Introduction
Through the Innovations for Decentralization and Local Development (IDLD) programme, UNCDF complements the larger UNDP/DFID/SIDA-supported Project Support to Decentralization and De-concentration- PSDD
Goals
The IDLD project goal is to reduce poverty in Cambodia via the design and implementation of stronger multi-level governance mechanisms and local development policies. Its purpose is pro-poor local development (improvement in coverage/quality of local infrastructure and services, better local-level natural resources management and accelerated and diversified Local Economic Development (LED).
The IDLD focuses essentially on institutional and policy development outputs, with only minor elements of capital financing, as they may be needed, for testing the proposed policy and institutional innovations.
The original IDLD project has become fully operational at the end of 2008. Also, its content was updated given important changes in the policy context including the passing of the Organic Law and the decision to hold sub-national elections in May 2009.
The IDLD project aims at providing technical assistance to the Royal Government of Cambodia in three critical areas: (i) Strategic Planning capacity at sub-national level: UNCDF is active in the design and monitoring of Integrated Planning Guidelines for Provinces, Districts and Communes. Particular emphasis will be placed on coaching and monitoring at the level of the District councils to be elected in 2009. (ii) Planning and Monitoring capacity at National level. This will include work with the Ministry of Planning and other institutions involved in territorial data collection and analysis. UNCDF supported activities in this area will include the first Cambodia’s Local Economic Outlook that will provide a key instrument for monitoring local development trends and assessing the impact of governance reforms across the territory. (iii) Fiscal decentralisation. This area of work will include support to the drafting of the Sub-National Finance Law and related regulations as well as the design and piloting of innovative financing arrangements for sub-national governments.
Total Budget
The total cost of IDLD is estimated at approximately USD 1,500,000 (2008-2010).
UNCDF Contacts for Cambodia
Mr. Nicola Crosta
Programme Management Advisor
nicola.crosta@uncdf.org
Asia Regional Office (LD)
Ms. Jill Engen
Regional Technical Advisor
jill.engen@uncdf.org
