VBNK Empowers NGOs in Ratanakiri with Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into NGO Activities
- Sidara Sakal
- May 1
- 2 min read
VBNK Empowers NGOs in Ratanakiri with AI Integration
Ratanakiri, Cambodia — April 25, 2025
As part of the ICT project funded by Bread for the World (BfdW), VBNK conducted a one-day training workshop in Ratanakiri province focused on “Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into NGO Activities.” This initiative supports VBNK’s mission to strengthen digital capacity within Cambodia’s civil society by equipping grassroots organizations with practical tools and knowledge to adapt to emerging technologies.
Key learning areas included:
Practical AI applications for NGO workflows: Participants explored how AI can assist with work planning, email drafting, translation, and content development.
Prompting skills: Emphasis was placed on how to interact with AI tools effectively—framing clear, strategic questions to receive high-quality responses.
ICT Security: Facilitators guided NGOs through the first steps in drafting their own organizational ICT security guidelines, tailored to their size, context, and capacity.
AI for education-focused visual content: Trainees learned how to generate simple but purposeful visuals in specific styles suitable for training sessions, posters, and internal learning materials.
Introduction to VBNK’s Learning Management System (LMS): Designed to extend learning beyond the classroom, the LMS provides continued access to digital skills modules tailored for the NGO sector.
Participant Reflections and Relevance
Feedback from participants reflected both curiosity and optimism. Many reported this was their first exposure to AI tools but felt empowered by how intuitive and immediately applicable the technology could be.
“Now I understand how to ask the AI what I need—whether it’s an email draft, a simple translation, or even a training poster. It saves time and gives us new ideas.”– Training Participant
“Before this training, ICT security felt too technical. Today, we started a real draft for our organization—something we can actually use.”– Local NGO Representative
Toward Sustainable Digital Capacity
For many grassroots NGOs in Cambodia, digital transformation can feel out of reach—limited by infrastructure, access, or fear of complexity. VBNK’s approach aims to overcome these barriers by combining relevant content, hands-on learning, and localized support systems such as the LMS. The goal is not just to introduce technology, but to embed it in a way that is meaningful, manageable, and mission-aligned.
This training in Ratanakiri represents an important step forward, enabling local civil society actors to approach AI not as a distant innovation, but as a practical tool that can amplify their impact and improve the way they serve communities.
