GOVERNMENT-DONOR COORDINATION COMMITTEE (GDCC)

Six Month Progress Report of the Joint Technical Working Groups
For the Period: December 2005 - May 2006

This questionnaire on progress made by each Joint Technical Working Group is requested by the Secretariat of the Government-Donor Coordination Committee (GDCC). It should be completed and submitted to the Secretariat of the GDCC before 29 May 2006. It will be used to prepare a summary progress report for the seventh GDCC Meeting scheduled to be held on 14 June 2006. Please return the completed questionnaire to H.E. Mr. Chhieng Yanara at CDC/CRDB in both soft and hard copies.

TWG: Agriculture and Water

A. Progress in Implementing TWG's Action Plans

Please list below activities in the Action Plans that were scheduled to be implemented during the last six months (December 2005 to May 2006) and provide an update on implementation status of these activities.

Scheduled Activities	Implementation Status
Scheduled Activities	On Schedule	Behind Schedule	If behind schedule, reasons for delay/notes for CDC information	TWG Recommendations for GDCC Consideration, if any
Further develop the TWG as an effective vehicle for planning and coordination of the work of MAFF, MOWRAM and Donors	ü
The TWG is functioning effectively with regular meetings, a secretariat and workpan in place.
Jointly develop (i) medium term strategy and (ii) sectoral program framework for agriculture and water (intersection between MAFF and MOWRAM mandates), building on existing MAFF and MOWRAM strategic documents as well as recently released NSDP	ü
All key targets have been met including preliminary planning activities; strategic profiling; and development, translation, and consultation relating to the Strategic Profiles and Strategy Options and Structure reports. Input from a stakeholder workshop is being used to revise the Strategy Report and re-plan the remaining process. Endorsement of this approach is to be sought at the TWGAW meeting of 2 June. Donors have contributed about $60,000 for this activity, although $18,000 remains outstanding. (see JMIs below)
Provision and exchange of information related to TWGAW mandate and activities	ü
Detailed preparation has been undertaken for the TWGAW website, with the provider having just been selected. Land concession information is being made available through the MAFF website, and was last updated in March (see JMIs below)			Note: a small delay has occurred in establishment of the TWGAW website, but this has not impacted on land concession reporting.
Understand and enhance links between agricultural extension and water management for agricultural activities	ü
There has been good progress in agricultural extension and water management studies, with the only minor outstanding issue being a study on FWUC as vectors for which facilitation resources have not yet been identified.
Promote sustainable management and development of irrigation activities	ü
The joint review and sharing of experiences around management, operation and maintenance of rehabilitated irrigation schemes has occurred, culminating in a workshop and with a related report now in preparation.			Note: two mini- projects have been postponed indefinitely due to the absence of trainees to undertake them.

Are there any other issues affecting the implementation of TWG Action Plan that it would like to submit for GDCC's consideration.

No issues identified.

B. Progress on Joint Monitoring Indicators

If there are any Joint Monitoring Indicator(s) agreed at the 8^th CG Meeting held in March 2006 that fall within the mandate of this TWG, please list the JMIs below and indicate progress that has been made toward achieving the JMI targets.

Joint Monitoring Indicator

What is the current implementation status? What are the constraints that you are experiencing, if any? What recommendations do you have, for GDCC consideration to resolve the identified constraints?

Jointly develop a medium term strategy for agriculture and water building on the NSDP and existing MAPP and MOWRAM strategy documents

During this period all key targets have been met, commencing with the preparation of an initiative inception note with agreed TOR, process, methodology and workplan. This was followed by strategic profiling, informed by a three day retreat, assembly a Strategic Profiles document, and a further Strategy Team Retreat. A donor pledging meeting and other negotiations attracted over $60,000 in resources for the progressing this initiative, although $18,000 remains to be identified. A report was developed addressing strategy options and structure (Draft Report 1). This report, along with the Strategic Profiles report, was translated and distributed and a major stakeholder workshop held. On the basis of input from this workshop, Strategy Report 1 is being revised and a re-planning process undertaken. Endorsement of the report and revised process is to be sought at the TWGAW meeting of 2 June.

Establish a mechanism and periodically disseminate information on economic land concessions in accordance with the notice issued by the Prime Minister of 30 June 2005.

During this period, information on economic land concessions (ELCs) has been disseminated through the MAFF website (www.maff.gov.kh/elc). This website is updated quarterly, with the last update being in March. Also including background on ELCs, it lists 35 companies with which concession contracts have been signed, and information about 5 which have not yet signed, spanning 12 provinces. Detailed information is provided in relation to each company's concessions, including for example disclosure of related legal papers and rights, a location map and co-ordinates. Information on further concessions is to be added in June .
The TWGAW website is now scheduled to be in operation by July, and will include land concession information and create links to the MAFF website.

C. Implementation Status of the Action Plan on Harmonization, Alignment and Results

What actions have you taken to implement the updated Harmonization, Alignment, and Results Action Plan? What are the constraints that you are experiencing, if any?

What recommendations do you have, for GDCC consideration to resolve the identified constraints?

Action Taken	Update
i.Within the framework of NSDP, sector ministries and agencies develop sector plans and prioritized results based programs, and a sector MTEF.	Each ministry has sectors plans which are being taken into consideration in current joint strategic planning. MAFF has commenced work on an MTEF.
ii All sector plans and development programs/projects include an assessment of the existing capacity gaps and a capacity development plan to fill the gaps to achieve targeted development results.	This action is being considered in current joint strategic planning, and will be integrated within the A&W Strategy.
iii Each TWG prepares a plan to increase delegated cooperation within their sector/thematic area.	As above.
iv Each TWG prepares a calendar of field missions, diagnostic reviews and studies planned by donors participating in the sector/thematic area of the TWG.	This is already underway, via information being gathered for the A&W donor data base.
v Development partners ensure that the SOPs for loan assistance and National Operational Guidelines for grant assistance are followed in monitoring and reporting on their programs/projects to reduce burden on RGC implementation institutions.	Some donors have already adopted SOPs which are being applied in the A&W sector (including for, example, AFD and the World Bank).
vi Concerned TWGs develop an implement an action plan to strengthen the technical and policy capacity of relevant institutions to carry out environmental analysis and to enforce legislation.	MAFF and MOWRAM have existing strategies in relation to this, and current joint strategic planning efforts will explore ways to facilitate their implementation.

D. Resource Mobilization

Has the TWG been able to mobilize the resources to implement its Action Plan for 2006?

R yes £ no

Additional resources of $18,000 are required and to be sought at the upcoming TWGAW

Report endorsed by: