3. AFD interventions: milestones

3. AFD interventions: milestones

AFD initially received a mandate to focus its action on the rural development sector and the development of the Siem Reap/Angkor region. The aim was to eventually foster the creation of a new economic development hub thanks to resources from tourism at the Angkor archaeological site.

  • The priority objective of rural development support is to reduce poverty by financing peri-urban agriculture and village water, relaunch silkworm farming, support family-run rubber farms, develop irrigated areas, vocational agriculture and agronomic training and promote the microfinance sector.

  • Support to the development of Siem Reap region led to the creation of APSARA (the authority for the Protection of the Site and the Management of the Region of Angkor). It also made emergency works possible for water and electricity and supported the development of peri-urban agriculture and the silk sector.

AFD’s mandate was broadened in 1999 and its intervention strategy was oriented towards financing urban infrastructure which has a direct impact on improving the living conditions of populations (drinking water supply in Phnom Penh, reconstruction of bridges, electrification of provincial capitals…), in parallel with the continued financing of productive investments in the rural sector as a means to reduce poverty. The target of these projects was also to build the capacities and professionalism of the Cambodian technical services in charge of supervision.