J4P has been underway in Cambodia since mid-2005. In its initial stages, the program focused on a range of research activities, each related to a main area of strategic focus set out in the Bank’s Country Assistance Strategy. A series of publications have been produced. These include: Ongoing research relates to indigenous minority rights, land disputes and alternative dispute resolution in the private sector. One of J4P Cambodia’s key objectives is to increase public discussion and debate on justice related issues. In pursuit of this goal, J4P has developed a partnership with Cambodia’s national media training institute. This cooperation has resulted in a workshop on legal issues for journalism students and student-produced current affairs radio programs on topics related to the justice sector. Issues covered by the students include land dispute resolution, restorative justice and the Khmer Rouge tribunal. The J4P Cambodia team has also supported the design of other World Bank initaitves with a view to mainstreaming issues of access to justice. Projects on which J4P staff have worked include: - Demand for Good Governance (DFGG), a project which will support citizens to “hold the state accountable for it's promises and performance, and to make the state responsive to their needs.” In relation to the DFGG project, J4P has worked on labor dipsute resolution and legal awareness programs. J4P staff have also given input into the development of monitoring and evaluation systems for justice sector related aspects of the project.
- Land Allocation for Social and Economic Development (LASED), a project aimed at improving the process for identification state lands for distribution to poor families. In relation to the LASED project J4P highlighted the importance of developing dispute resolution mechanisms that are consistent with the local context but also provide for transparency and accountability. As a result, the project developed a civic engagement framework to define the space for civil society involvement as a critical element of partnership in support of the project objective.
- Poverty Reduction and Growth Operation (PRGO) – a multi-donor budget support operation incorporating policy dialogue on land and natural resources management issues. In relation to the PRGO J4P staff are providing advice to the country team on indigenous land and land dispute resolution issues.
An additional operational partnership exists in relation to the Bank’s Land Management and Administration Project (LMAP), which has a component focusing on land dispute resolution. Here the J4P team is assisting in relation to the design of improved land dispute resolution initiatives. Publications and Reports Legal Pluralism and Equity: Some Reflections on Land Reform in Cambodia (J4P Briefing Note Volume 2 Issue 2) April 2008 Informalizing the Formal: Labor Relations in Cambodia (J4P Briefing Note Issue 3) July 2007 Sharing Growth : Equity and Development in Cambodia (The Cambodia J4P program contributed in particular to Chapter 4 of the report (Addressing Asset Inequality - A Focus on Land); and Chapter 8 (Institutions and Equity in the Development Process). June 2007 Towards Institutional Justice? A Review of the Work of Cambodia's Cadastral Commission in Relation to Land Dispute Resolution October 2006 Justice for the Poor? An Exploratory Study of Collective Grievances Over Land and Local Governance in Cambodia October 2006 Land Disputes: Finding Justice through Collective Action, World Bank Newsletter, Cambodia Country Office September 2006 Cambodia: Women and Work in the Garment Industry January 2006 Partnerships Cambodian Cadastral Commission Cambodian Center for Advanced Study Cambodian Community Legal Education Center Demand for Good Governance Project Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) Empowerment of the Poor in Siem Reap Project International Labour Organization World Bank, Cambodia Office Contacts For further information on J4P Cambodia, please contact: Daniel Adler Email: dadler@worldbank.org
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