Contacts:
In Phnom Penh: Saroeun Bou
sbou@worldbank.org
In Bangkok: Pichaya Fitts
pfitts@worldbank.org
PHNOM PENH , February 7, 2007 – The World Bank announced today that it will resume disbursements for three projects that had been suspended in June 2006 after irregularities were discovered in the procurement process.
The projects are the Land Management and Administration Project, the Provincial and Peri-Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Project, and the Provincial and Rural Infrastructure Project. The suspensions were lifted after the World Bank and officials from the Royal Government of Cambodia reached a mutual agreement on ways to improve governance in the implementation of these projects, and the agreed initial actions have been taken.
“We are very pleased that the Government has adopted Good Governance Frameworks for these three projects and has started developing similar frameworks for all ongoing and future projects funded by the World Bank” said Ian Porter, Country Director for Cambodia. “Implementation of these frameworks should reduce the fiduciary risks associated with World Bank financed projects and ensure that the funds are being used for their intended purposes.”
The Cambodian Government is establishing anti-corruption action plans called “Good Governance Frameworks” for all World Bank financed projects. These include measures to strengthen procurement procedures, financial management processes, staff conduct, complaint mechanisms and disclosure and internal controls. One of the key measures is the delegation of procurement for World Bank-financed projects to an independent international firm.
“When I traveled to the provinces during the last six months, beneficiaries of our projects would ask me when the projects will resume and when they can start delivering services again to the people” said Nisha Agrawal, World Bank Country Manager for Cambodia. “I am very pleased that we have been able to lift the suspensions and that the projects can start delivering on their developmental impact again.”
For more information about these projects and their suspension, please click here
For more information on the World Bank Program in Cambodia, please visit: http://www.worldbank.org/kh
|
RSS