LWF Cambodia's six Integrated Rural Development through Empowerment Projects (IRDEPs)—operating in the provinces of Kampong Speu, Kampong Chhnang, and Battambang—apply three approaches in their day-to-day work with Cambodians.
• Empowerment
• Integrated
• Rights-based
• community-based approach
The EMPOWERMENT APPROACH
builds capacity and competence, in both individuals and communities, to achieve results for themselves. Equipping people and groups with knowledge, skills, and attitudes builds confidence and empowers villagers to take control of their lives. Actively involved in all aspects of their development, villagers assess their needs and then develop, implement, monitor, and evaluate village plans.
LWF Cambodia Community Empowerment Facilitators motivate villagers to contribute as much and in as many ways as possible—ideas and leadership, time, labor, materials, and money.
• In Tropeang Kreunh village (IRDEP-Thpong), the empowerment approach means that the Community Empowerment Facilitator stepped back and allowed local leadership to take control and guide their own future in the development of a community water system.
Photo: Marcus Busch
Group in pagoda drawing up VDC annual plans
Photo: Margaret Sadler
• In IRDEP-Phnom Sruoch, Village
Development Committees involve the full
participation of their membership in
both training for decision-making and
determining community plans.
The INTEGRATED APPROACH
considers that various lines of action interlink with and affect other areas. Environmental issues, HIV and AIDS, gender and many other thematic areas are integral parts of all lines of action taken in any given sector. As a result, village development committees tailor initiatives for positive impact on multiple aspects of community life. LWF Cambodia emphasizes that emergency relief, rehabilitation, development, and disaster preparedness efforts are linked. Bridging the gap between emergency response and development is one of our key competences.
• In Char village (IRDEP-Bavel), the LWF-supported Anglong Run Health Center trains village health volunteers and monks who teach villagers about health basics. The VHVs and monks also visit people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHA). The 18 PLHAs in the area receive food support, medicine, and training for income generation activities.
Nurse and health centre
Photo: Marcus Busch
Feeding the fish
Photo: Marcus Busch
• In Taing Thnong village (IRDEP-Tuek Phos), each partner household's fishpond improves the environmental value of the whole village.
• In Kao Dontaie village (IRDEP-Oral), Sakhun, a graduated partner householder, describes her goals to grow enough rice to support her family for a full year, to get more schooling for her children, to increase her herds of cows and pigs.
Sakhun and her rice harvest
Photo: Marcus Busch
The RIGHTS-BASED APPROACH
primarily involves building up rights awareness on all levels, both among the powerless and the powerful. Development objectives are also human rights objectives. An emphasis on human rights in the development context helps focus attention on structural inequities that cause and maintain poverty and exclusion.
• In Krang Dong village (IRDEP-Samaki Meanchey), the rights-based approach means that an advocacy network meets weekly to deal with the village's issues and concerns.
Krang Dong village group
Photo: Marcus Busch
Kao Dontaei school girls
Photo: Margaret Sadler
• In Kao Dontaei village (IRDEP-Oral),
a decision to build a latrine with the
new school encourages girls as well as
boys to get basic education.
• Pring villagers (IRDEP-Bavel) have been empowered to advocate for their rights. Community Empowerment Facilitators support them while they hold local and national authorities accountable for the social consequences of a land grab that has left half the villagers—including this partner household: Mok Sorn,
her husband, and six children—without a
source of livelihood.
Partner household
Photo: Maia Kahlke Lorentzen
Dam building
Photo: LEAK Ratna
The community-based approach: Undertakes development work for the good of the community
as a whole. Peace, reconciliation, stability and solidarity are promoted as community members
are encouraged to build on their own assets, structures and resources, enabling them to address
development challenges and fulfill their development plans. Community based also means staff
are based in the community to gain deep understanding of structure, cultures, and issues and
to build trusting relationships with the people. This enables a close and constant supportive
relationship conducive to transformative interventions.
Approaches 
