In 2017, Care for Children was requested to conduct a piece of research on the current child welfare system in Cambodia, in particular the role and function of the government orphanages, in order to identify how best family care could be introduced into the government system. In October 2018, a delegation from the Cambodian government attended Care for Children’s Asia Family Placement Conference in Shanghai. Shortly after, Care for Children was formally invited by the Cambodian government to establish a pilot family care project.

In November 2019, Care for Children and the Cambodian government organised a three-day conference in Phnom Penh. This provided an opportunity for Care for Children to showcase its work and discuss the forthcoming project in Cambodia with key national stakeholders from the government.

In 2020 the impact of the global COVID19 pandemic slowed the progress of our launching a pilot project but in early 2021 Care for Children will look to establish a project office and team in Phnom Penh. This team - consisting of newly recruited and also existing staff relocated from other offices will be responsible for establishing a pilot family care project in 5 different RCI’s across Cambodia.