‘Citadel of Women’: strengthening female leadership in rural Cambodia

Abstract

This article discusses the work of Banteay Srei, a local Cambodian NGO, in relation to building the capacity of women to participate in leadership as a part of the decentralisation process.1

Notes

1. Banteay Srei came into being in 2000 after an Australian NGO, IWDA, had worked in the community.

2. The elected Commune Council members serve five-year terms. The first-placed candidate of the party with most votes assumes the position of commune chief, and the first-placed candidate of the next most successful party assumes the position of deputy chief. Communes are, in turn, sub-divided into villages or Phum, the smallest units of administrative structure, which are responsible for administrative duties at a village level and report to the Commune Council. The administrative head of the Phum is the Village Chief, who is usually assisted by a deputy. Both of these are elected positions.

3. A Commune Council Chief's salary is 100,000 riel (about $25) a month, a Deputy Council Chief 1& 2 salary is 80,000 riel (about $20) a month, and Commune Council members 70,000 riel (about $17) a month.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Thavy Chhoeun

Thavy Chhoeun work for Banteay Srei

Panha Sok

Panha Sok work for Banteay Srei

Clodagh Byrne

Clodagh Byrne works for CAFOD