Thursday, 31 August

 Morning:

7:30 am           Registration of participants and distribution of background materials.

7:50 am           Welcome by Mr Russell Peterson, NGO Forum Representative, and by Mr Lim Phai (USG), chairperson of the workshop.

8:00 am           Panel:

                        1.  "The new decentralised government structure and the role of commune councils in local development planning", H.E. Prum Sokha, Secretary of State, Ministry of Interior.

8:40 am            2.  "The role of the Ministry for Rural Development and NGOs in participatory village development planning", H.E. Ngy Chanphal, Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Rural Development.

9:20 am          Questions and Discussion

10:00 am        Refreshment Break

10:30 am        Panel:

                        1.  "NGO concerns about the commune election process", Mr Koul Panha, Executive Director, COMFREL.

 11:00 am        2.  "NGO attempts to increase women's participation in the commune elections", Ms Koy Veth, Director, Khmer Women's Voice Centre and Convenor of NGO Forum's Women Working Group.

11:30 am          Questions and Discussion

12:00 noon       Lunch (provided)

Afternoon: 

1:30 pm            "Building the capacity of commune councils for local development planning", Mr Scott Leiper, Programme Manager, UNDP/CARERE.

2:15 pm            Questions and Discussion

2:45 pm            Refreshment Break

3:15 pm            "Note on the Engagement of NGOs/Civil Society Organisations with Decentralisation Reforms", presented by Mr Russell Peterson, Representative, NGO Forum on Cambodia.

4:15 pm            Discussion, led by Mr Khoun Bunny, Convenor of Civil Society Working Group and Senior Organisational Development Officer, Sor Sor Troung:  "What recommendations would you like to make to the government and to NGOs to help improve the success of decentralisation?"

5:00 pm            Close

Friday, 1 September 2000

Morning:

7:30 am            Brief summing up of the previous day's programme, by Mr Lim Phai, Chairperson of the workshop.

7:40 am            "Local governance structures and the role of NGOs - the Philippines experience", Senator Aquilino Pimentel, Senator (PDP), Senate of the Philippines.

9:00 am           Questions and Discussion

9:30 am           Refreshment Break

10:00 am         Panel:

                        "NGO reflections on how NGOs should prepare for decentralisa- tion"

1.      Ms Boua Chanthou, Executive Director, PADEK

2.      Mr Yam Saveung, Programme Manager, Concern Worldwide Pursat

3.      Mr Chan Sarin, Director, Rural Development Association

4.      Mr Josh Ounsted, Programme Officer, ForumSyd, on behalf of the Commune Council Support Project

11:00 am         Questions and Discussion

12:00 noon      Lunch (provided)

Afternoon:

1:30 pm            Questionnaire on NGO responses to decentralisation, introduced by Mr Khoun Bunny, Convenor of the Civil Society Working Group.

2:30 pm            Sampling of responses to the questionnaire.

3:00 pm            Refreshment Break

3:30 pm            Sampling of responses to the questionnaire (continued).

4:10 pm            Identification of focal persons in each province for sharing of information on decentralisation in the future.

4:30 pm            "Summing up of the workshop", by Mr Lim Phai, Chair of the workshop.

4:50 pm            Closing remarks by Mr Russell Peterson, Representative of the NGO Forum
                          on Cambodia.