ILO and Cambodia’s Skills Development Fund sign partnership agreement

PHNOM PENH (ILO News) - The International Labour Organization (ILO) and Cambodia's Skills Development Fund (SDF) signed a partnership agreement on 15 June 2026 to strengthen collaboration in advancing skills development, labour market research and workforce competitiveness in Cambodia.

The agreement marks a significant step toward supporting Cambodia's ambition to become an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050 through a more skilled, productive and future-ready workforce.

Under the partnership, the ILO, through the ILO-China Partnership Programme on Strengthening Skills Development in ASEAN through South-South Cooperation, and SDF will work together to enhance Cambodia's skills development ecosystem. This will take place through institutional capacity building, collaborative research, knowledge sharing, stakeholder engagement and the promotion of emerging skills that respond to the evolving needs of the labour market.

The agreement also reinforces support for evidence-based policymaking by strengthening SDF's capacity in research, labour market analysis, and knowledge generation. Future joint initiatives will focus on identifying emerging skills needs, analysing workforce trends, and promoting informed dialogue among government institutions, employers, training providers, and development partners.

"Skills development is a cornerstone of Cambodia's economic transformation and social progress," said Xiaoyan Qian, Director of the ILO Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Lao People's Democratic Republic. "This partnership reflects our shared commitment to strengthening institutions, generating knowledge and equipping workers and enterprises with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world of work."

The partnership builds on the long-standing collaboration between the two organizations and aligns with key national priorities, including the Pentagonal Strategy - Phase I and Cambodia's industrial development agenda. It will also leverage opportunities under the ILO-China Partnership Programme.
The Skills Development Fund is a trust fund of the Royal Government of Cambodia that mobilizes and invests resources to support skills development, workforce competitiveness, and industry-responsive training programmes across the country.