ATTACHMENTS

 

Contents

A.       List of NGO/CSO representatives consulted                               

B.       Results of Provincial Workshops                                          

C.       National Workshop Documents                                            

1         List of Workshop Documents                                         

2         Final Program                                                           

3    An Overview of the I-PRSP                                           

4    Rural Development and Decentralization                            

5    Agriculture and Food Security                                         

6    Land Reform                                                            

7    Forestry, Fisheries and Environment                                 

8    Health                                                                    

9    Education                                                                

10   Women’s and Child Rights                                             

11   Industrial Workers and Urban Poor                                   

12   Governance and Human Rights                                        

13   PRSP:  Capacity Building, Monitoring and Work Plan             

14   Matrix of cross-cutting issues                                          

15      An Update of the PRSP Process in Cambodia                        

16      Some changes in the I-PRSP (7th and 8th versions)                

17      Locating civil society role in the PRSP process                     

18      NGO Perspectives on Poverty Reduction                            

D.       Small Group Discussion 1: Matrices of Key Policy Issues (I)            

1    Rural Development and Decentralization                            

2    Agriculture and Food Security                                         

3    Land Reform, Forestry, Fisheries and Environment                

4    Health and Education                                                   

5    Women’s and Child Rights                                             

6    Industrial Workers and Urban Poor                                   

7    Governance and Human Rights                                        

8    Disaster Management                                                  

E.       Matrix of cross-cutting strategies (II) and list of main points (III)     

F.                Copy of NGO letter to the RGC's Council of Ministers, 8 November 2000   

G.               Suggestions on how to incorporate priority concerns identified by NGOs/CSOs into the text of the I-PRSP  


 

ATTACHMENT A

List of  NGO/CSO representatives consulted

A.  NGO/CSO representatives

·       Ms Thida Khus - Executive Director, SILAKA

·       Ms Buoa Chanthou - Executive Director, PADEK

·       Ms Prok Vanny - Executive Director, KHEMARA

·       Dr Chiv Bunthy - Executive Director’s Assistant, MEDICAM

·       Ms Carol Strickler - Executive Director, Cooperation Committee for Cambodia (CCC)

·       Ms Dolores Amor - Country Director, HelpAge Cambodia

·       Cambodia Women’s Development Association (CWDA) / Cambodia Prostitution Union (CPU), Tuol Kuok

·       Mr Sil Vineth - President, Socio-Economic Development Organization of Cambodia (SEDOC)

·       Ms Ros Sopheap - Executive Director, GADNET / Ms Menh Navy - Advocacy and Networking Manager, GADNET

·       Mr Mak Sithirith - Coordinator, NGO Forum Working Group on Environment

·       Mr Yont Tharo - Coordinator, Khmer Kampuchea Krom for Human Rights and Development Association (KKKHRDA) / Mr Son Yoeung - Director, KKHRDA

·       Ms Chorm Sokha - President, National Independent Federation Textile Union of Cambodia (NIFTUC) / Mr Seng Phally - Executive Director, Cambodian Labor Organization (CLO)

·       Ms Morm Nhim - President, NIFTUC / Ms Ken Chenglang - Vice Director, NIFTUC / Mr Nhev Sith Sophary - Technical Advisor and Chief, Board of Directors (Note that there are currently two ‘factions’ within the garment trade unions, and we were best advised to talk to both groups)

·       Mr Thun Saray - Director, ADHOC

·       Mr Lim Phai - Urban Sector Group (USG)

B. Workshop/Informal discussions with NGOs/Civil Society Organizations

                       

06 Sep (pm)                   ADB-SEDPII Mission Team Meeting with NGOs, ADB office, Phnom Penh

08 Sep (am)                   NGO Meeting on Governance Action Plan (GAP), CCC, Phnom Penh

12 Sep (am)                   Workshop with local NGOs in Battambang

             (pm)                 Cambodian Health Education Development, Battambang

13 Sep (am)                   Workshop with Cambodian NGO Network (CNGO) in Banteay Meanchay

             (pm)                 Lunch with Ms Nhem Chan Sophea - CNGO Support Coordinator, Church                                                                              World Service (CWS) / Mao Sareth - Executive Secretary, CNGO (Banteay Meanchey)

15 Sep (am)                   Workshop with local NGOs, Kompong Tham

19 Sep (am)                   Workshop with hilltribe community leaders, Ratanakiri

20 Sep (am)                   Visit to hilltribe village (Labang I), Ratanakiri

             (pm)                 Workshop with IOs and local NGOs, CARERE office, Ratanakiri

23 Sep (pm)                   Small group discussion with NIFTUC, CLO Office, Phnom Penh

24 Sep (pm)                   Meeting with urban poor community leaders, KKKHRDA office, Phnom Penh

 October (pm)                 Meeting with MEDICAM

5 October (pm)               NGO Forum Working Group on Women/GAD Working Group

9 October (pm)               NGO Working Group on the Environment

   October                      NGO Working Group on Development Bank Issues

15 October (pm)              Meeting with NIFTUC leaders (garment workers), Phnom Penh        

        


Participants at Ratanakiri workshop with IOs/Cambodian NGOs

1.     Gordon Paterson                   NTFP                            P.O. Box 9, Ban Lung, Ratanakiri

2.     Hoeung Khoeung                   ADHOC                         Ban Lung

3.     Patricia Donnelly                   APSO                            PRDC, Banlung

4.     Heng Bunthoeon                    CIDSE                           Ban Lung                      

5.     Koy Sokha                           Virachay NP                  Banlung                        

6.     Sang Polrith                          CARERE                       CARERE/Rat    

7.     Tiann Monie             CARERE                       CARERE/Rat

8.     Christina Briasco                   Health Unlimited              hurtk@camintel.com   

9.     Didi Kanjahn             ICC                               Banlung                        

10.  Nhem Sovanna                    CARERE/IBRC               CARERE/Rat.

 

Participants at Kompong Thom workshop with IOs/Cambodian NGOs

1.   Sok Somith                           ACR

2.   Puth Bunkong                       KVOD

3.   Ear Sarin                              ACF

4.   Pen Chorn                            COFFEL

5.   Khin Sokhon                         CCSO

6.   Kuch Sokhom                       HAPO

7.   Thong Sophen                      COWS

8.   Ke Sareung                          KCAD

9.   Ouch Sourn                          DKK

10.  Yim Lam                             AACK

11.  Hout Song Map                     MODE

12.  Oeung Vich Sim                   UFO

13.  Kong Sa Oum                      HOM

14.  Li Khom                              BFDK

15.  Hem Sort                             BSO                                         

 

Participants at Banteay Meanchey workshop with IOs/Cambodian NGOs

1.    Chhen Saran                       Pres

2.    Saran Sophea                      RAHDO

3.    Sin Sen                               RCEDO

4.    Houth Langdy                      RAHDO

5.    Meas Yim                           CFDS

6.    Sok Sarun                           CSDS

7.    Sovann Sophea                   CCPCR

8.    Phon Sy Na                                    CFEDA

9.    Sy Bo                                 SEADO

10.  Chey Somnang                    RCEDO

11.  Thy Sokleun                        KAA

12.  Chung Meng                        ABI

13.  Cheoun Lin                          AFEC

14.  Van Mao                             TDSP

15.  Khum Borin                         CARDH

16.  Thane Penh             Hi-Free

17.  Penh Saro                           CWS

18.  Nhem Chan Sophea             CNGO

19.  Nov Sophal                         CARE

20. Padoeung                            LICADHO

21.  Mao Sareth                          NGO Network

22.  Seu Tyon                            CAAFN

 

Participants at Battambang workshop with IOs/Cambodian NGOs

1.    Hu Chandi                           CWSBRB/BMC

2.    Lim Sophat                          VCDC

3.   Mak Sokgnan                      Helpage

4.    Yat Komsan                         Lichado

5.    Tor Sros                             ILDO

6.    Sem Leakeana                     ILDO

7.    Sok Sam Poeunn                 CFDS

8.    Phan Souk Bopha                 LWS

9.    Sok Sokhon                         CT

10.  Chan Sarin                          RDA

11.  Doung Davrith                      CSSSG

12.  Tid Kandia                           OEB

13.  Siev Lay Hoiy                     PTD

14.  Sin Soeub                           BFD

15.  Lok Vichet                           CHED

16.  Tong Thavrin                       AS

17.  Eum Chanry                                    HURIPRUDA

18. Touch Dara                           RHB

19.  Pen Sokhun                         KNCED

20.  Chhith Sam Ath                    NGO Forum on Cambodia

21.  Yin Mengly                          ADHOC

22.  Meas Bunly                                     Samakithor

23.  Chea Chum                         Samakithor

24.  Ling Salat                            ACED

25.  Komol Sovila                       AMARA

26.  Kim Chovy                         Saboras

27.  Chhoum Ratana                   ACED

29.  Kin Kina                              Samakithor

30.  Mou Koum                          Samakithor

31.  Hea Kim Long                      KRDA

32. Sou Sorn                             Samakithor

 

Participants at National Workshop, 24-25 October

 

 

 

1

H.E. Kim Saysamalen

Under Secretary of State, MoP*

2

Sok Hach

CDRI

3

Neang Sovath

ADHOC

4

Yim Nat

ACLEDA

5

Mom Thany

SCN-CO

6

Chan Narin

JVC

7

Seng Soksan

HEKS

8

Sisowath D. Chanto

CICP

9

Prak Sokhany

ACR

10

Poung Sith

VIGILANCE

11

Touch Nina

FLOW

12

Khim Sarun

CADE

13

Mok May

Admin. CNAC

14

Lya Ni

CLO

15

Ken Chheng Lang

NIFTUC

16

Ith Pov

CWS

17

Kim Phalla

MEF*

18

Ros Sobotra

UPWD

19

Chum Sophay

UPWD

20

Phun Ngok

NTFD

21

Neup Ly

USG

22

Mao Sareth

CNGO network

23

Hang Chuoun Chamrong

MAFF*

24

Nget Sam Ouern

CADFP

25

Ros Sovanna

KADRA

26

Chan Dyna

Women Committee T.K*

27

Meun Navy

GAD/C

28

Nhem Sovanna

UNDP/CARERE Ratanakiri

29

Lun Ean

KAWP (CDW)

30

Khoun Menglong

AFSC

31

Tes Loudeth

STAR Kampuchea

32

Young Kim Eng

KYA

33

Hong Eng

KHEMARA

34

Kong Thann

FPAP

35

Ann Vireak

FPAP

36

Jim Noonan

Maryknoll

37

Chap Samoeun

UNCHS*

38

Lor Bunnath

LWS

39

Chhoeun Rith

KAFDOC

40

Chhum Sarany

LWS

41

Sun Youra

Mlup Baitong

42

Biranchi Upadhyay

Oxfam GB

43

Toun Vicheth

CIDSE

44

Leng Sothea

CDRCP

45

Kristu Fieldhouse

KHEMARA

46

Ly Sokleng

MOI*

47

Meas Kimseng

URC

48

Pich Nol

PADEK

49

Regina Pellicore

Educam

50

Thuon Try

CEPA

51

Sok Kim Sroeung

CORD

52

Lim Phai

USG

53

Hok Bunthoeun

CREDO

54

Vonn Vinary

Oxfam GB, CLSP

55

Thay Mov

MLMUPC*

56

Marylin M. Pintor

LICHADO

57

Som Sorida

MLMUPC*

58

Sam Vuthy

OHK

59

Yung Phanit

CDP Lawyer

60

Om Savath

CFDS

61

Suon Prasith

MoC*

62

Kong Rey

RADE

63

Heng Sovuthy

CWCD

64

Aye Aye Thwin

WHO/Health Finance Advisor*

65

Aryana Phushan

WHO/Manila Poverty Health*

66

Chann Mnny Rath

USG

67

Chea Chantum

MoF*

68

Lim Sarom

USG

69

Prum Vonn

SCF (UK)

70

Heang Siek Ly

MoP*

71

Pruoung Tith

URVC

72

Pec Sokha

CEDAC

73

Lawrence Gray

WVI

74

Yuji Watanabe

Embassy of Japan*

75

Long Piseth

ADB/Operations Analyst*

76

Sam Vuthy

Oxfam – UK

77

Naly Pipage

LICHADO

78

Vasim Sorya

MPWT*

79

Khorn Dinravy

Oxfam GB

80

Chan Sophal

CDRI/Reseacher

81

Ros Sopheap

GAD/C

82

Son Yoeung

KKKHRDA

83

Richard Greeves

World Education/CAM

84

Kang Sa Oum

Network

85

NhevSithsophary

NIFTUC/CBIRD

86

Yea Bunna

MoIME*

87

Hang Vannak

CWCC

88

Chhorn Sokha

NIFTUC

89

Justin Dyworth

World Vision

90

Claire Louise

URC

91

Ingrid Cyirana

UNDP/ARRCP*

92

Sil Vinet

SEDOC

93

Jeem Yves Lequine

WFP*

94

Koul Panha

ADHOC

95

Sau Sisamuth

CWS

96

Suon Visal

CDP

97

David Leege

CRS

98

Ok Kanthoeun

MoWA*

99

Men Makara

ADHOC

100

Chhim Vandeth

SST

101

Hok Bun Thoeun

CREDO

102

Ek Thinavuth

Documentor

103

Chamroeun Katika

Documentor

104

Chhith Sam Ath

NGO Forum

105

Chhoeung Sunlay

CWDA

106

Prak Vanny

Khemara

107

Joy Chavez

Focus on the Global South

108

Russell Peterson

NGO Forum on Cambodia

109

Fiontan O'Loinsigh

Concern Worldwide

110

Christian Rumplecker

German Embassy*

* Representatives of government or donor institutions who attended at least part of the workshop.

 

 

ATTACHMENT B

Results of Provincial Workshops


 

Battambang Workshop Results

Group 1 (CWS, CHED, PTD,

AMARA, Huripruda, CSSSG, OEB, LWS)

Group 2  (Samakithor, ACED,

BFD, RDA, KNCED, HAI, CFDS)

Group 3

1.  What are the needs and issues that poverty reduction strategy should address?  Please prioritize.

1.     Lack of education

2.     Lack of health service (Many children, high cost of health service)

3.     Lack of land, no housing

4.     Debts

5.     Low income, natural calamities, insecurity, mined lands

6.     Lack of markets

7.     Lack of drinking water

8.     Lack of roads

9.     Lack of electricity

1.     Demined land have to be distributed to the poor, not the rich

2.     Land property (formulate a new law on land and fishing lot)

3.     Health (strengthen pesticide regulation law)

4.     Investment to rural areas

5.     Promote education (human resource, skills, techniques)

6.     Prevent flow of imported goods that are being produced in the country, encourage domestic products

1.     Food security

2.     -      Education (human resource)

-       Unemployment

-       Market(s)

-       Low agricultural products

-       Catastrophe

-       Knowledge (skills and techniques)

3.     Health (physical and mental)

4.     Rural infrastructure

5.     -       Social security

-       Corruption

-       Limited law implementation

2.  What are NGO approaches to poverty reduction?

§       Develop educational curriculum - school, teachers, regular salary

§       Develop health service - health centers, curriculum, promote health for remote communities

§       Demining - deliver land property to landless farmers

§       Provide vocational training in order to gain income

§       Seek markets for sale of farmers' products and gain convenient income

§       Build road to remote areas

§       NGO plans should be incorporated into the government's plan according to each field

§       Promote capacity/provide opportunity

§       Find markets for sale of agricultural products (international market)

§       Forbid agricultural product imports

§       Provide and apply transformation (of agricultural products)

§       Provide opportunity and support women to be leader(s)

§       Motivate/encourage all poor's children to have schooling

§       Educate and provide better health services to local areas

§       Promote capacity for family planning

3.  Can NGOs monitor government's poverty reduction strategy?  If so, how?  If not, what capacities have to be strengthened?

NGOs can control/monitor projects provided that:

§       NGO capacity has to be strengthened

§       Transparency of RGC in relation to NGOs/people

§       NGOs and civil society have to go together in monitoring, orientation for practice

1.     Strategy:  NGO representatives have to be involved in the monitoring or practice working group (PRSP)

2.     Methods:  NGO representative(s) should be elected and his/her mandate and task should be clearly determined

§       The government has to stand for: (GAP):

-       Transparency

-       Accountability

-       Equality

CANNOT

§       Government's project is not known

§       NGOs lack capacity monitoring/control

§       The govt does not provide opportunity

§       Donors do not interest NGOs

CAN

§       NGOs have to make plans together with govt

§       Develop control/monitoring system with govt

§       NGOs develop an independent monitoring/control group

§       Develop a joint law for govt, NGOs and donors to be implemented

§       Promote awareness of implementing all kinds of performance related to expense, income for the poor

Banteay Meanchey Workshop Results

Group 1 (RAHDO, Hi-Free,

CCPCR, CARE, CAAFW, RCEDO, AFCC)

Group 2 

(LWS, CFEDA, CFDS, TDSP, Press KBA)

Group 3  (CARDH, CSDA,

RADHO, ABI, SEADO, CCHDO, RCEDO)

What are the needs and issues that poverty reduction strategy should address?  Please prioritize.

What are NGO approaches to poverty reduction?

Can NGOs monitor government's poverty reduction strategy?  If so, how?  If not, what capacities have to be strengthened?

1.     Govt should deliver health services to be qualified with high accountability

2.     Provide opportunity for people to find jobs and gain adequate salary and proper laws to protect people, justice not corruption

3.     Improve security and implement appropriate law on security

4.     Restore and build roads throughout the country

5.     Provide opportunity for agricultural and industrial sectors to find markets for their products and to manage markets properly

6.     Repair, improve, build irrigation systems for farming activities and electricity generation for the whole country

7.     Reform administration by eliminating corruption from all levels of society

§       Education - Restructure and strengthen education system

-       pay attention to teacher's living conditions

-       quality of education

-       implement law on education effectively

§       Exchange of products

-       Improve monitoring and control of imported products (eg, in border, check expiry date of products);  If products are not appropriate, not allow to come in, esp Thai agricultural products

-       Seek investments in favor of farmers

-       Disseminate information to farmers

§       Advocacy

-       Pay attention to farmers' issues, esp livelihood

-       Openly establish cooperation between NGOs and govt

-       Govt should provide opportunity for people to be involved in planning related to people's interests

§       Irrigation system

-       Expand irrigation system in rural areas

-       Restore and rebuild damaged dams and reservoirs that are geared towards villages (not big dams)

§       Health

-       Promote health services from village level

-       Strengthen and restructure health sector (pay attention to medical staff and provide people with medicines)

§       (Items not raised yet in discussion - agriculture, infrastructure, human resource, credit)

NGOs can monitor by:

§       advocacy

§       network

§       workshop/seminar (national)

§       involvement in planning evaluation

§       involvement in giving information about project arrangements

§       field survey conducted directly within communities

§       contact with donors and asking them for information

§       follow up/ check reports/ real activities in communities

§       disseminating public information of all government spending

§       NGO cooperation with RGC in carrying out project(s)

§       Jointly collecting data in communities

Kompong Thom  Workshop Results

Group 1

Group 2

1.  Who are the poor in your communities?

§       Rich families exploit poor families

§       Some village (local) leaders misrepresent their community

-       eg flooding in nearby villages not reported to 'hide poverty'

§       Widows

§       Families with many children

§       Disabled persons

§       Illiterate people

§       People with no skills

§       Powerless people because without bargaining power viz group leaders

§       Demobilized soldiers

§       Illness

§       Women-headed households

§       Victims of natural calamities

§       Internally-displaced people

§       Victims of domestic violence

§       People without draft animals for agriculture

§       Families with many children

2.  What are NGO/poor people's approaches to poverty reduction?

 

§       Credit to start other business

§       Sell their labor

§       Sell property (eg land) to have money to initiate other activities

§       Participation in self-help groups, solidarity groups, formerly relief associations) to expand income generation - animal raising, fishing, home garden

3.  Should government provide poverty reduction funds to NGOs?  If so, what mechanisms should be set up to prevent corruption?

§       Money to be channeled through Cambodian NGO network so that NGOs can get funds easily

§       Set up a Steering Committee to monitor if project implementation is effective or not

§       Set up regulations on how to use funds for poverty reduction

§       Poor communities should get bulk of funds allotted for poverty reduction (rather than salaries of staff)

§       Money should be given to Cambodian NGOs through IOs, or full budget that is needed can be given by IO

§       Poverty reduction funds can also be channeled through Cambodian NGO networks

§       Transparency, avoid corruption, avoid bureaucratic red tape (long process)

Workshop results - Ratanakiri hilltribe community leaders

Group 1

Group 2

1-What kind of development will improve the well-being of people in your community?

·       Try to involve communities in planning so that communities priorities are reflected

·       Involve all sectors (health, agriculture, education, technical committee, etc)

·       Development and govt workers should adapt themselves to the communities

·       Respect people's time

-       People are usually busy,  if devt workers plan something in May - busy time for farmers cultivating their farms

-       Also, villages have special ceremonies that forbid outsiders from entering the village

-       Planting and special ceremonies are most important events

§       Issue land rights to local communities

·       May the govt support local communities

·       Help provide jobs to local communities

·       The relevant institutions should provide necessary training to poor communities

2-  What kind of projects will affect custioms, solidarity and livelihoods in your community?

§       Illegal logging should be considered in relation to impact on local communities and natural resources

§       Land concessions cause problems for communities (lack of land for cultivation)

§       Planning without participation from local communities

§       Flood

§       Crops are destroyed by pests

§       Loss of wildlife

§       Drought 9insufficent rain)

3-  How can local communities participate in PRSP process?

-----

------


Ratanakiri IO/NGO Workshop Results

Group 1 - International Organizations

Group 2:  Cambodian group

1-  Main causes of poverty

·       Occupation and alienation of customary land

·       Degradation of natural resources

·       Lack of adequate nutrition

·       Government corruption

·       Poor health  -  lack of knowledge about health prevention (health education)

       - inadequate health services; inadequate access and appropriateness

       (health system not motivated to reach local population/poor)

·       Low literacy rates / Lack of access to basic education

       - inappropriate curriculum / system for indigenous minorities

       - Khmer language curriculum excludes most minority population

       - Very low access for women:  - cultural, system

·       Lack of access to markets (for cash crops)

·       Lack of marketing skills, commerce skills, numeracy ($)

       - unable to compete in monetary/market-oriented economy

·       Lack of legal framework and titling system for customary land tenure (i.e. community)

·       Lack of knowledge of rights and procedures for claiming rights (land, forest...)

·       Lack of recognition of local community and local government as being important stakeholders in forest management -          - i.e. forest is a multi-sectoral resource and should be managed in multi-sectoral way

         - currently managed by ‘timber producers’ (i.e., Forestry Department) at expense of other uses

·       Decreasing forest resource is causing decreasing emergency food supply (in drought years, after floods, etc)

1-  Main causes of poverty

·       Destruction of natural resources

·       Low education and skills

·       Lack of information and services

·       Poor infrastructure/communication

·       Less support from govt to indigenous people

2- Poor people to be targeted by poverty reduction plans

·       indigenous women-headed household

·       local communities living under land and natural resource pressure

·       local communities living in isolated areas and near the border

·       vulnerable people (affected by natural and man-made disaster)

3- Recommendations to help reduce poverty

·       Roads, infrastructure projects should be undertaken with very stringent E/SIA and transparency/accountability

- impact on rate of deforestation, wildlife and natural resources trade

- accelerated land grabbing

·       Training of indigenous people to be teachers in their own communities

·       Develop bi-lingual (Khmer-native language) curriculum for local schools

·       Development of cash crops and markets should be designed to target rural poor/indigenous communities, rather than investors

·       Focus on developing appropriate system and procedures for providing land security for indigenous communities (and other rural poor)

- this absolutely must precede any cash crop development/investment

·       Moratorium on titling of land / sale of land / establishing crops on customary land by people who are not community members - - until after all customary land has been mapped/documented/secured

·       Accountability/Transparent government

·       Health:  ___________

·       Education related to human rights, land rights, legal processes

·       Decentralized and integrated planning

·       Cash flow should have clear procedures, transparency, and be directed to local communities

·       Funds channeled through line departments should be used properly and reach local communities

·       Any development plan should respect indigenous rights

·       Government should take more consideration of development projects proposed by indigenous communities



 

ATTACHMENT C

NATIONAL WORKSHOP DOCUMENTS

NATIONAL NGO/CIVIL SOCIETY WORKSHOP ON THE

GOVERNMENT’S POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY

24-25 October 2000, World Vision Center, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

LIST OF WORKSHOP DOCUMENTS

No.     TITLE

English and Khmer versions

         Final Program

1        An Overview of the I-PRSP

Sectoral Policy Issues/Matrices:

2        Rural Development and Decentralization

3        Agriculture and Food Security

4        Land Reform

5        Forestry, Fisheries and Environment

6        Health

7        Education

8        Industrial Workers and Urban Poor

9        Women’s and Child Rights

10      Governance and Human Rights

11      PRSP:  Capacity Building, Monitoring and Work Plan

12              Matrix of cross-cutting issues

13              An Update of the PRSP Process in Cambodia - 20 October 2000, NGO Forum on Cambodia

English versions only

14        Some changes in the I-PRSP (7th and 8th versions)

15        Joy Chavez-Malaluan, 2000, Locating civil society role in the PRSP process, Paper presented at the National   
     NGO/Civil Society Workshop on the RGC’s Poverty Reduction Strategy, 24-25 October 2000, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

16        NGO Perspectives on Poverty Reduction, CIDSE


 

 

 

National NGO/Civil Society Workshop

on the RGC’s Poverty Reduction Strategy

24-25 October 2000, World Vision Conference Center, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Organized by the NGO Forum on Cambodia

in cooperation with the

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

FINAL PROGRAM

DAY 1 (October 24)

AM Session

7:30-8:00                ARRIVAL/REGISTRATION OF PARTICIPANTS

                           START OF OPENING SESSION

                           Chairperson:  Ms Prok Vanny, Executive Director, KHEMARA

                           NATIONAL ANTHEM

8:00-8:10                WELCOME REMARKS by Russell Peterson

                           Representative, NGO Forum on Cambodia

8:10-8:20                INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

                           United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

                           PERSPECTIVES ON THE POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY

 

8:20-8: 40               1.  H.E. Kim Saysamalen

                                Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Planning

8:40-9:00                2.  Mr Kim Phalla

                                Deputy Director of the Department of Economic Forecast and

     Analysis, Ministry of Economy and Finance

9:00-9:20                3.  Mr Toun Vicheth

                                Deputy Field Representative Designate, CIDSE

9:20-9:40                4.  Mr Koul Panha

                                Adviser, ADHOC/Executive Director, COMFREL

9:40-10:00              END OF OPENING SESSION / BREAK

                           START OF WORKSHOP SESSION

10:00-10:10             PRESENTATION OF FINAL TWO-DAY PROGRAM

                                   


10:10-11:20             OVERVIEW OF POLICY ISSUES IN POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY (Presentation of Key Results)

                           Chhith Sam Ath, Coordinator/Development Issues, NGO Forum

         Violeta Corral, Participation Consultant, NGO Forum

11:20-12 noon          OPEN FORUM

12:00-1:30 pm          LUNCH BREAK (Lunch will be provided)

PM Session

1:30-3:30                SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION 1

(Please refer to guide to Day One Small Group Discussion) 

3:30-3:45                BREAK

3:45-4:50                PLENARY REPORTING 1 / OPEN FORUM

4:50-5:00                SYNTHESIS OF GROUP REPORTS

                           Violeta Corral and Chhith Sam Ath, NGO Forum

DAY 2 (October 25)

AM Session

8:00-8:15                RECAP OF DAY 1   by Russell Peterson, NGO Forum

8:15-9:15                COMMENTS ON THE MACRO-ECONOMIC POLICIES

IN THE I-PRSP

Mr Sok Hach, Economist, Cambodia Development Resource Institute           

Ms Joy Chavez-Malaluan, Research Associate, Focus on the Global South

        

9:15-10:15              OPEN FORUM

10:15-10:30             BREAK

10:30-11:15             NGO CONTRIBUTION TO A PARTICIPATORY POVERTY MONITORING MECHANISM & NEXT STEPS

                           by Chhith Sam Ath and Violeta Corral, NGO Forum

11:15-12:00             OPEN FORUM

12:00-1:30              LUNCH BREAK  (Lunch will be provided)

PM Session

1:30-3:30                SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION 2

                           (Please refer to guide to Day Two Small Group Discussion)

3:30-3:45                BREAK

3:45-4:40                PLENARY REPORTING 2 / OPEN FORUM

4:40-4:45                SYNTHESIS OF GROUP REPORTS

                           Violeta Corral and Chhith Sam Ath, NGO Forum

4:45-5:00                CLOSING REMARKS

                           Russell Peterson, NGO Forum on Cambodia


AN OVERVIEW OF THE I-PRSP[1]

The Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (IPRSP) is a document outlining the governments intended strategy for reducing poverty.  It is required by the World Bank (WB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) before they grant more external assistance to Cambodia.  The IPRSP will be considered by the WB and IMF Boards in December 2000.  The preparation of the full PRSP, which will be finalized by October 2001, will allow active participation of the local communities and authorities.  The essential features of a full PRSP are: (i) country ownership; (ii) poverty focus; (iii) consultative process; and (iv) systematic monitoring of outcomes.

Drafting process

The preparation of the I-PRSP was commissioned by the Prime Minister Samdech HUN SEN and overseen by the Committee on Economic and Financial Policies which is headed by the Minister of Economy and Finance, with broad inter-ministerial representation.  Six drafts of the IPRSP have been prepared for comments by stakeholders, including key government officials, chairpersons of the National Assembly and the Senate commissions, umbrella NGO groups, the private sector and various donors.  A Khmer translation is already being prepared.

The RGC has piloted the partnership approach in the PRSP process, which will be closely linked to the formulation of the Second Five-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDPII). The preparation of SEDPII was launched at a National Workshop held in May 2000;  the SEDPII will be finalized in March 2001.  These two important government documents will be implemented in a single strategic framework in conjunction with other poverty-related activities.

Contents of the IPRSP

The I-PRSP contains the following sections:

I.       Nature of Poverty

II.       Review of Existing Strategies & Performance

III.     Statement of Poverty Reduction Strategies & Objectives

IV.     Capacity-Building & Monitoring

V.      PRSP Workplan

VI.     Policy Matrix

Nature of Poverty

Different measures are used to measure poverty, sometimes defined as a lack of income or consumption and lack of opportunities. Broader dimensions of poverty include poor education and health; the major surveys in recent years are the 1997 Socio-Economic Survey and the Health Survey.  In Cambodia, the measurement of poverty is based on a poverty line that accounts for food consumption (that provides at least 2,100 calories of energy per person per day) and non-food consumption (e.g. clothing, basic shelter).

The 1999 Poverty Profile in Cambodia shows that 36% of Cambodians live below the poverty line; in 1993-94, the poverty rate was 39%.  Of the 36% poor population, 90.5% live in the rural areas, 2.3% in Phnom Penh and 7.2% in other urban areas.  Moreover, the percentage of Cambodians living in poverty fell slightly from 39 percent in 1993-94 to 36 percent in 1997.

Poverty in Cambodia is set against a background of 30 years of conflict and internal displacement.  The most disadvantaged groups in Cambodia are internally-displaced people and returned refugees, war widows, orphans, street children, squatters, people with disabilities and isolated ethnic communities.  The different dimensions of poverty are:

1.  Lack of opportunities:

Þ    The poor lack access to education, health care and safe water.

Þ    The poor lack markets, communications, infrastructure, security.

Þ    The poor lack knowledge of their rights.

2.  Vulnerability:

Þ    The poor face food insecurity and malnutrition.

Þ    The poor lack modern technology, and access to quality grains, fertilisers, irrigation and credit.

Þ    The poor have declining access to common resources such as forests and fisheries.

Þ    The poor sometimes are forced to sell their land to pay for medical treatment.

3.  Low Capabilities:

Þ    Low school enrolment rates.

Þ    Low life expectancy.

Þ    High infant mortality rates.

Þ    The poor lack access to public services.

Þ    High costs of education and health.

4.  Social Exclusion (barriers which prevent the participation of the poor in society), is due to:

Þ    Illiteracy.

Þ    Lack of access to decision making.

Þ    Official Corruption.

Review of Existing Strategies & Performance

The I-PRSP will build upon existing poverty reduction strategies and social and economic policies.  These include the First Socio-Economic Development Plan 1996-2000 (SEDPI) and other key government documents that aim to: restore peace and stability; integrate Cambodia into the regional and global economy; undertake broad macro-economic and public sector reforms. A Governance Action Plan (GAP) will also be incorporated into the final version of the PRSP.

The SEDPI emphasized rural development and stressed the need to balance this goal with the development of major urban growth poles.  The SEDPI target allocation for pubic investment expenditures was 65% to go to projects in rural areas and 35% to urban areas.  The implementation, however, turned out to be the opposite -- 65% of investments went to urban areas, while only 35% went to rural areas.  Moreover, past efforts to reduce poverty have focused mainly on stand-alone projects that neglect the broader and policy and institutional environment of poverty reduction.  Cambodian rural development programs focused on primary health care, sanitation and rural water supply, among others.

Statement of Poverty Reduction Strategies & Objectives

The government's pro-poor policy should be geared toward establishing a favorable environment to promote and generate economic growth without environmental degradation and equitable distribution of income. On the basis of this broad strategy, the RGC has formulated the following policy response to poverty: promoting opportunities, creating security, strengthening capabilities and generating empowerment.

Growth is the most powerful weapon in the fight for higher living standards. Faster growth will require policies that encourage macroeconomic stability, shift resources to more efficient sectors, and integrate with the global economy.  However, the benefits of growth for the poor may be eroded if the distribution of income worsens.  Even with economic growth there is still room for policies that target interventions to improve health and education outcomes.  At the top of the list are female education to ensure gender equality, safe water and sanitation, child immunization, as well as social safety nets to protect the most vulnerable.  Attention is also needed to the social structures and institutions (or ‘social capital’) which affect development.

1-  Promoting opportunities

The RGC’s approach to promoting opportunities is via strengthening macroeconomic performance, accelerating economic growth, promoting private sector development, developing the physical infrastructure, strengthening the energy sector, ensuring sustainable development of the agricultural sector, improving water resource management, advancing rural development and decentralization, ensuring a sound natural resource management, encouraging income generation activities, embarking on land reform and increasing access to micro finance for the poor. Though well-targeted programs for rural areas could have quick impact on the rural population, poverty reduction strategy should not be overtly reliant on the development of agricultural sector, given poor performance of the sector in the past.  Industrial and service sector development could become a powerful locomotive to pull Cambodia out of the shackles of poverty.

Table 1.  Linking Poverty Diagnostics to Government Policies

Dimensions of Poverty

Government Policies

LACK OF OPPORTUNITIES

(i)             Low average income

(ii)           Extensive poverty, especially in rural areas

(iii)          Landlessness and lack of access to land

(iv)          Low education for girls

(v)        Lack of infrastructure

PROMOTING OPPORTUNITIES

(i)             Macroeconomic stability

(ii)           Economic growth

(iii)          Promoting private sector development

(iv)          Improving physical infrastructure including irrigation and rural roads

(v)           Measures to promote agriculture.

(vi)          Land reform

VULNERABILITY

(v)           Crop failure

(vi)          Weather conditions

(vii)        Environmental degradation

(viii)       Health problems

(ix)          Land mines

CREATING SECURITY

(vii)        Micro-finance schemes

(viii)       Safety net programs

(ix)          Environmental protection

(x)           Access to health services

(xi)          Mine clearance

LOW CAPABILITIES

(x)           Low outcomes, especially education

(xi)          Bad water and sanitation

(xii)        High costs of healthcare

STRENGTHENING CAPABILITIES

(xii)        Service delivery

(xiii)       Increase public spending on health, education, agriculture and rural development

SOCIAL EXCLUSION

(xiii)       Illiteracy

(xiv)       Lack of access to decision making

(xv)        Corruption

GENERATING EMPOWERMENT

(xiv)       Judicial reform

(xv)        Education policy

(xvi)       Rules governing NGOs

(xvii)     Governance and anti-corruption

(xviii)    Decentralisation

­­­­


2- Creating security

Reducing the vulnerability of the poor by developing resistance to external shocks and increasing the overall sustainability of their livelihoods is a priority as is assisting those poor who want to diversify out of agriculture, and these concerns have not received sufficient attention.  The current emphasis is on credit for income generating activities, but there is a need to also address vulnerability to fluctuations in income, as this results in cash flow constraints that may lead to deferment of investment and/or distressed land sales, so as to smooth consumption expenditure.  This could be tackled by providing insurance, savings and loans for consumption purposes. Moreover, security can be ensured by expanding safety net programs, promoting environmental protection and clearing landmines.

3-  Strengthening capabilities

The government plays a crucial role in the service delivery and the improvement in capabilities.  This requires a focus on the quality and availability of services for the poor and the comparative advantage of the government, non-governmental organizations and private sector agencies as the supplier of these services.  Essentially this focus is on the role of government and issues of effectiveness and efficiency and involves questions about the degree of government decentralization and civil service reform. 

4- Generating empowerment

Priority actions that needs to be taken by taken by the RGC over the short to medium term are: Establish priority groups of government officials to improve service delivery and increase productivity; expand decentralization and continue deconcentration of the system of administration to increase accessibility of essential services to the people; accelerate the reform of the state by implementing action plans in demobilization, administrative and fiscal reforms with a view to strengthening the rule of law and consolidating the foundation of the market economy; deepening the judicial reform and establishing a national program for judicial reform; and implement the measures outlined in the Governance Action Plan (GAP).

Capacity-Building & Monitoring

The emphasis of the PRSP must be on the implementation of poverty reduction policies and the monitoring and evaluation of their targets.  Poverty reduction targets to be set and monitored should be relevant, simple and easily updated when required.  A sound institutional capacity for the implementation of poverty reduction strategies should be ensured. More attention should be paid to inter-ministerial coordination in carrying out poverty reduction strategies. A poverty monitoring mechanism needs to be set up and systematized.

PRSP Workplan

Overall responsibility for the full PRSP will pass from the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) to the Ministry of Planning (MOP), which is also responsible for the ongoing preparation of the SEDPII. 

Participatory processes include the following:

Activities

Schedules

1.     Dissemination of I-PRSP in Khmer and Public Info Campaign, including participation plan for PRSP

2.     Survey of NGO/civil society concerns regarding poverty reduction

3.     Workshops at central level

4.     Workshops at local levels

5.     Participatory Poverty Assessment

6.     Stakeholder analysis, including key government officials and umbrella NGO groups and private sector. Determination of criteria for selection of stakeholders, eg representativeness.

7.     Implementation of participatory processes, at local and central levels, including consultations with local communities, local authorities, the National Assembly and the Senate.

Sept 00

Sep - Oct 00

Jan - May 01

Jan - May 01

Jan - Jun 01

Feb - Mar 01

Mar - Jul 01

Policy Matrix

The short to medium term actions that have already been committed to by the RGC are incorporated in the Policy Matrix (Annex I).  They will be reviewed in preparation of the full PRSP.


ANNEX 1: POLICY MATRIX (2000-2002)

Policy

Objectives and Targets

Strategies and Measures

Implementation

TA Requirements (to be completed)

I. MACRO- STABILITY AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

The Government will develop a modern tax framework and transparent procedures with the objectives of improving sustainable, efficient utilisation and enhancing revenues. The ultimate goal is to generate additional revenue of 4 percent of GDP over four years to 2002.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Fiscal Reform

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(i) Revenue mobilization

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a. Broaden revenue base

Improve VAT administration and extend VAT coverage.

2000-02

 

 

 

 

 

 

Re-institute pre-shipment inspection.

August 2000

 

 

 

 

 

 

Review mechanism for timber royalties, in the context of budget formulation.

2000-02

 

 

 

 

 

b. Reduce tax and duty exemptions.

Revise Law on Investment to rationalize tax and duty exemptions.

March 2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grant no new ad hoc tax or import duty exemptions.

2000-02

 

 

 

 

 

c. Strengthen revenue administration and governance.

Strengthen customs administration.

2000-02

 

 

Fully transfer non-tax revenue collection from line ministries to the Treasury.

2000-02

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reinforce procedures to collect tax and non-tax arrears.

2000-01

 

 

 

 

 

(ii) Expenditure management

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a. Expenditure priorities

Ensure strict implementation of annual Public Investment Program consistent with priorities and link more closely to recurrent expenditure, through such mechanisms as MTEF.

2000-02

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provide adequate funding and meet budgetary targets for spending on basic health and education and rural development in line with Public Expenditure Review.

2000-02

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fully implement the Priority Action Program (PAP) for Health and Education and expand its coverage to Agriculture and Rural Development.

2000-02

 

 

 

 

 

b. Enhance the effectiveness of expenditure management.

Strengthen budgetary procedures to strictly limit spending decisions outside the budget framework.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(ii) Expenditure rationalization

 

 

 

 

The Government will fully operationalize the Budget Strategy and Enforcement Center at MEF to streamline the procedures to screen the bids for funding and facilitate cash disbursements to key social and economic sectors.

2000-02

 

 

 

 

 

 

Establish responsibility for performance at the level of spending units in parallel with the strengthening of technical, financial and managerial capabilities.

2000-02

 

 

 

 

 

2. External sector policies.

Maintain market based exchange rate system.

Ongoing

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reduce tariff rates and simplify the tariff structure.

2000-02

 

 

 

 

 

 

Strengthen the debt management unit and refrain from commercial borrowing on non-concessional terms.

2000-02

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continue discussions with external creditors with a view toward concluding bilateral rescheduling agreements.

2000-01

 

 

 

 

 

 

Formulate procedures to promote market access for Cambodian products in EU countries.

2000-02

 

 

 

 

 

 

Encourage the establishment of business and producers' associations.

2000-02

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adopt the Export Processing Zone Law to promote international trade.

2000-01

 

 

 

 

 

3. Land and Forestry

 

 

 

a. Provide for an environmentally sustainable, socially responsible and economically viable forestry policy.

Strengthen forestry monitoring mechanism, including quarterly reports by monitoring unit for Council of Ministers and public release.

2000-02

 

 

Strengthen concession management and contract terms to improve transparency, monitoring, revenue performance and enforcement.

2000-02

 

 

 

 

 

 

Submit to National Assembly a revised Forestry Law to provide a permanent framework for sustainable forestry management.

December 2000

 

 

 

 

 

 

Review the log export ban policy commensurate with improvements in monitoring capacity.

January 2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

Develop community forestry, initiating mechanisms for the award of long term tenure rights to local communities and indigenous peoples.

2000-02

 

 

 

 

 

b. Land reform

Develop a national land policy and improve the management of the national land stock;

2000-02

 

 

 

 

 

 

Strengthen the legal framework to enforce property rights and commence a systematic land titling,

2000-02

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enforce the new Land Law and implement the National Systematic Land Registration program

2000-02