iDE Cambodia

In 2024, with support from the Rudy and Alice Ramsey Foundation, iDE launched an initiative seeking to improve coffee production practices by encouraging an adoption of regenerative techniques in protected communities of Mondulkiri Province. Integrating human-centered design #HCD within value chain assessments and beginning a pilot program, the project aimed to enhance farmers' productivity and access to competitive, inclusive markets while protecting natural resources and preserving ecological services. Early results from the pilot program show a 40% increase in yields after farmers invested just 10% in quality inputs. Please follow this link to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gt8uAH62 #RegenerativeAgriculture #SustainableFarming #CoffeeProduction #HumanCenteredDesign #InclusiveMarkets #Agroecology #EnvironmentalImpact

We’re excited to share an update on our waste management project in rural Cambodia, specifically in areas adjacent to Tonle Sap—the country’s most vital ecosystem. From September 2024 to January 2025, we’ve seen tremendous growth, with the number of household subscribed to the service increasing from 378 to 1,780—an impressive 370% growth in just four months. The impact is already clear. Rural residents are now enjoying cleaner, safer waste disposal, eliminating the need to burn or litter their trash, which helps protect them from health risks.  A huge shoutout to our amazing partners Whitten & Roy Partnership for capacitating our sales team and getting customer service processes in place. Special thanks to Jennifer Wang and Richard Wang, PgMP, PMP, CSM (Full Cycle Resource Consulting (FCR) for providing technical support on expanding the collection service. And, of course, a big thank you to our incredible team for leading this innovation! This work would not be possible without the support from @Paul Polak Innovation Fund and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints #WasteManagement #Cambodia #RuralDevelopment #WasteInnovation

Great solutions start with a question: What do people really need? For 30 years, iDE Cambodia has pioneered market-driven solutions to improve lives. But designing solutions that truly work for people takes more than just good ideas. It requires an iterative process which includes listening, testing, and refining. That’s where our in-house iDE Innovation Lab comes in. The Lab’s roots trace back to one of iDE Cambodia’s most successful innovations: the Easy Latrine, developed in collaboration with design firm IDEO. This project proved that simple, affordable, and desirable solutions can rapidly scale and transform lives. Its success, along with other market-based interventions, reinforced the need for a dedicated space to systematically develop high-impact solutions. Recognizing this potential, the Innovation Lab was established and has since evolved into a nonprofit consultancy operating across Asia, Africa and Latin America. iDE Innovation Lab has two hubs based in Phnom Penh and Lusaka, which provide human-centered design (HCD) services to iDE’s programs globally, whilst also delivering extensive consulting work for external clients such as the World Health Organization, UNICEF, The World Bank Group, CARE, Save the Children, and the Royal Government of Cambodia, among others in the health, nutrition, WASH, clean cooking, solid waste management, and agriculture sectors. Human-centred design (HCD) is an approach to problem-solving that puts the people we are designing for at the heart of the process. We design solutions with, for and from user experiences. We generally start with the Discover phase, we try to deeply understand the context and user, and move to the Experiment phase where we ideate, prototype and test our solution before reaching the Deliver Phase where we pilot the solution prior to scaling up. #HCD #iDEInnovationlab #iDE #30YearsiDECambodia #30YearsOfInnovation

Over 410,000 sanitary latrines delivered to communities across Cambodia meaning one in five Cambodian rural households now own an iDE facilitated latrine! Since 2009, iDE Cambodia’s sanitation marketing program has contributed to an increase in sanitation coverage from 23% to over 88% in program areas. Through its successful targeted subsidy mechanism and private-public-partnership initiative, iDE has actively supported the Open Defecation Free (ODF) claims of over 2,000 villages across seven provinces. #Sanitation #WASH #iDE #30YearsiDECambodia #30YearsOfInnovation

We are incredibly proud of the 460+ Latrine Business Owners we’ve supported through our WASH programs so far. 💧🚽 Over the past decades, iDE has worked hand-in-hand with these inspiring entrepreneurs, providing training, business development support, and access to WASH markets to help them grow their businesses. Together, we’ve achieved an incredible milestone: over 410,000 sanitary latrines delivered to communities across Cambodia - This means one in five rural households in Cambodia now owns an iDE-facilitated latrine! #Sanitation #Toilet #WASH #ODF #Entrepreneurs

In 2011, iDE Cambodia facilitated the formation of the Melon Association Siem Reap Meanchey (MASC). Thanks to generous support from New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade, what began as a small group of 27 pioneering farmers has since grown into a thriving community of over 315 member families. 🧑🌾🍈 MASC has become much more than a farmers’ group! It became a key  market actor buying sweet melons, yellow-flesh watermelons, and other high-value crops from smallholder farmers and selling them to niche markets.   Through its capacity to ensure high quality and safety standards and manage the flow of goods to meet market demands, MASC has established itself as a reliable supplier to supermarkets, convenience stores, and major markets in Phnom Penh and other provinces, with an annual production of 500-600 tons. Today, MASC includes active farmers across three provinces: Siem Reap, Banteay Meanchey, and Oddar Meanchey. Together, they contribute approximately 60% of the sweet melon and yellow-flesh watermelon supply to Cambodia’s niche markets. As we celebrate iDE Cambodia’s 30th Anniversary, MASC stands as a shining example of how empowering smallholder farmers can drive sustainable, market-driven change. By equipping farmers with the tools, knowledge, and collective strength to succeed, MASC not only improves livelihoods but also strengthens Cambodia’s agricultural sector. Learn more about the association: https://lnkd.in/gKcdEZwe

Explore iDE’s Modern Agricultural Practice. These practices and innovations support year-round production for farmers. #iDE #30YearsiDECambodia #30YearsOfInnovation

🌱 Love grows where farmers sow! 👩🌾❤️ This Valentine’s Day, we’re celebrating the high-value crops that iDE Cambodia’s pioneering farmers cultivate with dedication. 💬 Which one is your favorite? 🥦🍉🌶️🍅 #LoveGrowsWithFarmers #ValentinesDay #iDECambodia #FarmingWithLove

Mr. Ly Ran’s Story is one of resilience and hope! 🕊️🌿💫 Growing up in rural Cambodia, he witnessed his parents’ struggles to provide for their family through farming. When he started his own family, life was no easier. Living in a small palm-leaf home, he used traditional farming methods like hand-carrying water for irrigation, resulting in low yields. Adapting to the increasingly frequent droughts, floods, and pest and disease outbreaks became more and more challenging for him. In 2011, everything changed when iDE Cambodia introduced innovative farming techniques supported by New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade. Mr. Ran has adopted practices like drip irrigation, plastic mulching, and trellis systems, which allowed him to grow vegetables even during the dry season. His yields increased, and he expanded his farm to include new crops like cucumbers, cauliflower, and peppers. With his growing income, Mr. Ran built a new home, purchased farming equipment, and, most importantly, supported his children’s education until graduated. Mr. Ran didn’t keep his success to himself. He became a mentor to other farmers, sharing the knowledge he gained from iDE. “Our lives have changed significantly since we met iDE,” he says. “Farming has given us everything.” Watch his story on: https://lnkd.in/gV5wC3zW #iDE #30YearsiDECambodia #30YearsOfInnovation

Why Empower Agricultural Cooperatives (ACs)? ACs in Cambodia have the potential to transform local markets by connecting farmers nationwide to better opportunities. However, many struggle with business operation and management, limiting their impact on broader market growth. To overcome these challenges, iDE Cambodia launched a tailored business accelerator program in partnership with the Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. This initiative equips ACs with essential skills in entrepreneurship, leadership, business management, and market relations, building their capacity to lead successful farmer ventures and drive growth in the agricultural sector. Thanks New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade for making this program possible. #AgriculturalCooperatives #Cambodia #SustainableGrowth #MarketDevelopment #AgriBusinessGrowth