Cambodia Investment Review
The curated workshop titled “Collaborative Pathways to Implement the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Roadmap” was held on 12 May 2026 at the Business Development Centre of Khmer Enterprise. Convened under the joint banner of Give a Day and Ecosystem Builder Network (EBN), it brought together 52 participants, including 30 representatives from Entrepreneurial Support Organisations (ESOs) and 22 Ecosystem Builders.
Building on the outcomes of the 13th Ecosystem Builder Network (EBN), which examined roadmap priorities from the perspective of ecosystem builders, the curated workshop expanded the process to incorporate Entrepreneurial Support Organization (ESO) perspectives.
This inclusive approach reflects the recognition that effective operationalization requires alignment between strategic priorities at the funder level and the practical realities faced by implementing organizations. By bringing together both ecosystem builders and ESOs in a single platform, the workshop aimed to ensure that the roadmap is operationalized through a balanced and collaborative lens.
Foster a more coordinated and structured approach for entrepreneurship
The workshop opened with welcome remarks from Ms. Lee Sejin, Deputy Country Director of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). A recap of the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Roadmap (EER) 2025 to 2035 highlighted its role as a shared strategic framework to foster a more coordinated and structured approach for entrepreneurship development in Cambodia.
The roadmap, launched in September 2025, outlines 19 recommendations across six domains and is designed as a living document to guide coordination, resource alignment, and ecosystem development over time. Updates were shared on key developments, including the establishment of Thematic Coordination Advisory Groups (TCGs) and the development of the Ecosystem Builder Tracking Platform, which together form part of the broader operationalization framework.
The workshop aimed to identify priority short-term actions addressing the most critical unmet ecosystem gaps. Participants first engaged in a structured voting exercise, followed by group discussions in which they consolidated perspectives and identified the top five urgent needs for implementation over the next 12 to 18 months. These actions represent a shared view of funder priorities and ESO perspectives, forming a foundation for the next stage of roadmap implementation plan for 2026 i.e. the upcoming co-creation workshop.
Actionable project frameworks aligned with the roadmap
Scheduled from 29 to 31 July 2026, the co-creation workshop will bring together ESOs aligned with the identified priorities and committed to collaborative implementation. Participants will work in teams to design practical initiatives, define roles and partnership models, and outline resource requirements and timelines. The objective is to produce funding-ready concept notes and actionable project frameworks aligned with the roadmap.
The co-creation process also includes a pilot grant, through which selected initiatives will be supported for implementation. This approach aims to bridge the gap between planning and execution by enabling immediate testing of solutions that address critical ecosystem gaps.
Strategic direction and implementation realities
Participant feedback collected through the post-event survey reflected strong satisfaction with the workshop, with respondents highlighting the value of group discussions, networking opportunities, and the structured approach to identifying ecosystem priorities. Participants also emphasized the importance of continued engagement and collaborative platforms such as this to strengthen coordination and explore partnerships.
The curated workshop marked a critical milestone in the transition from roadmap design to operationalisation and served as a key validation stage to ensure that priority actions are inclusive, jointly defined, and grounded in both strategic direction and implementation realities. Give a Day and Ecosystem Builder Network (EBN) are initiatives under the collaboration pillar of the Enhancing Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Investments (3Ei), implemented in collaboration with Khmer Enterprise (KE) and Swisscontact and funded by Khmer Enterprise (KE), Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
