SESSION 1: Sharing of Experience in GAFSP Processes in Cambodia, Nepal, Mongolia and Bangladesh (15 minutes to share, 15 minutes for open forum) Lessons Learned from Farmers’ Involvement in GAFSP Processes Phnom Penh, Cambodia | November 8-11, 2012

1. Title “ Strengthening Farmers’ Organizations (FOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) for Effective Engagement in the GAFSP Process at the National Level”

2. Area/Location (Where is the project being implemented? The project were implemented in 8 provinces out of 10 target provinces of the GAFSP project. We implemented in Takeo, Kampong Speu, Kampong Thom, Kampong Cham, Siem Reap, Banteay Meanchey, Prey Veng, and Svay Rieng. Two exceptional provinces were Preah Vihear and Odor Meanchey, because both provinces were out of FNN target provinces.

3. Stakeholders  The project targeted planned for 1.15 participants per province. So, the plan was 120 participants for 8 provinces participants for national consultation workshops participants for the national policy dialogue.  Proposed participants were included representatives of FNN, FOs and NGOs in the 8 target provinces; representatives of national and international NGOs and the government and international institutions

4. Starting Date and Duration The project was effective from July to October 2012.

5. Objectives The Project aims to: Know the situation, the initiatives, the challenges of the farmers in the target areas of GAFSP Inform the farmers in the target areas of GAFSP about the GAFSP proposal and the ADB projects and get their feedback as well as their views on these two projects Strengthen the capacities of the FOs in the CSO Working Group in developing proposals that can be submitted to the government and ADB with regards the final implementation plan Develop and implement strategies for effective influence of the CSO Working Group on the GAFSP final implementation plan as well as the technical component.

6. Strategy/Approach (How was the work approached? What specific orientation or strategy was followed? - e.g. a gender- sensitive approach, value chain approach, etc.)  Participatory approach and gender balanced were practiced in our provincial and national workshops.

7. Components (How were the project activities organised and implemented? - according to the main activities, areas or fields of intervention, or timings and dates) The main activities include in the proposal are: Mapping and consultations among farmers in GAFSP target areas of Kg Cham, Kg Speu, Takeo, Svay Rieng, Prey Veng, Bantay Meanchey, Siem Reap, Kg Thom (15 farmers per province whom 30% are women will participated) National consultation to be attended by representatives from among the regional or provincial consultations (number 1 above Meetings with the government and the ADB (Supervising Entity) and individual meetings separately between FNN’s president and vice president with Ministry of Agriculture, ADB, WB, IFAD, FAO, CARD and MEF. Policy workshop Farmers exchange visits

B. Experience with the instrument, process and modalities of FO partnership with government on public resources

Farmer and Nature Net (FNN)

1. Context (What are the conditions in which FO partnership with government on public resources are taking place?) Recently, the government has set new development policy to reduce poverty in Cambodia such 1 million ton of milled rice export by Supporting farmer cooperatives, supporting self-help saving groups, and supporting organic and sustainable agriculture… Farmers are needed to be formed in groups…

2. Problems/Issues (What were the problems and issues facing FO partnership with government on public resources?) There have been many laws and policies have been made in Cambodia. However, some articles of laws and policies are not so helpful for the farmers and farmer organizations that are needed to be discussed and consulted and amended. Such as anti-corruption law, Association and NGO laws, cooperative law, and agricultural land use law…etc. The government actually opens, but it seems that the government lack of budget to implement…

3. Initiatives (What initiatives were undertaken by the FOs?)  In order to approach the government to get public services/resources, farmer organizations generally organize and participate in meetings/workshops with the governments and other partners. Being proactive is the great initiatives for FOs to works and cooperate with the government.  Build good relationship with the government…

Activities Done and Results We organized provincial consultation workshops in 8 target provinces (out of 10), which include Takeo, Kampong Speu, Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom, Prey Veng, Svay Rieng, Siem Reap and Banteay Meanchey, national consultation workshop in Phnom Penh and national policy dialogue. Total number of participants were 213 (whom 72 were female). Farmer and Nature Net (FNN)

However, in 2011, we organized to national consultation workshops in Phnom Penh in cooperation with AFA, where several COSs, FOs and international institutions participated. We also met with representatives of MAFF.

After the provincial consultation workshops, national workshop and policy dialogue were done, we have observed that both the government, especially MEF and the supervising entity of the GAFSP project, ADB, have recognized about the roles of farmer organizations and CSOs in participating the GAFSP processes. Meanwhile, all FOs, NGOs, and other CSOs leaned and known more about the GAFSP project in Cambodia.

5. Facilitating factors in effective partnerships with government and effective access to its resources (What helped?)  Ways to facilitate factors in effective partnership with the government include organizing meetings, workshops, and field visits by inviting key and relevant government representatives;  Key facilitating factors are included doing advocacy by doing activities based on principles.

6. Hindering factors in effective partnerships with government and effective access to its resources (What did not help?)  The government and some NGOs still look at the farmer organizations are small and weak institution and entity.  Farmer organizations are always thought and regarded as lack of competence to handle and manage both human and financial resources by themselves.  Both the government and NGOs, sometimes, act on behalf of the farmers and assumed that what their thought are what the farmers thought, want and needs.  Farmer and farmer organizers are always told to ignore don’t involve with politics.  This GAFSP project is the Government project. No CSOs should be included.

7. Recommendations  The government has her own agenda, policies and strategies. So, as FOs, CSOs, and NGOs must be proactive, resourceful, partnership, and building criticisers. Don’t wait the project come to us, but we are approaching the project.  We must build up stronger cooperation and coordination among ourselves to build one voice one strategy and one vision toward either GAFSP project or other government projects through collective monitoring and evaluation processes. But, we need to act as FOOTBALL TEAM.  Don’t just raise the negative of the Government. But, we need to change the government through doing and changing ourselves with strong and clear principles.

A. Brief profile of GAFSP project in the country

Thanks you very much for your kind attention !!! Farmer and Nature Net (FNN)