Empowering Samkhuy Village through Community-Led Change and Gender-Inclusive Leadership 

Samkhuy Community Fisheries (CFi), located along the Sekong River in Stung Treng Province, Cambodia, has 242 members, including 134 women. Since its establishment in 2015, the village has been transformed through sustainable livelihoods and natural resource management. A significant shift towards gender-inclusive leadership with five out of seven committee members now being women. This change has reshaped the community’s governance, financial transparency, and stakeholder engagement. 

"Compared to five years ago, I’ve noticed a significant positive change in our community. Women are more valued, domestic violence has decreased, and their capacity has greatly improved. Additionally, community fundraising has grown—from around $50 per year in the past to over $300 per year now, helping to support CFi activities." Mr. Bour Channak, committee member of Samkhouy CFi.

Achievements and Progress 

Women-Led Management Committee: With project support, women received training to manage the Community Fisheries (CFi), leading to more women actively engaged in community management. This has strengthened local leadership, increased community trust, and fostered their participation in village activities. 

Creation of a Learning Hub: The CFi established a learning hub, where local skill sets have been identified and pooled together to take roles in peer-to-peer learning, to improve knowledge for improved governance, financial management, and natural resource conservation. This hub empowers villagers, especially women, to take ownership of their community’s development. 

Fundraising and Self-Financing Initiatives: The new leadership has successfully led fundraising efforts, creating sustainable development opportunities. A savings group was established, providing a self-financing mechanism for local initiatives and financial risk management. 

Recognition as a Local Champion: Samkhuy CFi is recognized for its proactive knowledge sharing and resource management. The women-led committee has secured endorsements and support from local authorities, opening new partnership opportunities. 

Sustainable Livelihoods and Conservation: Residents are deeply connected to their land and water. With 82 hectares of community-managed fisheries and a 3.5-hectare deep pool conservation area, the community preserves its biodiversity, including key fish species such as Scaphognathops stejnegeri, Dangila lineata, and Kryptopterus micronema, and other aquatic animals. Farming, primarily rice, vegetables, and livestock, is the main source of income, supplemented by fishing. 

"In the past, I didn't know how to manage the CFi, and there were no activities. However, since I was elected as chief and with the support of My Village and other members, I’ve been able to improve my capacity in managing the CFi. I now focus on making the CFi more active by sharing responsibilities among all committee members. As a result, we’ve seen an increase in fish caught by the fishers recently."  Mrs. Keo Anchan, Chief of the CFi Committee.

Building a Stronger Future 

Samkhuy CFi, with its majority women-led committee, exemplifies inclusive leadership and sustainable development. The community’s commitment to financial transparency, conservation, and knowledge-sharing has strengthened its resilience, positioning it as a model for other rural communities in the area. 

As the CFi continues to seek endorsement from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. Through its leadership, conservation efforts, and financial innovations, Samkhuy CFi is demonstrating that a community-led, inclusive approach can lead to long-lasting progress and success.