Announcement of World Bank Supports Capacity Building in Cambodia on June 25, 2002

World Bank Supports Capacity Building In Cambodia Contact: In Bangkok Melissa Fossberg (66-2) 256-7792 x322 e-mail mfossberg@worldbank.org In Washington Miriam Van Dyck 1-202-458-2931 e-mail mvandyck@worldbank.org WASHINGTON, June 25, 2002¾The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved a US$5.5 million equivalent credit for the Cambodia Economic and Public Sector Capacity Building Project. The project will help develop skills in government workers so that the government can deliver services more effectively and efficiently and, in the end, help reduce poverty. The project will build capacity in three target, gender balanced groups: senior executive officials, managers, and professionals, in the executive and legislative branches. It also helps put in place the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) to give Cambodia access to learning opportunities and the chance to share experiences with others from around the region and the world through satellite technology. It will furthermore strengthen the capacity of Cambodian civil service training institutions to help sustain training activities initiated by the project. The project has four components: · Project Management -- to strengthen the capacity of the Training Coordination Office and the Logistics Support Unit. · Training Program Development and Implementation—to support the development and implementation of specific training curricula in partnership with some renowned overseas training institutions or universities in six categories: leadership and management, policy development, public financial management, human resource management, governance and public administration, and poverty reduction. It also supports the government in launching and expanding training for provincial officials. · Institutional Development – to support core Cambodian civil service training institutions through the training of Cambodian instructors in the field, and the development of Khmer language training materials as well as a library and supporting information system. In addition, it will provide support for strengthening key public institutions that are expected to plan and monitor human and financial resources in the public sector. · Global Development Learning Network Facility – to support the GDLN Distance Learning Center, by financing the management and operation of the GDLN Center, and building the capacity of the GDLN center staff. “To help reduce poverty in Cambodia, improving public service delivery is essential,” says World Bank Task Manager for the Project Su Yong Song. “The Economic and Public Sector Capacity Building Project will benefit the Cambodian people, particularly the poor, by giving them access to better public services.”