AKP Phnom Penh, April 03, 2025 --

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Ministry of Civil Service (MCS) of the Royal Government of Cambodia officially exchanged here early this week the Record of Discussion (RD) for the “Project on Strengthening the Capacity of the Royal School of Administration (RSA) for Governance Reform and Institutional Enhancement in Cambodia.”

According to a KOICA’s press release AKP received this morning, the five-year initiative, funded by Korean government through KOICA with a total budget of US$11.7 million, aims to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Cambodia’s public administration by building a professional, accountable, and future-ready civil service. The RD was exchanged through official correspondence between both parties, marking the formal agreement to implement the project from 2025 to 2029.

This project is strategically aligned with Cambodia’s Pentagonal Strategy – Phase I (2024–2028) and long-term Vision 2050. In particular, it contributes directly to the national priorities of Human Capital Development and the Development of the Digital Economy and Society, supporting the government’s ambition to modernise public service delivery and advance good governance.

The initiative includes the development of a national civil servant education curriculum, supported by the construction of a new education centre and the establishment of a digital education platform accessible to all civil servants nationwide. Notably, the project will create a detailed curriculum and training content for ICT education, tailored to the evolving needs of a digitalised government. This will enhance the ability of civil servants to utilise digital tools and systems in their day-to-day work.

Through the online platform, public officials across the country—regardless of their location—will have access to high-quality training content. By overcoming the constraints of physical infrastructure and limited instructor resources, the project ensures inclusive and continuous learning opportunities and contributes to the long-term strengthening of national administrative capacity.

Ms. Choi Moon Jung, Country Director of KOICA Cambodia Office, reaffirmed KOICA’s strong commitment to Cambodia’s development goals. “This project is a cornerstone of KOICA’s support for Cambodia’s governance reform. By strengthening the Royal School of Administration, we aim to contribute to the realisation of the Pentagonal Strategy and Cambodia Vision 2050, especially in the priority areas of human capital and digital transformation.”

The initiative will directly benefit approximately 39,000 central civil servants, while also impacting around 172,000 local civil servants through improved systems and training programmes.

The project also responds to recent civil service reforms initiated by Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet, including the introduction of a standardised national civil service examination system. As the implementing body of these reforms, the Royal School of Administration will receive critical institutional support through KOICA’s assistance to enhance its role and capacity.

KOICA’s support covers expert dispatch, development of the national HR strategy, curriculum design, system development, provision of ICT and educational equipment, and capacity-building programmes both in Cambodia and Korea. The Ministry of Civil Service has committed to providing land and institutional resources to ensure smooth implementation.

With this initiative, KOICA continues to reaffirm its role as a long-standing development partner of Cambodia. The two parties will work together to establish the Royal School of Administration as a leading hub for public sector innovation and capacity building in the country.

AKP