The First Quarterly Member Meeting of NGO Forum in 2020

Thursday February 27th, 2020
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The NGO Forum on Cambodia’s (NGOF) organized its quarterly member meeting on February 27, 2020, at Phnom Penh Ecumenical Diakonia Centre (PPEDC/ICF) from 08:00 – 12:00 presided over by Mr. Om Sophana, Member of Management Committee of NGOF and Executive Director of Mlup Baitong. There were 105 participants (20 female) represented to NGO members of NGOF in Cambodia.

Key guest speakers are Mr. Lim Bunna, Deputy Director, Department of Administration, Planning and Finance, Forestry Administration, Mr. Chhun Sivitha, Deputy Director, Department of Indigenous People, MRD and Ms. Lim Sereyroth, representative of UN Women Cambodia. The agenda for this meeting are: 1) Welcome and opening remark by Mr. Om Sophana; 2) Updating on the significant quarterly progress report of NGOF by Dr. Tek Vannara; 3) Election for a new Management Committee member to replace the two members that going to finish their mandate facilitate by Mr. Ouk Vannara; 4) Update on Production Forest Strategic Plan by Mr. Lim Bunna; 5) Update on Strategic Plan for IP Conservation and Development 2020-2024 by Mr. Chhun Sivitha; 6). Update on extent gender equality has been integrated into policies and programs of climate change by Ms. Lim Sereyroth.

Mr. Om Sophana, Member of Management Committee of NGO Forum and Executive Director of Mlup Baitong gave warm welcome remarks and thanked all NGO members, government, and development partners for their participation in the important meeting.

Chair of the meeting informed the objectives to share information with NGO members and discuss their challenges and needs in order to accomplish the goal asset in the NGOF work plan. Chairman also briefed the key agendas of the meeting as follows: 1) updating on the significant progress report of NGO Forum; 2) Update on Production Forest Strategic Plan; 3). Update on Strategic Plan for IP Conservation and Development 2020-2024; 4). Update on extent gender equality has been integrated into policies and programs of climate change.

Dr. Tek Vannara also updated briefly the progress of NGOF as the following major achievements from November to February 2020:

  • MAFF has incorporated CSOs inputs into the draft of Agriculture Sector Master Plan 2030 through the consultative workshop
  • Organized NDF-C steering committee meeting and 8th NFF reflection meeting: the first steering of NDF-C steering committee meeting was held at NGOF office
  • Organized 1st NDF-C Quarterly meeting: 1st NDF-C quarterly meeting was organized in objective to Update general information among members (related to agriculture, food security, and safety…),
  • Attended Regional Training of Trainers (ToT) on Capacity Assessment for Responsible Agri-Investments and youth in Agricultural Sector from 09-13 December 2019 at Bangkok, Thailand: The training is organized by FAO and AsiaDHRRA.
  • Finalized CCB report and make it available for launching to the general public. NGO Forum is going to officially launch on March 4, 2020 at Sunway Hotel, Phnom Penh.
  • WoMA incorporated CSOs into draft Gender and Climate Change Action Plan (2020-2023) through the consultative workshop which was organized on Jan 28, 2020 at Himawari hotel.
  • Organized exposure visits on Climate-smart agriculture and agriculture technique to NDF-C and NECA members: NGOF hosted an exposure visit to Battambang province to enable NDF-C and NECA members to learning from the practical experience of PDA, local community and private sector in contract farming, coping with climate-smart agriculture.
  • RCC developed CSO’s press statement concerning Luang Prabang project and published: RCC on February 6th issued a press statement concerning the proposed Luang Prabang hydropower project. As a result, there were 5 media reported and echoed the statement, including RFI, VoD, Khmer Times, Cambodia Daily, and VoA.
  • RCC coordinated its member organizations to participate in the 2nd National Consultation on the proposed Luang Prabang project on 9th Jan in Kratie province. As a result, CSOs and the community raised a lot of comments and suggestions on the proposed dam to CNMC.
  • Finalized the Report on Doing Good Index which will be endorsed during this year. Which the report has illustrated about the 1)- Fiscal taxation 2)- Regulation (Civic space) and 3)- Government procurement plan.
  • Developed two videos documentary, one CSDGs and one is NSDP.
  • Joint with CCC in providing statements and inputs to Sub-Working Group on LANGO of MoI.
  • Developed a 5-year BWG strategic plan of the BWG (2020-2024) through consultation with BWG members, EU, UNDP, and SIDA representatives.
  • Finalized and submitted two project proposals to UNDAF.
  • Provided refresher training on National and Sub-National Budget as well as on how to produce a video related to the National and Subnational at Rattanakiri provinces, there are 20 participants (08 women).
  • Joint in TWG PFMR to provide inputs for Macro-Economic at the Ministry of Economic and Finance.
  • Joint in TVK3 Talkshow on the importance of public participation in the budgetary process both National and Sub-National, and the video has been shared through Blue media website, NGOF Budget Voice and Youtube.
  • Coordinated provincial meetings with provincial authorities and LAHRiN members to update land dispute report and 3-focused case follow up in Kampong Cham, Pursat, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Thom, and Siem Reap. The meeting aimed to follow up for land dispute case resolution and strengthen the provincial network for engagement and dialogue with the sub-national government.
  • Submitted statement of the national conference on land and natural resources governance to all relevant national and sub-national government institutions for their updated information and action taken.
  • Organize LAHRiN Steering members meeting to inform LAHRiN Annual Operational Plan 2020.
  • Organize resettlement working group meetings to update the progress, challenges, and joint action to address selected resettlement issues.
  • Coordinated dissemination and reflection workshop on indigenous collective land registration, preliminary mapping, community protected areas and technical meetings on indigenous peoples’ collective land registration in Protected Area and forests reserve of the state.
  • Coordinated Regional Exposure Visit on Land Governance and Natural Resources Management, Manila, Philippine co-organized by NGOF and NTFP-EP regional. The working group developed a joint-action plan to strengthen community rights in land and natural resources management.
  • Worked with IPFN members and consultants to review the draft strategic plan for IP development and conservation in Cambodia and submitted to MRD.
  • Participated and contributed to the 6th Annual Meeting of National Community Forestry Program Coordination Committee.
  • Attended in the TWG-FR meeting to update the progress, challenges, and way forward for promoting CF livelihood and sustainability.
  • Organized CSO-REDD+ Steering Committee meeting to provide direction on 2020 priority actions.
  • Joint action to support National Community Forestry Program Coordination Committee for Reviewing Community Forestry Management Plan (in progress).
  • Participated in Forest Governance Monitoring System development with Voice for Mekong Forest project partners such as RECOFTC and WWF.

Mr. Ouk Vannara, has introduced the three management committee members that going to finish their mandate and interest to be select and serving the second term including Mr. Run Saray and Mrs. Luy Raksmey.
The results of MC election in the following:

  1. Mr. Run Saray has received 24 votes.
  2. Mrs. Luy Raksmey has received 20 votes.
  3. Ms. Pry Phally Phoung has received 18 votes.

Guest Speaker 1: Mr. Lim Bunna, Deputy Director, Department of Administration, Planning, and Finance, Forestry Administration presented about Production Forest Strategic Plan. Forestry Administration has cooperated with UNDP to develop Forest Strategic Plan. There are many policies. SDGs goal 15 related to forestry. FA has developed the National Forestry Action Plan and the protected area under the supervision of MoE. FA has developed a strategic plan for forestry governance. Every five years the NSDP has included forestry development plan. MAFF five years strategic plan included forestry governance. Many works of FA need to reform such as transfer the role and responsibility of forestry into the Provincial Agriculture Department. Based on the reform MAFF has developed a Forest Strategic Plan through the consultation workshop. The seventh draft was submitted to MAFF. The inputs from CSOs will be incorporated into the Forest Strategic Plan. It includes vision, mission, and goal. There are four objectives with 23 projects from 2018-2032.

Guest Speaker 2: Mr. Chhun Sivitha, Deputy Director, Department of Ethnic Minority, MRD presented about Strategic Plan for IP Conservation and Development 2020-2024. This Ethnic Minority Department under the ministry of rural development has the following objectives:
The role of department:

  • Support ethnic minority studies in the mountains, plateaus, and plains by clearly identifying the identity, traditions, and customs of each community.
  • Coordinate all indigenous development activities in the mountains, plateaus, and plains in the Kingdom of Cambodia.
  • Monitoring, evaluating and reporting on the implementation of minority development programs and projects in Cambodia.
  • To train civil servants at all levels of ethnic development and conduct workshops with all stakeholders implementing ethnic development programs and projects.
  • Active in the development of ethnic minorities in the mountains, plateaus, and plains.
  • Seek assistance from donors, national and international organizations for the development of ethnic communities.
  • Establish and manage National and Mountain Development Information Center in collaboration with relevant international organizations, non-governmental organizations and neighboring countries with development programs Mountains and plateaus.
  • Improving the people’s development policy in the mountains and highlands for submission to the Royal Government.
  • Develop guidelines and set up criteria for establishing ethnic communities for mountains, plateaus, and plains.
    Achievement, evaluation, identification:
    The Department of Ethnic Minority has a partnership with the Ministry of Interior to recognize 141 indigenous communities as individuals. Develop internal regulations and land use in a collective manner for 85 indigenous communities. There is a total of 455 IP communities. 154 IP communities were recognized by MRD.
    The Strategic Plan for IP Conservation and Development 2020-2024 was developed with the support from NGO Forum. Key strategic priority in the following:
    • Continuing study and assessment of indigenous cultural identity.
    • Strengthen the capacity of provincial officials and indigenous communities recognized by the Ministry of Rural Development.
    • Seminar to learn more about indigenous community development.
    • Celebrate International Indigenous Peoples Day.
    • Short-term skills training for indigenous peoples.
    • Establish an Indigenous Peoples’ Community.
    • Opening of National Seminar finds out more about Indigenous peoples not yet listed in the National Indigenous People Policy Guide.
    • The construction of an individual land registration process and collective land use.

Guest Speaker 3: Ms. Lim Sereyroth, representative of UN Women Cambodia presented about extent gender equality has been integrated into policies and programs of climate change.

Women and men may experience the direct and indirect impacts of climate change differently (e.g. food security, water, health, workloads, survival, and injury or death…etc.). Women are often disproportionately affected by climate change and disasters. Socially constructed role, responsibilities, conditions & position in family and society. Limited access to resources and services (financial, training, technology…etc.)/denial of rights. The limited voice in shaping decisions and influencing policy. Unleashing Knowledge and Capacity of Women. Diverse capacity and can contribute differently to climate change adaptation and mitigation.

At the closing of the meeting, Dr. Tek Vannara, summarised the results to the QMM, thanked the honorable guest speakers and participants for sharing the knowledge and experience related to the topics proposed at the meeting responding to objectives and expected results.