In early 2002, Pact Cambodia, under the guidance of an Advocacy Advisory Committee composed of representatives from nine Cambodian and international NGOs, initiated research into advocacy campaigns conducted in Cambodia from 1997 to 2001. This research highlighted the pressing need for Cambodian civil society actors to increase their advocacy skills and to create stronger relationships with Government. In order to respond to this need, the Advocacy and Policy programme (APP) was established in July 2003.

The APP was housed with Pact, an international NGO with headquarters in Washington D.C., USA. The goal of the Advisory Committee however had always been for the APP to ultimately localise and become a sustainable and independent Cambodian organisation. In 2007, APP finally changed its name to “Advocacy and Policy Institute” (API) and registered with the Royal Government of Cambodia as a non-profit, non-governmental organisation. API is dedicated to Cambodia’s specific advocacy needs through capacity building, direct campaign action and policy development. API is a Cambodian non-governmental organisation active in advocacy, policy influencing, good governance and civic engagement. Capacity building and dialogue facilitation are at the heart of our efforts towards democratic and sustainable development.

“Louder Voices for Social Protection through I-SAF” project aim to raise voices of vulnerable elderly and people with disability in urban city for better social protection and social service delivery in a piloted social accountability model “I-SAF for Social Protection”. It’s intend test and explore how inclusion can be strengthened by including social protection services in the I-SAF framework. This project is jointly implement by 5 consortium members who are rightsholder group-led of people with disability, elderly and ID poor family. API is the lead applicant who responsible on coordination support with technical and  financial management, capacity building and coaching. Contemporary art, inclusive performance and advocacy song by people with disability are part of the innovative approaches for this project and share responsible by each consortium member. The digital community scorecard tool and online information tools are complement this approach. 600 people with severe disabilities, people with blind, elderly and vulnerable family in Khan Sen Sok are able to raise their voices, demanding social protection services delivery using ISAF framework to ensure the effective of the Social Protection Law implementation. The project will apply the digital blended community scorecard for improved efficiency of data management, and more effective disaggregation and presentation of M&E data on the public dashboard. Detailed disaggregated data will also serve advocacy for scaling and/or mainstreaming of this pilot project.

On the meta level of the project aims to influence National Committee for Sub-National Democratic Development (NCDD) and I-SAF implementers nationally to mainstream social protection services. On the other hand to advocate the National Social Protection Council to adopt a social accountability mechanism in the strengthening of social protection systems nation-wide, in close collaboration with the Social Protection Steering Committee of civil society organizations.

This 21 months project is target to pilot in urban Phnom Penh in Khan Sen Sok.

Project goal: To raise voices of vulnerable elderly and people with disability in urban city for better social protection and social service delivery in a piloted social accountability model “I-SAF for Social Protection”.

Specific objective 1: To realize rights and entitlements on social protection for people with disability, elderly and IP poor family in urban areas.

Specific objective 2: To secure space and collect feedback of rightsholder groups to improve social protection service delivery and Social Protection Law implementation.