PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – July 7-11, 2025

On their daily commutes to school, many children and youth are at risk. Road crashes are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5-29 years globally. In Cambodia, students accounted for 12% of all road fatalities in 2022. Among them, nearly 60% of road fatalities affect secondary and high school students. This indicates a public health crisis that disproportionately affects young people the most.

As part of their joint commitment to establishing safe school zones in the Asia Pacific region, FIA Foundation and AIP Foundation participated in the official launch of theWorking Group on Safe School Zones Interventions (WG-SSZI) in Phnom Penh.Avi Silverman, Deputy Director of the FIA Foundation and Atsani Ariobowo, Director of Child & Youth Health at FIA Foundation represented FIA Foundation during the launch with Jimmy Tang, Chief of Staff at AIP Foundation, and Pagna Kim, Country Director for Cambodia, representing AIP Foundation.

The WG-SSZI serves as a collaborative forum bringing together multi-sector stakeholders committed to improving road safety for children in Cambodia. Its goals are to facilitate regular information exchange, align initiatives with national and international best practices, and mobilize coordinated action and investment to strengthen safe school zone strategies and implementation across the country.

The launch of the WG-SSZI included the introduction of all members, confirming their roles and responsibilities, and identifying additional key stakeholders. Key members include: the National Road Safety Committee (NRSC), Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Ministry of Rural Development and the National Police from the Government. The development partners present included the FIA Foundation, the International Road Assessment Program (iRAP) and UNICEF Cambodia, and Prudential Cambodia was one of the private sector partners.

The WG-SSZI kicked-off with the arrival of H.E. Mrs. Min Meanvy, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and Secretary-General of the National Road Safety Committee. Remarks were delivered by the NRSC, FIA Foundation and AIP Foundation representatives.

“The Government of Cambodia is fully committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all children, especially in their learning environments. By launching the  Working Group on Safe School Zones Interventions, we are taking a proactive step towards creating a secure, supportive, and sustainable space for students to thrive. This initiative reflects our dedication to working collaboratively with key international stakeholders to identify, design, and implement safe school zones across the country that will not only protect our children but also enhance the quality of education and model interventions on road safety. Together, we will build safer, more resilient school communities for future generations in the Kingdom,” shares H.E Min Meanvy, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and Secretary-General of the National Road Safety Committee.

Throughout the day, four special sessions were held including stakeholder coordination as well as strategic planning. Key outcomes from the WG-SSZI meeting included:

• Additional key stakeholders were identified to be invited as members of the WG-SSZI
• Anticipated challenges and support needed from stakeholders by the National Road Safety Committee during the upcoming SSZ activity implementation were discussed and addressed
• The WG-SSZI priorities for 2025-2026 were raised, and the formation of the sub-working groups was agreed upon, including those for financing the WG-SSZI and safe school zones interventions, as well as two provincial-level WG-SSZIs were agreed upon.

The launch of the WG-SSZI formed part of the FIA Foundation’s week-long visit to Phnom Penh. The main objective of the FIA Foundation visit to Cambodia was to strengthen engagement with the Cambodian government on national efforts to improve Safe School Zones and advance policy integration aligned with international best practices; as well as to advance planning for a potential project in Cambodia to implement and evaluate comprehensive SSZ interventions.

“At AIP Foundation, the safety of students is at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to support the Government of Cambodia in launching the Working Group on Safe School Zones Interventions. This initiative is an important step in safeguarding the well-being of students, ensuring that schools are not only places of learning but also of security, respect, and care. By working together with local communities and partners, we can create an environment where every child is protected and empowered to reach their full potential through their education,” shares Pagna Kim, Country Director for Cambodia.

During their visit the FIA Foundation team also explored opportunities for regional scale-up of safe school zones initiatives across Southeast Asia, using Cambodia as a potential model country; and engaged with key development partners and stakeholders to identify synergies and promote coordinated action in support of child road safety.

Avi Silverman, Deputy Director, FIA Foundation.

“Every child deserves a safe and healthy journey to school. The launch of the Working Group on Safe School Zones in Cambodia is a vital step forward in protecting young lives on the roads. We commend the Government of Cambodia for its leadership and commitment to child road safety. By aligning national action with global best practices, regional experience, and through strong collaboration with partners like AIP Foundation, we are building a foundation for lasting, life-saving change,” said Avi Silverman, Deputy Director, FIA Foundation.

In Phnom Penh, the FIA Foundation team also had an opportunity to meet with a diverse range of stakeholders, including the Government of Cambodia counterparts, the World Bank, UNICEF Cambodia, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, and the Agence Française de Dévelopment.

In March 2025, FIA Foundation supported a delegation from Cambodia’s government institutions that visited Ho Chi Minh City, Pleiku City and Dong Nai Province, Vietnam from March  3 to 7, 2025 to study road safety measures as part of the Safe School Zones Study Mission to Vietnam. The overall objective of the study mission in Vietnam was to strengthen the government relationship and collaboration between the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and for the visiting delegation to learn from Vietnam’s experience improving road safety efforts with a particular focus on children’s safety through safe school zones interventions. The launch of the Working Group today on Safe School Zones marks a pivotal moment in Cambodia’s commitment to safeguarding the future of its children.