Sophal Sam is Landesa’s Cambodia National Coordinator. Sophal started working for Landesa in 2021.

What brought you to Landesa?

Land is life (residence, food, and livelihood) for the people. Through a request for help of my former supervisor, I had started a few supports to Landesa before 2021 in successfully organizing an exchange visit between the Myanmar and Cambodia Ministries of Land. In January 2021, I heard about the Landesa project funded for Cambodia and successfully applied for the position of Cambodia National Coordinator, based on my relevant experiences with project management from high profile organizations including UNDP and ADB.

What are your core responsibilities?

Feasibility studies and project design, project monitoring, and discussing solutions to achieve the milestones and goals of land tenure security and mangrove tenure.

What is the most rewarding part of your work at Landesa?

When Indigenous communities secure their land tenure, poor and vulnerable people get their land registered through intervention support from Landesa, and coastal livelihoods are improved by people exercising their rights on their community land.

How do you spend your time when you’re not working?

I spend the time with my three kids on their education, chocolate shopping, or a long trip if they have long holidays from their school.

Describe your vision for a better world.

A world with rule of laws, and the laws that ensure the people’s rights on their land.