On 22 October 2024, Dr. Michael Waibel, Build4People representative, Dr. Anke Blöbaum, leader of Build4People Work Package “Behaviour Change”, and Nuria Roig, Research Associate of the Build4People Work Package “Sustainable Neighbourhoods”, met with leading representatives of UN-Habitat Cambodia to discuss a potential strategic collaboration during the Build4People Implementation phase from 2025-2027.
At the beginning of the meeting there was an introduction round followed by a general introduction of the Build4People project by Michael Waibel.
This was followed by a detailed description of the key tangible product of the Build4People project, the Phnom Penh Capital Hall (PPCH) Transformation Toolbox by Nuria Roig. Among others, she explained about the different design guidelines and tools meant to support implementation of minimum criteria of sustainable neighbourhood development in urban Cambodia.
Then Sovan Sieng from UN-Habitat Cambodia introduced about the ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Strategy (ASUS) centred around 6 key areas (built infrastructure, industry & innovation, security, health & well-being, civic & social, quality environment) and 18 sub-areas. Part of ASUS is a multi-stakeholder capacity building program with many overlaps to the approaches of the Build4People project.
This first and fruitful exchange was about the identification of such overlaps to create synergies in regard of the dissemination of Build4People approaches to secondary cities of Cambodia.
It was agreed that further meetings are required to prepare for a formal collaboration from 01 July 2025 and that we will take the opportunity for a face-to-face exchange during the upcoming Build4People team stay in early December 2024.