UNICEF and OCIC join forces to invest in the future of Cambodia's children and youth

UNICEF Cambodia signed its very first partnership with a local private company on August 24 in Phnom Penh. The multi-year agreement with OCIC Group is designed to turn commitment into concrete action for children and young people.

Oknha Dr Carolyne Pung, Vice President of OCIC, and Ms. Maha Damaj, UNICEF Representative in Cambodia, at the signing of the partnership, August 24, 2026, in Phnom Penh, witnessed by Mr. Thierry Tea, Vice President of OCIC, and Ms. Moiltmaa Sarantuya, UNICEF Partnerships Officer. © UNICEF / OCIC Group

UNICEF and OCIC Group (Overseas Cambodian Investment Corporation) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on August 24 in Phnom Penh, aimed at strengthening their collaboration in support of children's and young people's rights and wellbeing across the country. It is the first multi-year partnership UNICEF Cambodia has signed with a local private company.

The agreement was signed by Oknha Dr Carolyne Pung, Vice President of OCIC, and Ms. Maha Damaj, UNICEF Representative in Cambodia. Mr. Thierry Tea, Vice President of OCIC, and Ms. Moiltmaa Sarantuya, UNICEF Partnerships Officer, were present as witnesses.

Turning commitment into concrete action

“Every time I meet young people in Cambodia, I am struck by their ambition, creativity and determination to build a better future for themselves and their communities,” said Ms. Maha Damaj. “They need opportunities to turn that potential into reality. By bringing together the private sector and UNICEF's expertise, we can help young people gain the skills, support and opportunities they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world, while advancing business practices that respect and support children's rights.”

Despite significant progress made by Cambodia on children's rights over recent decades, many children and young people still face difficulties accessing quality education, healthcare and protection, as well as opportunities to develop their skills and contribute to their communities.

“This partnership gives us a framework to turn our commitment into concrete action, whether through vocational training, mentoring or internship opportunities for young people, or by strengthening family-friendly policies within our own operations. It also opens the way for initiatives on climate-related issues,” said Dr Carolyne Pung.

“By working alongside UNICEF, we can go further, share our resources and expertise, and create lasting impact for children and young people across Cambodia.”

Several strands of collaboration

Under the agreement, UNICEF and OCIC will now work together to promote children's rights among businesses and society at large, support access to quality social services, and explore innovative initiatives to help children and young people — particularly the most vulnerable — realise their full potential. The collaboration also reaffirms both organisations' commitment to the Children's Rights and Business Principles, a framework developed by UNICEF for the private sector.

The partnership will focus on raising awareness of children's rights and responsible business practices, supporting education and youth empowerment initiatives, promoting family-friendly workplace policies, and encouraging greater business engagement in climate-resilient services for children. It will also explore ways to strengthen vocational training and pathways for young people, equipping them with the skills needed for tomorrow's world of work.

“We are delighted to continue our collaboration with UNICEF's Generation Future programme and to help create more opportunities for young people in Cambodia. Last year, I had the chance to mentor a group of students from the programme over several months, and our teams also hosted UNICEF's hackathon at Connexion Hub, in Koh Pich. These experiences let me see up close the creativity and potential of these young talents,” said Thierry Tea, Vice President of OCIC.

As part of the partnership, UNICEF will share its expertise and tools to help businesses better integrate children's rights into their operations, while OCIC will raise awareness on these issues across its network and encourage responsible practices within the group.

About the two organisations

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories, including some of the hardest-to-reach places, to support the most vulnerable children. More information at www.unicef.org.kh.

OCIC Group is a major investment and development player in Cambodia, active in real estate, infrastructure, construction and engineering, education, agriculture, distribution and healthcare. More information at www.ocic.com.kh.