Country Director's remarks at signing of "Clearing for Results" project Phase II

Remarks

Signing Ceremony for Clearing for Results Project, Phase 2

Ms. Elena Tischenko, UNDP Cambodia Country Director

25 January 2011

Excellency Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, Excellency Prak Sokhonn,

Distinguished participants, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you for your words and for your appreciation of UNDP’s contribution towards Cambodia’s efforts in addressing its Mine and Explosive Remnants of War challenge.

It is my honour and privilege to take part in this event and to sign this new project.

First of all, allow me to congratulate the Royal Government of Cambodia, and the leadership of the Cambodia Mine Action Authority in particular, for the strategic guidance and commitment in tackling Cambodia’s Mine and Explosive Remnants of War problem. The recent approval of the National Mine Action Strategy and Cambodia’s upcoming presidency of the 11^th Meeting of States Parties are strong demonstrations of it.

The partnership between UNDP and the Royal Government of Cambodia is entering a new period of cooperation. The UNDP Country Programme for 2011-2015, which starts this year, has been designed to respond to priorities of the NSDP, with a special focus on accelerating the progress towards the CMDGs in the remaining time before the 2015 deadline.

Cambodia’s MDG 9, on demining, is a key priority of our 2011-2015 country programme. Addressing mine action is important to accelerate progress towards the NSDP targets because landmines not only lead to loss of lives but also have an adverse economic impact on the rural poor by impeding their access to agricultural land and natural resources.

The new phase of the Clearing for Results programme, which we are signing today, is our joint response to help Cambodia make further considerable steps towards achieving MDG 9.

The programme builds on the experience gained and the progress made during the implementation of the first phase 2006-2010. The first phase successfully strengthened capacities to coordinate and regulate the de-mining sector, and more than 30 square kilometres of land have been cleared. This has in large, been part due to the generous contribution from the Governments of Australia, Canada and Spain of approximately USD 21 million over the last five years. I would like to express our gratitude to these partners for their commitment and vital support provided to the programme.

Clearing for Results in its new phase is a continuation of our partnership but it contains a number of breakthrough initiatives that will better support the CMAA in achieving the targets of the recently adopted National Mine Action Strategy. 

The project will aim to strengthen further policy and institutional capacities to ensure a better alignment between external resources and national priorities. It is expected to achieve a target of a further 35 square kilometres of land cleared and released to communities for achieving greater development results.

One of the main achievements for the first phase of the Clearing for Results’ project is the hand-over of responsibility to the CMAA in leading and managing delivery of all project objectives. This represents a major milestone and turning point and a testimony to the impressive organizational and technical development that the sector, and CMAA, has achieved to date. 

UNDP strongly believes that this major achievement will serve as a model for other countries facing similar challenges. The 11^th Meeting of States Parties at the end of this year is an opportunity for all visiting countries to observe and gain from Cambodia’s experience.

Clearing for Results is also a convincing demonstration of how a combination of strong Government ownership and tailored support can lead to the substantial impact on the management of a sector and generation of measurable, tangible results that benefit people. We are confident that such constructive partnerships will lead to similar progress in other sectors.

Development partners have been and will remain central to the partnership in mine clearance. Allow me to use this opportunity to share our sincere thanks and deepest appreciation of the role of development partners and of their trust and confidence. We are very grateful to the governments of Australia and Canada, and to AusAID and CIDA representatives in Cambodia, who have tentatively committed some 22 million USD out of a 24 million USD total budget required for the programme. We would welcome other development partners to join this important, results-oriented programme.  

We look forward to furthering our partnership with national and development partners through the successful implementation of the Clearing for Results Programme by identifying together effective solutions and scaling up high-value and innovative initiatives in the mine action.     

THANK YOU!