Panel on Case Studies of Successful Good Governance Projects in Cambodia

Background:

Between 2 July and 12 August 2003, IDP conducted some initial research in the field of governance in Cambodia. Our purpose in doing this was to:

Become informed about governance-related issues in Cambodia
Contribute to the field of good governance in Cambodia by bringing together project implementers and donors
Generate greater discussion and understanding of the sector

We identified seven areas of governance, with the intention of finding a good case study from each to be presented in a public forum. The idea of the forum was to identify a list of methodologies employed in each project, the critical success factors in each project and the benchmarks for success, as defined by the project implementers. The anticipated goal was to develop a martix of these success factors set against the various project objectives.

Definition of Governance:

IDP's research was limited and with a focus not so much on governance itself but on what works and what is successful in project implementation. We did however accept a very broad definition of governance as a starting point. The Commission on Global Governance (Our Global Neighbourhood, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1995, p.2) defines governance as: "the sum of the many ways individuals and institutions, public and private, manage their common affairs".

IDP's focus:

IDP’s seven areas for research were determined partly by interest expressed by donors and partly by the potential for more in-depth research at a later stage.

The seven areas we researched were:

Effectiveness of law-making
Establishment of appropriate bureaucratic structures
Effective parliamentary scrutiny
Adherence to international instruments
Involvement of civil society
Effectiveness of representation
Effectiveness of the judiciary

The public forum:

Nine case studies were presented in the forum (see below), with at least one project from each of the above seven areas. After the presentation of the cases, a panel of three people led a discussion to determine the relationship between methodologies, critical success factors and benchmarks for success. The panel attempted to develop a matrix for each of these factors against each project objective. The panel comprised:

Ms Kim Sothavy, Director for the Royal School for Judges and Prosecutors
Dr Helen Jarvis, Advisor to HE Sok An
Mr Paul Mahony, Country Director of IDP Education Australia

Outcomes of the discussion:

Each case study contributed to the field of governance in ways that were unique. Several conclusions could be drawn from the discussion:

1. Many methodologies are also critical success factors in projects. Some examples include:

· employment of good staff
· wide dissemination of and free access to accurate information
· broad involvement and participation
· use of a Khmer and bilingual approach
· capacity building
· establishing commitment through negotiation
· following up on commitments
· focusing on ownership
· regular evaluation

2. Benchmarks that are linked to methodologies can in general be measured in both a quantitative and a qualitative way. This dual measurement is seen as desirable. Some examples include:

· access to / awareness of information
· involvement and participation
· skills transfer / capacity building
· local ownership

3. Opposing methodologies can be appropriate in different contexts. Two examples are:

· use of international vs local expertise / models
· dealing with the local level vs dealing with the power-brokers

There was much discussion about the issue of local vs international input. Discussion here related to how projects work with government e.g. as a partner, or in isolation. In the discussion, the former approach was seen as more successful. Another issue raised was that sometimes in Cambodia there is not one model, but many. This is notable in the legal domain, where various foreign models have been introduced over the years, but do not sit comfortably together. A further issue is the degree to which projects engage the broader environment; neatly delineated projects might be successful in their own right, but ultimately not sustainable if broader engagement is lacking.

4. Methodologies need to be flexible, but this is often difficult where donors have rigid ‘sign on’ principles for their projects.

5. The development of trust is seen as an important overarching benchmark of success, yet is difficult to both define and measure. Indicators include:

· functional relationships being developed
· increasing levels of consultation between individuals / departments / branches of government
· acceptance of public rebuttal of information
· policy moving forward as a result of project inputs

Perception mapping is seen as an important and valid (if rough) tool for measuring the above indicators.

The case studies:

Case Study #1

Project: Parliamentary Watch Project (PAW)

Organisation: The Center for Social Development (CSD)

Presenter: Heav Veasna

Project Description (as provided by the presenter):

The Parliamentary Watch Project improves transparency in relation to the adoption of laws and thereby improves the accountability of the nation's legislators by educating the public and promoting a consciousness amongst legislators of their own responsibility to build a state of law in Cambodia. Volunteers attend every meeting of the National Assembly and Senate and make reports about the activities of the Parliament, which are published in the CSD Bulletin. PAW also monitors the flow of legislation and conducts research and analysis on legislative issues.Further documents on this project (as provided by the presenter)

Case Study # 2

Project: Code of Conduct

Organisation: National Democratic Institute (NDI)

Presenter: Dominic Cardy

Project Description (as provided by the presenter):

Code of Conduct was funded by USAID in order to promote a political environment in which voters can hold candidates accountable for honest and fair conduct during the campaign period. NDI worked with the parties to design a code based on internationally recognised principles for elections and human rights and is essentially an agreement amongst political parties that sets clear and unequivocal standards for party behavior during the campaign period. The Code was then widely distributed to the public in order to raise awareness and to allow Cambodian voters to hold their candidates accountable to their promises for honest and fair conduct during the campaign period. Further documents on this project (as provided by the presenter)

Case Study # 3

Project: Information and Communication Pilot Project

Organisation: Seila Project, Operations Decentralisation and Deconcentration Project, Department of Local Administration, Ministry of Interior

Presenter: Sreng Kimsrun

Project Description (as provided by the presenter):

The Information and Communication Pilot Project gives tools for gaining information to villagers in 10 communes (5 in Takeo and 5 in Kompong Cham) on local issues of relevance to the villagers. Further documents on this project (as provided by the presenter)

Case Study # 4

Project: Advocacy Handbook

Organisation: Pact

Presenter: Victoria Ayer

Description of Project (as provided by the presenter):

For more than a decade, Pact has provided direct support and training in order to strengthen civil ociety in Cambodia. Through their participation in Pact's programs, over four dozen Cambodian NGOs have increased their organizational development, community participation, and strategic planning skills. Designed to help NGOs achieve desired policy changes, the Advocacy Handbook is a practical, hands-on tool providing strategies and techniques for current and future advocates.

Case study # 5

Project: Judiciary Reform

Organisation: AusAID, Criminal Justice Assistance Project (CJAP)

Presenter: Bob Bradley

Project Description (as provided by the presenter):

The goal of the Criminal Justice Assistance Project (Phase 1) was to improve operational, managerial, institutional and human rights conditions within the Criminal Justice System of Cambodia.Further documents on this project (as provided by the presenter)

Case Study # 6

Project: Garment Sector Project

Organisation: International Labour Organisation (ILO)

Presenter: Lejo Sibbel

Project Description (as provided by the presenter):

The objective of this project is to improve the working conditions and labour law compliance of garment factory workers. Further documents on this project (as provided by the presenter)

Case Study # 7

Project: Legislative Development Program (LDP)

Organisation: Star Kampuchea

Presenter: Nhek Sarin

Project Description (as provided by the presenter):

Star Kampuchea has three programs including an Advocacy and Information Program, a Capacity uilding Program and a Legislative Development Program. The Legislative Development Program works to improve the quality and quantity of legal information available to civil society actors working on draft legislation. LDP publishes a bimonthly legislative newsletter in Khmer and English containing articles, updates on the status of laws being drafted, discussions among civil society groups, legislative analysis and other activities related to legislative lobbying. Further documents on this project (as provided by the presenter)

Case Study # 8

Project: Legal Service Department (LSD)

Organisation: Cambodia Defenders Project (CDP)

Presenter: Sok Sam Oeun

Project Description (as provided by the presenter):

The Cambodia Defenders Project provides legal aid and awareness to help the poor and vulnerable access justice, the court find the truth and the law-enforcement officers to be accountable. They are most interested in supporting cases involving press freedoms, land grabbing, workers rights and the CFF. Further documents on this project (as provided by the presenter)

Case Study # 9

Project: Cambodia Media & Elections Project

Organisation: IMPACS

Presenter: Ian Porter

Project Description (as provided by the presenter):

IMPACS has supported media coverage of the 2003 election campaign. Among its initiatives were: election-reporting courses for provincial journalists; bringing in producers to work with the journalists assigned by state radio and TV to cover the campaign under the UNDP "equity access" project; and co-sponsorship of a series of forums and seminars on campaign coverage for senior editors and reporters.