Joint Monitoring report for Cambodia 2016-2018

Cambodia embarked on joint programming with its European partners in 2013. The resulting joint European Development Cooperation Strategy for Cambodia was launched in 2014. An initial progress report was produced in 2016, with extensive Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC), National Assembly, civil society and private sector, dialogue. Following consultations, the European Joint Strategy was consolidated and the results framework was revised to be more responsive to Cambodian development challenges, as identified in the first joint monitoring report.

The joint strategy was also extended until the end of 2019 to allow time for Cambodia’s next NSDP to be developed after the national elections in 2018. Meanwhile, Belgium has joined the group as an active European partner in joint programming, in mid-2017; therefore the European Joint Programming in Cambodia now brings together 11 partners.

This is the second Monitoring Report of the European Development Cooperation Strategy 2014-2019. In this report, European partners evaluate progress made over 2016-2018 in the areas where European partners provide support to Cambodia’s development agenda.  This document aims to provide a basis for an informed dialogue RGC and other stakeholders. It is to be used as a tool for joint analysis of progress or lack thereof in key development areas, in a constructive and solution-oriented manner, and in line with the spirit of partnership and principle of mutual accountability. This Report shall also provide a basis for the elaboration of the next Joint Cooperation Strategy, starting in 2020.

Under the framework of the joint strategy European partners agreed on two complementary action plans: (i) a joint Roadmap for Engagement with Civil Society 2014-2019, which sets out commitments to structure dialogue with civil society, support civil society efforts to enhance accountability and transparency and further strengthen  an enabling environment for civil society; (ii) a joint Gender Action Plan 2016-2020, which increases coherence in European action and puts the focus on preventing violence against women, supporting nutrition for girls and women, providing equal access to education,  TVET, decent work and productive resources; and ensuring equal participation in policy and governance processes.

The common values and principles which guide all European partners’ actions in Cambodia set out a vision of country-led development, with the overarching aim of poverty reduction. Democratic values and the principles of partnership, transparency and mutual accountability are understood to underpin development effectiveness. European partners commit to implementing sustainable development principles, investing in people, promoting gender equality and considering conflict sensitivity, in recognition of the national context.