For over four years, SI’s support to the Women Empowerment for Education and Life Skills Programme (WEP) has inspired action and opened pathways for women and girls in Cambodia to realise their aspirations, strengthen their collective voice, and contribute to peaceful, resilient communities. Building on this foundation, the Her Enterprise for Reinvestment & Advancement (HERA) Project continues the mission in 2026 by advancing women’s economic empowerment through targeted support for local and small business start‑ups in Leang Dai and Run Ta Ek. With new funding, HERA is equipping 200 underserved women with startup capital, financial knowledge, and practical entrepreneurial skills, while fostering a culture of savings, reinvestment, and mutual support. In its first months, the project has already demonstrated strong momentum: 200 women were shortlisted, 50 received capital to launch diverse micro‑enterprises, five savings groups were formed, and over 130 women strengthened their agricultural and business skills. Together, these efforts champion women’s right to economic opportunity and dignity, ensuring their enterprises become engines of household stability, community development, and long‑term resilience.
Project Orientation
The project team met with one commune chief and five village chiefs in the Leangdai community, Angkor Thom district, Siem Reap province, Cambodia. In collaboration with the village chiefs, the team conducted five orientation meetings with women previously involved in the Women Empowerment for Education and Life Skills Programme (WEP). These sessions outlined the project’s objectives, activities, timeframe, and expected outcomes, including the provision of capital for local and small business start‑ups. To be eligible for startup capital, applicants were required to clearly state their intended business purpose. A total of 200 women, 25 men, five Smart Women representatives, and five village chiefs participated in the orientation meetings.
Beneficiary Assessment, Selection, and Business Establishment Progress
Following the orientation meetings, the project team received 375 applications from women seeking capital for local and small business start‑ups. Based on household evaluations, business concepts, and the project’s eligibility criteria, 200 women were shortlisted and met the requirements for participation. Of these, 50 women were selected for the first phase and each received USD 200 in start‑up capital to establish small enterprises across a variety of sectors.
Among the selected beneficiaries, 20 women engaged in livestock farming, while 20 women focused on home gardening, cultivating crops such as corn, eggplant, cucumber, morning glory, spinach, napa cabbage, and choy sum. The remaining 10 women established small food‑related businesses, including selling vegetables, fish, and boiled corn to tourists around the temples. These enterprises were chosen for their alignment with local market demand and the women’s existing resources and skills, making them more likely to be sustainable and successful in the long term.
Training & Capacity Building
To support beneficiaries in managing and strengthening their local and small businesses, the project team collaborated with agricultural specialists to deliver five training sessions across five groups. These sessions enhanced technical and business skills in livestock husbandry, vegetable cultivation, financial literacy, and small enterprise management. The training combined practical agricultural techniques with essential business management skills to promote sustainable income generation.
The sessions were highly practical and directly applicable to the women’s daily activities, resulting in improved product quality, customer satisfaction, and overall business performance. Participants expressed strong satisfaction with the training, sharing positive feedback and experiences that highlighted increased motivation, confidence, and a greater sense of control over their business activities.
A total of 131 women participated, including 50 Phase 1 beneficiaries who had received start‑up capital and 81 women who voluntarily joined to gain new skills for personal and economic development. Allowing additional participants strengthened community engagement, expanded peer‑learning networks, and facilitated information exchange between women who had already launched their businesses and those preparing for future opportunities. This inclusive approach encouraged wider adoption of improved agricultural and business practices across the community, reinforcing the foundations for long‑term economic growth.
Savings Groups Formation
To strengthen the sustainability of local and small business development and ensure the security of start‑up capital, the project team conducted five meetings with women beneficiaries to explain the purpose, conditions, and policies of saving and investment. These discussions highlighted how members could pool their savings at a low interest rate, providing an affordable alternative to high‑cost loans. The savings groups also serve as a safety net during unexpected events such as illness, crop failure, job loss, or when women wish to expand their businesses.
As a result of these meetings, five savings groups were successfully established, each comprising 10 members. All members committed to contributing small but consistent monthly savings of USD 15 or more, depending on their income capacity. Annual interest will be shared proportionally based on each member’s total savings.
Each group elected a leader responsible for overseeing operations, maintaining savings and loan records, tracking payments, and facilitating monthly meetings to review progress. Savings activities will begin in April, as income from livestock raising and home gardening typically requires time to develop before women can contribute regularly.
Monitoring & Evaluation
The project team continued to coach the 50 beneficiaries, assess business operations, identify challenges, and provide practical guidance and solutions. Over the first three months, noticeable positive changes were observed. Women running small local businesses—such as selling groceries, vegetables, and home‑grown produce—began generating income, earning between USD 15 and 40 per month. However, some women have not yet begun earning income, as certain crops and livestock require longer production and harvesting periods, typically three to six months.
Despite early successes, several challenges affecting daily income were reported during home visits. Women noted unpredictable crop prices, rising costs of fertiliser, irrigation supplies (including fuel), and animal feed. Additionally, the quality of agricultural products has been impacted by weather conditions and climate change, which continue to pose risks to both crop and livestock productivity.
Next Quarter
In the second quarter of the project cycle, the team will focus on the following activities:
- Continuing mentoring and coaching for women engaged in business, agricultural, and livestock activities
- Collaborating with commune agricultural officers to provide training and mentorship to all beneficiaries in the target areas
- Establishing and overseeing a revolving fund to support the newly recruited 50 women in the second phase
