Strengthening Education and Economic Development through Sustainable Agriculture (SEEDS)

Date: January 2026 – December 2028 (3 Years)
Area: Phnom Kravanh District, Pursat Province, Cambodia
Beneficiaries: 300 households
Budget: USD 195,628
Donor: ADRA Korea

The Strengthening Education and Economic Development through Sustainable Agriculture (SEEDS) project is a three-year initiative that empowers vulnerable families in Phnom Kravanh District, Pursat Province, to build resilient livelihoods through sustainable agriculture while ensuring children can continue their education. The project recognizes that poverty remains one of the greatest barriers to education in rural Cambodia. According to the Child Sponsorship Program (CSP) baseline assessment, household economic hardship is responsible for the vast majority of school dropout cases, as many families struggle to generate sufficient and stable income to support their children’s education.

To address these interconnected challenges, SEEDS combines livelihood development with educational support. The project will provide intensive agricultural assistance to 300 vulnerable households through a phased implementation approach, with 100 households entering the program each year. Families will participate in practical training, receive appropriate agricultural inputs, and benefit from continuous technical coaching to strengthen their farming knowledge and improve household food production and income. The project promotes simple, affordable, and climate-smart farming practices, including composting, biochar production, vegetable cultivation, water-smart agriculture, seasonal crop planning, and basic market-oriented production, enabling households to make better use of locally available resources while reducing production costs and improving soil health.

To encourage learning through practice, SEEDS will establish five community demonstration plots and five school-based learning sites where farmers, students, and community members can observe successful farming techniques and gain hands-on experience. These learning sites will serve as local centres for knowledge sharing, strengthening confidence and promoting the wider adoption of sustainable agricultural practices across participating communities.

Alongside livelihood interventions, the project will provide annual education support to all sponsored children enrolled in the Child Sponsorship Program, including school uniforms, school supplies, and other essential learning materials. By reducing the financial burden on families while improving household resilience, SEEDS creates an environment where children are better able to stay in school, progress in their education, and achieve brighter futures.

The project places strong emphasis on inclusion, environmental sustainability, and long-term impact. Priority is given to the most economically vulnerable households, including women-headed families and households with children at risk of dropping out of school. Through practical skills development, continuous coaching, demonstration learning, and stronger linkages with local authorities and agricultural extension services, SEEDS aims to ensure that the knowledge, practices, and benefits continue well beyond the project period.

By the end of the project, participating households are expected to demonstrate greater livelihood resilience through improved agricultural productivity, wider adoption of climate-smart farming practices, and more stable household incomes. These improvements will strengthen families’ ability to meet their basic needs and invest in their children’s education, contributing to healthier, more resilient communities and lasting opportunities for future generations.