Community Empowerment Project is aimed to support Indigenous Peoples Working Group or Indigenous Rights Active Member (IPWG/IRAM), community leaders and indigenous communities in 15 provinces (Rattanakiri, Mondulkiri, Stung Treng, Kratie, Kg.cham, Kg.thom, Phreah Vihea, Siem Reap, Odormeanchey, Banteaymeanchey, Battambang, Pursat, Kg.speu, Preah Sihanouk and Koh Kong) in order to build their capacities, institutional and advocacy development strategies on right to manage and use the land and natural resources , particularly, the land security for livelihood and promoting economic, social and culture rights. This action is part of ICSO’s vision, mission and goal for supporting indigenous people networking from grassroots to regional, national and international level.To link purpose of project with ICSO’s vision that, the indigenous communities have knowledge, capacity, solidarity and a sense of initiative and ownership in order to manage their land and natural resources, improve economic, social and cultural affairs with effectiveness and sustainability through community organizing and community-led development by community organizations. Its mission is support Indigenous People Networks (IPN) through building and strengthening the capacity of organization/group members to protect community land, natural resources and culture. The action is done through empowerment, mobilizing, organizing and networking of indigenous communities/groups to voice their concerns.
As the results of project, 77 Indigenous Peoples Working Group or Indigenous Rights Active Member (IPWG/IRAM), 18 females, they have cooperated and collaborated with local authority in recruiting 454 community leaders, 154 females by voting publicly. In early 2011, among 77 IPWGs/IRAMs who voted to assign three IRAMs to be regional coordinator and other 26 IRAMs as provincial coordinator and still continue public dissemination and consultation in aimed of indigenous community to be strong and active toward ownership and sustainable by using empowerment approach.
