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Commune Councils

United Nations Development Program (UNDP) THE URBAN GOVERNANCE INITIATIVE (YUGI) Regional Symposium on Local Governance and the Informal Economy Tuesday 9 th – Thursday 11 th December, 2003 Colombo, Sri Lanka. Commune Councils.

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Commune Councils

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  1. United Nations Development Program (UNDP)THE URBAN GOVERNANCE INITIATIVE (YUGI)Regional Symposium on Local Governance and the Informal EconomyTuesday 9th – Thursday 11th December, 2003 Colombo, Sri Lanka

  2. Commune Councils • Since 1908, Cambodia has had a tradition of centralized government. • Prior to the arrival of the French, there were no commune structures in Cambodia. • In June 1908, a Royal Decree established a simple administrative framework to form a commune (khum). • Elections were held in order for inhabitants to vote for a chief. • A decree in 1919 gave the commune its own budget and finances.

  3. Commune Councils • More powers in terms of administrative, judicial and financial organization were given to the communes in 1925. • In 1943, the commune election system was removed. • An attempt to return to an election system to encourage participation was made in 1959. • Civil war in early 1970s disrupted commune administration which was then destroyed during the Khmer Rouge period (1975-1979). • After January 7, 1979, returned to the system of commune administration. • Local administration at the commune level remained largely unchanged in Cambodia from 1979 to 2002.

  4. Commune councils • Cambodia Constitution • Government’s goal: • to move the government administration closer to its citizens. • to improve the basic service provision • to reduce poverty • The Ministry of Interior conducted a study on local administration. • A commune council election was organized on the 3rd of February 2002 • 11,261 councilors (951 of whom were women) were elected in 1,621 communes.

  5. Commune Councils • To support the development of the Commune/Sangkat and the well-being of its citizens. • To find out about their needs and interests and to develop programs that improve living standards. • To encourage and protect good governance • To develop and implement the commune/Sangkat development plan. • To develop programs that respond to the needs through providing services and development.

  6. Commune Councils- Achievements • Basic policy and legal system. • National Committee Support Commune/DOLA established and actively functioning • Basic management and administrative structure of CCs put in place. • Commune clerks appointed and trained to provide management and administrative support to CCs • Capacity building activities of three basic training (orientation, finance, and planning) • Training of Trainers for CCs • Support of international agencies • Some partnership arrangements with NGO/civil society. • Public awareness

  7. Commune Councils - Challenges • Coordination and participation • Structure and support system • Human resources • Finance • CC members are still not so clear about their role and mandate. The delegation of power is not fully done. • Means for communications are not sufficient. • Other departments do not fully understand the process of decentralization. It is new to them. • More emphasis on administration work and politics. • Planning is not always consistent with the relevant departments from the central government

  8. Commune Councils - Challenges • Budget is not appropriate for plans • No mandate yet to collect revenue within their commune. • 10% counterpart contribution is hard to fulfill • People are also new to the process of decentralization. • People have no confidence in commune councils because they cannot protect the interests of the people. • Plans focus more on infrastructure (80%).

  9. Informal Economy in Phnom Penh • The informal economy mainly operated by the poor • Their average earnings are low. • Major activities include: • street vendors • small repairs • market vendors • book/newspaper stalls • motor-taxi • tricycle • children’s computer games • massage/brothel • lottery, etc.

  10. Informal Economy in Phnom Penh • Most of the commune council members had no clear picture of the informal economy in Cambodia. • There are no clear plans with regards to the informal economy at the commune level. There are poverty reduction strategy at the Khan and municipal levels. • Not enough place for people to sell their goods. • Many markets are built and are managed by private companies.

  11. Informal Economy in Phnom Penh • It is expensive and business is not as good as when they are selling along the street. • The commune councils do not have much control over the sector. • There is no income for the commune councils from this sector. • Most of the time, police take money from sellers on a regular basis. • Street vendors are perceived to cause some problems such as disturbing good order, traffic, road deterioration, and environment. • They need to keep the city in good order and looking beautiful.

  12. Response • NGOs provide training, awareness raising, and organizing the people who work in the informal sector. • Provide skills training and loan scheme. • Involve the Commune Councils in our work. • Help facilitate meeting or planning sessions. • Develop capacity of staff to conduct monitoring activities of commune council performance.

  13. Response • Based on the National Poverty Reduction Strategy of Royal Government of Cambodia, the Municipality of Phnom Penh implements: • adequate housing and living conditions, basic services for the urban poor • adequate economic opportunities/income generation • improving local governance.

  14. Response:Adequate economic opportunities/income generation • Development programs by MPP to achieve the economic goal: • Hold series of consultations between stakeholders, officials and private sectors to develop livelihood framework. • Implement vocational training • Promote innovative micro-finance for small-scale entrepreneurs • Promote the associations of vendors, transport workers, scavengers, etc.

  15. Response:Adequate economic opportunities/income generation • Development programs by MPP to achieve the economic goal: • Adopt the policies to stop the harassment of poor self-employed, and provide legal support to them • Promote understanding of informal economy/sector among city officials • Develop market information service for the poor • Reform management of municipal markets to make stall/space affordable to the poor • Use community contracts for infrastructure building

  16. Adequate economic opportunities for the urban poor

  17. Adequate economic opportunities for the urban poor

  18. Adequate economic opportunities for the urban poor

  19. Thank You

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