CAMBODIAN CIVIL SOCIETY STRENGTHENING PROJECT FY18 Q3 REPORT APRIL 1 – JUNE 30, 2018 JULY 30, 2018 This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development by East-West Management Institute, Inc. CAMBODIAN CIVIL SOCIETY STRENGTHENING PROJECT CAMBODIAN CIVIL SOCIETY STRENGTHENING PROJECT FY18 Q3 REPORT APRIL 1 – JUNE 30, 2018 Prepared under USAID’s Cambodian Civil Society Strengthening Project, Contract Number AID-442-C-16-00002 Submitted to: USAID/Cambodia on July 30, 2018 Contractor: East-West Management Institute, Inc. Disclaimer This report is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of the East-West Management Institute and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. CAMBODIAN CIVIL SOCIETY STRENGTHENING PROJECT CONTENTS TABLE OF ACRONYMS ………………………………………………………………………………………..…………ii PROGRAM OVERVIEW ………………………………………………………………………………….……………….1 PROGRESS UNDER EACH TASK …………………………………………………………………………….………..1 TASK 1: Support to Cambodian Civil Society ……………………………………………..……… 1 TASK 2: Enhance Technical and Organizational Capacity of Civil Society …………….9 TASK 3: Analytical and Technical Services ………………………………………………….…….13 SUCCESS STORIES …………………………………………………………………………………………………..…..14 PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED/RESOLVED …………………………………………………..…………………..17 ANNEX A: PERFORMANCE INDICATORS …………………………………………………………..………….20 FY18 Q3 REPORT APRIL 1 – JUNE 30, 2018 i CAMBODIAN CIVIL SOCIETY STRENGTHENING PROJECT TABLE OF ACRONYMS ACI EWMI’s Advocacy Capacity Index AGM Assistant Grants Manager AOR Agreement Officer Representative APS Annual Program Statement CBCLO Capacity Building of Cambodia's Local Organizations Project CBO Community Based Organization CCC Cooperation Committee for Cambodia CCSS Cambodian Civil Society Strengthening Project CDP Capacity Development Plan CDRI Cambodia Development Resource Institute CIP Commune Investment Plan COP Chief of Party COR Contracting Officer Representative CPAR USAID Contractor Performance Assessment Report CRD constitutional rights defenders CSO civil society organization DCOP Deputy Chief of Party DGF CCSS’ Democracy and Governance Fund DRL State Department Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor EWMI East-West Management Institute FIT Financial Improvement Team GAU Grants Administration Unit GNA Grassroots Network Advisor GIS geographic information system GMP Gender Mainstreaming Policy GPP Good Practice Project GRC Grants Review Committee GUC grants under contract IG informal groups INGO International Non-governmental Organization ISD™ Impact Strengthening Development Certification Program LANGO Law on Associations and Non-governmental Organizations LDF CCSS’ Legal Defense Fund M&E Monitoring and Evaluation NGO non-governmental organization NRM natural resource management OACA EWMI’s Advocacy and Organizational Capacity Assessment Tool OCAT Organizational Capacity Assessment Tool OCI EWMI’s Organizational Capacity Index OST Organizational Scanning Tool PEA Political Economy Analysis PIMS Portfolio Information Management System PMEP Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Plan PTAR Potential Transition Award Recipient TAP Technical Assistance Plan UPR Universal Periodic Review USAID US Agency for International Development FY18 Q3 REPORT APRIL 1 – JUNE 30, 2018 ii CAMBODIAN CIVIL SOCIETY STRENGTHENING PROJECT PROGRAM OVERVIEW The Civil Society Strengthening Project (CCSS), Contract Number AID-442-C-16-00002, is a five-year contract awarded to the East-West Management Institute, Inc. (EWMI) by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), with a period of performance from June 27, 2016 to June 26, 2021. The goal of the CCSS Project is to increase the capability of Cambodian civil society to engage in democratic processes by representing citizen concerns. The objectives of the project are to strengthen the capacity of civil society in Cambodia, and provide analytical and technical services to USAID/Cambodia’s Office of Democracy and Governance to respond to opportunities for democratic development. Under Task 1, CCSS administers two grant funds: 1) the Legal Defense Fund (LDF), which provides legal representation to constitutional rights defenders and CSOs, and 2) the Democracy and Governance Fund (DGF), which awards competitive grants to support strategic initiatives that promote engagement of citizens in governance. Under Task 2, CCSS delivers organizational and advocacy capacity development assistance to CCSS grantees, organizations who do or may receive direct support from USAID,1 and grassroots/informal groups. Under Task 3, CCSS is responsible for conducting a Political Economy Analyses (PEA)) and two public opinion surveys. EWMI’s key subcontractors on CCSS are VBNK, which delivers most of the Task 2 assistance; CDRI, which conducted a political economy analysis; and BDLINK, which conducts the surveys. PROGRESS UNDER EACH TASK Descriptions of activities under each task during this period are set forth below. TASK 1: Support to Cambodian Civil Society EWMI-CCSS provides legal representation and advice to address time-sensitive challenges to the activities and liberty of individuals under LDF grant category 1, and the operations or existence of CSOs, and to assist organizations to obtain and maintain operational status under the Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations (LANGO) and other Cambodian laws under LDF category 2. SUB-TASK 1.1: Legal Defense Fund Under Category 2, LAC continued to provide legal assistance to a range of clients. During this reporting period, LAC conducted nine presentations to a total of 845 people (284 women)2 in various workshops. LAC also provided 11 legal consultation sessions by phone, and held eight meetings, ultimately providing direct legal services for a total 12 NGOs. The most frequent topic in these consultations was tax law – which may be due to the new prakas issued in April, which taxes donor grants -- followed by LANGO and labor law, as noted in the chart. 1 These include Annual Program Statement (APS) partners and Potential Transition Award Recipients (PTAR). 2 These figures, which are held by CCC and not LAC, are still being checked for duplicates. FY18 Q3 REPORT APRIL 1 – JUNE 30, 2018 1 CAMBODIAN CIVIL SOCIETY STRENGTHENING PROJECT In addition, LAC developed and distributed several advisory guidelines on LANGO registration, tax law, tax exemptions for national and international CSOs, and working with foreigners. SUB-TASK 1.2: Democracy and Governance Fund Based on the iterative CCSS theory of change below, CCSS grantees3 are making progress toward their objectives despite certain limitations on their ability to carry out activities. CCSS Theory of Change Under the CCSS theory of change, partners begin by preparing citizens to get involved in their communities in step 1, then support them to raise issues with authorities4 in step 2. Then they will see a positive response to their requests from government5 and the government will proactively hold public forums,6 as shown in step 3. Over time, repeating steps 2 and 3 will result in ‘increased technical, operational and financial capabilities’7 as evidenced by a ‘change in organization performance.’8 As they gain skills and experience, they have the opportunity to ‘develop and strengthen partnerships, collaboration and coordination among CSOs’9 and for ‘enhanced ability… to deliver quality programming.’10 Progress toward change During the past quarter, many partners were still working on step 1 by training beneficiaries and moving to step 2 by supporting them to present demands to government actors. In some cases, partners are working cooperatively with government authorities: • With support from 3SPN, community people in Sesan Commune, Oyadav District in Ratanakiri province are working jointly with officials to protect Koh Krorm island from a private company that seeks to buy this island for business purposes. • ODC organized a kick-off meeting with the IT department in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports on 16-17 June 2018, leading to a collaborative work plan, which begins with an assessment in preparation for a GIS training course for high school teachers and students. ODC expects to sign an MOU with the Ministry. 3 The 12 original grantees are: (1) PDP-Center, (2) My Village (MVi), (3) Ponlok Khmer (PKH), (4) Media One, (5) Highlanders Association (HA), (6) Open Development Cambodia (ODC), (7) Youth Resource Development Program (YRDP), (8) Youth Council of Cambodia (YCC), (9) Building Community Voice (BCV), (10) Nak Akphivath Sahakum (NAS), (11) Cambodian Civil Society Partnership (CCSP), and (12) 3S Rivers Protection Network (3SPN). Four of the grantees are receiving USAID funds for the first time. 4 As in Indicator 1.11 5 As in Indicator 1.9 6 As in Indicator 1.10 7 As in Expected Result 2.1 8 As in Indicator 2.3 9 As in Expected Result 2.2 10 As in Expected Result 2.3 FY18 Q3 REPORT APRIL 1 – JUNE 30, 2018 2 CAMBODIAN CIVIL SOCIETY STRENGTHENING PROJECT Certain partners are also seeing successful results from their engagement, as shown in step 3: • When community journalists posted a request on Facebook to repair the road in Dechou Akpivoadt Commune, Chhuk District in Kampot province, with support from BCV, commune councilors contributed commune funds for the repairs and came to the village to discuss their plan with citizens. The commune councilors