The decentralization process started nearly 20 years ago, with the elected commune councils existing since 2002. In December 2019, the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) approved Sub-Decrees 182 and 184 on the transfer of functions and structure to District and Municipality Administrations in order to transfer functions and integrate line offices to be under the management of District and Municipality Administrations. Secondly, SD 193, also approved in the end of 2019 provided for the transfer of function in health sector to Capital and Provincial Administrations. NGOs are rich with knowledge and experiences both in term of sectoral De-concentration and Decentralization, CSOs/NGOs members, operating free from the constraints imposed under hierarchic systems, have ample space to test new innovative ideas resulting in evidence-based policy proposals.
Following those commitments, CPDD has jointed force with VSG to mobilize CBOs and NGOs for regular meetings to coordinate and prepare their interventions in Local Governance and to identify key issues of citizens to be raised with DM-level and Provincial Administrations, including coordination of the Network Partnerships Development in Battambang Province (NPDP) representatives from 66 institutions who have common goal and mission to regular coordination meetings and document contact list among them with name, address and contact number of the institution under the network, build communication between NGOs and Provincial Administration itself is better through the formation of a telegram group called "NGOs in Battambang". This group makes it easy to contact, invite, provide information, and share experiences in a partnership between civil society and civil society itself, and connection between civil society and the provincial administration Due to the project, civil society and civil society met and discussed only on December 13, 2022 during the Partnership Forum Between between Battambang Provincial Administration and Civil Society Organizations operated in Battambang Krong supported Village Support Groups (VSG), representatives of network leaders to cooperate with the Provincial Administration to invite all sectors of Civil Society Organizations to participate in this forum as well, establish a telegram group called "Network of Organizations, Associations and Administration of Battambang Province" is the result of the implementation of the above project.
The joint actions have been resulted in Partnership Meeting between Provincial Government and CSOs had regularly conducted with approximately 330 participants (156 female). The meetings were enhanced the Partnership Between Civil Society Organizations and Governments at all levels, to strengthen people's participation in Local Democratic Development, and to strengthen the voice of civil society organizations in policy-making and development-related development. The meetings were also gathered the problems of the people and civil society organizations to solve and discuss some issues that the city/district has not yet resolved and to participate in discussing the plans for the future. Approximately 218 (153 men and 65 women) of CSOs have been regularly participated four quarterly network meetings amongst NGOs networks at Provincial Level to discuss the advocacy and reform the structure and functionality of Provincial NGOs network in BTB. The meetings were enhanced the partnership between Civil Society Organizations and Governments and all level, to strengthen people's participation in local democratic development, and voice of CSOs in policy-making and development-related development understood the challenges and recommendations to increase the effectiveness of the implementation of civil society development programs in response to the contribution with the Royal Government and presentation of the results of the survey on the participated of civil society engagement mechanism at District Level and conducted the CSOs Annual Meeting at Battambang. At least 7 network meetings at DM-level have conducted with CBOs and NGOs participated (19 CBOs, and 5 females NGOs) on civic engagement mechanisms at DM-level at four Districts and Krong Battambang as such Thmar Koul, Bavel and Moung Russei and krong Battambang. The reflection and consultation meeting is on the implementation of mechanism on the civil engagement at DM Level, there is a technical documents from NCDD on the Civil engagement ; verified good practices, challenges, and opportunities for improvement, and common recommendations for the further development of civil engagement mechanisms and join the District 3-Year Rolling Investment Program Integration with Workshop Program and conducted the small advocacy meetings with RCG policy-makers and DPs.
