- Institutionalizing UPDF into the Cambodian system :
we are in the process of institutionalizing UPDF. This is the new and important push. Because the UPDF cannot rely on the foreign support alone. The political change in a given country is more complex than what some international agencies can understand. They generally understand project-like interventions, which is good for the beginning stage, and for assisting the trouble-shooters. But if we want to institutionalize positive change by people at large in a country then the process is much more complex. Development is not just for the sake of development, but for making change - structural change in the society, by people.
- In Cambodia, you need an institution that is able to deal with the government agencies,
but which also can open up a very big space for people. People want development, but they don't have this space. So there is a need to create some kind of mechanism. And that is what we are going to work for that, until the UPDF anniversary next May.
- Propose land title in all the existing upgraded settlements - in Phnom Penh and in other provincial cities:
UPDF, through the MISEREOR fund, has now supported about 115 community upgrading projects in Phnom Penh. And through the Selavip fund, another 45 communities have been upgraded in 10 provincial cities. So all together, you're talking about 200 upgraded communities at the time of anniversary next year. It's very concrete and very sizeable. So what we have in mind is to propose that the national government grant security of tenure to all these communities.
- We need some good documentation for this :
The UPDF has lots of good material already, but needs to be a little more professionally documented, into a book. Then we submit the whole document in Khmer and English, and ask national government to consider granting the tenure. We will include both Phnom Penh and the provincial cities.
- Fund-raising for UPDF :
We need to broaden the support within the country. And we now have very concrete proof that the UPDF works, and that it's possible for the Cambodian people to do. So it is important to try to launch some very active fund raising activities, from now until the anniversary.
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