World Vision-Wathnakpheap and 11 partner NGOs across Cambodia join hands to bring public services to the most vulnerable people
Phnom Penh, Cambodia – World Vision-Wathnakpheap and 11 partner NGOs across the country come together to celebrate their Partnership’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Signing Ceremony on the Implementation of Social Accountability for Better Public Service Delivery project, funded by the European Union (EU) and co-funded by World Vision Germany, expected to benefit 2.8 million people from the improvement of local services in 292 communes, 571 primary schools and 216 health centers across 5 provinces in Cambodia.
The ceremony is presided over by H.E. Chanphal Ngy, Secretary of State of Ministry of Interior and Chair of the Partnership Steering committee for the Implementation of Social Accountability Framework (ISAF), Ms. Francesca Ciccomartino, representative of the European Union, with the participation of all NGO signatory’s leaders, development partners, donors, partner NGOs, and ISAF volunteers (Community Accountability Facilitators).
The objective of the MoUs is to assist all partner NGOs to work together to improve the local service delivery provided by the Government (the supply side) to every Cambodian citizen (the demand side) in their target provinces throughout the country.
Mr. Leng Vireak, World Vision Cambodia’s Operations Director, said, “World Vision has supported the Implementation of the Social Accountability Framework of the Royal Government of Cambodia since 2015. This has contributed to improvement in the quality delivery of essential public services – health centers, primary schools and administrative services at the communes – benefiting almost 2 million people by 2018.”
H.E. Ngy Chanphal said, “This is another milestone for ISAF achievement in Cambodia. World Vision has been a very valuable partner in the Implementation of the Social Accountability Framework. Together with local NGOs, International NGOs and our Development Partners, we will surely be able to improve local services to millions of children and families across Cambodia in line with the Royal Government of Cambodia’s Rectangular Strategy-Phase 4.”
H.E. Ngy Chanphal said, “This is another milestone for ISAF achievement in Cambodia. World Vision has been a very valuable partner in the Implementation of the Social Accountability Framework. Together with local NGOs, International NGOs and our Development Partners, we will surely be able to improve local services to millions of children and families across Cambodia in line with the Royal Government of Cambodia’s Rectangular Strategy-Phase 4.” "ISAF is paving the way to more transparency, responsiveness and accountability in service provision", said Francesca Ciccomartino, representative of the EU. She also said she was glad to know that more steps were being taken to reach out the most marginalised and ensure their inclusion in ISAF activities.
“By expanding our work with our partner NGOs today through a new grant from the European Union and by sustaining our work started with the support of the World Bank, World Vision is scaling up ISAF to improve public services in 510 communes, 1,004 primary schools, and 364 health centers which will benefit over 4.6 million people by 2020,” Mr. Leng Vireak added.
Mr. An Sothy, 41, Teacher from Kompong Thom province, said, “ISAF has brought citizens and teachers closer together in order to exchange ideas about improving the quality of our school. The agreed plan from the meeting is then included in the Commune Investment Plan.”
As of today, World Vision’s ISAF has built capacity of 2,660 Community Accountability Facilitators (CAFs) who have played an important role to facilitate ISAF activities in their communes and are the resource individuals for their community. Over 20 CAFs have been elected as members of commune council; and at least 3 CAFs have been elected as members of district council recently.
NOTE TO EDITOR:
Originated from the National Programme for Sub-National Democratic Development (SNDD) in Cambodia, the Implementation of Social Accountability Framework (ISAF) aims to improve local service delivery through enhanced social accountability under the leadership of the Royal Government of Cambodia. Donors, international organizations and Civil Society Organizations have joint force behind this project since 2015.
In Cambodia, World Vision started implementing social accountability programme in 2012 with the objective to contribute to improving governance and sustain the good progress registered by the Royal Government of Cambodia and development partners in the country. Since then, social accountability programme has been scaled up to all World Vision’s Area Programmes and integrated into all World Vision’s national strategic areas of focus, including health and nutrition, education and life skills, child protection and youth.
For more information, please contact:
Mr. Ponlork Van, Public Engagement Officer, World Vision
Tel: +855 89 555 702 or Email: ponlork_van@wvi.org