Solution Lab, a creative problem-solving workshop to support biodiversity and Non-Timber Forest Products Enterprises in Cambodia.
9 February 2021 - phnompenh

Phnom Penh, 05 February 2021 –  On Wednesday 03rd February 2021, Impact Hub Phnom Penh with the support of the Delegation of the European Union to the Kingdom of Cambodia has organized a half-day Solution Lab in Phnom Penh, where entrepreneurs, students, leaders of NGO and private sector, and government come together to use creative brainstorming techniques to help solve social enterprises’ challenges in Cambodia. 

Solution Lab was a part of #EUGreenWeek, a programme initiated by the  European Union to mobilize citizens to take part in environment protection related events and actions across the world. As part of the EU Green Week, the EU Delegation encouraged the social enterprise and entrepreneurship community to reflect and innovate on how to grow sustainable, successful non-timber forest products (NTFP) and biodiversity enterprises in Cambodia. 

“The EU works with Cambodia in the sustainable management of natural resources, as part of our cooperation program. In particular, we have been an active partner and advocate for supporting biodiversity, forest protection, and forest-dependent communities and livelihoods for many years through different programs and projects. Non-Timber Forest Products, or NTFP, play an important role in generating additional income for rural, forest-dependent communities. However, the marketing of NTFP can face different obstacles, for example, those related to consumer demand, consumer perceptions and images related to specific products, product quality, etc. At this workshop, we learned more about these issues, and more importantly, our participants found creative solutions for a better NFTP marketing that truly serves local peoples’ livelihoods, businesses, consumers, and the environment.” – Tihamér Czika, Head of the Political, Press and Information Section, EU Delegation to Cambodia

“This event allowed our community to address the efforts we have been doing, and the challenges we’ve been facing. It was great to hear the suggested solutions from the participants to improve our natural honey collection community. I hope there will be more support and attention from the public on the Non-timber Forest Products Community like the honey community of mine.” – Uncle Poun, the representative of Tani Chi Kou Leu Natural Honey Collection Community.

“This half-day workshop is a fun, informal way to bring together the advocates, fans and supporters of social enterprises here in Cambodia to creatively brainstorm solutions that can support different enterprises to thrive. We’re proud to kickstart this event series with the EU Delegation to draw attention, ideas and solutions to enterprises that work in harmony with biodiversity in Cambodia. We hope the event can also be a reminder that though entrepreneurship can sometimes be challenging and lonely work, there is always a community of supporters who are willing to help when you ask.” – Olivia Hough, Managing Director, Impact Hub Phnom Penh

After the 3 hour workshop, the NTFPs entrepreneurs have exchanged ideas and solutions from the participants from a range of different backgrounds and creative perspectives to help them with their projects’ challenges. All the participants felt more connected and comfortable in networking and gained more intellectual solutions from each other as a whole. The main purpose was to collect ideas which makes complex tasks more accessible and feasible. 

For further information, please contact Ms. Vandara Sin of Impact Hub Phnom Penh,      

Tel. 015674420 or E-mail:  [email protected]