positions of power and infl uence. This programme seeks Oddar Meanchey is the newest, poorest, and least resourced to minimize those risks and equip individuals and their of Cambodia’s 24 provinces and municipalities. It is where communities to overcome the obstacles. It does so by Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot died in 1998 and is buried. It developing self-advocacy skills. It also facilitates forging has large tracts of land attractive both to poor displaced of alliances with other communities in similar positions and people and to foreign agro-industrial concessions that organizations able to help them. Wherever possible it seeks are often supported by senior government offi cials and to engage positively with authorities in order that offi cials the military. So far the two community forestries have understand and adopt good governance and citizen-friendly managed to fend them off. They cover 26,030 hectares policies, which are offi cially one of the four pillars of the and serve 16 villages with 4,791 members, of which Royal Government’s “rectangular” reform strategy of its 2,433 are women. The vast majority of these are families 2003-8 mandate. below the poverty line. They have formed 94 active groups, with 16 sub-committees and two co-ordinating committees. Ockenden successfully implemented its 2005-7 UK-DFiD Ockenden has worked here with partner NGO, Khmer funded project “Capacity Building in Good Governance Buddhist Association, and two CBOs. and Decentralization in Cambodia”, with follow-up activities still going on, but the good governance messages there are mainstreamed in to all activities. As reported for 2006 below, a highly successful poster campaign operated. 4 METHODOLOGY, BEST PRACTICE One key message was in defence of community forestries. One of these in Samrong, Oddar Meanchey has been AND RESEARCH facing very serious threats. So far thanks to the European Union and Kadoorie Charitable Foundation funding, it has Although Ockenden’s approach is intended to be both withstood them. practical in meeting the real needs of its beneficiaries and results-orientated, it is founded on a solid basis of proven methodology backed up by research with external consultancies and evaluations. These in turn are endorsed by donors and other organizations working alongside Ockenden as it seeks to apply its commitment to achieving and sharing best practice. Ockenden International in Cambodia was amongst the fi rst organizations to pioneer and persevere with participatory or partnership working. Even today this approach is still novel because of the strong tradition of authoritarian or patron- dependency leadership and pure teacher-centered learning. Past turmoil has given rise to strong survival instincts that condition people to conform to what others do. They avoid being seen to challenge authority even when their basic rights are under threat. Much of Ockenden’s effort is devoted to inculcating confi dence; over-coming fears whether well- founded or not; to proving that best practice does work – and usually to everyone’s benefi t including people in charge. The fact that Ockenden’s localization plans met with full approval from local line ministries and authorities testifi es to its success. Methodology is written up in Khmer, contextually-adapted and subjected to regular rigorous review at annual conferences and mid-year reviews. The “partnership-working” manual, which sets out how Ockenden seeks to implement through partner NGOs and CBOs, is often sought by donors and other organizations. 9 Gender Issues Most teaching and training in Cambodia is lecture-style, one-way, with students passive. Evidence indicates low absorption and retention of knowledge. This is in marked contrast to learner-centered and peer-to-peer methods which Ockenden has established. One notable success, endorsed by external evaluation is in its use for gender-awareness sessions. Sensitive issues from domestic violence to sexual health are tackled and in good humour, as the pictures denote, when in other forums they are neglected due to the traditional belief that such topics are for internal family business only. Empowerment of women can only occur when sensitive issues are aired for better mutual understanding by men, women, boys and girls. Methodology may be founded on practical results, but learning about and a sharing those results has been a conscious move between Cambodia and the other countries in which Ockenden has worked through its Woking HQ. The Research team there has conducted specialist studies and kept abreast of innovations elsewhere. One major study in Cambodia actually paved the way for Ockenden International’s departure. Ian MacAuslan and Graham Wood’s “Displacement and Vulnerability” review Ockenden’s concluded that the focus of the Cambodia programme was Gender Activities are shifting away from problems of social reintegration of former intended to make sure refugees to more emphasis on mainstream development this little girl from Koh Kralor, for poor people with vulnerabilities. (Displacement and Battambang grows up with equality of Vulnerability: An investigation into the complex dynamics in opportunity unlike earlier generations of girls. north-west Cambodia) Gender Training – smiles of laughter or embarrassment? 10 YEARYEEAAR SUMMARY REPORTS Run Sarath: tireless, unselfi sh, and successful in overcoming adversity. 2005 Run Sarath, aged 48, lives with his wife and 8 children in O’Ampil Village, Toul Pongso Commune, Malai District of Banteay Meanchey Province. Sarath brought a party of women New benefi ciaries 4,071. Cumulative total 18,291. for a ceremony to mark International Women’s Annual expenditure US$ 801,954. Day and promote more women taking part in the next commune elections. When in the 2005 was a peak year for benefi ciary activities with EC, CIDA, and KCF Food KPNLF in 1984, he was caught in a landmine Security projects all on-stream at the same time. The fi rst EC project “Food explosion losing a leg. In his refugee camp Security For Vulnerable Rural Populations in the province of Banteay Meanchey, he trained as a teacher and took a class of Cambodia” was successfully completed not only meeting all anticipated 33 students in literacy. In 1991 he repatriated outcomes but an approved extension (using unspent funds) enabled more to Siem Reap, where he stayed for 9 years. benefi ciaries to be served with more activities, providing an extra platform However the land he occupied was national for the second EC project in its fi rst year. (For details, see 2007). 2005 was forest, and so his family had to leave. The also the fi rst year for the UK-Dfi D Decentralisation and Governance project. authorities gave them their present 5 hectares in Malai, but even so life has been Other highlights and achievements: very hard, especially for his wife Souern • Among several prominent international visitors a delegation of 12 repre- Sambath, who has had to take over some sentatives of NPA partners in Burma visited Ockenden and Kon Kleng of the heavy physical work. To make ends CBO. Others included French and Canadians. meet, she had to travel up to 20 kilometres in to the forest to collect timber for sale. • Ockenden was selected to be a leading member of the Cambodian Sarath is Chairman of a “self-help group” Cooperation Committee NGO Good Practice Principles Pilot Project (NGO of 16 women and 4 men very successful GPP). in new enterprises as well as cow and • A new externally facilitated “Gender Practical Needs and Gender Strategic rice-banks with an experimental farm to Needs” initiative introduced. test new crops. After his good governance training, he joined in meetings to produce • Sir Michael and Lady Kadoorie made personal visits to KCF supported their fi rst Commune Development Plan. It projects and kindly awarded some of their private funds for the much- does not matter whether neighbours were needed road to Kon Kleng community. former KPNLF, or Khmer Rouge, or from any of the other factions. “We are putting past differences aside, building better lives for all of us and our children!” Much of the credit for this goes to Sarath. 11 Total new benefi ciaries served 2,246. Cumulative total 20,537. Annual expenditure US$ 654,425. 2006 was also a peak year of activity even the number of benefi ciaries was less then the large infl ux of 2005. Inevitably if the focus was on consolidating sound 2006 fi eldwork practice as the basis of sustainable new livelihoods. The year was one when attention was fi rst paid to whether Ockenden International’s Cambodia Programme should continue. External consultant Ian Hill, from the British Chapter of the 1818 Society, was commissioned to examine the programme and at the same time two major external evaluations “Much happier than took place one for and by CIDA and the other the EC. All three endorsed the quality of the work, but the inescapable conclusion reached was that it was no ever before!” longer appropriate or possible to operate the country programme. Accordingly after extensive consultations the decision was made to localize the operation San Sokhon is far from unusual in rather than to phase it out entirely. The question was “could it be viable on its own?” Cambodia. She has had to set-up her home afresh several times in her life, but she wants to end her days where Other highlights and achievements she lives now, having settled in with • All major targets of implementation accomplished. her neighbours. • A new funding award was won – community development and consultation Sokhon is glad she moved to Banteay activities with NGO partners for the North Regional Development Project Meanchey, at least now she has her (NRDP) – Funded by the Asian Development Bank through the Ministry own small plot of land, for a house and small home garden.