19th Meeting of the Government-Development Partner Coordination Committee (GDCC)

Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 26 September 2012

 

Opening Comments

Mr Douglas Boderick, UN Resident Coordinator

and Lead Development Partner Facilitator (LDPF)

 

H.E KEAT CHHON, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance

H.E Chhieng Yanara, Minister attached to the Prime Minister, Secretary General of CRDB/CDC

Excellencies

Distinguished colleagues

Ladies and gentleman

 

As Lead Development Partner Facilitator it is with great pleasure that I make these remarks on behalf of all development partners in Cambodia. This 19th GDCC represents an important opportunity to come together at the highest level for dialogue with distinguished government representation.

 

All of us are proud of the economic growth that Cambodia continues to experience of more than 6% over the past 10 years, under the able leadership of Samdech Prime Minister.

 

I would like to thank H.E Keat Chhon for his opening remarks. We all appreciate and align with the priority for results, partnership, transparency and ongoing dialogue that Your Excellency has reinforced here this morning.

 

There are a lot of challenges faced at the global, regional and country level. However, we know that facing these challenges is possible through partnership, cooperation and a focus on results.

 

Globally in development we continue to face the remnants of the global economic crisis, greater accountability for funds, challenges with government execution in a Paris–Accra–Busan world; sovereign debt downgrades; natural disasters; the rise of Myanmar and high food prices. This list of challenges goes on.

 

Within Cambodia, we are all aware of the changing programme priorities of some partners and this ongoing revision of priorities will continue as Cambodia moves closer to Middle Income Country status. In parallel we all maintain priority for continued transparency and management of aid funds. Especially:

  • how the 300,000 youth yearly are going to be placed in the job market, linked with the quality of education,

  • growing inequalities with significant statistical difference between rural and urban,

  • nutrition challenges, and

  • the MDGs which are lagging in some areas.

It is my first time as Lead Development Partner Facilitator working alongside bilateral, multilateral, civil society partners and the private sector representative. We commend colleagues at the Council for Development Cooperation (CDC) for the level of cooperation extended to Development Partners in preparation for this dialogue. I would particularly like to recognize the wise counsel and able leadership of H.E Chhieng Yanara.

 

There are important issues on the agenda today that reflect current development and reform. Our continued exchange will strengthen our programmes of support. It is the responsibility of all of us to maintain the dialogue and to be transparent and open in our dealings. Formal or informal, the priority is that dialogue continues for the overall benefit of Cambodia’s development.

 

The GDCC statements have been circulated prior to this meeting and they reflect our respective views and key areas of enquiry and concern within the priority issues of: the JMIs, the NSDP, Public Financial Management, Cooperation and Partnership Policy and the Prime Minister’s Directive no. 1. Today’s agenda is indicative of the many key policies and priorities that will drive and shape our partnership in the future. The JMI’s set out priority outcomes with a focus on measurable development results. We particularly acknowledge the collaborative planning process put in place to build this current set of JMIs. The NSDP and Development Cooperation and Partnership Strategy agenda items kick start forward looking policy planning processes. In this context our strong interest is in confirming a commitment to participatory and consultative processes in both areas, inclusive of development partners, civil society and the private sector. The PFM agenda item will highlight the level of reform taking place in Public Financial Management and finally the Directive No. 1 represents an important issue for this country.

 

We are constantly reminded of the duties and obligations we all have to provide the Cambodian people with the best use of resources that assures the greatest impact and the most long lasting results. This commitment to the 13.7million Cambodian people is a consistent one and one that we keep through strong partnerships between Government, Development Partners, civil society and the private sector.

 

It is my pleasure to support this meeting as Lead Development Partner Facilitator, I take this opportunity to thank all of our distinguished colleagues for their support in the preparations and I look forward to an open, frank and rich dialogue this morning.

 

Thank you/Orkun Charan