Phnom Penh Plan for Development Management

Background

In 1992, the Greater Mekong Subregion countries embarked on a program of economic cooperation (the GMS Program) with the help of ADB. The GMS program, with support from ADB and other partner agencies, involves the design and implementation of subregional projects in transport, energy, telecommunications, environment, human resources development, tourism, trade, investment, and agriculture.

The Program has had remarkable results in its first decade. The increased connectivity, and a growing sense of community, has been fostered by the emergence of a more integrated regional market and the development of both national and regional institutions. Progress was however hampered by inadequate development management capacity and human resources remain deficient in absolute and qualitative terms. Institutions are still weak and constrain the GMS countries from maximizing the benefits of regional cooperation.

Against this background, the GMS countries identified a key need at the fourth meeting of the Working Group on Human Resources Development in 2002. The need was for a critical mass of highly competent and qualified middle and senior level officials to lead and drive the complex development agenda.

At the subsequent 2002 GMS Summit of Leaders the need to address the subregion's challenges in human resources development was articulated. The GMS - Phnom Penh Plan for Development Management (PPP) is the subregion's initial response to this challenge.

ADB approved the PPP in October 2002 for an initial amount of $800,000 over two years (2003-2004). It seeks to build the capacity of middle and senior level professionals in governments of the GMS countries. The PPP activities were reviewed by the GMS Ministers at the 13th GMS Ministerial Meeting in Vientiane, Lao PDR on 16 December 2004. The Ministers requested ADB to continue support to the program and to expand its scope. Consequently, a second phase of PPP was approved in March 2005 for $800,000. The New Zealand Agency for International Development, the Government of France and the Government of the People’s Republic of China also provide financial assistance.