PHNOM PENH, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports launched on Wednesday the new and final phase of a multi-year joint capacity development partnership, which aims to strengthen the country's education sector over four years.

Known as the Capacity Development Partnership Fund (CDPF), the program, started in 2011 with funding from development partners, has entered its third and final phase in 2018 for a total amount of 27 million U.S. dollars over the period of 2018-2021, said a joint statement.

"The activities we conduct under CDPF are focused on improving the ministry's capacity to provide inclusive and equitable access to education for all children, and to ensure effective leadership and management of education staff at all levels," Cambodian Minister of Education, Youth and Sports Hang Chuon Naron said in the statement.

"We will continue to strengthen the competencies of education professionals in Cambodia so that every child in the country can receive inclusive and quality education," he said.

The CDPF in its new phase will continue to complement the government's education budget in support of capacity development efforts to improve education service delivery for all Cambodian children.

Natascha Paddison, acting representative of the United Nations children's fund (UNICEF) to Cambodia, said it was necessary to continue addressing the remaining challenges, especially for students coming from more vulnerable and marginalized communities.

"The CDPF program is important because it involves every part of Cambodian society in the education reform. From government officials, to school directors, teachers and parents," she said. "We hope to empower Cambodians to invest in education so children can benefit in the long-run."