Gender and Development

Cambodia: "Women in Leadership" - Radio Programs on Women and Governance

Background & Rationale

Promoting greater gender equity in leadership and decision making is a great challenge for Cambodia as it seeks to rebuild its basic institutions and services. In its Rectangular Strategy for Growth, Employment, Equity and Efficiency the government has made a strong policy commitment to gender equity and the enhancement of the role of women in Cambodia's development of its economy and political system. Yet Cambodia's Gender Empowerment Measure is amongst the lowest in Asia at 0.36 reflecting the extreme low representation of women in government and other decision making positions.

Expected Outcome

This sub-project aimed to (a) advocate the need for government, political parties, businesses, and private agencies to support women in leadership roles and governance; (b) influence public perception about women in leadership; (c) encourage and empower women to take initiative and responsibility to have their rights met and voices heard, and (d) expand the social benefits of women's leadership in the country.

Results to Date

The one-year radio program featured expert round table and panel discussions with call in features, short dramas, and other advocacy formats to gather public’s perceptions on women’s role in decision making positions and leadership roles and also to give them opportunities to express their aspirations, fears and frustrations based on valuable experiences in nation-building activities. The 6-part series was divided into three working groups with two sets of series.

In its final report, MOWA reported the impact of this sub-project which provides evidence for its strategic influence to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in Cambodia:

• Increased number of women in decision-making positions: 16 women appointed in the position of secretary of state out of 198 (9 out of 129 in 2003) and 30 women appointed to under secretary of state among 205 (14 out of 146 in 2003). The Government has also appointed 23 women among 202 as provincial governors and 169 women as vice district governors.
• The rate of female students graduating from high school increased over 70% compared to that of male students' 30% in the 2007-08 academic year, reflecting efforts put into their education to get prepared for taking a decision-making position in the future;
• Working groups in the information department of MOWA and national radio department of the national radio of Cambodia have learned and gained valuable experiences and knowledge on gender and good governance through specialist guests from government institutions, nongovernment organizations (NGOs), and civil society organizations and through interviews with other experts, government officials, commune councilors and students;
• Presenters of programs increasingly improved their live broadcasting skills;
• Most of the callers were men interested in learning about gender and good governance and supporting the program since they had not previously met or talked to women leader guests from local communities;
• Listeners who used to discriminate women in leadership have understood the importance of women’s participation in social development in partnership with men and changed their negative attitudes toward women in decision-making; and,
• Listeners have requested multiple replays of the program on all radio stations because it really makes people aware of current issues and difficulties and understand gender and good governance issues from women’s leaders’ perspectives.

Related Documents

• Case Study