Yet another toilet discussion

Its is true that when you work in development in the third world not a day goes by without talking about toilets.  My first meeting this morning is with Jan, a lovely Dutchman who is the Program Director fo r CAREs Rural Highlands Ethnic Minorities programs.  CARE works with the poorest and most marginalised, and in Cambodia the ethic minority people around Ratanakiri province in the  far north-west are amongst the poorest.  Khmers see them as second class citizens and they have little access to services.  Their farming techniques are quite different to the lowlands people (mainly Khmers)where wet rice farming is the common practise.  The minorities, living in the highlands as they do, have a much more transient approach to farming.

Jan and his team are planning to submit a funding proposal to an Australian based Foundation who funds water and sanitation programs in developing countries..  CARE already does a lot of this sort of work in Ratanakiri province – the challenge is to find a specific project the Foundation can attach to that is innovative and sustainable.  We brainstorm this morning with a water & sanitation consultant.  Once the solution is developed my role will eb to work on the proposal.

The rest of the day is spent writing up the stories from the Koh Kong field trip.  The women’s stories are inspiring.   I just wish I could have got to a deeper level in terms of the impact on their lives – there is only so much you can get speaking through a translator.

Stock up the fridge at the supermarket after work then off to dinner at a great Indian restaurant by the river with Tim and his friends from the Embassy.  Interesting conversation with the Australian Defence attaché.  Australia’s defence role here is threefold:  assisting the Cambodian military with training, anti-terrorism, and helping the Cambodian Government with marine border security – there is ongoing debate with Thailand about marine territories which will become a bigger issue as oil exploration becomes more established in the Gulf of Thailand.  I didn’t appreciate the breadth of Defences role and am pleased to learn they play an active role in development.