The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Cambodia, and the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center (ARMAC) formalized their longstanding relationship today in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony at ARMAC Headquarters in Phnom Penh. The MoU was signed by the Executive Director of ARMAC, Mr. Prum Suonpraseth, and the Resident Representative of UNDP in Cambodia, Ms. Alissar Chaker.

The memorandum outlines various areas of cooperation between the two organisations, including the regional dissemination of lessons learned and best practice arising from the ongoing UNDP-funded project ‘Clearing for Results’ being implemented in Cambodia. The memorandum also acknowledged ARMAC and UNDP’s common position on the harmonization of the 2030 Agenda and the imperative to Leave No One Behind within the ASEAN Member States, recognizing effective mine action as a necessary precursor to social-environmental-economic development, and peace.

Mr. Prum Suonpraseth stated during the ceremony that he was pleased to have formalized the relationship with UNDP in Cambodia, even though in practice, collaboration had already been occurring for a number of years. Ms. Alissar Chaker called ARMAC a ‘natural partner’ of UNDP and hoped that together they could showcase their work regionally.