Social Mobilizing Service for the Accelerating Inclusive Market for Smallholders (AIMS)

Accelerating Inclusive Markets for Smallholders (AIMS) is a joint project of the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The four years of Social Mobilization services, as per the agreement signed between the AIMS project and service provider Action For Development (AFD), a joint venture with Life STEPS Organization (LSO), were a very productive and progressive portfolio. LSO was contracted to serve smallholder farmers/producers in nine provinces and four value chain commodities: backyard chicken, cassava, rice, and vegetables: The LSO-SM team (54 staff) performed the assignment very well in accordance with the agreement with the Hub and the PMO. Based on the geographic situation, commodity selection, and the number of beneficiaries in Hub2, the number of SMs were deployed as detailed below:

1)     Kampong Cham (Hub2 office): 10 SMs + 1 SM-Manager + 1 SM Supervisor

2)    Kampong Thom: 5 SMs

3)    Tboung Khmum: 5 SMs

4)    Preah Vihear: 7 SMs + 1 SM Supervisor

5)    Stueng Treng: 4 SMs

6)   Ratanakiri: 4 SMs

7)   Kratie: 7 SMs + 1 SM Supervisor

8)   Prey Veng: 5 SMs

9)  Mondulkiri: 3 SMs

The LSO-SM team achieved a total of 35,536 HHs registered, and they were served by the SM team (exceeded the targets). Out of them, Vegetable: 3,684 HHs, Rice: 7,910 HHs, Chicken: 14,108 HHs, and Cassava: 9,834 HHs.

SM team facilitated a number of value chain event in supporting to 22,763 HH representatives to regularly participate in 975 MSP events; 35,536 HH mobilization; 817 Producers Organization (PO) formations and PO Strengthening.

LSO conducted 40 ToTs to 734 out of 817 selected Business Literacy Facilitators (BLFs); Rolled out Business Literacy trainings to 817 PO equal to 23,358 PO members and increased knowledge to 50%, and over 91% expressed satisfaction after the training;

The SM team carried out 34,807 rolling baseline surveys and 34,736 farmer diaries data collection and submission into web-baed MIS.

According to the agreed SM service provider’s timeframe, the assignment was successfully completed in March 2023. LSO also guided the delivery of roles and responsibilities to the PDoC focal person and built capacity for the Business Cluster Facilitator (BCF) before the SM team phase-out.