B. Project implementation performance
Changes to project design
19. Several changes to the project and its context occurred during implementation.
Major changes were made after the election of commune councils in 2002, and the
subsequent move from nationally controlled service delivery to a decentralized
system.12 The new system incorporated the commune councils, the commune
planning process and the Commune/Sangkat Fund.13
20. The logical framework was revised following the MTR in 2004, to reflect the
development role and financing of the commune councils, and also to simplify the
project design.14
21. The project was extended by 21 months from 30 September 2008 to 30 June
2010.15 Although the PCR was carried out in 2008, some activities were extended
until 2010, and one supervision mission took place in 2009.
Implementation results
Component 1: Community development
22. The role of the community development component was to help build the
communities‟ capacity to: i) participate in the planning and implementation of their
own development; ii) enable them to sustain their small scale infrastructure
investments; iii) make better use of the resources to which they have access and;
iv) use services available from the government and other sources. This included
establishing and developing rice banks, village development committees and other
community based organizations working on local development. In addition,
extensive support was given to strengthen the participation and cooperation of
commune councils. This involved training elected councillors in understanding their
roles and responsibilities. CBRDP also provided capacity building for facilitators
from non-governmental organizations and provincial departments with regard to
their day-to-day management, organization of meetings, and reporting to theirmembers and commune councils. Special attention was given to understanding and
promoting the principles of democratic decentralization and civil society
participation through village networks.16 According to project documentation, these
activities have resulted in the establishment and training of village networks in 550
villages and the participation of the local population in commune and district
planning, project implementation and the provision of demand oriented services. In
addition, over 900 local technical committees have been established, trained and
supported in their tasks to manage O&M of village infrastructure. At the village
level most vulnerable families (MVF) lists have been established in all districts.