Twice a year, before both the CG and the Follow-up CG Meetings, other development partners who may want to formally join the Working Group will have an opportunity to do so.

All meetings of the Working Group will be open to any development partner who may wish to participate in the discussions.

The Terms of Reference of the Working Group were approved. It was also agreed that in order for the Working Group to achieve some tangible results, it needs to remain focused on identifying, analyzing, and making recommendations on issues for which feasible solutions can be agreed to and implemented immediately. The three studies included in the TORs are the current priorities and additional topics considered important by the Working Group can be added in the future.

In his introduction to the second item on the agenda - the working principles/procedures for the Group - the Chairman sought clarification on the following topics:

The role of Co-Vice Chairs.
Whom should the invitations for the Group meetings should be sent.
What is an acceptable quorum for conducting a meeting.
How many days before the scheduled meetings should the invitations be sent - 5, 7, or 10 days.
 

The Co-Vice Chairs can play a useful role by liaising with their respective constituencies periodically and providing a feedback to the Working Group.
The formal invitations for meeting will be sent to the 12 development partners, listed in para#2 above. The minutes of the meetings, however, will be circulated to all development partners.
No quorum requirement is necessary.
The formal invitation letters for future meetings of the Working Group will be sent 10 days prior to the planned meetings.

In his introduction to the third item on the agenda - Progress on the three studies that are being carried out under the umbrella of the Working Group - the Chairman provided an update. The three studies include:

Analysis of the capacity building practices of Cambodia’s development partners.
National Operational Guidelines for development Cooperation.
Practices and lessons learned in the management of development cooperation.

He reported that work on the first study is in progress and a report from the team is expected in early June. In the case of the second study, an action plan has been prepared that was sent with the invitation for this meeting. The next step is to prioritize the activities identified in the action plan. This study will be carried out in steps over an extended time period. The fieldwork on the third study has been completed. A reported is expected by May/June. In terms of financing of these studies the Chairman reported that the study #1 and #2 are being financed by the UNDP Support Programme for Aid Coordination and Partnerships at the CDC of which he was the National Programme Director. The third study is being financed by Japan. He emphasized that: (i) these studies are being carried out under the umbrella of the Government-Donor Partnership Working Group, and (ii) that they are being managed by him in his capacity as the Chairman of this Group. He also informed the Group that the RGC has already appointed (on December 30, 2002) its representatives to work with the consultant teams for each of these studies.

After discussion it was agreed that a letter would be sent to members of the Working Group to ask for their interest in participating in sub-groups for each of the three studies to facilitate and guide the work of the consultant teams. With respect to the reporting procedures of the consultant teams, they will first present their draft report to the Sub-Group members. Depending on the feedback from the Sub-Group the consultant teams will carryout revisions and the revised draft will be presented to the Working Group. Finally, the consultant will present their report at two wrap up meetings, one with all development partners and the other with Government officials.