Cambodia, renowned for its rich history and culture, has experienced significant economic growth over the past two decades, driven by tourism, manufacturing, and construction. However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted this progress, causing the first economic contraction in the country in twenty-five years. Despite a gradual recovery, the pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in Cambodia’s informal sector, which employs 93% of the workforce. This report is Part I of the CNES Cambodia Series, and subsequent parts will delve more deeply into the findings related to vulnerabilities exposed in the informal sector during the pandemic.