Decentralization Cambodia Kerstin Lappe

      Decentralization Cambodia

Cambodia

 Southeast Asia Capital Phnom Penh World Heritage Site Angkor Wat Cambodia Basin 14 Mio. Inhabitants Homogenous cultural structure 80% Agriculture

Source: Kambodscha Botschaft

2/15 Kerstin Lappe

Decentralization Cambodia

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 3/15 Kerstin Lappe

Decentralization Cambodia

Political Structure

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

Decentralization Cambodia

Process of Decentralization

5/15       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 Kerstin Lappe

Decentralization Cambodia

Administration Structure -

6/15

Provinces

Kingdom of Cambodia 21 Provinces (Khett) Districts (Srok) 4 Municipalities (Krong) Urban District (Khan) Communes (Khume) Quarters (Sangkat) = 1621 Communes

Source: Maps of World

Kerstin Lappe

Decentralization Cambodia

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 7/15 Kerstin Lappe

Decentralization Cambodia 8/15

Source: Pellini

Kerstin Lappe

Decentralization Cambodia

SEILA

9/15      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 Kerstin Lappe

Decentralization Cambodia

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 10/15 Kerstin Lappe

Decentralization Cambodia 11/15

Source: Pellini

Kerstin Lappe

Decentralization Cambodia

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 12/15  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 Kerstin Lappe

Decentralization Cambodia

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 13/15 Kerstin Lappe

Decentralization Cambodia

Pilot Projects - Institutions

14/15     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 Kerstin Lappe

Decentralization Cambodia 15/15

Thank you for your attention!

Kerstin Lappe