In this publication, NGOs working in Cambodia have provided observations and recommendations on important Cambodian development issues, reflecting on progress throughout 2003.
The NGO community in Cambodia welcomes its
inclusion in the process of contributing to development policy and in assessing
progress. It strives to engage in this process in a positive manner offering a
pro-poor, experience-led contribution both to debates surrounding poverty
reduction and through its own poverty reduction activities.
NGOs, as development institutions, can
contribute much to poverty reduction plans by sharing the observations and
conclusions arising from their development experience.
NGOs, in their day-to-day duties, work closely with poor and vulnerable
groups and therefore are in a strong position to communicate the needs of these
groups to decision-makers.
NGOs have been active in Cambodia since the
fall of the Khmer Rouge in 1979. Following
the restoration of Western development aid in 1992, they actively contributed to
meetings of the International Committee on the Reconstruction of Cambodia (ICORC),
which were held each year from 1993 to 1995.
Since 1996, NGOs have attended the annual Consultative Group meetings,
and each year they have presented a detailed statement on NGOs’ issues and
recommendations for the development of Cambodia.
No Consultative Group meeting was held in 2003 due to the preoccupation
with the national elections. These NGO
Sectoral and Issues Papers on Poverty Reduction and Development may
contribute to the next Consultative Group meeting, which is expected to be held
later in 2004 following the formation of a new Cambodian government.
NGOs in Cambodia hope that this publication may provoke debate and be an important reference tool for NGOs, government, donors, consultants, and development agencies seeking to contribute to poverty reduction in Cambodia.
These NGO sectoral and issues papers were
prepared through the voluntary effort of many NGOs, both local and
international, based on their experience of development work in Cambodia. The
NGO or NGO sectoral group which led the drafting of each sectoral paper is
listed in the “List of Contributors” on the following page. Editing was
coordinated by the NGO Forum on Cambodia. The
NGO Forum on Cambodia gives thanks to all NGOs who contributed to this
publication.