Nomi Network helps Accelerate Action for gender equality in Cambodia

One of the key ways to support women's advancement is to participate in IWD GIVING through supporting the supporters to deliver their impactful work.  

IWD Giving member Nomi Network has an important mission to end human trafficking by creating pathways to safe employment, empowering women and girls to break cycles of exploitation in their families and communities, and rewriting the narratives for future generations. According to Nomi Network, among the 50 million people trafficked worldwide, women and girls represent a staggering 80% of those subjected to commercial sexual exploitation and 66% of those forced into early marriage. 

Accelerating Action to break cycles of exploitation through economic empowerment

Through its work, Nomi Network sees that poverty and economic marginalization are primary drivers that make women and girls vulnerable to exploitation. In Cambodia, economic vulnerability due to lack of employment, access to training, or gaps in education often forces women into unsafe working conditions or situations of exploitation. 

Nomi Network believes that financial independence is key to breaking the cycle of human trafficking. Through its Workforce Development (WFD) Program in Cambodia, Nomi Network provides women with the skills, resources, and opportunities needed to build sustainable, independent futures.

Nomi Network’s work began in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where co-founder Supei Liu moved with her family to launch the charity's first initiative. Over the years, Nomi Network developed programs that trained survivors and at-risk women in fashion design, textile production, and entrepreneurship through the Nomi Network Fashion Incubator (NNFI).

Through Nomi International Fashion Training (NIFT), women learned industry skills such as:

• Textile design and embroidery
• Pattern-making and garment construction
• Marketing and business development
• Ethical supply chain management

By equipping local entrepreneurs and social enterprises with technical skills, Nomi Network helped create more ethical job opportunities for women. However, as the market became saturated and needs shifted, Nomi Network evolved its approach to reach more vulnerable communities.

While NNFI was successful, Nomi Network identified three key challenges:

• Limited life skills: Many women needed basic education and life skills before entering the workforce.
• Lack of rural support: Trafficking risks remained high in rural Cambodia, where few services existed.
• Sustainable employment: Women needed long-term career pathways beyond entry-level garment jobs.

As a result, Nomi Network transitioned to its Workforce Development Program (WFD), focusing on life skills, job training, and micro-enterprise development in rural Banteay Meanchey province near the Thailand border.

Helping women secure safe employment

Nomi Network's Workforce Development Program is designed for women aged 18 and older who lack access to safe employment. Many live in extreme poverty, with husbands or family members migrating to Thailand for work - often leaving them without financial support. The charity's three-phase program helps women gain confidence, develop skills, and secure safe employment or start their own businesses.

Phase I: Life Skills & Job Readiness

Before entering the workforce, women need foundational skills. Nomi Network provides training in:

• Time management & communication
• Confidence-building & personal hygiene
• Financial literacy & savings
• Problem-solving & creative thinking
• Workplace rights & leadership

Women also receive a stipend during training to cover basic needs, reducing their reliance on debt.

Phase II: Industry Training & Micro-Enterprise Development

Women can choose from two career pathways:

Pathway 1: Employment in the Garment Industry: Women receive introductory sewing training and, if able to migrate for work, can advance their skills at the Cambodia Garment Training Institute in Poipet. From there, they can secure safe, fair-wage employment with Nomi Network's garment industry partner, Hi-Tech.

Pathway 2: Micro-Enterprise & Agriculture: For women who need to work from home, Nomi Network offers training in animal husbandry and farming to help them start or expand businesses in:

• Raising chickens or livestock
• Rice or vegetable farming
• Managing expenses and income

Women receive business coaching and can apply for start-up funding, where Nomi Network purchases necessary equipment, livestock, and supplies to support their business.

Phase III: Long-Term Support & Safe Migration

For women entering formal employment, Nomi Network provides ongoing support and safe migration assistance to ensure job stability. For entrepreneurs, Nomi Network offers continued business coaching to help them grow their income and achieve financial independence.

Creating lasting change for women in Cambodia

Through its Workforce Development Program, Nomi Network is breaking cycles of exploitation and providing women in rural Cambodia with the tools to thrive. 

By empowering them with life skills, job training, and economic opportunities, Nomi Network is building a future where no woman or girl is for sale.

Help build a world where every woman and girl is free

Support Nomi Network's mission via a donation to help fund training programs, provide stipends, and create sustainable futures for women in Cambodia. Help Nomi Network end human trafficking through economic empowerment.