Background
The Ministry of Health convened a first steering committee under a bilateral memorandum of understanding to organise governance for a US–Cambodia health cooperation programme. Steering committees established under memoranda of understanding set governance structures and approve implementation arrangements and budgets for bilateral health cooperation projects.
The meeting emphasised practical implementation tools and data governance as complementary elements of bilateral cooperation. Data Sharing Agreements (DSAs) are used alongside MOUs to define technical and legal responsibilities for exchanging health data between national agencies and international partners.
Key Developments
On 9 June 2026 the Ministry of Health hosted the initial Steering Committee meeting at its headquarters in Phnom Penh. The meeting was led by the Ministry’s State Secretary and brought together representatives from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, national public-health institutes, the US Embassy in Phnom Penh, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US-CDC).
- Main objectives recorded: establish a clear project governance structure; determine implementation arrangements; review and decide on strategic plans and programme budgets; and promote inter-agency collaboration.
- The State Secretary advised implementing units to consult the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and any Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) to ensure coordinated implementation.
Operational Implications
Implementing agencies were instructed to clarify roles and compliance requirements in line with the MOU and DSA documents before commencing programme activities. The steering committee framework creates a formal decision forum for approving implementation plans and allocating budgets for the bilateral health activities covered by the agreement.
Source
Ministry of Health Facebook post (published 10 June 2026) reporting the 9 June 2026 steering committee meeting under the US–Cambodia MOU: source.
