Cambodia: Decentralized Public Service and Financial Management Sector Development Program (Subprogram 2)

Public sector management - Decentralization - Public expenditure and fiscal management

The Decentralized Public Service and Financial Management sector development program is based on a programmatic cluster approach. The program cluster comprises two subprograms enveloped by a medium term results-based framework. The DPSFM has a policy-based loan and a project loan. Subprogram 2 of the cluster approach is structured around seven major outputs: (i) the development and regular update of a gender sensitive policy and regulatory framework for decentralization; (ii) the establishment of institutions for efficient coordination of SNDD policies; (iii) the definition of clear service delivery responsibilities of SNAs; (iv) assignment of efficient tax and non-tax revenue sources to subnational administrations; (v) the implementation of fiscal transfers that ensure comparable levels of service delivery across SNAs; (vi) the development of capacities for efficient decentralized public financial management; and (vii) the design and implementation of accountability mechanisms for SNAs to their constituencies.

The project loan linked to subprogram 2 will support establishment and operations of the Sub-national Investment Fund (SNIF). The project will allocate $20 million dollar equivalent to the SNIF, a national government grant mechanism for local investment projects. Of the proposed amount, approximately $8 million will be allocated to financing civil works and equipment for SNAs (of an average project value of around $70,000), and approximately $1 million will be allocated to equipment and consultancy services of the SNIF Secretariat between 2016 and 2018. Consultancy services will include: a) training of SNIF Secretariat and SNAs; b) annual performance assessments of SNAs; c) annual evaluation and audit of investments; d) external audit of SNIF finances; and e) technical backstopping support for the SNIF Secretariat. Eligible SNAs will submit project proposals from a positive list of subsectors for investment decided by the SNIF Board. The SNIF Secretariat will evaluate the proposals and submit for approval of the Board. Eligible SNAs will pass the annual performance assessment against a number of criteria including, without limitation, financial management and procurement capacity.

The Government of Cambodia is aware of large regional inequalities. Reforms aim to improve the management capacity of local administrations, and to involve citizens in the decision-making processes, enabling more efficient public service delivery which fits local needs and reduces these regional inequalities.

Subprogram 2 of the Decentralized Public Service and Financial Management Sector Development Program aims to improve access to and coverage of basic services by helping to implement an efficient system of intergovernmental fiscal relations. The program will also facilitate development of: (i) revenue sources for subnational administrations (transfers, tax and non-tax revenues) that can be used for decentralized service delivery; (ii) capacity for efficient decentralized public financial management; and (iii) social accountability systems to ensure adequate interaction between district administrations, their councils, and local constituents.

Program outputs 1-7: completed by July 2016

1. Institutions for efficient coordination of subnational democratic development policies established.

2. A gender-sensitive policy and regulatory framework for decentralization developed and regularly updated.

3. Clear service delivery responsibilities of d subnational administrations defined.

4. Efficient tax and nontax revenue sources to subnational administrations assigned.

5. Fiscal transfers that ensure comparable levels of service delivery across SNAs implemented.

6. Capacities in support of efficient decentralized public financial management developed.

7. Accountability mechanisms for subnational administrations to their constituencies designed and implemented.

Project output

Sub-National Investment Fund established and operations started.

The design included several rounds of consultations to a broad range of civisl society organizations. Drafts of the concept paper and policy matrix were shared and feedback from CSOs sought. The draft Sector Assessment on Public Sectot Management reforms was presented to CSO representatives.

A large number of Government agencies participated in the design and implementation of the program, including the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Economy and Finance, the National Committee on Sub-national Democratic development ,etc. District and municipal administrations are consulted regularly on all aspects of project implementation. Procurement and contract management of the 35 district offices to be built under Output 1 of the DPSFM project will be led by District administrations.

Annual Performance Assessment (firm)

SNIF Website Development & Maintenance (firm)