Stakeholder Consultation

for

Oxfam in Cambodia Draft Joint Country Analysis and Strategy May 2011 Introduction
Oxfams in Cambodia are currently undertaking a process to bring about a single management structure for all of Oxfams work in the country by 2013. As a prerequisite to this process, we have begun our joint country analysis and strategy (JCAS) development process. The following document describes the key issues based on our collective internal reflection that we believe we must address. This document is meant to provide our partners with insight to our current thinking to enable them to provide feedback and suggestions as well as to challenge our assumptions and our responses. The time frame of our Joint Country Analysis and Strategy (JCAS) is 2012-2017.

Joint Country Analysis and Strategy Part I Analysis

The following issues were considered to be drivers of poverty in Cambodia. As Oxfams in Cambodia we believe that addressing these issues is key to overcoming poverty and suffering in the country. When reflecting on the issues presented below we considered our partners as well as our own internal capacities and skills to address these issues.

1. Basic demographic data:

Population (million): 14.8 Rural population as percentage of total population: 78% Human Development Index ranking in list of 182 countries: 124 Basic Capabilities Index (1-100, <70 is critical): 98 Gross National Income per capita (US$): $610 Population below $1 PPP: 25.8% Population below $1.25 PPP: 25.8% Proportion of population undernourished: 22% Net enrolment ratio primary education (male/female): 90.4/86.7% Pupil to teacher ratio primary education: 48.5 Failed State Index (0 -120, higher is less stable): 88.7 Freedom in World Status: not free Rule of Law (scale -2.50 to 2.50): -1.05 Voice and Accountability (scale 2.5 to 2.5): -0.88 Gender Equity Index (complete equity = 100): 72 World Bank, 2009 World Bank, 2009 UNDP, 2010 Social Watch, 2010 World Bank, 2009 MDG Database, 2007 World Bank, 2009 FAO, 2007 MDG Database, 2008 UNESCO, 2008 Foreign Policy, 2010 Freedom House, 2010 World Bank, 2009 World Bank, 2009 Social Watch, 2010

Cambodia's population is approaching 15 million people, more than half of them women. The average household size is 4.7 people. Most people live on less than $2 USD a day,

with 80% of their income going for food. The population is 80% rural and very largely dependent on small-scale agriculture, fishery and forestry assets for their livelihoods.

2. Political context
A. Governance Structures, D&D, rule of law Many important institutions of governance and public sector management, destroyed during the Khmer Rouge period (1975-1979), are only just starting to be rebuilt following more democratic principles. Recent trends in decentralization and deconcentration (D&D) may provide a new agenda in Cambodia for promoting development, based on principles of local strategic planning and action. Cambodia has made progress in erecting a legal structure in many areas and signed on to a significant number of international conventions and treaties. However, there is a general lack of implementation and enforcement of these. The political environment of Cambodia is still characterized by weak governance and there is need to strengthen government accountability. Public investment in basic social services is still limited and Cambodia ranked only slightly better than Vietnam in the region in terms of budget transparency. C. Civil liberties civil society space There are about 1,500 local NGOs registered with the Ministry of Interior1 and a broad range of community-based organizations exist. A growing civil society movement within and across sectors (i.e. urban evictees, fishers, farmers, garment workers, teachers, indigenous peoples, women, labor unions, etc.) is emerging at all levels. However, observers note an increasing closure of space for civil society, and growing intimidation of activists, particularly those who focus on human rights, labor rights or land issues. According to some, the draft NGO Law that is currently under discussion is an example of the governments wish to regulate and control civil society. D. Gender and governance Policies on womens empowerment tend to come more from donor pressure than genuine commitment, and often lack resources (budget, staff capacity, monitoring, etc.) for implementation. There is a limited view and understanding of womens vulnerability at all levels, which impacts analysis and capacity to develop new strategies and policies. The Gender Mainstreaming Action Plans (GMAP) funded by donors and adopted by various government ministries have so far focused on capacity building for the institutions on gender mainstreaming (e.g., awareness trainings, identification of focal persons), and have so far been unable to address substantial gender imbalances in their sectors, e.g., women and girls education, womens access to land and other livelihood assets, womens participation and leadership in government, etc. E. International Aid Cambodia receives more than 50% of its income from development aid from multilateral and bilateral organizations2, including agencies such as the United Nations, the World Bank and the Asia Development Bank, and the countries of Japan, the United States,
1 2

Aid Effectiveness in Cambodia, 2008. Wolfensohn Center for Development (2008) Aid Effectiveness in Cambodia, pp. 3

Germany and others. These donors play an important role in setting the agenda for Cambodian development, and for coordinating the efforts of government and nongovernment stakeholders at all levels. The donors commonly link aid to requirements for transparency and accountability.

3. Economic context
A. Export led economic model Even though the majority of the peoples livelihoods are rural-based, and small-scale farmers (rice, livestock and fishery) comprise the majority of the population living on less than $2 per day, the government supports an economic growth model that is export-led and mainly focuses on scale and connection with the global market but with very little link to majority of small producers. B. Speculative Investment The role of the state and the speculative behavior of both local and foreign investors have a profound effect on the economy and poverty. The countrys economy and wealth tend to be concentrated on and oriented towards short-term speculative investments, and little support is given to small producers, a sector where many women are active. C. Access to Finance Although financial services are available in rural areas, they are not always accessible to small-scale farmers, who are held back by low financial literacy and high collateral requirements3. D. Regional Integration Cambodias agenda is increasingly linked to regional and sub-regional agendas. Despite the economic promise of regional mechanisms, there are challenges in the current patterns of regionalization, such as inequities and lack of focus on the social sector. There are also opportunities. Improved cooperation should facilitate a more balanced regional macroeconomic environment, especially through trade flows and resource development.

4. Environmental context
A. Natural Resource Management The rapid development of Cambodias resources is to a large extent driven by exploitive commercial activity such as logging, agribusiness, mining, and fishing operations, as well as large-scale infrastructure development such as irrigation and hydropower dams. These developments are happening without sufficient diligence toward sustainability, transparency and consideration of communities directly impacted, leading to deforestation and a range of environmental issues. B. Natural Disasters
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Action Aid (2009) Household debt: causes and consequences, a study on rural debt, pp. 7

Cambodia is subject to a variety of disasters experienced in the region. Apart from floods, the onset and duration of seasonal rainfall plus the incidence of interrupted effective rainfall appear to be increasingly unpredictable as a consequence of global climate change. The proposed mainstream dams pose significant threats to the ecology of the Mekong River Basin and the livelihoods of local communities dependent on the river and its resources4. High levels of vulnerability are also driven by poverty and lack of both public and private investment in adaptation, mitigation, risk reduction, and disaster response.

5. Social context
A. Womens empowerment Traditional views of gender roles responsibilities and divisions of labor are strongly ingrained at community level. Women comprise a high share of the workforce in many sectors, including agriculture, industry (textiles) and services. They are often low-paid and their access to resources (land, credit, skills, markets, etc.) is not guaranteed. Despite an increased political representation of women in commune councils, few women are in true decision-making and leadership positions. B. Gender Based Violence Cambodia has significant levels of violence against women and girls, and levels of rape and sexual assault are high. There is no reliable source of historical trends but it is assumed that the recent increase in documented cases of rape and domestic violence, for example, indicates an increase in awareness and recognition of the criminal nature of such acts and reporting is encouraged by the law against domestic violence passed in 2005-06. C. Migration Women (as well as children) face challenging working conditions and the hazards of unsafe migration; their vulnerability to labor exploitation and trafficking is different from that of men.

Cambodia Daily, 18 March 2009, on studies by University of Technology in Helsinki, Finland.

Part II Strategy
The following section describes Oxfams proposed response strategy to the context we have noted above.

Oxfams Vision for Cambodia: Cambodians, especially women, are empowered to hold government and others with power accountable and realize their rights to build a society free from poverty and injustice.
Based on our analysis and vision, we believe empowerment and governance are to be at the core of our programming. We have identified three core areas of work: Economic Justice, Humanitarian/Rights in Crisis, and Gender Justice. The choice to work on economic justice, humanitarian work, and gender justice, has been made because of the seriousness of problems and challenges in these areas, as well as the areas of expertise and experiences of Oxfam and partners in Cambodia.

1. Economic Justice

EJ Theory of Change
More demands on companies and governments to pursue sustainable development and respect ways of life

More effective national level civil society organizations and networks Stronger community level organizations and movements

More engagement in decision making

Powerful and wealthy participate in new legal and regulatory framework decisions Take charge of their natural environment (and productive resources) Increase legitimacy and visibility of their issues, voices, demands

More open democratic space

More accountable government and companies

Empowerment of men and women

Building of new leadership

Influencing local political agenda

Producers innovate and mobilize resources on their own

GOAL Cambodian poor women and men are claiming power to demand transparent and accountable ways to manage land, water and climate change in order to secure and improve their livelihoods.

OIs EJ Theory of Action (strategy)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Support strengthening of national, network organizations Focus on information, awareness raising, and knowledge sharing in and between communities Increase capacity, confidence, and power of small-scale producers to make government and commune uncils responsive to them Work w/ government and powerful/wealthy on new legal and regulatory frameworks Target donors to increase resources invested in small scale producers Urge private sector and investors to adopt sustainable practices

GOAL Cambodian poor women and men claim power to demand transparent and accountable ways to manage productive assets in order to secure and improve their livelihoods. Objective 1: Poor Cambodians have increased opportunities for secured and resilient livelihoods. Outcome 1: Communities have the capacity and knowledge to utilize and benefit from natural and technological resources required to strengthen their livelihoods and build resilience to the impact of climate change. Outcome 2: Small scale producers and natural resource dependent communities have increased access to and control over land and natural resources. Outcome 3: Workers have the capacity and knowledge to protect their rights to decent employment free from exploitation. Objective 2. The RGC upholds pro-poor national and international standards for appropriate and responsible management of natural resources particularly those used by small scale producers and natural resource dependent communities. Outcome 1: An accountable and transparent legal framework governing investment is promoted and enforced. Outcome 2: The RGC has sufficient capacity at all levels to promote sustainable development and uphold the economic, social and cultural rights of communities affected by investments and economic activities. Objective 3. Private sector and investors respect the rights of vulnerable communities and workers, ensuring that their operations are socially responsible and meet pro-poor national and international laws, standards and codes. Outcome 1. The letter and spirit of the labor law (including in short-term contracts) are fully complied with; Outcome 2. The number of employers that accept negotiation with workers organizations through instruments like CBAs, Mou, etc. has increased; Outcome 3. Companies adopt and comply with national and international laws, standards and protocols for good practice regarding natural resource based economic activities; Outcome 4. Environmental Impact Assessments and Social Impact Assessments are completed and disclosed to sufficient standards by companies before investment operations commence; Outcome 5. Self-regulation of companies has improved, which includes respecting cultural, indigenous, political rights of people affected by their operations; respecting principles of Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices.

Objective 4: Developement partners support locally appropriate and sustainable activities that contribute to Economic Justice. Outcome 1. Community wellbeing and voice inform and are central in the design and implementation of development partner programmes Outcome 2. Funding mechanisms are accessible to and appropriate to local society; Outcome 3. Development partners will build national capacity, e.g. by using national staff and building upon Cambodian talent; Outcome 4. Development partners co-ordinate their activities with each other, local civil society, and government; Outcome 5. They hold themselves and their partners equally accountable to Economic Justice principles and outcomes.

Humanitarian Work/Rights in Crisis

Humanitarian Theory of Change

Stronger gov. structures Hold decision makers to account Better coordinated Intl assistance

Access (particularly womens) to information, knowledge and appropriate technologies Communities more capable to respond to emergencies

Availability of financial resources

Increased resilience

Stronger womens leadership

Communities become strong advocates for their rights

GOAL Vulnerable communities in Cambodia especially women are resilient to disasters and are empowered to recognize, claim, and uphold their rights to life and security.

Humanitarian Theory of Action

1. Build community capacity particularly womens for emergency response 2. Work with government and other stakeholders like the UN to ensure that assistance is coordinated, efficient, and effective and responsive to community needs

Goal Vulnerable communities in Cambodia especially women are resilient to disasters and are empowered to recognize, claim, and uphold their rights to life and security. Objective 1. Communities affected by humanitarian crisis receive assistance in a timely, effective and appropriate manner from Oxfam and its partners. Outcome 1. Partners and Oxfam staff are better prepared to and equipped to act in an emergency response Outcome 2. Emergency Assistances provided by Oxfam and its partners is in accordance with communities right/needs and is in line with international standards. Objective 2. Communities and women in particular develop the capacity to design and make use of national preparedness and response plans at local and national levels and demand government resources and support for these plans. Outcome 1. Community based disaster risk reduction. Outcome 2. Increased knowledge and awareness of climate change impacts Outcome 3. Communities are empowered to adopt their livelihoods to Climate change. Objective 3. Government leads and coordinates disaster management planning and response appropriate to the rights and specific needs of women and their communities. Outcome 1. Policies and practices on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), climate change, and emergency response are designed and fully implemented in consultation with communities and with equal consideration to women and men; Outcome 2. System and mechanism for early warning for disasters is set up and is Outcome 3. Coordination and responsibility sharing among line agencies/ministries (e.g. Ministry of hydrology and meteorology, Ministry of agriculture, and NCDM) has increased and the national cluster system is strengthened Objective 4. International community assists the development of systems and procedures for coordination among development partners and promotes the coordination capacity of the government to lead the preparation for and response to rapid onset and protracted humanitarian crisis from the community to the national level. Outcome 1. Relevant networks (i.e. DRR Forum, National Climate Change Network, and NCDM) are created and supported. Outcome 2. International standards and DRR are integrated in the international assistance to Cambodia.

Goal 3. Gender Justice

Gender Justice Theory of Change
Women in leadership and decision-making positions

Increased info, knowledge, and awareness on rights and how to claim them

More critical reflection by men and women about gender norms

Better policies that target womens issues and specific problems

More equitable division of political economic resources Transformed gender relations in organizations, communities, and households

Increased economic power of women

GOAL More women will gain power over their lives and live free from violence through changes in attitudes, ideas, and beliefs about gender relations, and through increased levels of womens active engagement and critical leadership in institutions, decision-making, and change processes.

GJ Theory of Action
1. support partners, alliances and programmes that empower their constituencies to have their voices heard, take actions and challenge the status quo 2. Target the phenomenon of violence against women 3. Challenge gender norms of the perfectly virtuous woman and perfectly virtuous man 4. Help women become fully entitled actors in the economy and as leaders and decision-makers

Goal
More women will gain power over their lives and live free from violence through changes in attitudes, ideas, and beliefs about gender relations, and through increased levels of womens active engagement and critical leadership in institutions, decision-making, and change processes. Objective 1. - There are more women in leadership and decision making roles and they are having a positive impact on realizing the rights of women and their communities. Outcome 1. Women have acquired increased knowledge about their rights; Outcome 2. Women have increased confidence and skills to use that knowledge and take advantage of leadership opportunities; Outcome 3. Governance structures and policies ensure women have equal leadership opportunities; Outcome 4. Beliefs, practices & norms encourage leadership opportunities for women. Objective 2. Decreased gender based violence by changing attitudes, ideas and beliefs of men and women that permits and contributes to violence against women.

Outcome 1. Understanding and knowledge of beliefs, ideas and practices that contribute to Violence against Women has been built. Outcome 2. A collaborated effort between local and national actors has been made to challenge these beliefs, ideas and practices.

Part III - Ways of Working

The activities that derive from this strategy will be primarily carried out by partner organisations, many of which have been long-standing Oxfam partners. Oxfams partners will include not just NGOs and CBOs (Peoples Organisations) but also government and the private sector. Towards these partners, Oxfam will have a facilitating and enabling role, and, where needed, will also build capacity. Oxfam will play the role of honest broker for some advocacy and campaigning, when required for regional and global Oxfam campaigns, and in those instances where Oxfams voice will add value to the influence that national CSOs have at country level and based on their request. Oxfam will also have a direct implementation role in humanitarian responses in cases where, on the basis of the needs assessments conducted by partners and/or Oxfam, Oxfam judges that direct implementation by Oxfam is required. This is to ensure speed and flexibility in response. We will involve local partners to the extent possible and build their capacity as well as our own internal capacity. At the same time, Oxfam has a clearly stated intention to develop the preparedness and response capacities of humanitarian partners and/or governement agencies concerned. Oxfam will facilitate linking and learning of partners both within and between the various priority areas. We will facilitate linkages and networks, brokering relationships where necessary and play a role in linking and sharing local experiences to the national and international levels and vice versa. Oxfam will also embark on a process of institutional capacity building of key partners.

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