SPEECH
H.E. Chhay Than, Minister of Planning
and Chairman of the Council for Social Development
On Social Development Policy in Good Governance Framework
On the occasion of the Release of the Good Governance Action Plan
and Administrative Reform Programme, at Chaktomuk Conference
11 December 2001
- H.E. Samdech Hun Sen
- Excellencies, Distinguished Guests
- Ladies and Gentlemen
On behalf of the Ministry of Planning and the National Council for Social Development as well as myself, I am very pleased to present a brief report to the meeting on social development policy in good governance framework:
1. Social and Poverty Situation in Cambodia
The general population census of Cambodia in 1998 was a historical event in the gathering of statistics as well as in the development of the country that indicates a population of 11.4 million a with high annual population growth rate at 2.49%. This growth rate is the highest among other countries in the region except Lao PDR, which is around 2.8 percent.
Based on CSES 1999, the food poverty line for Phnom Penh was 1,761 Riel, 1,592 Riel in other urban areas and 1,404 Riel in rural areas per day per person. The poverty line is calculated using the food poverty line and non-food allowance. For Cambodia it is based on standard methods used by the World Bank in poverty estimates for neighboring countries. The food poverty line is based on a benchmark calorie requirement of 2100 calories per person per day. It takes into account the consumption patterns in Cambodia and geographic price variations in the cost of a food basket. The people whose per capita consumption is below the poverty line are considered poor.
The most recent estimate of poverty, based on CSES 1999, indicated that the poverty index was around 36% of Cambodian population. The proportion of the population whose per capita consumption expenditure was below the poverty line in urban areas outside Phnom Penh was 25%, in rural areas it was around 40% and in Phnom Penh 10%.
The characteristics of poverty, based on the 1999 poverty estimates, indicate that rural households, particularly those with agriculture as their primary source of income still account for almost 90% of Cambodia's poor. Three-fourths of the poor are self- employed, which is almost the same ratio as in 1993-94 and 1997. In addition, the poor in Cambodia are more likely to live in households in which the head of household is illiterate and has significantly few years of schooling. Moreover, the incidence of poverty is higher among male-headed households (36%) than among female-headed households (34%).
The Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey, which was conducted by the National Institute of Statistics of the Ministry of Planning in 2000 illuminates several social aspects that relate to poverty. About 32% of Cambodian women are completely illiterate. 24% of women work year-round and 48% work seasonally. 25% of married women age 15-49 have experienced domestic violence. On average, a Cambodian woman has four children in her lifetime and rural women, on average, have one child more than urban women. These figures are too high for the health of mothers. Moreover, in some provinces, women have very short birth intervals, which is an important factor contributing to the high levels of fertility in provinces such as Mondolkiri, Rottanakiri and Kampong Chhang.
2. Council for Social Development
The Council for Social Development was established by Sub-degree No. 89 SD.ES, dated December 04, 2000 of the Royal Government of Cambodia and chaired by the Minister of Planning including the components from, the Economy and Finance, Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries, Rural Development, Health, Education Youth and Sports, Women's and Veteran's Affairs, Social Affairs Labor Vocational Training Rehabilitation Youth, Country Planning Urbanization and Construction, Council of Ministers, and the Council for Development of Cambodia.
The Council for Social Development (CSD) plays the role of assisting the mission of the Supreme Council for State Reform in the social development sector to promote coordinating and monitoring of policy implementation and the social development programme. The CSD is responsible for formulation and submitting proposals to the Supreme Council for State Reform with strategies, action plans and programmes in order to achieve the poverty reduction goals by focusing on the educational, health, social, agricultural development, and rural development sectors.
3. The Government Policy on Socio-Economic Development and Poverty Reduction
The Royal Government of Cambodia has policies to support the government's primary development objective of the acceleration of socio-economic development and poverty reduction through faster economic growth, agricultural development, rural development, transport, water resources, health and education as well as cross-cutting sectoral high-priority actions, in particular measures to improve the government plans and programmes, as weak governance directly impacts poor people.
Economic growth
The SEDP II draft, as well as the I-PRSP, reflects the objectives for socio-economic development and poverty reduction.
· Long-term sustainable economic growth at the annual rate of 6 to 7%
· Equitable distribution of the fruits of economic growth between the have and the have-not, between rural and urban areas and between the two opposite sexes,
· Ensure sustainable management and-utilization of the environment and natural resources.
Agriculture and Rural development
The strategy for poverty alleviation should be placed on the improvement of agricultural productivity through the use of the of high yield seeds, research on rice and. industrial crop production, infrastructure development, rigorous implementation of water policy, combat against land grabbing and landlines, development and implementation of sound land tenure, land use and sustainable environmental policies to the strengthening and expansion of micro-finance institutions in order to expand economic opportunities and create employment in rural areas. Moreover, infrastructure and essential supporting facilities, such as roads, irrigation, water supply, electrical power and telecommunications will play a crucial role and constitute sine qua non conditions in these endeavors.
Education
The Royal Government's top priority is to increase investment in basic education, which constitutes the necessary foundation for technical and vocational skills training and tertiary education. There have been debates within the Ministry of Education Youth and Sport on the introduction of a cost recovery policy to standaradize or formulize the currently widespread unofficial fees and contributions. It was recommended that imposing user fees at the university level is feasible, as there is substantial private willingness to pay for tertiary education. However, there is a need for an exemption system to guarantee poor students access to higher education and to increase the number of qualified primary school teachers in poor areas.
Health
· Provide basis health services to all people
· Improve equity and accessibility to basic health services with good quality, efficiency and low costs.
· Specifically target women, children, elderly and disabled people
· Introduce decentralization of financial and administrative functions.
· Encourage competition between the public and private sector services, and
· Promote awareness of a healthy lifestyle.
Good governance
Building institutional capacity and strengthening good governance is a key to the concept of sustainable development capacity with equity. This is also linked to the establishment of the rule of law, administrative reforms, the promotion of transparency and accountability and the combat against corruption, which will have direct impact on social development and poverty alleviation and trickle down economic growth to all strata of the society. The success of demobilization programmes will allow the Royal Government to shift budgetary resources from defense and security to social and economic sectors.
4. Participatory Process
In order to achieve the above goals participation will be required from all levels of government institutions, local authorities, legal institutions, donors, the private sector, United Nations agencies, NG0s, civil society, local communities, academic institutions and the poor. The participants must provide commendations, recommendations, information, discussion, and direct contributions in preparing, implementing, and monitoring and analysing strategies and policies, plans, and programmes for acceleration of economic growth, socio-economic development, and poverty alleviation.
5. Monitoring and Poverty Analysis
The Ministry of Planning is designated by the Royal Government for leading poverty reduction efforts including the coordination of poverty assessment, defining priority actions, operationalizing strategies and programmes and monitoring and evaluation of poverty outcomes. The poverty analysis, monitoring, and evaluation have been contributed from both within and without government. The Socio-economic Surveys have been used for analysing, monitoring and evaluating poverty and the DHS may be useful for poverty analysis and monitoring as well.
6. Conclusion
To conclude, all policies, strategies and programme achievements depend on the contribution of the national budget through a public investment programme that is fairly and timely implemented towards the determined priorities. In addition, the government has to strengthen and coordinate sustainable foreign assistance and improve the management system of the national budget revenue. Again, on behalf of the Minis" of Planning, I wish Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia success in leading the government to achieve the ultimate goal of the development of the country, especially social development and poverty reduction. I would also like to express thanks to Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen for participating in this meeting. I wish you good health and success in your mission.
Thank you!