Blogs
Launching of the ScamCheck AI
Online scams are rapidly increasing in Cambodia and the region, causing not only financial loss but also emotional distress. Common scams include “cheap and affordable” items that never arrive, fake high-paying job offers, phishing links disguised as banks or delivery services, and even deepfake videos and forged documents. These scams exploit trust and convenience, targeting both individuals and businesses. Cambodia’s fact-checking ecosystem is emerging in response to the rapid spread of misinformation, particularly on social media. It is shaped by the work of civil society organizations (CSOs), independent media, and advocacy groups that promote ethical journalism and media literacy. Initiatives such as the Women’s Media Centre (WMC) play a key role by producing public-interest content, strengthening the capacity of journalists, and encouraging gender-sensitive and responsible reporting. Alongside WMC, other media outlets, NGOs, and youth-led initiatives contribute to monitoring false information, raising public awareness, and fostering critical thinking, thereby supporting information integrity in Cambodia’s evolving digital environment. Presented by Dr. Heng Pheakdey, Founder and Chairman of Mekong Center for Data Protection, ScamCheck AI, launched by the Mekong Center for Data Protection, is an intelligent web-based tool designed to combat the ...
Cambodia’s path to universal connectivity: insights from experts
With Cambodia’s Digital Government Policy 2022-2035 and Digital Economy and Society Policy Framework 2021-2035, Cambodia is actively advancing toward a fully digital society. Achieving universal connectivity is therefore crucial to providing widespread, affordable access to mobile services and supporting the country’s broader development objectives. During the keynote, Mr. Penh Sokharath, ...
Bridging digital skill gap: How AI is shaping the future of careers
As Cambodia continues moving toward a digital future, especially with Cambodia’s Digital Economy and Society Policy Framework 2021-2035, aiming to build a vibrant digital economy and society, this panel discussion “Bridging Digital Skill Gap: How AI is shaping the future of careers” invited experts from the academia, the private ...
Evolving landscape of internet governance: why multi-stakeholder dialogue matters?
The digital world is expanding at a pace that consistently outstrips the policies designed to guide it. In this context, Mr. Edmond Chung, CEO of DotAsia, presented the history, current situation, and the path forward of Internet governance. He opened by underscoring the vital importance ...
Unboxing internet infrastructures and their environmental costs and what you can do about it: youth’s crucial role in building an inclusive and sustainable internet society
The presentation session, “Unboxing Internet Infrastructures and Their Environmental Costs,” commenced with a video presentation by Ms. Dhanyashri Kamalakannan, Governance Lead and Design Researcher at The Pranava Institute. One key message stood out clearly: youth participation is essential for building an inclusive and sustainable digital society. ...
Advancing digital, media, and information literacy in Cambodia
Cambodia’s Digital, Media, and Information Literacy Competency Framework (DMIL) laid out the pathway in response to the urgent need to develop the “Digital Citizen,” which is an integral part that supports the current vibrant digital economy and society. Against this backdrop, the panel discussion on “Advancing ...
Cambodia’s path to a Personal Data Protection Law: Highlights from Cambodia’s first National Conference on Personal Data Protection 2025
Panel discussion during the Consultative Workshop on Draft Law on Personal Data ProtectionOn October 7, 2025, Open Development Cambodia (ODC) had the opportunity to attend the first National Conference on Personal Data Protection in Phnom Penh. The event was organized by the Ministry of Post ...
Organizing the translathon: Engaging youth in translating the Unboxing the Internet Infrastructure Toolkit
Participants receiving their certificates at the end of the TranslathonOn 11 November 2025, Open Development Cambodia (ODC) organized a collaborative translation event, bringing together community members, students, and recent graduates. The session engaged 9 participants in person, including 5 women, selected from a diverse pool ...
Co-designing community-friendly forest monitoring tool: Highlights from stakeholder consultation
Open Development Cambodia Organization (ODC) conducted a Stakeholder Consultation on Co-Designing Community-Friendly Forest Monitoring Tool on 18 December 2025 with a total of 25 participants. This consultation aims to gather insights on the Forest Dis from civil society organizations (CSOs), community-based organization (CBOs), and community ...
Strengthening the Forest Disturbance Platform through community engagement
The Open Development Cambodia (ODC) team conducted field visits to three communities in Mondulkiri, Ratanakiri, and Kratie provinces to hold community meetings and gather local input. These engagements helped deepen understanding of community needs, challenges, and local geographic contexts, and informed improvements to the forest ...
Building Cambodia’s Inclusive Digital Society
As Cambodia implements its Digital Economy and Society Policy Framework 2021-2025 and its Digital Government Policy 2022-2035, adopting a multi-stakeholder perspective is essential to promote broad digital adoption and drive transformation across all sectors, ensuring the development of an inclusive digital society.It is against this ...
Technical mapping meet-up: Enhancing conservation efforts through geospatial technology
Open Development Cambodia (ODC) hosted a half-day Technical Mapping Meet-up on December 9, 2025. The event brought together technical experts, conservation practitioners, and local stakeholders to exchange insights on how geospatial technologies can strengthen forest monitoring and conservation efforts across Cambodia.With 17 participants, including researchers, ...
The imperative of gender inclusivity in AI: bridging the digital divide
Delivered by Mr. Dixon Siu, our first presentation focused on the foundational concepts of AI and the paramount importance of gender inclusivity in its development and deployment. The presentation served as both a technical primer on modern AI capabilities and a stark warning about the ...
AI ethics: the imperative for data inclusion and human-centric design
Delivered by Mr. Dixon Siu, the presentation on the importance of AI governance commenced by highlighting the immense potential of AI, demonstrating its innovative applications across multiple critical domains, including health care, education, and agriculture. However, he immediately tempered this optimism with a critical warning: ...
Panel discussion on empowering futures: driving women’s participation in AI development and policy in Cambodia through education
The National AI Strategy (2025-2030) and Readiness Report prioritize educational reform to close the gender gap by mandating the creation of targeted AI courses and specific institutional protocols. Crucially, they emphasize building a supportive environment through mentorship programs and increasing the visibility of female lecturers ...
Panel discussion on AI and gender-based violence: protecting dignity in digital spaces
Cambodia’s National AI Strategy (2025-2030) addresses Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) indirectly but fundamentally by setting Ethical and Responsible AI as a core priority. This commitment, informed by the UNESCO AI Readiness Assessment, requires the Strategy to focus on data protection, digital literacy, and inclusive development. ...
Panel discussion on impact of AI on the future of work for women: breaking cultural barriers
UNESCO Cambodia’s AI Readiness Assessment demonstrated that the deeply ingrained societal beliefs are a major driver of a significant gender gap in the STEM industry in the country. As STEM fields are widely seen as male-dominated, many girls internalise these expectations, which lowers their confidence ...
Panel Discussion on ethical AI governance: it’s more than just code
Cambodia’s AI Readiness Assessment Report, finalized in July 2025, directly addresses gender inclusion by identifying a significant gender gap in STEM fields and the AI workforce as a major national challenge, with only 16.68% of women graduating from STEM, compared to 83.32% of men. Closing ...
ODC boosts CMAA’s analytical skills in Battambang
On 20–21 November 2025, Open Development Cambodia (ODC) conducted a two-day Advanced Data Analysis training program for the Database Unit (DBU) of the Cambodian Mine Action Authority (CMAA). The training held at Classy Hotel in Battambang was supported by the Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) and ...
Technical mapping meet-up: strengthening forest mapping through geospatial technology
Open Development Cambodia (ODC), with support from Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), hosted a half-day “Technical Mapping Meet-Up” on 17 November 2025. The event created an open space for technical experts and local stakeholders to exchange ideas and explore how geospatial tools can advance forest conservation ...
ODC team member attended YSEALI Summit 2025 in Malaysia
Mr. Loch Kalyan, a Data Research and GIS Specialist at Open Development Cambodia Organization (ODC), was officially selected to participate in the YSEALI Summit 2025, held from September 8–11, 2025, in Penang, Malaysia.Hosted by the U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur in partnership with Biji-biji Initiative and ...
Strengthening community fisheries through data literacy
On September 3rd and 4th, 2025, Open Development Cambodia (ODC) conducted a two-day training on data literacy for community fisheries members in Kampot province. The training brought together 20 participants, including 10 women from community fisheries groups in Kampot and Kep. The main goal was ...
Empowering community fisheries with digital mapping skills in Kampot and Kep
On September 1 and 2, 2025, Open Development Cambodia (ODC) organized a two-day training in the Tropang Sangke Community Fisheries, Kampot Province. The training focused on community-based digital mapping and was attended by 19 members from community fisheries (CFis) in Kampot and Kep provinces.This activity ...
Empowering communities through digital mapping: Highlights from our community-based mapping training
From July 7–8, 2025, Open Development Cambodia (ODC) hosted a two-day Community-Based Mapping Training Workshop at the ODC office. Supported by the European Union under the Strengthening CSOs to Take Action on Economic Governance (SCAEG) 2023–2026 program, this training brought together 21 passionate community members ...
Inception workshop on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) phase II: ODC shares experiences on SEA
On 17 June 2025, Open Development Cambodia (ODC) participated and served as speakers at the Inception Workshop on Phase II of Strengthening the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Process through Capacity Development, a collaboration between the Ministry of Environment (MoE) and The Asia Foundation (TAF). The ...
