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NCDDS studies highlight citizens’ perceptions of local governance and the impact of Commune Sangkat Fund

Phnom Penh, 31 May 2010: Key findings from two-year long NCDDS studies on local governance processes, outcomes and citizen’s perceptions of accountability and responsiveness reveal that:

• Local governance has improved in five study provinces as well as nationally (11% rise in the Local Governance Index) since 2008 baseline survey.
• Commune Sangkhat Fund investment contributed significantly to local governance improvement. Roughly, a 10% increase in the Commune Sangkhat Fund will result into 0.93% rise in the “Local Governance Index”.

The findings are made through the use of NCDDS M&E Unit developed “Local Governance Index” – a barometer of monitoring local governance for Cambodia. A few more key findings from the two year long two local governance-support studies are:

• Citizen’s perception of Commune Council transparency tends to be higher where CC clerk is better educated and experienced, where the CC chief is experienced too and where the CC follows the Project Implementation Manual (PIM) guidelines.
• Citizen’s perception of Commune Council addressing priority needs tends to be higher where number of commune projects and three year total expenditure are larger and where CC Chief has more education and experience.
• The surveys find that the term “Accountability” is not properly understood in Cambodia. This makes it difficult to use as local governance indicator to measure it. Also, surveys reveal that the Accountability Poster and the “Complaint Box” are not effective.
• Regarding Citizen’s voice and participation in CC affairs, surveys find that only 52% of citizens participate in CC meetings (less so in urban areas).

H.E Sak Setha, Secretary of State, Ministry of Interior and Head of NCDD Secretariat in opening the seminar remarked that, “we will gain new knowledge and useful information to help us to address our shortcomings and to help monitor our progress with local governance and local development”.

This commitment to improve local governance is echoed by H.E. Leng Vy, General Director of General Department of Local Administration, Ministry of Interior and Deputy Head of NCDD Secretariat in his closing remark by suggesting “to do more of this type of studies to inform and to guide local governance and local development work”.

The 2008 baseline and 2009 follow up surveys on citizen’s perceptions of accountability and responsiveness were conducted in five provinces by SBK Research and Development. Formative Evaluation and Outcome Monitoring Study was conducted in three provinces by Catalyst Management Services, India and Economic Institute of Cambodia. The studies were part of monitoring progress with local governance and of informing policy and decision making. The studies were supported by “Project to Support Democratic Development through Decentralization and Deconcentralization” – a joint UNDP, Sida and DFID support to NCDD.

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For more information, please contact Mr. Phen Raksmey, NCDD PST Information and Public Relations Officer via email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , tel: 017 796 523
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