AKP Phnom Penh, November 24, 2025 —

The Ministry of Health (MoH) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has committed to an expanded framework of technical cooperation, aiming to fortify Cambodia’s nutrition systems and enhance national efforts to curb the rising threat of diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Minister of Health H.E. Prof. Chheang Ra met this morning with the WFP delegation, led by Country Director Kyung-nan Park, to map out new pathways for collaboration in alignment with the Kingdom's critical health and nutrition priorities.

The high-level discussion zeroed in on leveraging WFP’s expertise to assist the MoH in tackling persistent malnutrition and mitigating the growing public health burden posed by NCDs, which include conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, often linked to diet and lifestyle.

H.E. Prof. Chheang Ra conveyed his strong appreciation for WFP's continuous, long-standing partnership and its vital technical and operational support in enhancing Cambodia's health sector and improving nutritional outcomes across the population.

The WFP delegation commended the Ministry on the recent launch of the Health Strategic Plan 2025–2034 (HSP4), praising its forward-looking strategy that emphasises health promotion, disease prevention, and dedicated risk reduction for NCDs.

Both parties reviewed and agreed on four key areas for immediate and continued partnership: Refining National Guidelines on the management and treatment of Acute Malnutrition; Scaling Up School Nutrition Initiatives, in close coordination with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports; Broadening Public Awareness Campaigns to actively promote healthy diets and positive lifestyle habits nationwide; Accelerating Strategic Planning to strengthen and standardize nutrition systems across all provinces.

In closing, Minister Chheang Ra reaffirmed the Ministry’s full commitment to integrating WFP’s technical contributions into key policy development and priority programmes, spanning nutrition, health education, and professional capacity building within the health workforce. He urged the WFP to continue expanding its training and implementation support for the National Nutrition Strategy and national NCD prevention initiatives.

The meeting concluded with a shared resolution to advance a healthier and better-nourished future for all Cambodians, underscoring the enduring partnership between the Ministry of Health and the WFP.

By K. Rithy Reak