By:
• Rin Ousa

• September 7, 2024 , 4:00 PM

PHNOM PENH – Phat Panhaboth envisions three Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the key priority areas for Cambodia’s development in the next five years. His essay on “Sustainable Cambodia in 2028” won the 2023 UNDP Youth Essay Competition.

Panhaboth is a senior student majoring in International Economics at the Institute for International Studies and Public Policy. He is currently a junior market research analyst at EuroCham Cambodia.

The UNDP Cambodia organized the competition under the theme “Future in Words,” inviting Cambodian writers to submit Khmer-language articles of up to two pages envisioning the country’s future in five years, along with necessary actions and potential challenges.

“Three key SDGs, including SDG 4 on quality education, SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth and SDG 11 on sustainable cities and communities, align closely with Cambodia’s national development strategies, which focus on  human resource development, economic diversification, and sustainable urban planning,” Panhaboth said.

UNDP in Cambodia said the essay competition encouraged youth to be innovative, propose creative and future-looking insights, and encourage their active participation in thinking and shaping the future of Cambodia and accelerating the achievement of the SDGs.

Addressing SDG 4, Panhaboth said that he raised two main challenges to achieving quality education for all.

“The first challenge stems from Cambodia’s history of wars, which has affected the education of parents across generations,” Panhaboth said.

“The second significant challenge is the current education system’s emphasis on rote learning instead of promoting critical thinking skills among students.

“To address these issues, introducing new subjects or replacing some existing ones with courses in economics, basic financial literacy, and digital literacy, which would provide students with essential skills for their personal and professional development,” he said.

Beyond education, Panhaboth said the country should also focus mainly on poverty reduction and sustainable development through providing decent employment opportunities, especially for youth and women.

“If I were to rewrite my essay, I would include the formalization of the informal economy to ensure decent work and economic growth,” Panhaboth said.

“Informal workers often lack access to basic labor protections, such as minimum wage laws, social security, health benefits, and safe working conditions.

“Formalization ensures fair wages, job security, and access to essential social services, enhancing overall well-being and productivity,” he said.

Regarding SDG 11, Panhaboth pointed out that sustainable urban development is vital for Cambodia due to increasing urbanization.

“To mitigate environmental impacts, effective waste management is crucial. One approach is to implement recycling programs and educate the public on recycling practices.

UNDP in Cambodia said UNDP organized a series of youth consultations in 2023 to gather insights for developing its new five-year country program (2024-2028) to support sustainable development in Cambodia.

“The Essay Competition was the final activity in this series and was intended to empower young people to articulate their vision for the country’s development and share their concerns or expectations,” UNDP in Cambodia said.

Youth-Led Insights on Development in Cambodia

“The competition allowed young people to think critically and constructively about all development aspects, including social, economic, environmental and political issues. Interestingly, youth perspectives offered fresh and novel insights and innovative solutions,” UNDP in Cambodia said.

Reflecting on the competition, Panhaboth said the main challenge in writing this article was determining a specific starting point or topic.

“To address this, I relied on reading news from various sources to identify relevant topics. However, due to the prevalence of misinformation, it is crucial to validate news by reading multiple reputable sources to ensure accuracy,” he said.

Panhaboth said he hopes his achievement could inspire young people to actively engage in writing, particularly for competitions or contributions to newsrooms, which have now become more accessible platforms for sharing opinions.

“Personally, I do not consider myself as an expert writer. Based on my experience, writers should understand the chosen topics thoroughly,” Panhaboth said.

“The rapid growth of technology allows for quick access to information. However, its reliability must always be verified.

“Most importantly, writers should also simplify your writing to ensure clarity and accessibility for your audience,” he said.

UNDP in Cambodia said the competition allowed youth voices to influence policy at the national level by providing policymakers unique perspectives on issues affecting their generation.

“Essays can be a powerful tool in gathering insights for policy development or reform. The insights from these essays informed or confirmed the priorities we identified for the new UNDP country programme and interventions,” UNDP in Cambodia said.

“On the personal level, these essays help build empathy and understanding by sharing personal stories and experiences, breaking down barriers, and fostering social solidarity.

“They also showcased the talents of young people, boosting their confidence and nurturing leadership that promotes non-violent expression, respects diverse viewpoints, and encourages positive change,” UNDP in Cambodia said.