STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS FOR THE PLANNING PERIOD MAY 2002- APRIL 2005

2.A. Programmatic issues

2.A.1. Identity

DAC will continue to characterize itself as a 'Semi-Autonomous' National Coordinating organization. It will provide a forum where government, non-government and other parties can work on disability-related issues and where consensus can be reached to achieve their objectives, guided and informed by the DAC Vision, Mission and Strategy.

It will focus on the following:

Enablement of government to set and enforce policy on disability, to develop and pass legislation, and to implement its programming effectively.
Enablement of non-government agencies to participate fully in the above.

2.A.2. Quality and the demands of UN-ESCAP

In order for DAC to achieve high quality performance it will focus its limited resources on priority UN-ESCAP components, while seeking ultimately to fulfill its mandate re all 15 components. It will phase its investment on the basis of performance to objectives, rather than trying to respond to all the demands that are made upon it. This will require making difficult choices about which components should be prioritized. A consultative process will be undertaken in which key stakeholders are involved.

2.A.3. Government participation

DAC will work to assist all concerned ministries to develop policy, regulations and guidelines, and to become more involved in DAC strategy as owners, members and partners. Thus a more balanced DAC ownership will be developed, in which the involvement of MOLSAVY is complemented and balanced by increased involvement of counterpart ministries and civil society.

2.A.4. An effective institutional mechanism to address the government capacity deficit

The following mechanism will be adopted:

Deeper involvement of DAC's governing body: Draft policy, legislation, regulations and guidelines related to specific disability issues will be put on the agenda of the DAC Executive Board for consideration and approval.

A formalized process of discussion with government: The promotion and establishment of a Working Group, incorporating senior government officials, to review draft papers and to adopt them.

Technical and advisory support to government: DAC assistance to the Government in the implementation of policy, legislation, and standards will be enhanced.

2.A.5. Implementation - DAC's role re-defined

DAC will continue to work to enable key actors to develop, implement, monitor, and evaluate a National Plan of Action on Disability and Rehabilitation, founded on the Guiding Principles of the Task Force (1996) and UN-ESCAP Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002. To this end DAC will mobilize government, national and international agencies, business, religious authorities, local communities and people with disabilities.

DAC seeks to enable government and NGOs to act in favor of people with disabilities. It seeks no ongoing role as a program or project implementer. Guided by this policy, and within the planning period, DAC will nonetheless take a time-limited, direct role in the implementation of some activities, but will only implement in the following ways:

Through government or NGO partners,
In partnership with government or NGO partners as co-implementers.

In both cases, DAC will focus on two deliverables:

The successful implementation of a time limited project,
Significant investment in the development of delivery partner capacity during the life of the project.

2.B. Organizational issues

2.B.1. Funding and financial sustainability

The DAC Secretariat will require funding of approximately USD 160,000.00/year for its core running costs during the next three-year cycle. DAC is concerned of its current dependence on USAID/LWVF for a large proportion (56% in 2000 and 40% in 2001) of its total income.

The DAC intends to reduce its reliance on USAID/LWVF funding to 20% of its core running costs in the coming three years, by accessing new sources of funds. It also intends to raise its annual income by 10% per year for the coming years, through 2005. It will achieve this by:

Soliciting new potential donors to participate in covering core Secretariat running costs;
Requiring DAC affiliated members to pay more for DAC coordination services (annual membership subscription fees); and
Applying appropriate overhead charges and percentages from the coordination and co-implementation of specific programs/projects and consultancy services.

In order to achieve this, DAC will allocate human and financial resources as well as technical assistance in its budgeting for the period May 2002-April 2005. It also intends to solicit increased technical and financial participation of its major international members to support this effort.

Sources of funds that focus on civil society organizing will be researched and solicited during the planning period, and resources allocated to ensure that such funds can be accessed. This new approach takes into account the fact that while DAC focuses on disability issues it is also closely involved in the enablement of an emerging civil society to respond to the needs and aspirations of people with disabilities.

2.B.2. DAC Membership and Strategy

The DAC will be driven exclusively by its revised Vision, Mission and Strategy. It will no longer seek to respond to all the demands made upon it, but rather engage in an ongoing strategic planning process where focus, coherence, quality and sustainability guide decisions about its resource investment.

The Council will focus its investment at the national level, and will not seek to become a regional organization or to develop provincial branches. However it will maintain and develop its connections including field visits to the program implementation of Government/NGOs members and partners at the provincial level in order to ensure that it is consistently well informed.

In order to determine a strategic approach to all its work, the DAC Secretariat will continue to ensure that the views of all its members are solicited, heard and respected. Membership will be broadened and deepened in order to be more inclusive of concerned ministries, the third sector and business. An ongoing consultative process with key members and partners will continue, informed by the DAC Vision, Mission and Strategy.

2.B.3. Ownership

DAC will become a more Cambodian body, and a policy of bilingualism will be adopted in all communications. By 2005, all DAC hosted meetings/workshops will be conducted in Khmer, with English translation provided unless English speakers constitute more than 50% of the participants.

MOSALVY plays a central role as the lead ministry with regard to DAC. Until now, participation and commitment from other key ministries has been limited. DAC intends to remedy this commitment and participation deficit within the planning period.

DAC now seeks to invest more resources in balancing its investment in content with an enhanced investment in its own institutional and organizational strengthening. Thus issues such as the current functional overlap between the Advisory Committee and the Executive Board will be addressed in the planning period, and resolved.

As a non-profit organization, DAC's ownership and governance will be shared by the following sectors:

Government;
Organizations of People with Disabilities and other concerned national NGOs;
International organizations;
Religious community;
Business sector.

2.B.4. Governance and institutional sustainability

A clear distinction will be drawn between the governing body of the Council, and such bodies as may continue to provide advice and technical input. The current 'Executive Board' will be renamed the 'Governing Board', and its membership overhauled. Board membership will be re-profiled to better reflect DAC's governance requirements. The name of the 'Advisory Committee' will remain unchanged. DAC will invest technically in the capacity of its governing body to provide high quality governance.

The process whereby Cambodian and non-Cambodian NGOs serve on the Governing Board will be formalized. Both Cambodian and non-Cambodian NGOs will elect a member to serve on the Governing Board. These members will represent the interests, priorities and concerns of their colleagues and the disability sector. Non-NGO international organizations will also be represented on the Governing Board, and will elect one member to represent them.

2.C. Strategic Plan

2.C.1. Revised Vision Statement

Individuals and society understand that people with disabilities have equal rights and obligations as all citizens of the Kingdom of Cambodia. People with disabilities have equal opportunities to fully participate in society, free from barriers.

2.C.2. Revised Mission Statement

DAC promotes, coordinates and strengthens the capacity of DAC affiliated members to initiate, secure the rights and services necessary for disabled persons, thus enabling them to enjoy equal rights, obligations, opportunities and quality of life as others in the community.

2.C.3. Implementation - DAC Secretariat's role re-defined

The DAC-Secretariat's role is to facilitate government, national and international agencies, as well as business, religious, and local communities to work together with disabled persons to develop, implement, monitor, and evaluate a National Plan of Action on Disability and Rehabilitation founded on the Guiding Principles of the Task Force (1996) and UN-ESCAP Decade of Disabled Persons 1993-2002.

The main functions of the DAC Secretariat include:

Prepare a Program of Action based on the Recommendations of the Task Force and UN-ESCAP documents.
Build up national capacity and to facilitate the inclusion of disabled needs into the planning cycles of government ministries and civil society.
Establish and advise on the development priorities and targets and the selection projects based on the recommendations included in the above documents in collaboration with DAC Committees and Working Groups.
Liaise with relevant ministries, institutions, NGOs, IOs, and donor agencies concerned with disability with a review to coordinating activities and providing technical guidance and direction as necessary.