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About UNDP Cambodia

UNDP aims to enhance the government’s ability to deliver public services to the population in an efficient, effective, equitable and accountable manner, to consolidate a participatory democracy with a responsible civil society and to create an enabling environment for inclusive growth, private sector development and sustainable use of natural resources.

Our vision:

Cambodians living with dignity in a prosperous society at peace, based on justice, free choices and equitable access to productive resources.

UNDP has been in Cambodia for 50 years, operating from 1958 to 1975, resuming in a limited capacity in 1980 contributing to emergency relief operations, and formally establishing its offices in Phnom Penh in 1994 with the signature of the SBAA.UNDP Cambodia is currently implementing its new five-year Country Programme Action Plan 2011-2015, which has been endorsed by the Letter of Agreement between the Country Office and the Royal Government of Cambodia.

Achieving the MDGs

UNDP supports Cambodia to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. Critical challenges include: (i) the diversification of growth and the translation of growth into the reduction of poverty and inequalities in rural areas; (ii) sustainable and participatory management of natural resources that represent primary assets for the poor (including oil and gas, arable land, forestry and fisheries) and (iii) strengthening participatory democracy and good governance.

UNDP also supports Cambodia to achieve priority goals and targets outlined in its National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP) in the fields of governance reforms, political processes, gender equity, environmental sustainability and rural energy, climate change and de-mining. These national goals are aligned with the MDGs.

Find out more about our programmes and projects.

How do we work?

UNDP operates within the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), an overarching five-year plan for UN agencies in Cambodia. In addition to the new UNDAF 2011-2015, the UN Country Team produces a Common Country Assessment (CCA), which analyses the national development situation and identifies key development issues. Both a process and a product, the CCA takes into account national priorities, with a focus on the MDGs and the other commitments, goals and targets of the Millennium Declaration and international conferences, summits and conventions.

In addition, UNDP operates within its own Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP), which is also five years in duration. On 16 March 2011, UNDP in Cambodia launched its Country Programme Action Plan for 2011-2015, as outlined in the 2011-2015 Country Programme Document. The Council for the Development of Cambodia is the coordinating agency for all official aid in Cambodia and is UNDP’s primary counterpart for its CPAP and the UNDAF.

All UNDP activities are undertaken in close collaboration with the Government, sister UN agencies and other development stakeholders. Partnerships with UK/DFID, Sweden/SIDA, Australia/AusAID, Canada/CIDA, the European Union and other partners have been critical to achieving results.

Who are the decision-makers?

UNDP in Cambodia consists of the following decision makers:

Ms. Claire Van der Vaeren, Resident Representative

Ms. Setsuko Yamazaki, Country Director

Mr. Napoleon Navarro, Deputy Country Director (Programme)

Mr. Ismael Toorawa, Deputy Country Director (Operations)

The Resident Representative is the most senior official for UNDP in Cambodia and also serves as the Resident Coordinator for the entire United Nations system in the country. The Resident Representative is ultimately accountable for the quality and sustainability of UNDP interventions in the country and for ensuring that all UNDP policies and procedures are fully complied with. The UNDP Country Director is the second most senior official and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the organization. The Country Director is assisted by two Deputies, one for Programme and one for Operations.

UNDP works in partnership with the Royal Government of Cambodia, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, community-based organizations, multilateral aid agencies, bilateral donors and private firms. A vast majority of its development assistance is implemented by national entities such as the Council for Development of Cambodia, Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, and ministries. At present, UNDP directly implements three projects each under Democratic Governance, Poverty Reduction, and Environment and Energy programmatic areas. The overarching aim of UNDP is to support the progress towards the Cambodian Millennium Development Goals.