Phnom Penh – 10 January 2026: Cambodia’s Social Protection (SP) system is undergoing significant expansion, requiring sustained cooperation and collective action from all relevant ministries and institutions at both national and sub-national levels, according to a Policy Brief released by the National Social Protection Council (NSPC) on 2 January 2026.

The policy brief highlights that the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) is implementing and broadening the scope of its social protection system through an approach known as “Strengthening the System to Expand Coverage”, aimed at ensuring more inclusive and effective support for citizens, particularly vulnerable groups.

As the system expands, Sub-National Administrations (SNAs) are playing an increasingly critical role in implementation. SNAs are responsible for executing social protection tasks on the ground and maintaining direct contact with citizens at the community level, making them a central pillar of service delivery within the national social protection framework.

Recognizing the fundamental role of SNAs, the General Secretariat of the National Social Protection Council (GS-NSPC), with technical support from German Development Cooperation (GIZ), has collaborated with relevant ministries and institutions to conduct a series of studies assessing the needs, capacities, and challenges faced by SNAs in implementing social protection programs.

The objective of these studies is to provide evidence-based inputs for strengthening the qualifications and readiness of SNAs to respond effectively to the expanding range of social assistance programs and social security schemes. Key focus areas include enhancing awareness and understanding of social protection policies, addressing operational and institutional challenges, promoting cooperation and coordination among SNAs at all administrative levels, and ensuring that each SNA has clear legal authority to carry out its responsibilities efficiently and effectively.

The policy brief underscores that strengthening institutional capacity at the sub-national level is essential for the successful implementation of Cambodia’s social protection reforms and for ensuring that social protection services reach citizens in a timely, transparent, and equitable manner.

As Cambodia continues to expand its social protection system, coordinated efforts between national institutions and sub-national administrations will remain crucial to achieving long-term social inclusion, resilience, and sustainable development.