Cambodia Clinches Gold at ASEAN Digital Awards 2026
Cambodia Clinches Gold at ASEAN Digital Awards 2026
PHNOM PENH, Jan 18, 2026 — Cambodia’s Digital Social Protection Platform (DSPP) has won the Gold Award at the ASEAN Digital Awards 2026, regional digital ministers said, recognising the system as the most innovative public-sector digital solution in Southeast Asia.
The platform, developed by the General Secretariat of the National Social Protection Council, received the top honour during the 6th ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting, held from Jan. 12–16 in Hanoi, where ministers from all 11 ASEAN member states endorsed the decision.
The ASEAN Digital Awards are the region’s highest-level digital competition, aimed at promoting innovative technology solutions that support socio-economic development. This year’s competition featured six main categories, including public-sector solutions, private-sector solutions, digital inclusion, digital content, digital start-ups and digital innovation.
Cambodia’s platform advanced through multiple selection rounds and reached the final stage alongside entries from Vietnam and Singapore, before being awarded gold following evaluations by ASEAN judges and international observers from countries including South Korea, China, Japan, India, the United States, Australia, the European Union, and the International Telecommunication Union.
Judges cited the platform’s citizen-centric design, hybrid federated interoperability, and its ability to deliver timely, transparent and integrated social assistance and social security services as key factors behind the award.
Cambodian officials said the platform plays a central role in implementing the country’s national social protection policy framework, streamlining beneficiary registration and benefit delivery across multiple welfare programmes on a single digital system.
The award highlights Cambodia’s growing profile as a regional leader in digital government and public service innovation, reflecting the government’s broader push to use technology to improve service quality, transparency and inclusive development.
