The Ketsana Emergency Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Project for Cambodia had a satisfactory outcome with moderate risk to development outcome, and satisfactory performance by both, the Bank and the borrower.
... See More + The lessons learned were: (1) A simple project design based on the best available preliminary damage and needs assessment facilitated quick processing and start-up of implementation. (2) Use of retroactive financing and force account by government to get large and almost immediate positive impacts and reinforce collaboration with government, especially in an emergency operation. (3) Use the simpler and quicker Single Source Selection (SSS) for appointing key consultants for emergency operations in countries with weak technical and institutional capacities. (4) During the implementation stage, target local contractors with simple measures to ensure better quality construction. (5) If community participation during project preparation is impossible for an emergency operation, conduct information sessions and outreach campaigns as early as possible during implementation. (6) Include public road safety awareness programs and campaigns, even for rural road construction projects. (7) Consider applying bitumen seals for dust control on laterite or gravel roads through rural settlements.
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Implementation Completion and Results Report ICR3245 JAN 23, 2015
The outcome rating for the Agribusiness Access to Finance Project for Cambodia was not applicable and thus, the risk to development outcome was also not applicable.
... See More + The performances by the Bank, IFC, and the Borrower were all moderately satisfactory while the Participating Financial Intermediarys (PFI) performance was moderately unsatisfactory. The project did not materialize as expected due to the rapidly changing market conditions which were beyond its control. The team responded to these dynamics by restructuring the project, but it was not enough to maintain the financial viability of the facility. However, the agribusiness sector has seen significant expansion of credit and declining interest rates since 2010 driven by general improvement of financial sector and enabling environment. Both Bank and IFC have been supporting broader financial sector reforms through Financial Sector Assessment Program and various advisory services. For example, IFC contributed to the establishment of Cambodia Credit Agency which allowed the banks to better assess the credit worthiness of the potential borrowers. In this regard, the original goal of the program to increase PFI financing to agribusinesses was indeed achieved, although it was not attributed to the project which did not materialize. The data provided by Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited showed that the value of loans it made to agribusinesses exceeded the planned landing targets under the Risk Sharing Facility.
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This book diagnoses Cambodian teaching quality and presents policy options for reform. Through classroom observation, assessments of mathematics and pedagogical content knowledge, and surveys of teachers and school directors, it sheds light on content and instruction, interactions with school directors, instructional support systems, and the implementation of teacher standards.
... See More + The book investigates the competencies and skills of those attracted to teaching; it assesses the extent to which preservice education in Cambodia is delivering graduates with high content mastery and exposure to a student-centered learning environment; and it examines how teacher performance has been impacted by national incentives, an evaluation system that is disconnected from classroom realities, and the extent to which opportunities to learn and share best-practice lessons with peers exists. Out of the diagnosis follow three policy pillars to reform how teachers are trained, maintained, and motivated. First, the government must make teaching a much more attractive profession. Second, it must improve how teachers are prepared. And third, it must encourage stronger classroom performance. The book contains detailed recommendations under each policy pillar and provides the platform for Cambodia to undertake its next generation of educational reform.
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This issue of the Cambodia economic update covers the following selected issues: 1) making the most of the Cambodian rise sector; and 2) creating opportunities for firms as reflected in findings from the investment climate assessment.
... See More + For FY2014 economic growth held up well despite domestic uncertainty and instability in neighboring countries. Real growth is estimated to reach 7.2 percent, driven by the garment, construction, and services sectors. Overall macroeconomic management has been good with fiscal consolidation underpinned by improved revenue administration. In 2015 with the expectation of renewed confidence and the return of political stability after ending a yearlong political deadlock in July 2014, bolstered by a strengthening global economy, Cambodia's real growth rate is expected to reach 7.5 percent, similar to that of 2013. The downside risks to the projected robust growth are a potential recurrence of labor unrest, natural disasters, especially the possibility of heavy floods, as well as regional political uncertainty. Concerning rice production, growth decelerated in 2013 highlighting the importance of revitalizing the rice sector so it becomes once again a key engine of GDP growth. While the milled-rice export market is steadily expanding and increasing the number of destination markets, the milling and transport costs of Cambodian rice make it loose the competitiveness it has at farm gate prices. The Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) has set a very legitimate target of one million tons of milled rice exports that matters tremendously for poverty reduction and shared prosperity. Concerning the investment climate assessment findings, RGC's new five-year Rectangular Strategy III continues to prioritize improving the business environment to help diversify and increase value-added in production. The current period of robust growth represents an opportunity to make improvements to the business environment that will attract long-term investors. Proposed next steps in reforming the business environment include: a) addressing the high cost of electricity; b) automating government processes; c) encouraging new investment, particularly in special economic zones; d) continuing improvements to trade facilitation; e) completing the draft Competition Law; f) designing and implementing a system of incentives for business registration; and g) focusing on implementation and enforcement.
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The royal Cambodian government (RCG) has achieved remarkable progress in recent years in reducing the poverty rate by more than half. However, the majority of those escaping from poverty only did so marginally and remain largely near-poor and still highly vulnerable to the slightest of shocks.
... See More + One of the most critical factors in enabling the poor to escape from poverty, and not only remain non-poor but go on to prosper, lies in ensuring higher levels of health welfare in these households. This is especially important in rural areas, where most of Cambodias poor reside and where health indicators show a stark divergence with those for urban areas. If poverty is to continue to decline apace, and the gap between rich and poor is to continue to narrow, then the RCG will need to ensure that poor and near-poor peoples health care is greatly improved such that they can make the most of the new opportunities in education and employment that are now becoming available. With significant improvements in some health indicators over the past decade, the major challenges in health care going forward are now becoming clearer. These include: making a breakthrough in tackling high levels of child mortality and child malnutrition; addressing equity more effectively in health service provision and health spending, through pro-poor targeted programs and improvements in the coverage and rates of use of health equity funds (HEF); and the improved monitoring of unregulated private providers of medication used by the majority of the poor. In addition, another crucial step forward will be providing adequate financing and ensuring the implementation of Cambodias first national social protection strategy (NSPS).
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