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United Nations Development Program (UNDP)United Nations Development Program (UNDP)

THE URBAN GOVERNANCE INITIATIVE (YUGI)THE URBAN GOVERNANCE INITIATIVE (YUGI)

Regional Symposium on Local Governance Regional Symposium on Local Governance and the Informal Economyand the Informal Economy

Tuesday 9Tuesday 9thth – Thursday 11 – Thursday 11thth December, 2003 December, 2003 Colombo, Sri LankaColombo, Sri Lanka

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Commune CouncilsCommune Councils

Since 1908, Cambodia has had a tradition of Since 1908, Cambodia has had a tradition of centralized government. centralized government.

Prior to the arrival of the French, there were no Prior to the arrival of the French, there were no commune structures in Cambodia. commune structures in Cambodia.

In June 1908, a Royal Decree established a In June 1908, a Royal Decree established a simple administrative framework to form a simple administrative framework to form a commune (khum). commune (khum).

Elections were held in order for inhabitants to Elections were held in order for inhabitants to vote for a chief. vote for a chief.

A decree in 1919 gave the commune its own A decree in 1919 gave the commune its own budget and finances. budget and finances.

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Commune CouncilsCommune Councils More powers in terms of administrative, judicial and More powers in terms of administrative, judicial and

financial organization were given to the communes in financial organization were given to the communes in 1925. 1925.

In 1943, the commune election system was removed.In 1943, the commune election system was removed. An attempt to return to an election system to An attempt to return to an election system to

encourage participation was made in 1959.encourage participation was made in 1959. Civil war in early 1970s disrupted commune Civil war in early 1970s disrupted commune

administration which was then destroyed during the administration which was then destroyed during the Khmer Rouge period (1975-1979).Khmer Rouge period (1975-1979).

After January 7, 1979, returned to the system of After January 7, 1979, returned to the system of commune administration.commune administration.

Local administration at the commune level remained Local administration at the commune level remained largely unchanged in Cambodia from 1979 to 2002.largely unchanged in Cambodia from 1979 to 2002.

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Commune councilsCommune councils

Cambodia ConstitutionCambodia Constitution Government’s goal:Government’s goal:

– to move the government administration closer to its to move the government administration closer to its citizens.citizens.

– to improve the basic service provisionto improve the basic service provision– to reduce povertyto reduce poverty

The Ministry of Interior conducted a study on The Ministry of Interior conducted a study on local administration. local administration.

A commune council election was organized on A commune council election was organized on the 3the 3rdrd of February 2002 of February 2002

11,261 councilors (951 of whom were women) 11,261 councilors (951 of whom were women) were elected in 1,621 communes.were elected in 1,621 communes.

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Commune CouncilsCommune Councils To support the development of the To support the development of the

Commune/Sangkat and the well-being of its Commune/Sangkat and the well-being of its citizens.citizens.

To find out about their needs and interests To find out about their needs and interests and to develop programs that improve and to develop programs that improve living standards.living standards.

To encourage and protect good governanceTo encourage and protect good governance To develop and implement the To develop and implement the

commune/Sangkat development plan.commune/Sangkat development plan. To develop programs that respond to the To develop programs that respond to the

needs through providing services and needs through providing services and development. development.

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Commune Councils- AchievementsCommune Councils- Achievements1.1. Basic policy and legal system.Basic policy and legal system.2.2. National Committee Support Commune/DOLA National Committee Support Commune/DOLA

established and actively functioningestablished and actively functioning3.3. Basic management and administrative structure of CCs Basic management and administrative structure of CCs

put in place.put in place.4.4. Commune clerks appointed and trained to provide Commune clerks appointed and trained to provide

management and administrative support to CCsmanagement and administrative support to CCs5.5. Capacity building activities of three basic training Capacity building activities of three basic training

(orientation, finance, and planning)(orientation, finance, and planning)6.6. Training of Trainers for CCsTraining of Trainers for CCs7.7. Support of international agenciesSupport of international agencies8.8. Some partnership arrangements with NGO/civil society.Some partnership arrangements with NGO/civil society.9.9. Public awarenessPublic awareness

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Commune Councils - ChallengesCommune Councils - Challenges Coordination and participationCoordination and participation Structure and support systemStructure and support system Human resourcesHuman resources FinanceFinance CC members are still not so clear about their role CC members are still not so clear about their role

and mandate. The delegation of power is not fully and mandate. The delegation of power is not fully done.done.

Means for communications are not sufficient.Means for communications are not sufficient. Other departments do not fully understand the Other departments do not fully understand the

process of decentralization. It is new to them.process of decentralization. It is new to them. More emphasis on administration work and politics. More emphasis on administration work and politics. Planning is not always consistent with the relevant Planning is not always consistent with the relevant

departments from the central governmentdepartments from the central government

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Commune Councils - ChallengesCommune Councils - Challenges Budget is not appropriate for plansBudget is not appropriate for plans No mandate yet to collect revenue within No mandate yet to collect revenue within

their commune.their commune. 10% counterpart contribution is hard to fulfill10% counterpart contribution is hard to fulfill People are also new to the process of People are also new to the process of

decentralization.decentralization. People have no confidence in commune People have no confidence in commune

councils because they cannot protect the councils because they cannot protect the interests of the people.interests of the people.

Plans focus more on infrastructure (80%).Plans focus more on infrastructure (80%).

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Informal Economy in Phnom PenhInformal Economy in Phnom Penh The informal economy mainly operated by the poorThe informal economy mainly operated by the poor Their average earnings are low. Their average earnings are low. Major activities include:Major activities include:

– street vendorsstreet vendors– small repairssmall repairs– market vendorsmarket vendors– book/newspaper stallsbook/newspaper stalls– motor-taximotor-taxi– tricycletricycle– children’s computer gameschildren’s computer games– massage/brothelmassage/brothel– lottery, etc. lottery, etc.

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Informal Economy in Phnom PenhInformal Economy in Phnom Penh

Most of the commune council members had no Most of the commune council members had no clear picture of the informal economy in clear picture of the informal economy in Cambodia. Cambodia.

There are no clear plans with regards to the There are no clear plans with regards to the informal economy at the commune level. There informal economy at the commune level. There are poverty reduction strategy at the Khan and are poverty reduction strategy at the Khan and municipal levels. municipal levels.

Not enough place for people to sell their Not enough place for people to sell their goods.goods.

Many markets are built and are managed by Many markets are built and are managed by private companies.private companies.

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Informal Economy in Phnom PenhInformal Economy in Phnom Penh It is expensive and business is not as good as It is expensive and business is not as good as

when they are selling along the street. when they are selling along the street. The commune councils do not have much control The commune councils do not have much control

over the sector.over the sector. There is no income for the commune councils There is no income for the commune councils

from this sector.from this sector. Most of the time, police take money from sellers Most of the time, police take money from sellers

on a regular basis.on a regular basis. Street vendors are perceived to cause some Street vendors are perceived to cause some

problems such as disturbing good order, traffic, problems such as disturbing good order, traffic, road deterioration, and environment. road deterioration, and environment.

They need to keep the city in good order and They need to keep the city in good order and looking beautiful.looking beautiful.

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ResponseResponse

NGOs provide training, awareness raising, NGOs provide training, awareness raising, and organizing the people who work in the and organizing the people who work in the informal sector.informal sector.

Provide skills training and loan scheme.Provide skills training and loan scheme. Involve the Commune Councils in our work.Involve the Commune Councils in our work. Help facilitate meeting or planning sessions.Help facilitate meeting or planning sessions. Develop capacity of staff to conduct Develop capacity of staff to conduct

monitoring activities of commune council monitoring activities of commune council performance. performance.

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ResponseResponse

Based on the National Poverty Based on the National Poverty Reduction Strategy of Royal Reduction Strategy of Royal Government of Cambodia, the Government of Cambodia, the Municipality of Phnom Penh Municipality of Phnom Penh implements:implements:

1.1. adequate housing and living conditions, adequate housing and living conditions, basic services for the urban poorbasic services for the urban poor

2.2. adequate economic adequate economic opportunities/income generationopportunities/income generation

3.3. improving local governance.improving local governance.

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Response:Response:Adequate economic opportunities/income Adequate economic opportunities/income

generationgeneration Development programs by MPP to Development programs by MPP to

achieve the economic goal:achieve the economic goal:

– Hold series of consultations between Hold series of consultations between stakeholders, officials and private stakeholders, officials and private sectors to develop livelihood sectors to develop livelihood framework.framework.

– Implement vocational trainingImplement vocational training– Promote innovative micro-finance for Promote innovative micro-finance for

small-scale entrepreneurssmall-scale entrepreneurs– Promote the associations of vendors, Promote the associations of vendors,

transport workers, scavengers, etc.transport workers, scavengers, etc.

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Response:Response:Adequate economic opportunities/income Adequate economic opportunities/income

generationgeneration Development programs by MPP to achieve Development programs by MPP to achieve

the economic goal:the economic goal:

– Adopt the policies to stop the harassment of Adopt the policies to stop the harassment of poor self-employed, and provide legal support poor self-employed, and provide legal support to themto them

– Promote understanding of informal Promote understanding of informal economy/sector among city officialseconomy/sector among city officials

– Develop market information service for the Develop market information service for the poorpoor

– Reform management of municipal markets to Reform management of municipal markets to make stall/space affordable to the poormake stall/space affordable to the poor

– Use community contracts for infrastructure Use community contracts for infrastructure buildingbuilding

Adequate economic opportunities for the urban poorAdequate economic opportunities for the urban poor

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Adequate economic opportunities for the urban poorAdequate economic opportunities for the urban poor

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Adequate economic opportunities for the urban poorAdequate economic opportunities for the urban poor

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