On 27 April, 2009 Mr. Yim Sok Sophors met and discussed with Dr. Craig A Meisner (Research and Extension Manager) from Australian Center for International Agricultural Research and Dr. John M.Schiller (Honorary Consultant) from the University of Queenland at the office of CEDAC in Phnom Penh.
The discussion focused on the CARF-7 call for proposal. During the meeting, Dr. Craig A Meisner and Dr. John M.Schiller presented and explained about the guideline of the CARF-7 call for proposal especially the objectives of the research proposal are needed to be unique which is no one have conducted it previously, the proposed research proposal should include various members from different institutions to be the team members of the whole research team and finally, there should be a good mean of widely dissemination of research finding at the end of the project.
As a result of the meeting, we have shared and learned well about this call for proposal and we do hope that we can apply for this call successfully.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
CEDAC General Assembly
April 10, 2009 CEDAC organized it general assembly with the participation of all CEDAC staff from the different main components such as CEDAC-Field program (FP), CEDAC Institute for Local Development (CILD), Research development and Consulting service, environment and health (RDC), publication unit, CEDAC Enterprise for Social Development (CESDE). Approximately, 250 staff had participated in the assembly.
The agenda of the assembly was mainly focused on sharing of each component's achievement during the first quarter of this year (2009) especially to compare of what has been doing by each component which is contributed to the achievement of overall goal and mission of CEDAC in general. It is to note that CEDAC-Field Program has got direct funding support from EC for implementing a development project in Mondulkiri province. It is the first project that CEDAC gets direct fund support from EC.
Particularly, during the meeting, Dr. Yang Saing Koma provided several questions for participant to take into account. Those questions were raised to the participants in order to consider about what kind of society that they prefer to live especially they prefer for their children to live in? Are they currently working to contribute to the accomplishment of their expectation?
In response to this question, Mr. Prak Sereyvath who is the senior program adviser of CEDAC had shared his knowledge based on his visit to France. He had shared about the restaurant that sell organic food for students at schools. He expected that his children will be able to eat organic good in Cambodia too. Organic good is very necessary important to ensure a good health of students that is strongly effected to the human health of the whole society in the coming future, he added. Moreover, Mr. Phin Sopheap who is the member of advisory board of CEDAC had shared that there are 5 capitals (human capital, social capital, financial capital, physical capital, and natural capital), but the most important among them is human capital and he emphasized on health. If we have a good health and education, the other capitals will be achieved automatically afterward, he said.
Furthermore, at the afternoon of that day, the financial regulation was also raised for plenary presentation and discussion during the assembly. It was picked for discussion in order to strengthen the quality of financial management of CEDAC to become an international standard. Relating to the progress of work, it is to note that the participants also had opportunity to discuss and share what they have achieved during the first quarter of this year to each other so that they could learn and understand each other in term of their successful works and what need to be improved for the next quarter.
At the evening of the meeting day, CEDAC organized a party with the staff in order to celebrate the fruitful result of the meeting and especially to celebrate for Khmer New year that is coming soon after the meeting. Please new year brings to all CEDAC staff and all people with new success and happiness in life, especially your role and contribution to the community development.
The agenda of the assembly was mainly focused on sharing of each component's achievement during the first quarter of this year (2009) especially to compare of what has been doing by each component which is contributed to the achievement of overall goal and mission of CEDAC in general. It is to note that CEDAC-Field Program has got direct funding support from EC for implementing a development project in Mondulkiri province. It is the first project that CEDAC gets direct fund support from EC.
Particularly, during the meeting, Dr. Yang Saing Koma provided several questions for participant to take into account. Those questions were raised to the participants in order to consider about what kind of society that they prefer to live especially they prefer for their children to live in? Are they currently working to contribute to the accomplishment of their expectation?
In response to this question, Mr. Prak Sereyvath who is the senior program adviser of CEDAC had shared his knowledge based on his visit to France. He had shared about the restaurant that sell organic food for students at schools. He expected that his children will be able to eat organic good in Cambodia too. Organic good is very necessary important to ensure a good health of students that is strongly effected to the human health of the whole society in the coming future, he added. Moreover, Mr. Phin Sopheap who is the member of advisory board of CEDAC had shared that there are 5 capitals (human capital, social capital, financial capital, physical capital, and natural capital), but the most important among them is human capital and he emphasized on health. If we have a good health and education, the other capitals will be achieved automatically afterward, he said.
Furthermore, at the afternoon of that day, the financial regulation was also raised for plenary presentation and discussion during the assembly. It was picked for discussion in order to strengthen the quality of financial management of CEDAC to become an international standard. Relating to the progress of work, it is to note that the participants also had opportunity to discuss and share what they have achieved during the first quarter of this year to each other so that they could learn and understand each other in term of their successful works and what need to be improved for the next quarter.
At the evening of the meeting day, CEDAC organized a party with the staff in order to celebrate the fruitful result of the meeting and especially to celebrate for Khmer New year that is coming soon after the meeting. Please new year brings to all CEDAC staff and all people with new success and happiness in life, especially your role and contribution to the community development.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Meeting with ECHO and FORESTA
On April 03, 2009 there was a meeting with Mr. Rick Burnette, Regional Director for ECHO Asia and Mr. Bob Morikawa, director of Foresta from Thailand. The meeting was taken place in CEDAC Office in Phnom Penh from 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM and then from 1:00PM to 2:30PM. The purpose of the visitors is to seek for more understanding about CEDAC's work in Cambodia and to cooperate with each other in term of agriculture and rural development.
During the meeting, Mr. YIM Sok Sophors presented about CEDAC work included the six main components of CEDAC and then more detail on CEDAC Field Program. At the afternoon, there was a in-depth interview and discussion on the topic of SRI extension in Cambodia. The historical background of SRI extension in Cambodia was raised to present as well as the strategy and methodology to widespread SRI throughout the country. It is to note that SRI is now the national program of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF).
As the result, Mr. Rick Burnette would like to organize a study tour from Thailand to visit CEDAC in Cambodia in order to learn more detail about CEDAC's experiences and he also would like to cooperate with CEDAC to produce EAN newsletter in Khmer translation. Now, the process is being progressed.
During the meeting, Mr. YIM Sok Sophors presented about CEDAC work included the six main components of CEDAC and then more detail on CEDAC Field Program. At the afternoon, there was a in-depth interview and discussion on the topic of SRI extension in Cambodia. The historical background of SRI extension in Cambodia was raised to present as well as the strategy and methodology to widespread SRI throughout the country. It is to note that SRI is now the national program of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF).
As the result, Mr. Rick Burnette would like to organize a study tour from Thailand to visit CEDAC in Cambodia in order to learn more detail about CEDAC's experiences and he also would like to cooperate with CEDAC to produce EAN newsletter in Khmer translation. Now, the process is being progressed.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Staff capacity building by Dr. Yang Saing Koma
02-03 April 2009, 14 staff of CEDAC Field Program have attended the training support which is trained by Dr. Yang Saing Koma, the president of CEDAC. Such training is conducted regularly every 3 months with direct support from the president of CEDAC.
The purpose of the training is to provide capacity building the core staff of CEDAC field program in term of self development and the updated development approach of CEDAC.
Relating to the activities of during the training, first of all, each participants have shared to each other the general information relating to the work and achievement. Later on the small group discussion which consisted of 3-4 participants was conducted in order to share the successful things and unsuccessful things that each one have done during the first quarter of this year, furthermore the participants have also discussed about the improving points and main expectation for the next quarter, April to June 2009.
After presenting the impression of group representatives relating to their small group discussion, some key words were found out like: Team Learning, Learning Network, Learning Facilitators, Leading to ask questions, etc. All participants have learned to development questions for empowering the others.
To me, I noted that the methodology used during the training was followed to the adult learning approach that allowed most of the participants actively participated in the whole training session. Especially, it was a good time for all participants to exchange their knowledge and practical experience (Best Practices) in the field. The training enabled me to review on what I have learned, for example the concept of learning organization and other main key words as mentioned-above. Additionally, it stimulated me to consider about what should i do specifically after the training.
There are some Best Practices that we need to capitalize:
The purpose of the training is to provide capacity building the core staff of CEDAC field program in term of self development and the updated development approach of CEDAC.
Relating to the activities of during the training, first of all, each participants have shared to each other the general information relating to the work and achievement. Later on the small group discussion which consisted of 3-4 participants was conducted in order to share the successful things and unsuccessful things that each one have done during the first quarter of this year, furthermore the participants have also discussed about the improving points and main expectation for the next quarter, April to June 2009.
After presenting the impression of group representatives relating to their small group discussion, some key words were found out like: Team Learning, Learning Network, Learning Facilitators, Leading to ask questions, etc. All participants have learned to development questions for empowering the others.
To me, I noted that the methodology used during the training was followed to the adult learning approach that allowed most of the participants actively participated in the whole training session. Especially, it was a good time for all participants to exchange their knowledge and practical experience (Best Practices) in the field. The training enabled me to review on what I have learned, for example the concept of learning organization and other main key words as mentioned-above. Additionally, it stimulated me to consider about what should i do specifically after the training.
There are some Best Practices that we need to capitalize:
- Staff management and team work
- Staff capacity building
- Capacity building for farmer leaders at the communities
- How to formulate the farmer group, village based farmer association and network
- Reporting skill
- Database management
- Budget and financial management
- Cooperation with local authorities and stakeholders
- Project Monitoring and Evaluation
- Cases-studied
- How to arrange and organize a good workshop
- Self Development
- Capacity building to next generation to become a good leader/manager
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Core Team of Field Program Meeting
01 April 2009, the core team meeting of field program was held with the participation of 12 participants, included Mr. Sim Samoeun, Mr. Yi Kimthan, Mr. Bao Vuthy, Mr. Yim Bunlong, Miss. Pheng Chandy, Mrs. Mok Chenda, Miss. Luy Theary, Mr. Lang Chanthea, Mr. Seng Sopheak, Mr. Pel Chivita, Mr. Hour Sreng, Mr. Y Kadum and Mr. Yim Sok Sophors. Those participants are the program director, program officers, project coordinators and project officers.
Main agenda of the meeting was pointed out as follows:
Moreover, the participants had also discussed about the supervision of commune project and also debated about the improved financial policy of the program. Mr. Kin Mengse who is the senior program officer of CEDAC-Field Program interested to be responsible for managing the commune projects which are direct operated by Mr. Say Tith. Later on, the financial regulation was picked up for improvement in order to ensure that process of financial management is enhanced. In short, the meeting enabled to all participants are clear enought about management of the whole program.
Main agenda of the meeting was pointed out as follows:
- To share information relating to the progress of the project from each participant
- To draw up the logo of CEDAC-Field Program
- To determine the salary of the project staff from donors
- To provide information and select authorized staff for the supervision of commune project
- To improve the internal financial regulation of CEDAC-Field Program
Moreover, the participants had also discussed about the supervision of commune project and also debated about the improved financial policy of the program. Mr. Kin Mengse who is the senior program officer of CEDAC-Field Program interested to be responsible for managing the commune projects which are direct operated by Mr. Say Tith. Later on, the financial regulation was picked up for improvement in order to ensure that process of financial management is enhanced. In short, the meeting enabled to all participants are clear enought about management of the whole program.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Second M&E team meeting on 30 March 2009
On 30 March 2009, the monitoring and evaluation team of CEDAC's Field Program was organized with the participation of 6 staff (Yim Sok Sophors, Chhin Chhunhoir, Nuon Piseth, Pheng Chandy,Vang Sean, Sin Phoan and Phorn Phira).
The meeting was carried out with the following agenda:
The meeting was carried out with the following agenda:
- Introduction of the agenda/program of the meeting
- Review the last meeting in February 2009
- Sharing the activities and critical information which have been conducted in March 2009
- Prepare the action plan for April 2009
- To prepare the guideline for the study on agricultural situation
- Team learning on Microsoft Access
- Synthesize of the meeting and impression from participants
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Rapid Rice Market Chain Appraisal
From 18-23 March 2009, Mr. YIM Sok Sophors went to CSPPM (Civil Society and Pro-Poor Market) project in order to assist the project staff for conducting a field study on rapid rice market chain appraisal in 29 villages across 8 communes, 4 districts of Kompot province, Cambodia. More detail about the study is to focus about the market chain of rice product in 29 villages which are the village members of rice producer communities supported by the CSPPM project. During that time, Mr Yim Sok Sophors has met and discussed with the project officer and the other project staff relating to objectives and methodologies of this study. The study mainly focused on the demand and supply of rice product from the studied villages, which mainly concentrated to organic rice product (Mliss and Romduol varieties) that is high market demand.
As the result, it is able to found out that the demand of rice is higher than the supply which is produced by the rice farmer producers. It is good market opportunities for local farmers but they need to pay more attention to the promotion strategies of their unique product (organic rice) and to ensure a good linkage among their appropriate market channels. Furthermore, it is able to know that most of rice product produced by the local farmers are supplied to the collectors and then the collectors will distributed to rice millers and wholesalers within the studied districts. At the end, the most rice product will be exported to neighboring country, Vietnam.
As the result, it is able to found out that the demand of rice is higher than the supply which is produced by the rice farmer producers. It is good market opportunities for local farmers but they need to pay more attention to the promotion strategies of their unique product (organic rice) and to ensure a good linkage among their appropriate market channels. Furthermore, it is able to know that most of rice product produced by the local farmers are supplied to the collectors and then the collectors will distributed to rice millers and wholesalers within the studied districts. At the end, the most rice product will be exported to neighboring country, Vietnam.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Field visit by IOM-Cambodia
On 05-06 March 2006, there was a field visit conducted by a team from IOM organization included the representative from Ministry of Women's Affairs of Cambodia to the project's target area of the project "Improvement of the most Vulnerable Families for Protection of Human Trafficking and unsafe Migration" in Svay Rieng and Prey Veng provinces.
This team was seeking to understand about the situation and progress of the project implementation by CEDAC. During the the field visit, the visit team met with key farmers in order to interview with them relating to the progress in term of agricultural adoption/adaption and livelihood improvement under the intervention of this project. It was to note that there were many farmers had grown vegetables and most of the farmers in Prey Veng provinces were working on sugar palm production. The visit team suggested that it is good if the project can like those farmer producer groups to the local market especially the markets which is located nearby the Cambodia-Vietnam border, Bavet. It is good market opportunity thanks to there is big demand.
This team was seeking to understand about the situation and progress of the project implementation by CEDAC. During the the field visit, the visit team met with key farmers in order to interview with them relating to the progress in term of agricultural adoption/adaption and livelihood improvement under the intervention of this project. It was to note that there were many farmers had grown vegetables and most of the farmers in Prey Veng provinces were working on sugar palm production. The visit team suggested that it is good if the project can like those farmer producer groups to the local market especially the markets which is located nearby the Cambodia-Vietnam border, Bavet. It is good market opportunity thanks to there is big demand.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Field study on the adoption/adaptation of SRI technqiue
On 03-04 March 2009, Mr. YIM Sok Sophors conducted a field study on adoption/adaptation of SRI (System of Rice Intensification) in Thnoung village, Sdao Koang commune, Baphnom district, Prey Veng province, Cambodia.
The study aimed to know about the changes of farmers' practices in term of rice production in the village, especially to see the differences before and after the intervention of CEDAC's project in that studied village. It is to note that this study is only a part of the whole study on SRI in 20 villages within CEDAC's target villages. 10 farmers including the chief of village based farmer association and its members as well as the non SRI farmers were also invited to join the group discussion. To seek for more detail information, seveal farmers were in-depth interviewed.
Based on the result of this study, it is able to know that some techniques of SRI have been adapted by the villagers such as:
The study aimed to know about the changes of farmers' practices in term of rice production in the village, especially to see the differences before and after the intervention of CEDAC's project in that studied village. It is to note that this study is only a part of the whole study on SRI in 20 villages within CEDAC's target villages. 10 farmers including the chief of village based farmer association and its members as well as the non SRI farmers were also invited to join the group discussion. To seek for more detail information, seveal farmers were in-depth interviewed.
Based on the result of this study, it is able to know that some techniques of SRI have been adapted by the villagers such as:
- 80% of the farmer families in the village have reduced the amount of rice seed for broadcasting on the seedbed. 22% of seed quantity is reduced as the previously used 57.5 kg/ha and it is now only 45 kg/ha.
- The age of seedling is also reduced according to the rice varieties
- The number of rice stem per hill is also reduced from averagely 6 stems per hill but it is now only 3 stems per hill
- Farmers have tried to make further compost of supplying to their rice fields. The average amound of compost is increased from 1750 kg/family/year up to 2425 kg/family/year.
- The rice yield is also increased from 1.1 t/ha before the project's intervention up to 1.87 t/ha at the current time.
- The size of seedbed, but they just improve the preparation
- Uproot only healthy seedlings for transplanting
- Transplanting in row and equal from one hill to another
- Transplanting immediately after uprooting
- Weeding, water management, soil leveling are not widely adapted,
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Meeting at EC office
On 25 February, I participated in the meeting which taken place at the EC office in Phnom Penh. Several NGOs preventatives (ZOA, MEDICAM, NDP , and CEDAC) participated in the meeting with Mr. Dirk Meganck, Director for Asia and Central Asia of the European Aid. The meeting lasted only for one hour started from 14:30 to consult between NGOs/civil societies and the EC (the donor agency).
The main topic discussed during that time is NGOs law that will be set up by the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC). It is to note that the EC on one hand supports to RGC and another hand supports to NGOs/civil society. NGOs/Civil society believe that that NGOs law set up by the RGC will provide negatively effect to them especially the NGOs/civil society that are working involve in human right and advocacy. During the meeting, NGO representatives raised that EC should work with the RGC to develop a good NGOs law because “No Law is Better than Having a Bad Law”, this is what one of the participants mentioned during the meeting.
The NGOs afraid that the RGC will set up the law to control the budget of their NGOs because they have heard that the RGC wants to control budget of NGOs for anti-terrorism, and NGOs need to request budget from the Ministry of Finance for their operation. In that way, it will reduce the independence of NGOs, this is what the participants mentioned. Some participant said that we can submit the financial report including sources of budget to the RGC, but we need to have own bank account. In this way, it is transparency and can be a model for the RGC to follow us as well.
Ultimately, in dealing with this matter, the participants suggested that NGOs should jointly develop the content of the NGOs law and submit it to the RGC to take into consideration. Additionally, they want to define what is POLITIC because they afraid that the RGC accuses them to be involved in politics and terminate their NGOs.
Another thing, participant raised that the EC should reduce some criteria/requirements because it is difficult for small local NGOs to access grant from the EC for each call for proposal, only big NGOs can access to the grant. In return, Mr. Dirk Meganck responded that we cannot satisfy all NGOs and he also implied that small NGOs are lack of management and transparency despite majority of them are not registered properly at the ministry of interior.
The main topic discussed during that time is NGOs law that will be set up by the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC). It is to note that the EC on one hand supports to RGC and another hand supports to NGOs/civil society. NGOs/Civil society believe that that NGOs law set up by the RGC will provide negatively effect to them especially the NGOs/civil society that are working involve in human right and advocacy. During the meeting, NGO representatives raised that EC should work with the RGC to develop a good NGOs law because “No Law is Better than Having a Bad Law”, this is what one of the participants mentioned during the meeting.
The NGOs afraid that the RGC will set up the law to control the budget of their NGOs because they have heard that the RGC wants to control budget of NGOs for anti-terrorism, and NGOs need to request budget from the Ministry of Finance for their operation. In that way, it will reduce the independence of NGOs, this is what the participants mentioned. Some participant said that we can submit the financial report including sources of budget to the RGC, but we need to have own bank account. In this way, it is transparency and can be a model for the RGC to follow us as well.
Ultimately, in dealing with this matter, the participants suggested that NGOs should jointly develop the content of the NGOs law and submit it to the RGC to take into consideration. Additionally, they want to define what is POLITIC because they afraid that the RGC accuses them to be involved in politics and terminate their NGOs.
Another thing, participant raised that the EC should reduce some criteria/requirements because it is difficult for small local NGOs to access grant from the EC for each call for proposal, only big NGOs can access to the grant. In return, Mr. Dirk Meganck responded that we cannot satisfy all NGOs and he also implied that small NGOs are lack of management and transparency despite majority of them are not registered properly at the ministry of interior.
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