Managing for Development Results at ADB

Results Matter April 2008

Managing for Development Results in Cambodia
By Arjun Goswami, Country Director, Cambodia Resident Mission

Although the Cambodia Country Strategy and Program (CSP) 2005–2009 was not one of the pilot results-based CSPs, it incorporated many of the results features later adopted by ADB: extensive dialogue with stakeholders, close alignment with national development goals and priorities, efforts to harmonize and coordinate assistance programs with other development partners, and use of existing government-donor mechanisms for monitoring outcomes. A Results Framework 2006–2010 provided a selective list of “SMART” (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely) outcome indicators, which is the basis for monitoring the CSP implementation.

The strategic thrust of the 2005–2009 CSP is to contribute to sustainable poverty reduction by addressing binding economic constraints. The recent CSP midterm review confirmed the relevance of this approach, which entails broadening the sources of growth and addressing rural poverty. The midterm review also highlighted the need for a greater focus on rural development. ADB assistance for the rest of the CSP period will take the form of an integrated program of agricultural and rural development, with focused interventions on access to rural credit, decentralized registration of businesses in rural areas, farmer’s education and training, risk mitigation through public financial management for rural development, and the integrated Tonle Sap initiatives.

Use of Country Systems
In early 2007, the Government issued a sub-decree that instructed all government agencies implementing projects financed by ADB and World Bank to use the Government’s manuals for standard operating procedures, financial management, and procurement. These manuals were direct products of the Government’s public financial management reform program, developed with assistance from ADB and World Bank with a view to improving the performance of project portfolio management and public procurement. They were completed in 2005 and took effect initially under a ministerial directive. While the manuals are currently applied to ADB and World Bank-financed projects, the Government is encouraging other development partners to adopt their use.

ADB support for Management for Development Results
Cambodia benefited from four ADB regional technical assistance projects introducing MfDR techniques at the project and sector management level:

• Results-Focused Project Design and Management
• Decentralization in Social Sectors
• Assessing Private Sector Development Outcomes in Projects
• Strengthening Results-Based Management for Sector Agencies

However, despite the Government’s growing receptivity to the MfDR agenda, more country-focused assistance is needed to develop the understanding and concrete applications of MfDR in the global context of aid effectiveness.

Learn more about MfDR in ADB’s developing member countries

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