FAO representative in Cambodia Rebekah Bell (left) and Tan Phannara, director-general of animal health and production at the agriculture ministry, signed the agreement on July 31 in Phnom Penh. FAO
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries signed the “Cambodia Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response Project”, to be supported by the Pandemic Fund.
“The [fund’s] grant will support Cambodia in building its capacity to prevent, prepare for and respond to future pandemic threats through a One Health approach,” according to FAO.
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FAO representative in Cambodia Rebekah Bell and Tan Phannara, director-general of animal health and production at the ministry, signed the agreement at the ministry in Phnom Penh on July 31.
FAO Cambodia stated in an August 1 press release that the signing ceremony represented a major advancement towards bolstering public health security in the country and the wider region.
It said the project aims to improve prevention, preparedness and response to public health emergencies with pandemic potential using the One Health approach, which acknowledges the connection between animal and human health.
The initiative builds on the longstanding partnership between FAO and the ministry, focusing on enhancing the capabilities and resources for surveillance, laboratory services and personnel skills within Cambodia’s animal health systems, noted the release.
“This approach integrates human, animal, plant and environmental health in a holistic way to support sustainable agriculture, food safety, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) management, food security and nutrition delivery,” it added.
According to the press release, this is vital for anticipating, preventing, detecting and controlling zoonotic diseases, addressing AMR issues, ensuring food safety and tackling environmental health threats. It noted the approach plays a key role in achieving the country’s development goals (SDGs).
The project aligns with FAO’s new strategic framework for 2028-2031, which aims to strengthen national and international One Health systems through improved pest and disease prevention, early warning and global health risk management.
Over the next three years, FAO and the ministry will collaborate with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the World Bank to implement the project, enhancing the animal health sector’s capacity.
This collaborative effort highlights the dedication of FAO, the ministry and their partners to safeguarding public health and advancing sustainable development in Cambodia and beyond, noted the release.
Established in 2022 with the World Bank serving as its trustee, the Pandemic Fund, a multilateral financing mechanism, received 179 applications from 133 countries by May last year, following its first call for proposals.
In July 2023, the Pandemic Fund’s governing board awarded its first round of grants to support 37 countries, including Cambodia, towards improving related capabilities.
The project addresses the country’s increasing risk of disease outbreaks, driven by factors such as climate change, natural disasters, intensified agricultural and livestock production, deforestation and biodiversity loss.
The project is a partnership between the agriculture ministry and the Ministries of Health, Environment, and Economy and Finance, alongside three implementing entities including AIIB, in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the FAO and the World Bank.
