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The e-Newsletter of the Gender Network April 2014 | Vol. 8, No.1

Economically Empowering Cambodia Women Road Workers
by Karin Schelzig
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A unique ADB project is empowering Cambodian women by ensuring they get their fair
share of work building up to 1,5 km of rural roads across the country! "he #romoting
$omen%s Access to &obs in 'ural 'oad Construction and (aintenance subproject was funded
by the )ender and De*elopment Co+operation ,und -)DC,. and implemented by CA'/
Cambodia, and social marketing firm 10 "riggers!

1t aimed to increase access for Cambodian women to rural road rehabilitation and
maintenance jobs created by the 'ural 'oad 1mpro*ement #roject -''1#. project financed
by the ADB! "he subproject successfully de*eloped and tested gender training manuals and
beha*ior change materials, conducted "raining of "rainers for national and local go*ernment
officials, worked with road contractors and rural community members, and supported
communes de*elop registration lists for local residents interested in rural road construction
jobs! (ore than 0 women signed up, illustrating the success of the project in opening the
eyes of participants to the opportunities a*ailable to them! Changing contractor attitudes
toward what women can do was a key issue! "ogether these acti*ities will help achie*e
''1#%s target of women ha*ing access to 23 of the unskilled labor days created, thus
gi*ing them access to income and supporting women4s economic empowerment!

5ome women with ''1# road construction jobs ha*e said that the subproject has allowed
them to earn money without ha*ing to work far away from their homes and families, such
as at garment factories! Another woman said her work as a grass planter and road
maintainer, earning 65718 per month, has enabled her to pay for food for her family,
co*er part of her mother%s medical treatment and the costs of sending her children to
school! 9ther women ha*e gained confidence to do non+traditional work! 9ne woman said
that bringing an income home had brought about household changes + :!!!the most
significant change from my new job is that my husband now helps me with housework and
other tasks around our home while 1 am busy or working o*ertime on road construction!;
<iew *ideo!


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The views expressed in this paper are the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Asian Development
Bank (ADB), or its Board of overnors, or the !overnments they represent" ADB does not !uarantee the accuracy of the data included in this
paper and accepts no responsi#ility for any conse$uence of their use" The countries listed in this paper do not imply any view on ADB%s part as
to soverei!nty or independent status or necessarily conform to ADB%s terminolo!y"

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ADB 5enior 5ocial 5ector 5pecialist, ADB Cambodia 'esident (ission