Samdech HUN SEN
Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia

FOREWORD

The National Strategic Development Plan, 2006-2010 (NSDP), approved in 2006 provides an overview of aspirations and realizable goals for the people of Cambodia as they march towards steady improvements of socio-economic environments, self-reliance, living conditions and quality of life, human security and dignity, and development for one and all in the country. I have already underlined that “NSDP is a blue print for further progress on building the edifice of Cambodia, and is the single, all-encompassing major RGC policy documents for the next five years.”

The NSDP is at the same time a flexible document, designed to be fine-tuned on a regular basis through measurement and evaluation of progress as it takes place. It is envisaged that the implementation of NSDP is monitored and evaluated through an Annual Progress Report on the achievements and shortfalls and the adjustments necessary.

The Annual Progress Report is to serve as a “state of the nation” report to the people of Cambodia and international audience. Like the NSDP, the APR is meant to be a practical document. It is an assessment of progress made and deficiencies encountered and a means to adjust parameters without losing sight of the main goal of achieving progress and poverty alleviation in both geographical and sectoral terms across the country.

This Annual Progress Report (APR) for 2006, the first year of operation of the NSDP, has been developed through several stages of intense consultations among all stakeholders both within and outside the Royal Government. Thus, it represents a collective consensus on its contents. It reflects realities as they are and presents a true picture of Cambodia. It is organized, as the NSDP, along the structure of the Rectangular Strategy.

Among major achievements and changes since the start of the NSDP, have been:

• In matters of governance, the successful conclusion of the second commune level elections providing people the opportunity to exercise their fundamental democratic rights in a free, open, fair and peaceful manner, thus further concretizing the foundations of democracy in the country;

• Spectacular macro-economic performance in 2006 leading to higher forecasts than envisaged in NSDP; and

• Better and more reliable social indicators emerging from the Demographic and Health Survey of 2005, in particular reducing HIV infection levels among adults to 0.6%, significantly lower than earlier estimates of 1.9%.

It is critically important that all RGC ministries and agencies and our external development partners alike are to align their policies and programmes strictly to NSDP. The progress on this front has not been up to expectations. This aspect needs to be addressed with urgency and earnestness. All on-going and new programmes of support need to be reviewed carefully through TWGs and the optimum use of all resources need to be ensured to bring about net and real development rather than merely reports and technical assistance.

I again urge and expect all government agencies and external development partners to strictly adhere to the priorities set out in the NSDP.

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