Overview of Civil Society: Cambodia

Abstract

Traditionally, the dominant form of social organization was Pagoda-based associations, which encouraged volunteerism and social service in Cambodia, with strong participation at the village level. Pagoda associations existed before the Khmer Rouge, survived through that time despite repression, and are now again present in numbers in rural Cambodia. Pagoda associations currently do not seem to be linked systematically into development programs or decentralized government structures, and are considered quite separate from the nongovernment organization (NGO) sector in Cambodia. Other types of grassroots organizations or community-based organizations (CBOs), on the other hand, are numerous and usually linked to development projects. CBOs based on location (e.g., Village Development Committees); a certain interest (farming, fisheries, and water and sanitation); or a group of people (women, the elderly) are present in most villages in Cambodia, but are essentially endogenous to communities and reliant on outside support.