Volume 1, Number 4 September 2003 Villagers in Ratanakiri share concerns with World Bank Editor's note: A team from the World Bank, led by Country Man- ager Nisha Agrawal, visited Ratanakiri province recently on a trip organized by the NGO Forum and the Se San Protection Network. The trip was an opportunity to talk with people about development is- sues that affect them, and to under- stand better the nature and causes of poverty in Cambodia. This news- letter focuses on the trip to Ratanakiri. The sky is clear and thousands of stars are rising above Khoun village on the bank of the Se San river. It is com- pletely quiet; only six out of the more than 400 people who inhabit the village during the dry season are here tonight ­ because it's the rainy season, and for six months continued on page 2 Villagers in Thiem Lue village having discussions with the World Bank team . EnsuringViracheyeco-tourismbenefitspeopleandenvironment Government, NGOs, and communi- Spread across Ratanakiri and and the Lao PDR. ties are discussing ways to make sure that Stung Treng provinces, the Park, whose With the planned international eco-tourism in Virachay National Park will rich biodiversity has made it a priority airport in Ratanakiri, the prospect for eco- benefit local communities as well as the conservation site in Southeast Asia, cov- tourism in the Park area is high. The on- rest of the country, while protecting the ers 3,325 square kilometers along the far going Biodiversity and Protected Areas park's environment, which has local and southwestern edge of the Greater Management Project (BPAMP), funded global importance. Annamite Mountain Range that runs by the International Development Asso- through much of ciation (IDA, part of the World Bank Vietnam, and the Group) and the Global Environment Fa- far eastern edge cility (GEF), has helped develop a draft of the vast Cen- eco-tourism strategic plan to ensure that tral Indochina some of the anticipated revenues from Dry Forest. This eco-tourismbenefitlocalcommunitiesliv- area is a conser- ing around the Park. It could be a win- vation "eco-re- win situation whereby local communities gion" due to its would get income from nature-based unique and frag- tourism that in turn depends on collec- ile natural and tive efforts to protect the rich cultural charac- biodiversity. teristics, not only Meas Sophal, the project direc- withinCambodia, tor, said there would be a workshop to but also in neigh- discuss the eco-tourism plan among Elephant taken by a camera trap in Virachey National boring Vietnam continued on page 4 2 The World Bank Newsletter September 2003 Villagers in Ratanakiri share concern with World Bank continued from page 1 staff it ­ formal and informal. The villag- lander Association, International Coop- the villagers are living on their nearby ers say that when they get educated they eration Cambodia and Kok Lak forestry farms. At 7 o'clock in the evening, the would like to get jobs with local NGOs or community ­ briefed the team on the im- third stroke of the Kong rings out, a sig- the government. pact of the Yali dam, loss of culture, the nal that a meeting will be starting soon. Back in Thiem Leu village, a group lack of access to education and health An hour later, a group of people walk of villagers waits to meet the World care, and other challenging issues in through the forest and bush, some using Bank team, having heard they are com- Ratanakiri and Stung Treng. flashlights, others carrying traditional ing to visit an informal-education According to the community net- torches burning resin, toward a village school supported by CARE. In the ab- works,morethan50,000peoplelivealong meeting house where the World Bank sence of a bridge, the villagers take a Se San river in both Ratanakiri and Stung team is staying. small boat to cross a stream to the Bank Treng Provinces. The informal gathering begins at team, using their sandals as paddles. In The team also met with interna- eight, long after dark, faces meeting the shade of a tree, visitors and villag- tional NGOs and the Partnership for Lo- through candlelight. The villagers talk ers sit and talk. cal Governance (PLG) which works in about their lives ­ both the difficulties and In this village the concerns are the Ratanakiri, and discussed access to ap- the improvements. The talk is of the im- same ones that echo up and down the Se propriate education and health ser- pact on their lives and their economy of San. The village chief and his people all vices, land security, access to forest re- the irregular flow and erratic sources, tourism, and levels of the Se San river, and "Yes, the people are affected by the Yali dam. I raised gender issues. the rapidly decreasing num- this issue during the meetings of the triangle Education and bersoffishinit:developments development committee in Laos and in Vietnam," health services seem to be which they believe have been improving, but there are caused by the building of the Kham Khoeun, Governor of Ratanakiri said. "I keep still challenges such as YalidaminVietnam.Theseare raising this whenever I meet them." language problems, and their major concerns. areas where there is no "Over the last few years we had say their lives have been detrimentally school, or a school but no teacher. Ma- several serious floods which destroyed affected by the Yali dam built in Vietnam. laria is the major cause of ill-health in the our crops," says the village chief. "Since And they fear that more dams might be region. However, community health care the dam was built, the fish have disap- built on their river. centers are under-used by ethnic minor- peared, particularly in 2003." "We are very worried because we ity groups, partly because many people But life is not all bad. People say hear that the dam will collapse, and some- believe that spirits cure illness, and also they have also seen some positive de- one told us that Vietnam will build more," because they worry about people taking velopmentsinthelastfewyears:thebuild- says a villager. "It is so dangerous to our their money or because the health center ing of a road, a health clinic, and a school. children. If a flood happens, who will take is too far from their village. The school has no teacher, and the health care of them when they are in school?" continued on page 3 center is far from the village, but they are Beside their concerns about flood- TheSeSanProtectionNetwork signs of progress. ing, the villagers complain of a decline in "I see some changes in my vil- fish numbers. Walking past the meeting, a TheSeSanRiverProtectionNet- lage," said one of villagers. "I am happy, fisherman holds up his fishing net with work project is a local coordinating even if I don't have a motorbike or a three different kinds of fish, each no big- body supported by Oxfam America, bicycle to ride on that new road." ger than his finger, and tells the group he working in partnership with NTFP, the Conversation ends around 10 p.m. had to spend a whole day casting his net Cultural Environment Preservation The villagers walk by torchlight the 5 or 6 in the Se San for his tiny catch. Before the Association, NGO Forum on Cambo- km back to the farms where they live with dam was built, he says, he could have dia , local authorities, relevant govern- their families and look after their crops; caught a lot more in just an hour. ment departments, and other national the World Bank team get into their ham- The World Bank team, led by Cam- and international organizations. mocks to sleep in the deserted village. bodia Country Manager Nisha Agrawal, The project started in 2001, sup- The next morning, the team meet a and including Social Development Spe- porting the formation of a Se San Com- delegation who represent three villages cialists Nil Vanna and Gillian Brown and munity Network through which people in the Koh Pong commune. The people Communications Specialist Bou Saroeun, living along the Se San River can complain about losing the income they spent five days visiting villages in receive information about the devel- used to earn from fishing and from gold Ratanakiri province as well as meeting opments on their river. panning in the Se San river bed. with several community networks, local The project aims to strengthen When asked about how they get and international NGOs, and provincial the voice of people living along the water, the villagers point to an unfinished officials. river to enable them to present their water-well supported by the Seila Cambo- On the first day, NGOs and com- concerns, facilitate consultation with dian GovernmentDevelopmentProgram. munity networks ­ the Se San Protection policy-makers, and to raise awareness In two villages, Seila has provided Network, Women's Network, Natural Re- of the Se San issue in Cambodia to all roads, water-wells, and schools. source Management Network, Non-Tim- levels of government and civil society, Koh Pong is luckier than Khoun. ber Product Project, Cultural and Envi- as well as international governmental They have both a school and teachers to ronment Preservation Association, High- and non-governmental institutions. September 2003 The World Bank Newsletter 3 New School Building Increases Enrollment and Reduces Drop-Out Standing in front of his new school ernment through PAP funds from the Min- building, Tith Savoeun, Borei Kamakor II istry of Education. school director, is all smiles as he briefs Even though his $30-a-month sal- the World Bank team who visited his ary as director of the school is not school last week. enough to support his family, Savoeun "I feel very happy now that I've proudly says, "I am still happy to pro- got a new school building," he beams. vide the education to the new generation. "Since the building went up, the rate of I don't want to bury it," he says, of the students who drop out is none." In the knowledge that can be imparted. previous school year, the drop-out rate The toilet that has been built not was about 5 or 10 per cent. New school with solar panel on the roof only provides sanitation and keeps the Borei Kamakor II primary school, in school clean: it is an educational tool, PhumII,KanhChanhcommune,BanLung teaching how to use one. Most of the district, is one of 21schools funded by community-based social and economic children who come to the school have the Social Fund through World Bank infrastructure facilities throughout the never used a toilet before. "When they credit in Ratanakiri province. country. The project has adopted a de- use the toilet, I have to stay there and Under the World Bank-financed mand-driven approach, and targeting teach them how," laughs Savoeun. project in Ratanakiri province, the Social methods that have yielded significant The school still needs some play- Fund has granted money to the ethnic results contributing to poverty reduction ground equipment such as a swinging minority communities to rehabilitate and through promoting a community-cen- board, a slipping board, and sport activ- construct 32 infrastructures and service tered development process. ity fields, but the basic needs have been projects (valued at about US$515,500 ) in Borei Kamakor II primary school met to provide a sound learning environ- nine districts ­ Lum Phat, Banlung, Voeun has six rooms that accommodate 275 stu- ment for the youth of Phum II, Kanh Sai, Ta Veng, Ondaung Meas, Bar Keo, dents ­ 113 of them girls ­ from grade 1 Chanh commune. Konn Mom, O'Yadau and O'Chum. The to grade 6. By co-funding with American projects include 21 school buildings, four Assistance for Cambodia (AAfC), the to- rural roads, two water supply projects (20 tal cost of building the new school, one drilled water wells), five health centers, latrine and one drilled well cost approxi- four public latrines and two projects on mately US$26,701. This new school is public health awareness. also equipped with a solar power panel The mission of the Social Fund to generate electricity to run computers project is to channel coordinated, multi- and an internet link. AAfC also provides sectoral investment packages to benefit funding for English and computer train- the most under-served areas and poorest ing to the school. communities in Cambodia. The Social Savoeun says Borei Kamakor has Fund project has been supported by Nisha and team visit a computer class only four teachers. He is pressing for US$55 million credit from the World Bank more to meet the needs of the increasing For more information contact: since 1995, to assist in financing the reha- number of students. Teachers' salaries Ms. Nil Vanna bilitation and construction of small-scale, and text books are provided by the Gov- Email: Vnil@worldbank.org Villagers in Ratanakiri share concerns with World Bank continued from page 2 been affected by changing flows and Editor's note: The Yali dam was Land security remains a concern water levels. He said he had raised the not funded by the World Bank. But the because of the increasing migration of Se San issue with Vietnam and the Lao Bank is interested in understanding the people from other provinces in Cambo- PDR twice and that both countries have nature and causes of poverty in dia. Rapid economic development is also agreed to conduct more studies down- Cambodia, and in finding and support- leading to increasing pressure from out- stream along the Se San to assess the ing solutions for poverty reduction. In side, and there is a very real danger that real impacts of the dam. that context, the Bank seeks to under- indigenous communities will lose much "Yes, the people are affected by stand how the Yali dam is affecting the of the natural resources they depend the Yali dam. I raised this issue during lives of poor people in Ratanakiri and upon if their property rights are not se- the meetings of the triangle development what efforts are being made by the cured before the province opens up to committeeinLaosandinVietnam,"Kham communities themselves, as well as by tourism as planned. Khoun said. "I keep raising this when- provincial and national authorities to Before returning to Phnom Penh, ever I meet them." address these problems. the World Bank team met the governor Provincialfisheriesofficerepresen- and representatives of various provin- tatives told the team the impacts on fish For more information please contact: cial departments to hear about their de- are real, because the fish spawning Mr. Kim Sangha velopment plans and about the chal- ground was destroyed, and changing Email: sesan@comintel.com lenges that Ratanakiri is facing. The gov- currents and water levels have caused or Bou Saroeun ernor, Kham Khoun, agreed that the some fish species to disappear. Email: sbou@worldbank.org people who live along Se San river have September 2003 The World Bank Newsletter 4 LETTER We Welcome Your Opinions and Comments DearBangSaroeun, I would like to thank you a lot for your newsletter. When I got it, I always read all of informations. Moreover, it makes me to know clearly about the real situation of development in Cambodia today. Thank you again for your kind cooperation. Sincerely Yours, To make our newsletter a more useful source of information and to make the World ChinMardy Bank's activities in Cambodia more effective, we welcome your letters, comments, Executive Director and questions. Please send them to: Bou Saroeun, Communications Associate, Cambodia Youth Development Cambodia World Bank Office, 113 Norodom Blvd., Phnom Penh, email: sbou@worldbank.org. We very much appreciate your valuable assistance. CARE and Kids CARE is supporting the transi- Ensuring Virachey eco-tourism... tion period to integrate ethnic children to protect our natural resources to en- into the government school system. continued from page 1 government, NGOs and the local commu- sure that tourists will want to visit Seventy percent of the project staff are nities very soon. He emphasized the im- Virachay to see its natural beauty and indigenous people, and some 20 com- portance of local involvement. "Local biodiversity." munity teachers, selected by village communities must participate in the pro- BPAMPisapilotprojectwhichaims leaders, are being training through the cess of protecting biodiversity and man- to test and establish protected areas man- project. As part of the project, commu- aging eco-tourism to make it work," he agement, community development, and nities have set up school boards, who said. natural resource management proce- build, manage, and maintain the Eco-tourism is a serious concern dures. The experiences gained are ex- schools. for local communities, particularly ethnic pected to be used in other sites within The project consists of five com- minority groups who live in or around the Cambodia's National Protected Area Sys- ponents: border of the National Park, because of tem. · Building a team of ethnic its potential negative impact on the natu- The Biodiversity and Protected minority people to support the project ral resources and on their culture. Areas Management Project (BPAMP) is · Communities governing and Recently, a representative of Kok funded by a $1.91 million IDA credit, a managing schools Lak forest community told a visiting $2.75millionGEFgrant,and$250,000from · Adapting the Ministry of World Bank team that "we are eager to the Government of Cambodia. Education, Youth, and Sports participate, but we need to be involved curriculum to the local situation from the beginning to ensure that our · Selecting and training For more information about the culture is preserved while at the same time community teachers biodiversity project, please contact our community could gain from the in- · Linking with the Provincial Mr. Meas Sophal come generated from tourism." His con- Office of Education and the MoEYS Project Director clusion was that "we must work together systems. Email: BPAMP@online.com.kh What's New in the Public Information Center? New World Bank publications and documents now available 1. Trade and Logistics in East Asia; CustodyandLegalCompliancein A Development Agenda the Timber Industry 2. AchievingUniversalPrimaryEducation 7.Combating Malnutrition - by2015-AChanceforEveryChild Time to start 3. PublicMoneyforPrivateInfrastructure 8. Financing Vocational Training ­ Deciding When to Offer Guarantees, in Sub-Saharan Africa Output Based Subsidies, and Other Fiscal 9. Slovak Republic-Joining the Support EU,A DevelopmentPolicy Review 4. Agriculture Non ­ Point Source 10. RestoringFiscalDisciplinefor Pollution Control ­ Good Management Poverty Reduction in Peru- A Practices-the Chesapeake Bay Experience PublicExpenditureReview 5. EfficiencyinReachingtheMillennium Development Goals Please visit our Public Information Center. Our PIC is open from 9 6. Technologies for Wood Tracking- am to 12 pm and 2 to 5 pm from Monday to Friday Verifying and Monitoring the Chain of or contact Ms. Sin Vanna, email:vsin@worldbank.org