Joint Programming in CAMBODIA The process Phnom Penh

Joint Programming in CAMBODIA

The process • Phnom Penh Ho. Ms proposal to HQ (Sept 2012) • HQ endorsement (March 2013) • EU DC retreat launches JP process (March 2013) • First draft informal Roadmap • Draft Joint Strategy document structure • SWI proposes to join the process • Letter to the Government (May 2013) • Endorsement letter received (June 2013)

The process • Political Economy Analysis (by end July 2013) • Start of Joint Strategy drafting (Jul-Aug 2013) • • • Regular local consultations on draft versions Periodic submissions to respective HQs First solid draft: end October 2013 Second draft submitted to HQs: December 2013 Locally led process!

The process • Local Consultations on final JS draft (March 2014) 1. 2. 3. 4. With Private sector representatives NGOs in Cambodia other DPs (Informal Donor Lunch) the Royal Government of Cambodia • JS fine-tuning following the consultations • Submission to HQs for final review (9 May 2014) • All approvals received (by mid-August 2014)

The process • Joint Strategy Launching ceremony in Phnom Penh • 20 November 2014 • 200 guests (RGC, NGOs, DPs) • 'signing ceremony' (optional) • 2 JS partners decided to REPLACE bilateral CSPs (EU, DE) • Following adoption – regular joint monitoring decided • Cambodia produced the 1 st Strategy with Results Framework!

Main positive outcomes/results • Even greater EUR DP cooperation locally • Lowering our daily work transaction costs - for the future • Lowering transaction costs for the Govt. (one document to consider – financing overview etc. ) • 'Opening up' of the Government to the JP process: • Political dialogue at a higher level • Greater EUR visibility (towards RGC and other DPs)

Recommendations/warnings • Decision in capitals to support the JP process does NOT necessarily equal support on the ground… • 'personal factor' can be problematic • It is and should be a LOCALLY-led process • 'local ownership' of EUR DPs is key • no strict JS template – go as far as feels locally possible/comfortable • Need to overcome the misleading initial perception of "a lot of extra workload for no clear added value"…

Recommendations/warnings • Make the Govt. aware it is something positive • Use Capacity 4 Dev – demystifies many things • If any further questions on case Cambodia: Jasna. Pajnkihar@ec. europa. eu DG Europe. Aid, Development and Co-operation Unit H 1 – Geographical Coordination: Asia and the Pacific Geographical Coordinator for Cambodia