DW Akademie in Cambodia

Freedom of the press and information are limited in Cambodia, with most TV and radio stations under state control or owned by business people with close ties to the government. In recent years, almost all independent media have had to shut down. Self-censorship is common among journalists, given that critical or investigative reporting can have legal repercussions.  

At the same time, digital developments and the Internet offer alternatives for accessing information. Especially young Cambodians use social media channels such as Facebook or Telegram to stay informed and exchange ideas. For many, Facebook is now the most important source of information.  

Our activities

Within the country's tightly controlled media landscape, social media play an important role for communicating and disseminating information. However, especially in the provinces, people often lack important skills for working with social media. Many do not recognize disinformation and lack awareness of filter bubbles or digital security issues. 

Download our most recent evaluation report for Cambodia here.

In response, DW Akademie and its Cambodian partners are conducting projects to increase media and information literacy (MIL) primarily among the country's young population. These MIL projects address students and young adults with various approaches.  

DW Akademie also supports Cambodian media NGOs in creating MIL-related content for traditional and social media. Their MIL videos, articles and programs are tailor-made for teenagers and young adults to enable them to use social media responsibly. 

A key achievement is the inclusion of MIL in the country's school curriculum. Teachers trained at regional and provincial training centers are now disseminating MIL knowledge at high schools, increasingly with the help of newly developed digital tools.  

DW Akademie also supports Cambodian NGOs in creating MIL-related content, particularly for social media. Their MIL videos, articles and programs are tailor-made for teenagers and young adults to enable them to use social media responsibly.

Together with the Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM), DW Akademie has trained young Cambodians to become MIL instructors. These offer weekly media training sessions to students at the Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia (PUC) in Phnom Penh as well as MIL block seminars for students at PUC Siem Reap.   

Together with all its partners, DW Akademie strives to promote and be an example of inclusivity. Gender equality and addressing the needs of marginalized groups are an integral aspect of all project activities. Working with Khmer Youth Association, MIL awareness trainings have expanded to ethnic communities in Stung Treng and Ratanakiri. To reach and interact with more people, especially in remote areas, the project increasingly includes digital tools in its activities.

In addition, DW Akademie and its partners continue to strengthen and expand a national MIL network that aims to connect all Cambodian MIL stakeholders, the local tech community and digital start-ups. This network constitutes a growing Cambodian MIL community, helping to increase the project's sustainability and firmly anchor MIL in the country.  

All activities in Cambodia are part of DW Akademie's regional program "Digital Resilience and Dialogue," which includes interconnected project activities in several countries throughout Southeast and Central Asia.   

Funding sources: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Program Director: Andreas Grigo

Locations: Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Stung Treng, Ratanakiri 

Local partners: Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM), Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, Open Institute, Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia, Khmer Youth Association

Focus: Civic participation and dialogue, media and information literacy, participation of disadvantaged groups