1. Decentralization Cambodia Kerstin Lappe

2. Decentralization Cambodia 2/15 Kerstin Lappe Cambodia  Southeast Asia  Capital Phnom Penh  World Heritage Site Angkor Wat  Cambodia Basin  14 Mio. Inhabitants  Homogenous cultural structure  80% Agriculture Source: Kambodscha Botschaft

3. Decentralization Cambodia 3/15 Kerstin Lappe Historical Outlines  First settlement at the Mekong 5000 B.C.  18/19th century colony of Vietnam and France  1953 first autonomy  3 periods of civil war  Dictatorship of the Khmer Rouge  Vietnamese Invasion  Supervised by the UN  1998 second autonomy

4. Decentralization Cambodia 4/15 Kerstin Lappe Political Structure King Executive Council of Ministers Prime minister Deputy Prime Ministers Senior Ministers Ministries Legislative National Assembly 9 Commissions Senate 9 Commissions Judicative Supreme Court of Magistracy Supreme Court Appeal Court Provincial and Municipal courts Constitutional Court

5. Decentralization Cambodia 5/15 Kerstin Lappe Process of Decentralization  1991 first idea in the peace agreement of Paris  1998 free elections were hold  2001 Government Action Plan  2001 Law on Administration of Communes  2001 Law on Election of Commune Councils  2002 Election of Commune Councils

6. Decentralization Cambodia 6/15 Kerstin Lappe Administration Structure - Provinces Source: Maps of World Kingdom of Cambodia 21 Provinces (Khett) Districts (Srok) Communes (Khume) 4 Municipalities (Krong) Urban District (Khan) Quarters (Sangkat) = 1621 Communes

7. Decentralization Cambodia 7/15 Kerstin Lappe NCSC and DoLA  National Committee for Support to Communes/Sangkats (NCSC) - overall organization for Decentralization policy - inter-ministerial Committee - recommendations, policies, decisive role by laws - coordination of the implementation of commune councils - development of possibilities and boundaries  Department of Local Administration (DoLA) - secretary of the NCSC - department within the Ministry of Interior - supervision and evaluation of the implementation

8. Decentralization Cambodia 8/15 Kerstin Lappe Source: Pellini

9. Decentralization Cambodia 9/15 Kerstin Lappe SEILA  Khmer-word for “foundation stone“  Established 1996, outcome of CARERE  “Experiment” for decentralization of planning and financing in rural areas  Grew to a framework for the Administrative Reform and the decentralization policy  Implemented in almost every province by now

10. Decentralization Cambodia 10/15 Kerstin Lappe Commune Councils  First elections in 2002, mandate of 5 years  Simply proportional representation system  Depending on the size and the population: 5,7,9 or 11 members  Government sends a clerk for supporting the commune council (no influence on decisions)  Councils should come together once a month  Transparency and Accountability  Government fund for annual budget

11. Decentralization Cambodia 11/15 Kerstin Lappe Source: Pellini

12. Decentralization Cambodia 12/15 Kerstin Lappe Problems  Structural –Laws are unclear –Parallel acting system –Different party affiliations –Recover of civil wars –No effective control of budgets –Overall control by government –No direct income –Participation doesn't work  Cultural –Hierarchical society –Traditional central oriented –Automatically mistrust of government –Fear of revenge –Dominance of powerful groups –No knowledge about their rights –Wish for stability and peace

13. Decentralization Cambodia 13/15 Kerstin Lappe Pilot Projects - Aims  Aims –Relocation of tasks and responsibilities on districts –Development of transparent administration  Single aims –Reorganization of province administration –Building budget capacities –Implementation of local tax system –Public relations  Outcomes –Transfer of competences and functions on districts –New democratic institutions

14. Decentralization Cambodia 14/15 Kerstin Lappe Pilot Projects - Institutions  One Window Service Office –Service for people “from one hand” –Open boards for fee system –Divided into front- and back-office –Services in culture, tourism, transport, industry, trade  Ombudsman –Mediator between people and administration  District Council –Control of administration  Job Placement Agency

15. Thank you for your attention! Decentralization Cambodia Kerstin Lappe 15/15