COLLABORATIVE COUNTRY ASSISTANCE STRATEGIES

1
COLLABORATIVE COUNTRY ASSISTANCE STRATEGIES

• The Example of ADB, DFID, the World Bank and the
  UN in Cambodia
• Prepared by DFID Cambodia
• And presented by World Bank Cambodia Country
  Office

2
BACKGROUND

• ADB, DFID, and the World Bank found they were all
  due to write strategies at the same time
  (2002/2003)
• Decided to work together
• Started with retreats to
• establish scope, timeframe and products
• develop relationships and build commitment
• develop development partnerships principles
• and agree on priority outcomes with reference to
  Cambodia's PRS

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Background (cont)

• The UN system joined June 2004
• and agreed to use analysis already prepared by
  the initial group

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What did they do?

• Established inter-agency working groups to
  develop initial ideas
• Carried out consultations with Government, civil
  society and other actors.
• Developed shared and agreed analysis
• August 2004 agreed Government's new "Rectangular
  Strategy as the basis for country planning

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What did they do? (cont)

• Between October 2004 and May 2005, shared draft
  strategies with Government ministries.
• From May 2005 on, each agency published its
  Country Strategy Paper based on the shared
  framework and analysis

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The good news

• The Government noted the process reduced their
  transaction costs
• Other donors noted reduced transaction costs.
• There will be future costs and efficiency savings

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But.

• The process cost twice as much as a normal
  strategy process for each of the four different
  partners (and took twice as long although other
  factors contributed)
• Some donors felt left out and criticised the
  process as a clique.
• Compromises were reached and yet differences of
  opinion might arise again in the future.

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What was achieved?

• The joint process aligned the four agencies
  behind the Governments national plan.
• Joint strategies became a target for all donors.
• ADB-DFID-UN-WB ways of working helped mobilise
  others towards more collaborative behaviours.
• ADB-DFID-UN-WB joint decision-making led to
  greater selectivity in programming.
• Strengthened understanding and built trust
  amongst the four partners

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Contributions to the national planning process

• Preparation of the four new country strategies
  preceded preparation of the NSDP
• But was based upon the Rectangular strategy,
  which became the framework for the structure of
  the NSDP
• Understanding and trust developed during joint
  country strategy preparation laid the foundation
  for ADB, UN and WB harmonised central support to
  Government preparation of the National Strategic
  Development Plan (NSDP) 2006-2010
• Meanwhile, the model of joint working has been
  mainstreamed into 18 sectoral Technical Working
  Groups
• And is becoming the norm in Cambodia