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3.1 The CRDB mandate is the starting point for the Capacity Development Strategy. The mandate, which corresponds to the institutional framework, sets out the objectives, functions and relationships that govern aid management in Cambodia. As such, these institutional arrangements will inform the organisational structure of CRDB, its internal and external management arrangements and the nature of the skills and competencies that staff must possess. 3.2 CRDB is the focal point within the Royal Government for the mobilisation of Official Development Assistance (ODA), for coordination of ODA with all development partners (multilateral and bilateral development partners and NGOs), and for coordination with and between Royal Government ministries and agencies on ODA allocation and utilisation issues. 3.3 The RGC sub-decree No. 147 ANK-BK dated 29 December 2005 and the Strategic Framework on Development Cooperation Management establish the roles and functions of CRDB. As per the provisions in Article 13 of the Sub-Decree #147 ANK.BK dated 29 December 2005 on matters concerning public investment, the CRDB is to: (i) Act as the "Focal Point" and "One Stop Service" of the Royal Government of Cambodia in its relations with donor countries, agencies and NGOs; and as the "Focal Point" and "One Stop Service" for Government ministries and agencies in aid coordination and allocation/utilisation. (ii) Formulate and implement the Strategic Framework on Development Cooperation Management to strengthen Government ownership and leadership in development process and to strengthen partnership between Royal Government of Cambodia and the donor community. (iii) Mobilise and allocate external assistance to implement the priorities set out in the National Strategic Development Plan and other sectoral development plans. (iv) Directly lead the harmonisation of development partners' practices and procedures to enhance aid effectiveness. (v) Provide technical support to the Government Donor Coordination Committee that is the mechanism for policy dialogue and provide support to strengthen the Technical Working Groups mechanism. (vi) Cooperate with ministries and agencies in formulating national rehabilitation and development strategies, and setting immediate, medium and long term national development priorities for the preparation of annual plans of action. These plans of action must be coherent, systematic and inter-related. (vii) Participate in the preparation of national socio economic development plans and sectoral development plans. (viii) Manage public investments by closely cooperating with relevant ministries and agencies. This is mainly related to coordinating and guiding the allocation and utilisation of national and external resources for the rehabilitation and development of Cambodia. (ix) Pursuant to the delegation of power from the Prime Minister, sign on behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia the acceptance and/or allocation of external assistance with bilateral and multilateral donors and international organisations. (x) Lead the preparation of government policy papers to be submitted to conferences for the rehabilitation of Cambodia such as the Consultative Group Meeting of Cambodia with cooperation from relevant ministries and agencies. (xi) Prepare six-month and annual report and submit to the Royal Government of Cambodia for review and guidance to further improve rehabilitation and development. 3.4 As per the provisions of Article 14 of the Sub-Decree #147 ANK.BK, the role and responsibilities for public investment management of the CRDB, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the line ministries are as follows: (i) CDC shall coordinate the formulation of visions and strategies for public investments and shall coordinate the ordering of priorities for public investment for medium term and one year. (ii) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation shall be the diplomatic window. (iii) The Ministry of Planning, by cooperating with other ministries and agencies, shall prepare the 5 year public investment plan. (iv) The Ministry of Economy And Finance shall prepare the macroeconomic framework for the medium term, shall prepare national budget for the implementation of the annual public investment plan, and shall monitor the implementation of financing. (v) Line ministries shall prepare sectoral public investment plans by closely cooperating with the Ministry of Planning and CDC and shall implement those sectoral public investment plans. 3.5 Given that 50% of the Budget is financed by ODA, the mandate of CRDB is a critical one for RGC as it seeks to implement the NSDP and to finance priority activities in a coherent and cost-effective manner. In this regard, the Strategic Framework for Development Cooperation Management was approved in January 2006 to elaborate the arrangements for implementing the mandate articulated in Sub Decree 147. 3.6 The Strategic Framework explicitly recognises the need for capacity development that will enable CRDB to provide "high quality policy advisory support to…empower it to play its leadership role both within the country and in the international arena". Also recognising that improved aid management will ultimately only be translated into concrete progress at sector and thematic level, the Strategic Framework also envisages "Capacity development of the line ministries and agencies to enable them to effectively manage external assistance that is implemented through them and to effectively coordinate their aid management activities with CRDB." 3.7 The Capacity Development Strategy must therefore be grounded in a clear vision for the work of CRDB, informed by the Sub Decree and the Strategic Framework for Development Cooperation Management, and shared by all staff, as well as more widely across Government. 3.8 This vision, informed by the organisation's mandate, may be formulated as: "CRDB seeks to fulfil its mandate in aid management, enabling Government to lead the development partnership, identify and apply best practices in aid management, and maximise the impact of ODA in attaining the goals of the NSDP." |