BBC Media Action: Klahan9, 2019-2020

Klahan9 is very much about reaching out to young people through social media. In doing so, the numbers of followers on Facebook are regularly reported. For matter of comparison, the Klahan9 Facebook page had e.g. 302,000 followers in 2016, which rose to over 816,000 in 2019. Indicators such as this do not say much about the impact of an intervention, but can provide some understanding of its popularity and reach.  Two evaluations have been undertaken by UNDP during their time as implementing partner of the Klahan9 project, which were reported on in 2016 and 2018 respectively. Below bullet points are the main results from the December 2018 "Final Evaluation of the Project "MIY - Multi-media Initiative for Youth in Cambodia" - Klahan9, that may provide some quick overview of the Project. (The full 2016 and 2018 evaluations may be found in the archive file). Recommendations from both evaluations largely targeted how UNDP could improve its role as manager of the Project. • The overall MIY intervention, including implementation modality have been fully in line with the national strategic priorities for Cambodian and with the needs of the unemployed and youth in vulnerable employment. Preparation and implementation of the MIY project has been characterized with strong technical inputs, national participation and ownership and followed best practices for design and implementation of multi-media approaches; • The final evaluation confirms that implementation of the MIY has been successful and achievement of results has been highly satisfactory. The results could be considered as even more successful when analysed in the context of socio-economic challenges and dynamics within the country, and also complexity and sensitivity of youth employment in Cambodia. • The MIY project introduced multimedia programs as innovative tools and approaches to improve the overall youth employment situation in Cambodia. Also, the project has been effective in involving of youth with disabilities in activities, facilitating their inclusion at the labour market. First report on the current phase of support is expected in January 2020. Results for the first year of implementation will be more coherently reported on then by BBCMA.  

The overall objective of Klahan9 is to support young people to take practical steps towards establishing and attaining their career and employment goals which will in turn lead to young people understanding the livelihoods opportunities available to them, navigating the challenges involved in pursuing them and taking action to fulfil their economic potential.