TWG: Fisheries

TWG Action Plan

36.   The TWG planned to implement 8 activities, and reported satisfactory and/partly achieved progress on all scheduled activities.

  1. TWGF established as an effective informing and influencing interface between FiA/Donors/NGOs.

  2. High level policy dialogue facilitated by TWGF to ensure that policy profile of the fisheries sector reflects its importance to the livelihoods of poor rural people, to national food security and that this is reflected in the implementation of policy at the field level.

  3. MUTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY: DoF/FiA and development partners become more accountable for development results.

  4. OWNERSHIP: DoF/FiA assumes exercises effective leadership over its development policies, strategies and coordinates development actions.

  5. MANAGING FOR RESULTS: DoF/FiA and development partners use jointly-agreed results-oriented reporting and assessment frameworks in order to manage resources and improve decision-making.

  6. ALIGNMENT: Development partners base their overall support on Cambodia's development strategies, institutions and procedures.

  7. HARMONIZATION: Development partners' actions are more harmonized, transparent and collectively effective to maximize ODA benefits for Cambodia.

  8. Donor support to the DoF/FiA substantially increased in support of the implementation of the DoF/FiA Fisheries Development Action Plan as articulated through the DoF/FiA Action Plan 2006.

37.    TWG reported some difficulties in implementing the TWG-Fisheries Action Plan 2006. Many activities in the TWGF Action Plan require TWGF members to work through the thematic subgroups for example debating certain issues and presenting back to the TWGF meeting. Poor member attendance at regular TWGF meetings has caused the activities to be delayed. Moreover, the lack of decision making level of members especially from donor side has little represented “the voice” of their institutions.

Joint Monitoring Indicators

38.    Take appropriate action to reflect the priorities of the Fisheries sector to improve the livelihoods of rural communities in commune, district and provincial development plans as well as donor funding levels. Progress has been made and is set out as follows:

  1. The Fisheries Law: Launched an official workshop on Fisheries Law dissemination and training at Cambodiana Hotel Phnom Penh on 25-27 October to relevant fisheries stakeholders including Government ministries, NGOs and donors. 

  2. The Proclamation of the Functioning of the Fisheries Administration has been discussed and approved by MAFF.

  3. Fisheries Forum: (i) Fisheries Forum (24 May, 1 day event) attended by many FiA, donor and NGO representatives in the fisheries sector. It aimed at identifying how FiA will be an effective service provider at local level. (ii) Fisheries Forum on Women in the Fisheries Sector (29 November, 1 day event). The forum identified the problems faced by women in fisheries and identified outputs as well as indicators for the preparation of the policy and strategy for gender mainstreaming in fisheries.

  4. Supplementary Paper for DoF’s Institutional Review: A study to supplement the DoF’s Institutional Review (released in February 2006) was reviewed by the FiA and awaiting publication. The study is to review the roles of the local fisheries administration in terms of service provision to the wider fisheries sector at provincial, district and commune level.

  5. The Prime Minister, SAMDECH Hun Sen’s speech on 29th March 2006 at the MAFF Conference “Taking Stock of 2005-2006 Performance and Setting Directions for 2006-2007”, referred to the need for “All ministries, institutions, municipality and provincial departments in cooperate with the development partners must think of the priority to include the fishery sector to its development plan”. This was great support from such a high level. In addition to above PM Speech, a letter has been sent by H.E Chan Sarun, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on the 17th of July 2006 to relevant Ministries, provincial governors, and donor community requesting their assistance in achieving the Joint Monitoring Indicator.

  6. The MoU was signed between MAFF and DANIDA on the 9th of January 2007 for a new DFID/DANIDA Natural Resources Management and Livelihoods Programme “fisheries component”. Budget has allocated nearly $3.3 million over five (5) years to support the FiA’s Action Plan and the TWGF Action Plan.  The funding to the FiA’s Action Plan will be using the MTEF format which will be in place for operation within the MAFF.

  7. Flooded Forest: The protection of clearing the flooded forest and land encroachments: meeting to discuss appropriate measures to tackle the flooded forest cutting and land clearing within fishing lots and community fisheries. FiA prepared the maps for demarcating the boundaries of flooded forest around Tonle Sap including 15 communes in Kampong Chhnang, 6 communes in Pursat, and 3 communes in Kampong Thom province.

  8. Marine Conservation: 10- Year-Action Plan of Coral Reef and Sea-Grass has been adopted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and is awaiting publication.

  9. Community Fisheries (CF) & Community Fish Refuge: FiA, in cooperation with MRC, Seila and NGOs, established new 26 community fisheries (8,863 households) and 17 new community fish refuge (4,026 households). Total number of established CF to date is 509—fresh water (469) and marine (40). Among all CFs, 309 have CF by-law, 197 produced community maps, 58 developed CF agreements, 65 have CF Area Management Plan, 142 have CF activities plans, and 95 established the conservation areas. Total number of established community fish refuges to date is 62. The draft Proclamation on CF Guideline has been reviewed by MAFF. The endorsement of the Proclamation will be made once the amendment of the CF Sub-decree on Fisheries Management is adopted in pursuit of the new Fisheries Law.

Implementation status of the H-A-R Action Plan

39.   The TWGF is proceeding with the TWGF Action Plan for 2006 continuously and many of these items embedded from the Harmonization, Alignment and Results Action Plan are being carried out. However many activities in the Action Plan are higher level that need more discussion and  time to work on for example: joint-field mission, remuneration guideline, guideline for fisheries projects peer review,  multi-year funding arrangement, national operational guideline for the fisheries etc. Many of them are difficult to get consensus especially from the donors who have their own policy instructions and interests that lead to gain little progress.

Ownership

40.   The RGC’s Strategic Framework for Development Cooperation Management has been translated into a strategic framework for the fisheries sector: This document was reviewed by the FiA and is awaiting TWGF for approval. A database with NGO/donor/Government activities in the fisheries sector is updated monthly. Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) templates for fisheries (incorporated into FiA Action Plan 2007) are being prepared by FiA. No donors other than DFID/DANIDA adapting. The supplementary paper which covers information on how FiA links to commune and district for service delivery was reviewed by the FiA and awaiting publication.

Alignment

41.   Agreement for all new donor country strategy documents including support to the Fisheries Development Action Plan (FDAP) 2005-2008: the information of donor country strategy for fisheries compiled and presented at TWGF meeting (however, No agreement in principle made). A TWGF thematic subgroup has been set up to look at how donors can increase the share of aid commitments provided through multi-year funding arrangements: the subgroup presented its findings and recommendations to the August TWGF meeting and it was reviewed by the TWGF in October. The TWGF meeting recommended having a special meeting with donor representatives for multi-year funding discussion for the fisheries sector. The subgroup is drafting a more developed document to be presented to the February 2007 TWGF meeting. Guidelines for remuneration of local consultants and Cambodian nationals employed on donor supported programmes/projects: the remuneration survey template circulated to fisheries donors and discussed at TWGF meeting.

Harmonization

42.  The following actions have been reportedly taken by the TWG:

  1. The MAFF and DANIDA signed the MoU on the 9th of January 2007 on the support to the fisheries sector, as part of a new DFID/DANDIA MDLF Programme and it is a genuinely programmatic approach.

  2. A TWGF thematic subgroup on Gender has been set up and has presented recommendations for the fisheries sector to the TWGF. The group organized a Fisheries Forum on Women in Fisheries (November 2006) whose outputs will be used to produce a Gender Mainstreaming Strategy and Policy for the Fisheries Sector. The proceedings of the forum will be circulated to audiences and the subgroup met in early January to discuss the actions to be taken forward from the forum outputs.

  3. Discussion paper on Progress and Key Points for Action under the Government’s Action Plan for Harmonization and Alignment for the Fisheries Sector: A document presented at TWGF meeting and approved in March 2006.

  4. Discussion paper on an Outline of an Integrated Policy, Planning and Review (IPPR) Process for the Fisheries Sector: A draft document produced and reviewed by FiA.

  5. Guidance on Formulating Fisheries Sector Policy: A draft document produced and reviewed by FiA.

  6. The TWGF has prepared a calendar of field missions, diagnostic reviews and studies planned by donor members of the TWGF

  7. A fisheries flyer “Potential Contribution of the Fisheries Sector to Agricultural Diversification Development in Cambodia” both English and Khmer published and disseminated.

Management for Results

43.   M & E discussion paper in the fisheries Sector was reviewed by FiA and will be discussed at the next TWGF meeting.

Mutual Accountability

44.  A TWGF thematic subgroup has been set up to look at adopting guidelines and procedures for ensuring that all new activities/projects in the fisheries sector are peer reviewed by the TWGF to avoid duplication/gaps, to maximize synergies and to ensure alignment with FiA Action Plan. The subgroup presented its findings and recommendations to the August and December TWGF meeting. The subgroup was proposing to FiA to organize the next Fisheries Forum on “Fisheries Development Action Plan 2005-2008 Review” as an annual review to be made by TWGF.

Resource mobilization

45.  The TWG has reported that The DFID/DANDA’s Natural Resources and Livelihoods Programme is in place to support the Action Plan of the Fisheries Administration and the TWGF’s Action Plan. However, there is little funding from other donors to be mobilized for sector programme.

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