Improved service delivery programme

Context

Since the 1990s, Cambodia has seen slow decentralization and local government reform efforts aimed at re-building local infrastructure and developing livelihood opportunities. While this process required the re-construction of public institutions at the subnational level from the outset, Cambodia encountered a major step in 2019, with the transfer of functions from 20 sectors (such as education) to districts and municipalities. Today, the full implementation of these transferred functions remains a national challenge. 

Since 2010, the National Program for Sub-National Democratic Development aims to improve citizens’ access to public services and grant them equitable benefits of local development. Embracing a democratic and inclusive approach, the decentralization reforms aim to enhance public service delivery, eliminate poverty, and improve quality of life. These expected outcomes, however, mainly depend on subnational administrations’ (SNAs) ability to implement their functions and respond to local needs.

Objective

The Improved Service Delivery for Citizens in Cambodia programme, implemented by the GIZ and initially co-funded by Switweland (SDC) and Germany (BMZ) in 2022, seeks to help local governments deliver qualitative and sustainable services to citizens, especially in the domains of waste and water management, financial services, and citizens’ participation in decision-making.  

The programme has a multi-level approach. It combines technical and process advice at national and sub-national levels.  

Intervention strategy  

In April 2025, Luxembourg engaged in co-funding the programme for the remaining 8 months of 2025. This decision is driven by Luxembourg’s willingness to support decentralization efforts and local governance reforms in a capacity development approach.  

Luxembourg aims to contribute to the ISD’s key objectives by helping provide policy advice and support to SNAs, promoting the role of women within administrations, improving data accessibility and exchange between public sector institutions, developing and propagating waste and climate-sensitive water management strategies, facilitating citizens’ interaction with SNAs through enhanced access to decision-making and complaint mechanisms, and helping improve SNAs’ financial management capacity.  

Beneficiaries

The programme benefits the populations of the three targeted provinces, namely Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, and Siem Reap.