CAMBODIA

With the backing of international donors, the Cambodian state has expressed its commitment to develop local political institutions in a decentralized setting. The nexus of Cambodian decentralization is the sangkat or commune. The sangkat has executive and legislative functions and is tasked with ensuring the well-being of citizens, including service delivery, protection of natural resources, social and economic development planning, and public order. The first commune elections were held in February 2002.

However, observers note that decentralization in Cambodia is still in its infancy. Implementation of legal frameworks introduced in 2001 remains problematic due to poor coordination among ministries and inconsistencies between decentralization and other reforms. The lack of human resources, fiscal elbowroom and public information at the local level are major challenges as well.

Cambodian NGO continue to receive development assistance to respond to these challenges. Yet NGOs oriented towards humanitarian aid and economic rights outnumber those working for people's empowerment and political change. In general, there is still much suspicion when it comes to NGOs' motivations. It is this image that CPLG’s work in Cambodia seeks to counteract by developing context-specific mechanisms to get ordinary Cambodians involved in local decision-making.

The Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL) is CPLG's partner in Cambodia. It created a working group, which acts as a sounding board and stakeholders of CPLG activities, composed of national NGOs and local NGOs at the grassroots level. These are: ADHOC (Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association ), KYA ( Khmer Youth Association ), PDP- Center ( People Center for Development and Peace), CCSP (Commune Council Support Project), DPA (former CIDSE-Cambodia), and COMFREL.

Together, these organizations are developing a training course on grassroots advocacy, participatory development planning, as well conducting a study on local politics. COMFREL and partners also strive to implement activities to help Cambodian civil society address strategic questions on the their role in moving decentralisation and democratisation forward.

COMFREL organizes consultations on the draft Organic Law

On 19 July 2007, COMFREL organized a meeting of local and international non-governmental organisations to strategize on how Cambodian civil society can contribute to the formulation of the draft Organic Law on Decentralization and Deconcentration. In the absence of official participatory mechanisms, this initiative represented a significant intervention in the process. Three main points were raised: the electoral system at the local level (proportional or mixed); the electoral procedure (indirect or direct suffrage); as well as the roles and functions of provincial and district councils. In this context, the discussion also focused on the mainstreaming of gender perspectives and the empowerment of local women leaders. COMFREL subsequently organized two more provincial consultations in Battam Bang (July 25) and Kampong Cham (August 15). These well-attended provincial consultations brought together local NGOs, commune councilors, provincial and district executives, representatives of the Ministry of Women Affaires as well as students and monks.

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Interventions at commune level

COMFREL continues to support community-based activism the ground. From July to September 2007, follow-up activities were held in three communes: Prek Anhchaah commune in the Mukkampoul District of Kandal Province, Skus commune in the Samrong Tong District, and the Chhur Meancey commune in Kampong Speu Province. Urgent issues at the local level revolve around canal systems and flood control, inter-commune road maintenance and land disputes.

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COMFREL launches findings of decentralization research
On January 3, 2007, COMFREL, in cooperation with Khmer Institute for Democracy (KID) and Pact Cambodia, conducted launching ceremony to present the findings on a study of Decentralized Commune Governance in Cambodia. The study features an assessment of COMFREL local public forums and some reflections on the implementation of decentralization in Cambodia. A total of 59 people from political parties, Ministry of Interior, local and international NGOs, press, media and decentralization bodies attended the launching ceremony.

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COMFREL conducts advocacy training
From December 25 to December 27, 2006 COMFREL conducted training on grassroots advocacy to COMFREL local activists and member NGOs of the CPLG working group. The 3-day course, which was held in Phnom Penh, was attended by 21 participants. The training featured topics such as grass root advocacy, networking, and community mobilization. A resource person from Urban Sector group (USG) graced the event.

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