1. CAMBODIA CONTEXT

Summary of National Development Progress

Cambodia has made significant progress since the Paris Peace accord in 1991. Rice productivity has risen and self-sufficiency was achieved in 1995. Industry has grown and the tourism and garment industries are playing a crucial role in economic diversification and poverty reduction. The social and political situation has remained relatively stable since July 1997 and the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) is undertaking a decentralisation process following the Commune Council elections in 2002 (Hach & Acharaya 2002).

Despite progress, Cambodia remains poor. A socio economic survey of 1999 estimated that 36% of the population were living in poverty, mostly engaged in agricultural production in rural areas. According to the statistics of 1998 illiterate rate is 79.5% for men and 57% for women. The 1999 plan estimated that male illiterate over the age of 15 is 47.6% compared to only 29.1% for women.

Health

46% of children under 5 years of age are moderately or severely underweight. Average life expectancy for Cambodian people is 54 years old. The under-5 mortality rate is 47.3 per 1,000 live births. Diseases related to AIDS have killed about 90,000 people in Cambodia. In the year 2000 the number of people infected by HIV/AIDS is ¼ of million, but there is no accurate figure; in addition there is no regular report of the death to the Ministry of Health.

Women

According to the second 5 year socio-economic development plan of 2001-2005, women make up 51.5% of the population and 52.3% of the business work force and 25.7% of households. Cambodia is one of the countries that have high rate of women's participation totalling 73.5% of women from 15 years of age and over. Women make up 54% of agricultural workers and fisheries, and a moderate number participated in non-agricultural sector. On average, Cambodian women receive less pay than men. They have been employed in unskilled work and therefore they are vulnerable according to the service sector. They tend to engage in business work force in households; caring the children; to balance their income/expenditure.
Environment and Agriculture

The environment of Cambodia has been affected during the recent decade as a result of civil conflict. The lack of interest and monitoring of means of exploitation contribute the decrease of natural resources and the decline of quality of environment rendering the atmosphere polluted land erosion. From 1970 to 1997 about 2 million hectares of forest have been destroyed. So far there is no accurate data of lost forest coverage. (The second 5 year socio economic development plan).

Cambodia's fisheries are a rich common property resource and inland fish catches are estimated to be potentially the most productive in the region (Van Zilinge et al 2000). However Reuters reported in October 2002 that rich fishing grounds could be threatened by existing and planned dam construction in Cambodia and other countries in the region. Small-scale family fishing has declined from 1999 to 2001 due to previous over exploitation. Logging and other human encroachment has drastically reduced the amount of flooded forest, the main fish-breeding grounds of the Tonle Sap lake. A government decree on community fishery in 2001 reduced fishing lots under private concessions but local community management of village fisheries needs to be enhanced (Hach & Acharaya 2002).

Cambodia's agricultural sector employs about 77 % of the population and contributes about 41.9% of the gross domestic product (GDP). Most people are involved in rice production with vegetable crops predominantly being produced for domestic consumption. Disease attacks, natural disasters and the second 5 year socio economic plan have inhibited increases in national vegetable production and average daily vegetable consumption is only about 50% of the 200 grams recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Poor quality production and weak infrastructure challenge local producers. Lack of land tenure rights have continued deter investment in agricultural production and Cambodia imports 50% of the vegetables it consumes.

achievement of self-sufficiency in 1995, it still has the lowest productivity in Asia. Successive floods, droughts and inadequate irrigation have hampered efforts to further improve farming techniques. In 2001 the ministry of Agriculture Fishery and Forestry (MAFF) indicated that only 10%, 2.5 million hectares of rice fields, were irrigated. In 2001 serious flood damaged about 250,000 hectares of rice crop. Studies conducted by the Cambodia Development Resource Institute suggest that extension of irrigation systems; better distribution of new farming land; and improvement in marketing systems would significantly improve rice production in Cambodia (Hach & Acharaya 2002).


2. PROJECT BACKGROUND

The National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM)

The Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) established the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) in 1994 as a result of recurring disasters. The RGC officially approved the five-year national strategy on institutional development of the NCDM in 2001. The main purpose is to achieve an effective RGC inter-ministerial coordination system in disaster management including prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and rehabilitation, and as a result reduce the impact of disasters on Cambodian Communities. Three stages of implementation were proposed:

1. Lessons Learned, Awareness Building and Core Skill Development. A critical reflection of NCDM's performance during the 2000 floods; and funding and technical assistance for human resources training, development of disaster management planning setting up of information systems and awareness building among NCDM members.

2. National Strategy, Stakeholder's Commitment and Political Will. Further development and approval of national strategy and policy for disaster management; development of partnership agreement between NCDM, IOs and NGOs; continued programmes on information systems and human resource development; and technical assistance for public awareness.

3. Disaster Management Coordination and Implementation. Reach agreement on specific program plan of actions between NCDM and implementing organisations; and provide funding and technical assistance for the development and implementation of agreed priority programmes and their components (equipment, staffing, training, etc.).

Partnership Between NCDM, Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC) and Danida

The Asia Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) and NCDM had previously worked together in a project funded by the Disaster Preparedness European Commission Humanitarian Office (DIPECHO). ADPC submitted a one-year proposal entitled 'Disaster Reduction Programme for Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam' to Danida for financial support, which was approved in 2001. The proposed programme was designed to meet the need to assist National Disaster Management Organizations (NDMOs) to address and manage disasters more effectively and efficiently.

The NCDM in Cambodia had already made significant progress in the implementation of the first stage of their national strategy. The proposed activities funded by DRP-CLV were in line with requests NCDM had made in the final evaluation of the DIPECHO funded project and stage two of it's 5 year strategy: to further contribute to human resource development plans; provide technical assistance for public awareness; and enhance partnerships between NCDM, IOs and NGOs.