GIZ commissioned API to support the institutionalisation and streamlining of Social Accountability in Cambodia of the Program “Improved Service Delivery to Citizens in Cambodia” (ISD).
API conducted a feasibility study on the implemented Social Accountability Cycle for a feasible DMK rollout in two districts. There will be a strong focus on Battambang Municipality and Moung Reussei District, plus additional interviews in DMs of Kroh Lanh District, Siem Reap Municipality (both Siem Reap Province) and Thmor Puok District and Mongkul Borei District (both Banteay Meanchey Province).
API formulated an Approach for introducing Social Accountability in new Sectors (Waste/Water) based on research in 10 target districts/municipalities, where Waste and Water activities at DM level have been implemented with drawing on significant experience and learning from these (Siem Reap, Soutr Nikom, Battambang, Moung Reussei, Bavel, Paoy Paet, Monkol Borey, Preah Netr Preah, Svay Chek and Serei Sophoan).
API integrated the above findings of the feasibility study and the approach for new sectors as a new chapter to the existing Operational Guideline for Social Accountability DMK rollout across the whole country.
Project Background – ISD is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Government and co-funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). It works with its political partner, the Secretariat of the National Committee for Sub-National Democratic Development (NCDDS), to improve service delivery to Cambodian citizens in the selected sectors of waste and water management, health, education and administrative services, with a focus on the three provinces: Battambang, Banteay Meanchey and Siem Reap.
The activities focus primarily on the implementation of (1) the National Programme on Sub- national Democratic Development (NP-2), especially in the health sector and for the promotion of women working in subnational administration; (2) administrative service delivery of One-Window Service Office (OWSO) in digital and mobile form; (3) the development of scalable and climate- sensitive waste and water management strategies and implementation; (4) strengthening the roles of district and municipality councils including enhancing complaint mechanism and social accountability and (5) local financing/fiscal decentralization. Financed by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the programme runs from March 2022 until December 2025.
The ISD Programme helps local governments improve service delivery in Districts and Municipalities (DMs). It does this by supporting these sub-national administrations (SNAs) to build their skills and resources in three key areas: technical expertise, organization, and finances. These efforts are strengthening the “supply side” of the Governance System. Activities around the “demand side” of the Governance System focus on collaborating with citizens to hold their local governments accountable and are bundled under an initiative that is strengthening the Social Accountability [SA]of sub-national administrations. This initiative is a joint effort by the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia and World Bank Trust Fund Partners and implementers.
After focusing on Communes and Sangkats (CS) in previous years, the rollout at District and Municipality (DM) level has now begun with the Royal Government currently expanding this intended programme to include all SNAs (CS and DMs) across the Country. Additionally, the Cambodian government – particularly the NCDDS – is committed to:
NCDDS and World Vision will then pilot the adapted cycle, and NCDDS will integrate the findings from this pilot, including the feasibility of rollout and SA approach for new sectors such as waste and water, into the operational guidelines. The finalised operational guidelines can be disseminated nationwide to support the implementation of SA using the adapted approach.
The Improved Service Delivery (ISD) project aims to support the RGC’s vision and to tackle remaining gaps through a multi-level and multi-stakeholder approach and builds on GIZ’s successful Decentralisation and Administrative Reform Programme (DAR). At the national level, it strengthens the NCDD-S as a coordinating actor to fulfil its broad mandate encompassing policy formulation and implementation and advises line ministries to promote further decentralisation. At the lower levels, different actors such as OWSO, Ombudsperson offices, local Councils and CSOs are supported in fulfilling their new responsibilities at the level of implementation. The core is that municipalities and districts do not yet have strategies and adequate processes in place to exercise their new responsibilities. They are crucial for service delivery and operationalisation of the 2019 sub-decrees, which is less advanced at the District Municipality level than at the commune level. Municipalities and districts struggle to reconcile and coordinate their respective responsibilities in the target provinces. The API and GFA were contracted by the GIZ for implementation of the OWSO in Battambang and Siem Reap and climate-sensitive water management in Banteay Meanchey.
