About PROGRAMS

PROGRAM TITLE:

Promote the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) in the Protected Areas (PRIPA)

Key Program Strategies:

(1) Gender

Gender is a key impact theme in NECO’s 2023-2027 strategic planning, in which we set out to embed gender equality into our inclusion strategy. In many sectors we work in, women play a role in the food productions, income generations, social mobilizations, cash crops, seeds conservations, coping with climate change and self-resilience. They are traders, processors and banks of knowledge to land and forest.  

We will consider how women and men participate in and benefit from these interventions, and strive to benefit both and harm neither.

(2). Program study

In 2023, NECO conducted the detailed program study at the target villages intentionally for IPLCs, CVGM and staff to understand how can the important knowledge systems, technologies and innovations of IPs that have been contributing towards biodiversity conservation and sustainability from generations be ethically and equitably engaged in climate change and actions. The study included the baseline survey to have greater information for the start and end of projects/programs with a well-formulated for being in-use.

The study’s topics selections focused to fill the gaps between their strengths-based, assets-based and customary tenure of the IPLCs in the Protected Areas.

(3). Selection of Community Voluntary Groups’ Members (CVGM)

It is the key event to happen in IPLCs target areas. NECO will consult and inform elders and leaders to consent in forming very grassroots facilitators from the reps of different vulnerable and IPLCs groups. The CVGM is provincial-based active persons to be selected, trained, formed and worked voluntarily. Maximum 5-7 persons per province within NECO’s mandatory. They can be dropped and replaced on their issues-basis, under the guidelines and ToR.

(4). Empowerment tools and methodologies

The NECO had piloted numbers of facilitations’ tools in communities at the North-Eastern of Cambodia since 2016. But further, NECO selected to apply the ABCD (Assets-Based Community Development) tools and methodologies for empowerment techniques.

(5). Improve Organization Environment

NECO will improve the conditions of work with IPNGOs, Government Officials, Donors agencies at all levels to strengthen the coordination and cooperation. The letter of understanding will be produced to prove a greater coalition and networking.  

IPNGOs Networking: NECO will focus on the build up coordination and cooperation with the local IPNGOs up to at the national, regional and international levels. In this regard, NECO will focus on providing capacity enhancement, joint coalition, joint fund raising and improve the networking of those IPNGOs to reach their visions, missions and goals.

Target communities and program areas:

The PRIPA is working 4 IPLCs in Somlot District, Battambang province on the Rights in Community Protected Areas, Communal Land Titling, Collective Farming and Community Culture-Based Ecotourism.

NECO is working around the Think Biotech plantation company of Kratie (3 villages of Boeng Cha commune, Sambour District) and Stung Treng (3 villages of Siem Bok Commune, Siem Bok District) provinces. The PRIPA is focusing to improve on the collective farming, seeds, food systems, CBE corridors, Resin Tree Network and IK network (Art & dance)

NECO is working in the HAGL areas of 4 villages, 2 CPAs (Twin Lakes in Lumphat and Taveng Districts-Taveng Krom and Taeng Leu communes in Ratanakiri province). The PRIPA will focus on the collective farming, community funds (Mernthaing, Kambak, Taing Se villages), IP traditional seeds & food systems and highlanders farmer-led research in Ratanakiri province.