After several decades of intense focus by the international development community, Cambodia continues to face numerous and varied development challenges. Approximately 30 percent of its 14.5 million inhabitants live below the national poverty line and many human development indicators are low. Governance challenges, including corruption, are serious concerns. Due to the Cambodian government’s limited capacity to provide some basic services, civil society actors have continued to fill gaps.

It is estimated that 3,000 local and international NGOs are active on the ground in Cambodia, many founded on religious principles. Since 2009, WFDD’s mapping of religion and development in Cambodia highlights faith-inspired organizations and religious institutions active in sectors including education, health, water, sanitation, poverty reduction, and gender equality. In the post-Khmer Rouge era, local Buddhist communities have also become increasingly socially engaged in issues such as the environment and sustainable livelihoods. Throughout Cambodia Buddhist pagodas serve as key cultural institutions and community centers, and therefore can offer entry points for international development actors working at the local level.