Cambodia builds national capacity to scale safe school zones, supported by the FIA Foundation

In a significant step toward strengthening Cambodia’s institutional capacity to improve child road safety, the AIP Foundation convened key government officials in Phnom Penh for training on the national Safe School Zone (SSZ) guide, supported by the FIA Foundation. 

Road traffic injuries remain among the leading causes of death and disability among children and adolescents in Cambodia, making safe school zones an urgent national priority. The Cambodian government has made significant policy strides in recent years, including new national guidelines mandating 30 km/h speed limits around school zones. However, these commitments are not yet matched by practical implementation.  

The Training of Trainers workshop is part of the FIA Foundation-funded Safe School Zones Southeast Asia (SSZ-SEA) program, implemented by AIP Foundation and the National Road Safety Committee (NRSC). The program aims to reduce child and youth road injuries and fatalities through a combination of infrastructure improvements, policy development, and capacity building, using Cambodia as a launchpad for the region. 

The workshop equipped participants with the technical knowledge and practical tools to plan, implement, and oversee SSZ interventions. It focused on developing a sustainable training model whereby participants become core trainers for provincial-level government officials, cascading knowledge and skills nationwide. Organised by AIP Foundation in collaboration with the NRSC, the workshop brought together representatives from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, Ministry of Rural Development, National Police, Multilateral Development Banks, and development partners including UNICEF and other stakeholders.  

The workshop covered a comprehensive safe school zone knowledge base, including understanding the road safety issues in high-risk school zones, in-depth sessions on the Safe School Zone guide and its application, sharing of international best practice in law enforcement, and the hands-on application of iRAP’s Star Rating for Schools (SR4S) methodology. Key to the workshop were sessions on the development of training materials and lesson plans for provincial rollout, action planning for nationwide school safety assessments, and strengthening of engagement with infrastructure projects supported by development banks. The workshop concluded with a summary of key learnings, participant commitments, post-training evaluations, and the awarding of certificates. 

H.E Min Meanvy, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Secretary-General of the National Road Safety Committee, said: “This workshop represents a critical step in strengthening national capacity to improve road safety for children and youth, particularly in high-risk school zones across Cambodia.” 

Atsani Ariobowo, Director of Child and Youth Health, FIA Foundation, said: “The Safe School Zone is growing strength by strength, and this training represents an important new step to continue building capacity and deepening understanding. Building a strong network of trained government officials Safe School Zone interventions can be effectively implemented and scaled across Cambodia.”