While PSI’s GEMS program in Cambodia ended in 2020, its lessons learned were shared with other implementers, including the Government of Cambodia’s national malaria program, and other non-governmental organizations. CLIME demonstrated the importance of a participatory approach to engaging communities. Lessons from GEMS have continued under the other programs implemented by PSI in Cambodia, such as the USAID-funded “Promoting Healthy Behavior” (PHB) – a social and behavior change (SBC) project.
Representatives from the forest goer community participated in program prototyping, revision, and finalization to ensure that the final intervention design was recognized by the target population. Data collection also included capturing the experiences and insights from the affected communities to ensure that their voices were heard and concerns raised. This ensured that the PSI team could feel confident that the program was responsive to community needs, and that the community felt ownership over the program.