Memorandum of Understanding on Formation and Functioning of Budget Working Group
The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is to establish a collaborative relationship and commitment among undersigned members to work together as a national coalition on the budget transparency and accountability in Cambodia. Parties to this MOU agreed to achieve the strategic plan set and agreed by members.
Parties in MOU agreed with the following activities.
Budget Working Group Structure
The structure of the BWG should consist of three main groups and a secretariat
1- Advisory Group (external) who volunteer to support the core group in strategic direction as well as the technical knowledge. This group may consist of at least two and no more than five members who come from the following: independent academia, government official, development partners, members of parliament and/or youth leader.
2- Core Group is the main group that has core mandate to support the BWG strategic and operational plan. This group consists of 10 members from NGO/CSOs in maximum that will meet on monthly basis.
3- Associate Group is member who shows an interest in budget transparency and accountability and supports the core group to implement the strategic and operational plan of the BWG.
4- Secretariat coordinates day-to-day function of the BWG and is selected by the core group members.
Responsibilities
1- Advisory Group:
1- Provide strategic direction to the BWG core group
2- Participate at least one BWG core group meeting per quarter
3- Share update information regarding to the PFM, budget transparency and accountability, civil society space, development trend…etc with the BWG
4- Provide overall comments and input in research design and on the BWG publication document such as research findings, IEC material, reports…etc.
5- Identify and link up the BWG with potential advocates and supporters of budget transparency and accountability
2- Core Group
1- Assign at least two qualified middle-management staffs (one main member and alternative member) as member of the BWG to ensure that organization’s representative participate the BWG activities. In addition, this will help the BWG active in working together.
2- Decide on strategic direction of the BWG activities.
3- Incorporate or align the Budget Working Group activities into the respective organizations’ strategic plans as well as include BWG-related duties into assigned staff’s terms of reference. Assigned staff should attend at least 70% of all BWG meeting.
4- Provide update relevant information, and share concerns/recommendations from sectors’ activities outside of the BWG;
5- Contribute constructively inputs/comments to the BWG’s identified priorities, plans, strategies and activities, especially where needed based on one’s expertise and experience;
6- Undertake and participate in the BWG’s activities as agreed (research/studies, radio-talks, press conferences, training/ workshop with students, etc.);
7- Participate in trainings/workshops on budget-related themes (budget monitoring, etc.)
8- Promote and mainstream budget advocacy into members’ and their partners’ plans/activities where necessary.
3. Associate Group
1- Participate in at least 40% of the BWG activities including budget-related trainings/workshops and the BWG monthly meetings, with no decision power
2- May provide update relevant information, and share concerns/recommendations from sectors’ activities outside of the BWG;
3- May contribute inputs/comments to the BWG’s identified priorities, plans, strategies and activities, especially where needed based on one expertise and experiences;
4- May undertake and participate in the BWG’s activities as agreed (research/studies, radio-talks, press conferences, training/ workshop with students, etc.);
5- Help to disseminate BWG research findings in order to increase public awareness on budget transparency and citizen participation
4. Secretariat
1. Assign staff to facilitate the BWG activities
2. Act as an agent of constructive engagement with government to ensure that the relevant government institutions recognize the role of the BWG
3. Serve as a source of information gathering and dissemination on the national budget for the BWG members
4. Coordinate the BWG meeting discussion both regular and ad hoc meetings.
5. Collect and keep all BWG meetings minutes and documents.
6. Serve as a focal point of the BWG’s coordinated advocacy activities with the government, and development partners as well as the international partner.
7. Monitoring the activities in the BWG strategic plan and call for an action for any issues/concerns happened.
8. Represent the BWG if needed, i.e. participating in the PFMRP meeting
DECISION MAKING
Decisions related to the activities of the working group will be determined by simple majority of core group members, with a quorum of 50% + one of the BWG core group members in BWG meetings.
AMENDMENTS
Any amendment to this Memorandum of Understanding may be made as agreed upon by the majority of the BWG core group members.
SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES
Any difference or dispute arising out of this Memorandum of Understanding shall be settled amicably through consultations between the Parties.
ADDITION AND WITHDRAWAL OF MEMBERS
Interested Civil Society Organizations, Non-government Organizations, Community-based Organizations, and Private Sector entities may be invited by BWG members or may request to join the BWG as Associate Group member or Core Group members.
Their membership is expressed by filling an application form and is approved by the BWG Core Group members. The accepted members sign an addendum to the present Memorandum of Understanding.
Members have the right to withdraw from the Budget Working Group with one month written notice.
If a Core Group member becomes inactive and/or has a different strategic direction from the BWG, the Secretariat and/or the BWG Core Group Members will approach that member and discuss options for their involvement or withdrawal. If the member still remains inactive and does not make a decision, it will be removed from main communications between the Core Group members.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorized by their respective organization, have signed this Memorandum of Understanding in two original copies all of which are equally authentic. In case of divergence of interpretation, the English text shall prevail. (the signature stated on hard copy only)
List of the BWG as pdf file (List of BWG member)