SUMMARY

The DAC-Secretariat role is to facilitate government, national and international agencies, as well as business, religious and local communities to work together with disabled persons to initiate and secure the rights and services ensuring the need of disabled persons to have equal opportunity and to fully participate in society, free from barriers. This is a huge task for the DAC,Government/NGOs and other relevant agencies to deal with.

Since its establishment in 1997, DAC has learned and highly appreciated the respect and support of all stakeholders in the disability and rehabilitation sector in Cambodia. It has subsequently consolidated as an effective national coordinating body and focal point on disability issues for the country, region and internationally. It is the first port of call for those wishing to learn about the sector. But the DAC has been a victim of its own success. The DAC and its Secretariat in particular, has increasingly found its capacity being stretched to the limit as it tries to respond to all the demands made on it. It is recognized that the DAC has to adopt a more realistic strategic approach in developing its plan of action for the next three years and beyond. During this crucial period the DAC will focus on two interdependent elements: its strategic goal and its delivery mechanism.

The DAC's new strategic goal will focus on priorities. The first priority will be to secure legislation in favor of people with disabilities by 2005. The second one will be to initiate, enable and coordinate affiliate members and partners so that they are capable of delivering integrated and sustainable services for people with disabilities. In order to achieve this and based on limited resource, it is necessary to prioritize the UN-ESCAP components for action as its third priority. The DAC recognizes all UN-ESCAP components are equally important. However, hard choices will have to be made for resource investment.

In addition, the DAC will coordinate the development and implementation of policy framework for quality services. In order to do this effectively the DAC will work with affiliate members and partners to establish a national database system and simple tools for monitoring, evaluating and reporting on services. The DAC recognizes that for the foreseeable future the government in Cambodia will face challenges and lack of resources to ensure adequate service delivery. The third sector (NGOs) must continue to play the main role and the DAC will work to ensure that investment in the capacity of government and NGO partners as well as DAC Secretariat is refocused for the maximum impact. However, for the interests of sustainability it is vital that funding for the sector is diversified. So, the DAC will strengthen its links with business as well as other potential donors. These initiatives will be coordinated within an overall funding strategy.

The DAC must have an effective and representative institutional structure to enable it to effectively achieve its mission and strategy. To this end, the DAC will seek to reform itself. The existing Executive Board will be replaced by an effective Governing Board. DAC will redefine and refocus its coordination role and key functions. While still responsive to its members needs, the DAC's emphasis will be on achieving the strategic goals so that people with disabilities have the services they need, their rights are secured through legislation.

The DAC Secretariat will also be strengthened to ensure its better services for achieving the DAC mission and strategy. Administrative, management, financial systems, and staff policy will be reviewed and a staff capacity building plan developed and implemented. The DAC will also seek to reduce its reliance on one donor (USAID/LWVF) for its core running costs by seeking other sources of finances and promoting its capacity to serve as a disability related service center for generating income.

This Strategic Plan envisages quite radical change and in the preparation of this document the DAC has consulted widely with its members and partners. The DAC is fully committed to a participatory approach, cost effective practices, and promoting ownership and will strengthen and enhance its established communication networks between all stakeholders. In addition, the DAC will seek to further increase the involvement of disabled persons, particularly in the development, dissemination and adoption of the draft Cambodian Disability Law.

The DAC Strategic Directions is a pragmatic document. It proposes a way forward that recognizes the difficulties and constraints that the sector faces in Cambodia. The solutions it puts forward are realistic and attainable. The strategy for the next three years will be to define priorities and through its own institutional reform process to ensure that these priorities are acted upon, secured, monitored and evaluated. This cannot happen unless donor agencies, government ministries, civil society and NGOs agree to work together for the common goal.

The DAC has the structure and mandate to do this in a realistic systematic way that can benefit all concerned parties and the sector. A multi-organizational approach to development that does not curtail initiatives or creativity can provide economic and social benefits to government, individuals and organizations.