A System In Waiting: Improving Service Delivery Through Decentralisation Reforms In Cambodia

This article discusses how well Cambodian communes are positioned to effectively engage in poverty reduction activities through improved service delivery at the local level, and what the record is of the initial implementation of the decentralisation reforms. The design of decentralisation in Cambodia contains some innovative features. However, the low levels of funding in the first five years of implementation, the lack of some key implementing regulations and the absence of clearly defined responsibilities for minimum service delivery by the communes or higher administrative levels has somewhat stalled the reforms. The main achievement to date therefore appears to be in the political domain. The long-awaited sector deconcentration reforms are expected to give a new vigour to decentralisation, but many key issues related to deconcentration are still under discussion.