10 July 2014, Kobe, Japan / Phnom Penh, Cambodia — The Ministry of Environment of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) entered into a co-finance partnership today, which will increase Cambodian researchers’ access to financial resources and create opportunities for regional collaboration among membersofthe global change research community.

Under the new partnership, the Kingdom of Cambodia, through its Ministry of Environment, will provide co-funding for approved APN projects that are proposed by Cambodian researchers.

Besides the extra resources and a higher level of policy relevance in APN’s activities, this new partnership will significantly increase Cambodia’s sense of ownership of the APN — a network of governments that promotes joint research and capacity development addressing global change in the region.

This historic partnership is the first outcome of the series of institutional discussions which started in early 2014, aimed at exploring innovative and diversified co-financing options for the APN.

A common line of action under the partnership has been formalised into a memorandum of understanding between the two partners, effective today, 10 July 2014.

“The additional resources brought in by this partnership will be translated into more opportunities for scientists and researchers across all APN member countries, in addition to benefiting Cambodia,” says Dr. Akio Takemoto, Director of the APN Secretariat.

“The APN appreciates the commitment by the Kingdom of Cambodia to strengthening research and capacity building to address global environmental change, and we look forward to a successful implementation of the co-finance partnership,” he added.

H.E. Sok Keang, Adviser, Ministry of Environment, Kingdom of Cambodia, expressed his appreciation for the formation of the partnership, noting that the partnership is very important to Cambodia as it leverages the APN’s strength in funding and managing international research activities to benefit Cambodian researchers.

“It is our pleasure that Cambodia is able to play a stronger role in shaping the big picture of strategic development of the APN, a network that belongs to 22 countries in the Asia-Pacific Region,” conveys Mr. Sem Sundara, Director, Department of ASEAN and International Cooperation at the Ministry of Environment, Kingdom of Cambodia and APN’s national Focal Point for Cambodia.

Under the partnership, Cambodian researchers are especially encouraged to prepare and submit proposals to the APN’s 2014 Call for Application for Funding, which will support endeavours that are designed to enhance globalchange-related scientific capacity and research focusing on aspects of climate change adaptation.

The first submission stage will close on 3 August 2014, after which selected proponents will be invited to submit detailed proposals for further review. Successful proponents from Cambodia will receive direct financial support from APN and the Ministry of Environment, Cambodia.

APN is presently in talks with other member countries for creating similar co-finance partnerships that will create the synergy to promote collaborative global change research in the region.

Further Information:

APN 2014 Annual Call for Applications for Funding: https://www.apn-gcr.org/?p=7529

APN Secretariat Director Visits Ministry of Environment, Cambodia in Talks for a Co-Financing Partnership https://www.apn-gcr.org/?p=7355

About APN: https://www.apn-gcr.org/apn-overview/

About the Ministry of Environment, Cambodia: http://www.moe.gov.kh/