job & Phnom Penh, 10 May 2013: The NCDD Secretariat on 8 May 2013 conducted a meeting of the Technical Working Group (TWG) on Sub-National Democratic Development…
Phnom Penh, 10 May 2013: The NCDD Secretariat on 8 May 2013 conducted a meeting of the Technical Working Group (TWG) on Sub-National Democratic Development.
The meeting was aimed to review the three-year implementation plan 2011-2013 (IP3) progress in 2013, discuss the revision of the IP3 document to enable the extension of the IP3 for one more year, 2014, and discuss the Sub-National Democratic Development (SNDD) inputs to National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP) and any issues related to current TWG arrangements following the recent Siem Reap retreat.
The meeting was presided by HE. Sak Setha, Head of NCDD Secretariat and Secretary of State, Ministry of Interior, and attended by officials and advisors of the NCDD Secretariat, TWG on D&D from relevant ministries/institutions, development partners, civil societies, and NGOs.
HE. Sak Setha, in his opening remark, says that at the request of Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen, action is being taken to enhance the role of the Sub-National Administrations in overall personnel management. An amendment to the Law on the Establishment and Functioning of the Council of Ministers has been submitted to the National Assembly for approval enabling the delegation of responsibility to the Sub-National Administrations for the appointment, change of position and dismissal of all civil servants working at the sub-national level.
He adds that draft guidelines on the functional review process has been prepared and discussed at an Inter-Ministerial technical meeting before submission to the NCDD for approval.
“At the same time, a proposal for the design of a functional transfer related to Primary Health Care and Health Outreach to the District/Municipal Administration, in cooperation with their Communes/Sangkats, will be submitted for NCDD approval,” he said. “The proposal has been discussed between the NCDDS and the Ministry of Health and upon approval a more detailed design process will be undertaken with implementation expected to commence in 2014.”
HE. Sak Setha also says of a sub-decree on the Commune/Sangkat Fund Allocation, 2014-2018, which has been drafted for submission to the NCDD. While the percentage of recurrent domestic revenue allocated to the CS Fund will remain at 2.8%, owing to the projected increase in revenuethe size of the Commune/Sangkat Fund is expected to increase significantly. For example, it is projected that the Commune/Sangkat Fund will increase by nearly 50% from $ 50 million in 2013 to over $ 70 million by 2015.
Development partners appreciates the achievements made in all sub-programmes of the IP3, including functional re-assignment; council operations; mainstreaming of gender equality; social accountability. The Mid-Term Review of the IP3 during 2012 confirms important achievements and a number of key recommendations which in most cases have been agreed to by the NCDD.
The development partners highlights that 2013 is an important year when important decisions will need to be taken and key objectives should be accomplished. The development partners are committed to further supporting the NCDD and to achieve those along the principles of donor harmonisation and alignment with agreed principles.