News/Events 
Phnom Penh, 6 February 2012: The Royal Government of Denmark on 6 February 2012 contributed equipments of Natural Resource Management and Livelihood project (NRML) in Decentralization and De-concentration (D&D) to the National Committee for Sub-National Democratic Development (NCDD).
Over the past nine years, the Royal Government of Denmark with contribution of DFID and New-Zealand has provided valuable support with financial assistance over $60 million to Fisheries, Forestry, Land Management and the Royal Government’s decentralization and deconcentration reform programs, commerce, enhancement of good governance and participation of civil society organization focused on strengthening Natural Resource and Environment Management throughout the country.
In support to decentralization and deconcentration alone, over $ 26 million was provided to develop and implement local Natural Resource Management strategies and investments.
Speaking at the equipment hand-over ceremony, HE Sar Kheng, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior, and Chairman of NCDD, said that from the very beginning, the Royal Government of Denmark has been a strong partner in supporting decentralization and a high percentage of all resources provided were channeled to the Communes, in which 636 communes had received this support to be used for addressing their priorities defined in their own development plan.
He added the Royal Government of Denmark was also a strong partner in the District Initiative providing annual allocations to 78 rural districts of 12 provinces who identified NRM priorities and sub-contracted out services and investments to line department, line offices, the private sector and NGOs. Through the support from Denmark, the knowledge and capacity at the province, district and commune levels were developed and valuable lessons learned which have been taken under consideration in designing the sub-national democratic reforms.
Natural Resource Management must be considered a high priority for Cambodia’s development and the Royal Government of Denmark has played an important role in bringing critical attention to the many issues that must be addressed, said HE Sar Kheng.
“We have a long way to go, in this regard, but we are confident that the seeds that the Royal Government of Denmark has helped to plant will bear fruit in the future.”
H.E. Tom Barthel Hansen, Head of Representative of Danish Embassy, said in his remark that it was a successful cooperation and a good partner between the two countries for the supporting of sub-national democratic development program and a joint effort in strengthening natural resource management.
NRML in D&D component is a project jointly supported by Danida, DFID, and New-Zealand. This project lasts five year (2007-2011), budgeting more than $26,000,000. The project aims to improve local governance and service delivery for sustainable natural resource management and livelihood.
After the project expiration, the Royal Government of Denmark has contributed equipments including 14 vehicles, 219 motor cycles, 182 computers and other equipments to the NCDD to support sub-national democratic development.
