Demand for Good Governance Project Selects 13 Organizations in Cambodia

22 February 2012

News Release

For Immediate Release

 

Demand for Good Governance Project Selects 13 Organizations in Cambodia

Round II competitive grant recipients to strengthen citizen participation

Phnom Penh – February 22, 2012 – The Asia Foundation officially announced the selection of 13 organizations who have been awarded grants under the medium and large round II competition of the Demand for Good Governance (DFGG) project, a four-year project coordinated by the Ministry of Interior of the Royal Government of Cambodia. The Foundation administers the non-state actor component of the project, under which these grants are awarded. The competitive grants are awarded to local organizations implementing innovative governance projects across 15 provinces in Cambodia. The projects are designed to increase citizen participation in the public sphere and strengthen partnerships between state and non-state actors. The total value of the 13 grant awards will reach $1.4 million.

His Excellency Ngy Chanphal, Secretary of State and DFGG Project Coordinator, Ministry of Interior, at the February 1^st launch of the new grants spoke on the importance of civil society working collaboratively with government to improve good governance at the sub-national level. His Excellency also highlighted the demand and supply sides of good governance, and increased cooperation between government, civil society, and citizens to achieve sustainable outcomes for Cambodia.

Gavin Tritt, The Asia Foundation’s Country Representative in Cambodia said, “Civil society plays an important role in working with government, and these grants provide a great opportunity to strengthen positive partnerships and work towards improved governance and social accountability.”

After a highly competitive selection process, with over 100 applicants, the 13 organizations were selected from a pool of short-listed organizations.

The selected organizations will each implement projects that have been funded under either the thematic or partnership window of the DFGG grants round. The thematic grants window will: (i) support enhanced engagement with the commune/sangkat and district/khan councils in sub-national planning and project implementation and (ii) strengthen local education and health service delivery through targeted social accountability tools. The partnership grants window of NSAC will provide funds to non-state actors to complement the activities of the following state institutions:

 

• Ministry of Interior (MOI), and the
• District Support Team (DST)/One Window Service Office Project, National Committee for Sub-national Democratic Development (NCDD-S).

Overview of the 13 Organizations

The projects of the 13 organizations have extensive geographic coverage, and will be implemented in 15 provinces of Cambodia. Nine of the 13 organizations are implementing through the thematic grants window, and four finalists are implementing partnership grants. Many of organizations awarded grants will be implementing projects designed to improve the effectiveness of public service delivery at the sub-national level, using social accountability tools such as the Community Score Card or Citizens Report Card to monitor government services, particularly health and education services, and seek to improve gaps in service delivery.

The following organizations have been selected as the medium and large grants round II grantees:

Cambodian Women’s Network for Development (AMARA)

Advocacy and Policy Institute (API)

Buddhism for Development (BFD)

Buddhism for Health (BFH)

Cambodian Civil Society Partnership (CCSP)

Democracy Resource Centre for National Development (DND)

Khmer Association for Development of Country-Side, Cambodia & Community Economic Development (KAFDOC-CED)

Pact Institute (PACT)

Peace and Development Organization (PDAO)

Reproductive and Child Health Alliance (RACHA)

Reproductive Health Association of Cambodia (RHAC)

STAR Kampuchea (SK)

Wathnakpheap (WP)

Grants Selection Process and Criteria

The DFGG non-state actor component utilizes a transparent and competitive grant-making mechanism. All successful organizations were selected by an independent Cambodian grant-making committee (GMC) composed of senior state and non-state representatives, also selected through an open application process. The GMC nominations were confirmed by His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior Sar Kheng.

There was a rigorous process to ensure that applications were thoroughly vetted, including submission of a concept note and full application, and due diligence conducted by The Asia Foundation. In selecting the 13 organizations, the GMC used defined rating criteria that included demonstrated experience implementing governance projects, well-articulated analysis of the local context, clear and logical implementation design, and clearly articulated outcomes.

About Demand for Good Governance (DFGG)

The Demand for Good Governance Project is an ongoing four-year project supported by the World Bank and coordinated by the Cambodian Ministry of Interior the aim of enhancing the demand for good governance in priority reform areas by strengthening institutions, supporting partnerships, and sharing lessons. The non-state actor component (NSAC), a key pillar of DFGG aims to increase the extent and ability of citizens, civil society organizations, and other non-state actors to hold the state accountable and make it responsive to their needs.

To learn more about the Demand for Good Governance project’s Non-State Actor Component (NSAC), visit our website www.dfgg-nsac.org or contact the NSAC Secretariat on (023) 210-413. For further information on DFGG, access the project’s official website: http://www.dfggmoi.gov.kh.

About The Asia Foundation

The Asia Foundation is a non-profit, non-governmental organization committed to the development of a peaceful, prosperous, just, and open Asia-Pacific region. The Foundation supports Asian initiatives to improve governance and law, economic development, women's empowerment, the environment, and regional cooperation. Drawing on nearly 60 years of experience in Asia, the Foundation collaborates with private and public partners to support leadership and institutional development, exchanges, and policy research.

With 17 offices throughout Asia, an office in Washington, DC, and its headquarters in San Francisco, the Foundation addresses these issues on both a country and regional level. In 2010, the Foundation provided more than $98 million in program support and distributed nearly one million books and journals valued at over $42 million.

 

In Phnom Penh: Gavin Tritt

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tel: +855 (0)23.210.431

 

In San Francisco: Eelynn Sim

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tel: +1-415.743.3318