Cambodia launched the programme in December 2023, and implementation started in April 2024.
The rollout of the Family Package is accompanied by a rigorous impact evaluation, with a baseline conducted in May-June 2024. This report presents the baseline findings, providing critical insights into household conditions prior to programme implementation.
Household characteristics indicate a high level of vulnerability, with the majority of participants falling below the poverty line, exhibiting low levels of consumption, high food insecurity and having limited dietary diversity. Economic activities revealed that households rely heavily on transfers, with low levels of non-farm enterprises, highlighting the need for diversified income sources.
Similarly, financial inclusion remains low, with high reliance on informal sources for saving and borrowing, reflecting a need for improved financial access and savings mechanisms. The report also found gaps in school enrolment among adolescents and lack of access to affordable public health services.
The baseline study examined the similarity between the treatment and comparison group and concluded that for the majority of the domains in the evaluation, the study design was effective. This baseline study has therefore paved the way for a rigorous impact assessment of the Family Package Programme in the future.
