“Who Makes the Cambodian News?” by UNESCO, which assesses women’s presence and portrayal in Cambodian news.

“Who Makes the Cambodian News” was conducted by UNESCO, in collaboration with Cambodian media outlets, journalist associations, civil society organizations, and development partners. This comprehensive study provides insights into the representation of women in Cambodian news and newsrooms, highlighting gender disparities and suggesting various recommendations to improve gender equality in the media landscape.

UNESCO

Introduction and Purpose of the Report

• The report was commissioned by UNESCO to understand the representation of women in Cambodian news and to provide recommendations to enhance women’s presence and portrayal.
• A mixed-methods approach was used, involving the analysis of literature and the collection of quantitative and qualitative data.
• A total of 4,094 news stories from 12 media outlets were analyzed over a period from January 2 to January 31, 2023.

Key Findings

• Women are significantly underrepresented and misrepresented in Cambodian news.
• Only 5% of news stories had an exclusively women presence, compared to almost half of the stories having an exclusively male presence.
• Women make up only 2% of all spokespeople, 7% of all experts, and 12% of all ordinary citizens/vox pops in the news.
• No editorials or op-eds contained an exclusively women presence.
• News stories with an exclusively male presence were significantly more likely to feature in primetime bulletins and on the front page compared to stories with an exclusively women presence.

Recommendations

• The report calls for media owners, managers, senior editors, journalists, and journalist associations to be intentional about improving women’s presence and portrayal in the news.
• It urges the Royal Government of Cambodia to support the Ministry of Women’s Affairs in monitoring women’s representation in the news and to address gender imbalances.
• The report suggests that media organizations implement gender-sensitive policies in the workplace and focus on gender in content production.

UNESCO’s Role

• UNESCO aims to promote gender equality in media through greater pluralism and diversity, empowering women to take up decision-making roles and strengthening gender-sensitive reporting.
• The organization has developed Gender Sensitive Indicators for Media (GSIM) to provide empirical evidence on women’s presence and participation in news media.

Conclusion

• The study highlights the importance of balanced and equal coverage in news media for a prosperous and harmonious society.
• It also provides tangible opportunities for progress and includes an example of a newsroom that successfully enhanced female narratives. Full report can download here: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000388025

World Bank Provides Nearly $80 Million to Cambodia to Promote Over 1,000 Educational Institutions Nationwide

The World Bank has committed an additional $79.5 million in financing to expand its ongoing efforts to improve the accessibility and quality of education in Cambodia. This initiative will benefit 1,590 educational institutions throughout the country, according to a press release dated May 30, 2024.

This new funding will build on a project initially approved in January 2022, which began with a financing package of $69.25 million. The additional funds include a $60 million loan from the International Development Association (IDA), a World Bank fund aimed at assisting the world’s poorest countries, and $19.5 million from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).

Mariam Salim, the World Bank Country Manager for Cambodia, emphasized that the additional funding aims to further combat educational poverty and develop the human resources necessary for Cambodia’s economic growth and development. She stated that the funding would extend project activities to more educational institutions nationwide, including 500 secondary schools, 1,000 primary schools, and 90 kindergartens.

The enhancement projects at these institutions will include:

• Expanding school management practices to additional schools
• Providing further training and professional development opportunities for teachers, administrators, and school staff
• Building and renovating more classrooms, laboratories, and school buildings with weather-resistant designs
• Utilizing educational technology to increase quality study time
• Updating textbooks and developing teacher guides aligned with the national curriculum
• Strengthening planning, monitoring, and evaluation processes at all levels

This project is designed to assist children from disadvantaged backgrounds, including those from poor families, indigenous communities, remote areas, or those living with disabilities, ensuring they have access to quality education.

Historical Contributions of the World Bank to Cambodia’s Development

The World Bank has played a pivotal role in Cambodia’s development since the country rejoined the institution in 1992, following decades of conflict and isolation. Over the years, the World Bank has provided extensive support across various sectors, contributing to Cambodia’s remarkable progress.

1. Infrastructure Development: The World Bank has financed numerous infrastructure projects, including the rehabilitation of roads, bridges, and rural infrastructure, significantly enhancing connectivity and accessibility across the country.
2. Health Sector Improvements: Through various projects, the World Bank has supported improvements in healthcare services, including maternal and child health, disease prevention, and health system strengthening.
3. Agriculture and Rural Development: The World Bank has funded projects aimed at boosting agricultural productivity, improving irrigation systems, and supporting rural communities, which are vital for Cambodia’s predominantly agrarian economy.
4. Education Sector Enhancements: Beyond the current funding initiative, the World Bank has a long history of supporting Cambodia’s education sector, focusing on expanding access to education, improving the quality of teaching and learning, and supporting policy reforms.
5. Social Protection Programs: The World Bank has assisted in developing social protection systems to support vulnerable populations, including cash transfer programs and social safety nets.
6. Economic Reforms and Governance: The World Bank has provided technical assistance and funding to support economic reforms, strengthen governance, and improve public financial management, contributing to macroeconomic stability and sustainable growth.

Through these comprehensive efforts, the World Bank has been instrumental in Cambodia’s journey towards economic development and poverty reduction. The latest funding for educational institutions is another significant step in this ongoing partnership, aimed at fostering a brighter future for Cambodia’s young generation.

Source: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2024/05/31/world-bank-approves-additional-79-5-million-to-boost-education-quality-and-access-in-cambodia