Subnational Democratic Development Program (SNDD)

Support to democracy, local governance and citizens’ participation as a key contribution to poverty reduction and stability in Cambodia must be understood in the context of decades of civil war and genocide: Cambodia only started rebuilding its governing structures in 2000. Democratically elected communal councils were introduced with the first local elections in 2002. Building upon the first decade of decentralization, the Sub-national Democratic Development Program (SNDD) 2010 – 2019 defines the district and municipality as the layers between commune and provincial level government. The implementation of the govern-ment’s 10 -year reform agenda is sequenced along three phases. The first phase of SNDD aims at setting up new sub-national administration struc-tures through developing policies, defining sub-national functions and responsibilities and building the capacities needed for implementation.

Sub-national administrations (SNA) promote the welfare (voice, rights, livelihoods and services) of local citizens, improve equality between citizens and communities (including women & women’s groups) and ensure fairness in access to services.

The target beneficiaries of the program are

• Local citizens (in particular women, children, youth and disadvantaged groups),
• Sub-national government (particularly commune/sangkat and district/ municipality administrations)
• Line ministries and institutions mandated for implementing the sub-components of the national reform program (the NCDD Secretariat, M. Interior, State Secretariat of Civil Service, M. Economy and Finance, M. Planning, and National League of Commune and Sangkat).

Sub-national democratic development and, in particular, the capacity of Districts and Municipalities to represent the views of local citizens and to respond to their demands, within an established legal framework, is established and functioning.SDC specific objectives are:

• Ownership and capacity development at sub-national level enhanced;
• Mainstreaming of gender equality and gender budgeting are strengthened;
• Extension of the current phase of SNDD Implementation Plan and elaboration of second SNDD implementation plan supported;
• Peer learning across LOGIN and DLGN networks organized;
• Donor coordination and alignment enhanced.

Principaux résultats antérieurs:  

The first decade of decentralization 2000 – 2010 shows a promising shift towards building up trust between local authorities and citizens and in opening of democratic space at local level, hence re-building state-citizen connectivity after decades of violent conflicts. The 2012 mid-term review of the first phase of SNDD implementation period (2011 –2014) confirms that the SNDD reform is moving in the right direction. Major achievements include (a) staffing of newly established district/municipality administrative structures; (b) adoption of the law and sub-decree on district/municipality financing; (c) establishment of a district/municipality fund; and (d) initial functional re-assignment in five ministries. Constraints identified include the need for: (a) more coherent capacity development; (b) enhanced ownership and greater attention to citizen participation, transparency and accountability; c) enhanced donor harmonization; d) speeding up functional re-assignments; and e) and cohesive donor funding to IP3 basked fund.

Phase 1 01.08.2013 - 30.04.2015   (Completed)