The Implications of Clientelism for Reintegration and Family Strengthening

This study examines the impact of clientelism on reintegration and family-strengthening efforts for children in Cambodian and Myanmar residential care institutions where clientelism is present. It finds that patron–client relationships between directors and families often undermine reintegration by limiting parental agency and co-opting reintegration to serve the interests of directors rather than children. While some directors use their influence as patrons to support reintegration, such instances are rare. More commonly, clientelist dynamics obstruct reunification and restrict access to family-strengthening services. The findings call for adaptations to case management and family assessments to address these dynamics, and for expanded family-strengthening services that consider families’ long-term aspirations otherwise facilitated through clientelism. These interim measures must be paired with broader social welfare reforms and equitable access to public services to reduce families’ reliance on clientelism. A blended approach that simultaneously engages and curtails clientelism may offer a pragmatic pathway towards strengthening rights-based care and protection systems for vulnerable children.