Turning Crisis into Opportunity: A Programme of Intervention for Cambodian Returnees
Keyword: Returnee reintegration, rural development, SME support, labour migration, economic transformation
Abstract/Summary
Following the 2025 border conflict with Thailand, nearly one million Cambodian migrant workers have returned home, threatening rural livelihoods and national stability. This policy brief outlines a comprehensive intervention program developed by CDRI and ERIA to address the crisis. It proposes immediate relief through cash transfers, job creation, and debt support, alongside medium-term strategies for agro-processing, SME development, and industrial diversification. By leveraging returnees’ skills and networks, the programme aims to transform a humanitarian crisis into a catalyst for inclusive growth, economic resilience, and structural transformation in Cambodia.
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