Aid effectiveness priorities have been developed based on the need to accelerate the implementation of the aid effectiveness commitments, together with the need to prioritize and focus on actions that would impact positively on development results. They are relevant to the national situation and represent the government's response to commitments included in the Accra Agenda for Action. These priorities were agreed and presented at the April 2008 GDCC where it was agreed that these priorities would be monitored through TWG progress reporting to the GDCC.

This first synthesis report of Aid Effectiveness JMI Priorities is developed based on reports received from 18 TWGs prior to the 15^th GDCC Meeting to be held on September 29, 2009. Detailed progress for each TWG is presented in Annex One. The priorities fall into three broad themes as: (1) an ambition to establish or strengthen a Programme-based Approach or sector strategy; (2) capacity development; (3) the principle of mutual accountability.

a) PBAs or Sector Strategy: There are 12 TWGs that have included an ambition to establish or strengthen a Programme-based Approach or sector strategy which is the most commonly-identified priority area. TWG reports show that some TWGs have made progress toward finalization of sector strategy/programme. For instance, National Forestry Program is almost completed; Neary Rattanak 3 is finalized; and there is a development of the programme for Building Capacity To Develop Capacity, while somes are in the progress of preparation (RWSSH Strategy, National Mine Action Strategy). However, there is still a strategy/programme that could not be adopted on schedule due to the need of high level political consultation. Where strategy/progamme exists, some TWGs (Education & Health) have developed or reviewed their Annual Operation Plans (AOPs) to monitor the progress.

At the same time of making progress, constraints related to insufficient fund and capacity for program implementation, once draft program is completed, is raised by TWG-Fisheries and TWG-Food Security and Nutrition. While TWG-Education, D&D and FSN have smooth collaboration and inter-ministerial coordination, TWG-RWSSH reports that this continues to be a constraint.

b) Capacity Development: Six TWGs—Education, Health, Land, Forestry and Environment, Fisheries and PAR—raised a capacity-related priority, often related to the monitoring and evaluation, strengthening national systems or to financial management. Five TWGs have submitted the reports on Aid Effectiveness Priorities with the absences of Land TWGs. F&E TWG is in progress of setting up the M&E Units, while Fisheries TWG has set up the unit already, but is building up the capacity of the staff through Technical Assistance. There is good progress regarding capacity building on planning, implementing, and monitoring and evaluation system as technical assistance is provided in terms of advisory support to policy guidance to M&E unit, policy advice and feedback to policy and planning process. This would hopefully lead to the strengthening and using the national systems of the country. Moreover, Education TWG is establishing Medium-term Capacity Development Strategy by focusing on planning, monitoring and evaluation. Health TWG has strengthened capacity of the Provincial TWG-Health by providing workshop on Sensitization of Pro-TWGH Functioning and some regional training workshops on Strengthening Capacity of Pro-TWGH focal points.

However, some challenges were identified. Although there are units or offices to implement the monitoring and evaluation system, capacity building of staff working in those places is still needed. Fisheries TWG mentioned the challenges of improving M&E, which is a time consuming process. PAR TWG raised the better use of technical assistance should be made.

c) The Principle of Mutual Accountability: The Planning and Land TWGs have explicitly identified the use of partnership principles; however, there is absence of Land TWG in reporting. The actions mentioned by others, including Health, Mine Action, RWSSH, LJR, D&D, IRI, PSD and Gender TWGs, emphasize the need to strengthen ownership through partnership principles and joint consultations and meetings. Most TWGs reported that there have been many extensive consultations, discussions, workshops and meetings within ministries, inter-ministries, and with stakeholders, development partners and lead Donor Facilitators in establishing and preparing sector strategy, sharing best practices and sharing information on the progress on their working process. Two TWGs—RWSSH and Gender—have discussed with development partners concerning the development of the draft and the endorsement of the Partnership Principles.

The partnership work has proceeded well, but further consultations, discussions, and enhanced information sharing and coordination are still needed.

Reports of TWGs revealed a number of constraints in Aid Effectiveness JMIs implementation. These include the following:

- Capacity building on M&E is required as this is proving to be a time-consuming process that
  requires long-term commitment and support. (Most TWGs)

- Time constraint for formulation and adoption of the national program due to the high-level and
  broad consultations with stakeholders. (D&D TWG)

- The financial support is still a problem; and insufficient fund for program implementation and late
  development partner committed fund is raised. (Fisheries, FSN, HIV/AIDS TWGs)

- Administrative capacity constraints within courts (LJR TWG)

- The need of broader understanding of the reporting process of MEF (LJR TWG)

- Lack of Strategic direction (LJR TWG)

- Monitoring arrangements for progress is limited. (RWSSH TWG)

- Internal communication and inter-ministerial coordination on aid coordination is limited. (RWSSH -
  TWG)

- Ministry ownership of the agenda and associated actions requires strengthening. (RWSSH TWG)

- Sectoral capacity constraints (RWSSH TWG)

- Better use of Technical Assistance should be made. (PAR TWG)

- Some parts of the Education Congress Report were not analytical so the next report should be
  improved and DPs need to integrate their project reports of into MOEYS central technical
  department report.

- Each development partner has different interest and policies. (Education TWG)

- TWG-HIV/AIDS is still waiting for response from Lead-donor Facilitator and other key DPs to who
  the proposal of the Functional Task Analysis of National HIV/AIDS Response Mechanism and cost-
  estimation were sent to.

- It has proven difficult to initiate the process given the many actors involving in legal reform, but
  initial steps are being taken in September 2009. (PSD TWG)

- The RGC needs to pass a final draft of sub-decree for the appointment the government teams
  working on the three pillars of the Trade SWAp. (PSD TWG)

- Suggestion on the formulation of pooled funding in order to avoid overlapping support and give
  priority to the ministry to decide on the focused areas (Education TWG)

- Request to support training on M&E and provide more fund and Technical Assistance (F&E TWG)

- Disbursement procedure/process of the block grant provided by CRDB/CDC should be simplified in order to easily utilize the approved fund by the TWG secretariat. (FSN TWG)

- Request for the support for courts administration, which would require both an increase in the
  ordinary budget for the Ministry of Justice and an allocation for the program budget for the model
  courts. (LJR TWG)

- Request for the participation in the TWG by donors and line agencies involved in the WTO law
  drafting. (LJR TWG)

- Request for more participation and cooperation from DPs and line ministries, especially in cross-
  cutting TWGs

- High level inter-governmental consultation is needed. (D&D TWG)

- The communication between sub-technical working groups within a technical working group
  should be strengthened and the reporting system from a sub-technical working group to the
  technical working group should be reviewed and enhanced. (IRI TWG)

- It would be important to ensure more certain and regular structure of the TWG (either as the PSD
  TWG or through the Sub-Steering Committee structure). (PSD TWG)

As the overall perspective, since the last GDCC meeting held in April 2009, the implementation of Aid Effectiveness Priorities has progressed well. Most TWGs have developed and strengthened their own strategies/programs so they are on the way to Programme-based Approach which can improve information management that can support programming and coordination of resources. However, most TWGs often raise constraint related to capacity development of staff and lack of capacity in program implementation which leads to weak government ownership in negotiating with development partners. Requests from TWGs regarding the provision and the effective use of TA have been mentioned and some of them have been provided to fulfill TWGs’ needs. In short, TWGs and DPs still need to strengthen partnership in working together to improve their work and move toward the success in achieving the aid effectiveness objectives.

Three points related to the aid effectiveness priorities become clear from the feedback from TWGs and subsequent analysis:

1.  To maximise the impact of capacity development activities they must be programmed and
     implemented on a sector-wide basis, in line with a sector plan where possible (as the education
     sector is now doing). This is particularly the case when developing or strengthening national
     systems (e.g. the M&E systems that several ministries have identified as a apriority).

2.  Improved partnership dynamics can help to ensure mutual accountability for development
     results by applying agreed principles and actions related to aid effectiveness. The tools and
     skills discussed at the September meeting in Siem Reap should now be applied ion support of
     improved partnerships and mutual accountability.

3.  Ministries and agencies, with support from development partners, should ensure that their
     work, especially in PBAs, is consistent with the core reform programmes of the Royal
     Government. By linking sector processes, systems development and capacity building to the core
     reforms, including PAR, PFM and D&D, consistency and sustainability can be better assured.

To reduce the constraint, TWG should focus more on their commitments. Peer learning, knowledge and information sharing and 'learning by doing' are still very important for all TWG to increase their capacity and ownership. After the strategic meeting on partnership in Siem Reap, TWG can take this experience to improve the cooperation with DPs. Formal and informal discussions are needed for them to make a convergence of objectives and interests, while CRDB continue to support TWGs based on requests received from them. All TWGs should work more closely with their CRDB focal point to fulfill their needs and requirements and CRDB will itself continue to strengthen its own capacity to provide effective support to the TWGs, including through tailored support to individual TWGs or through collective support via the TWG Network.