Procedures to set up a health project in Cambodia

Agencies arriving in Cambodia and willing to set up a health project in the kingdom are often quickly confronted to a troublesome bureaucratic labyrinth. The purpose of this page is assist those agencies by providing some clarifications on the official procedures, as well as a few tips and recommendations for the setting up of projects. We believe that such a page goes in the interest of both the Royal Cambodian Government -- who will then see more NGOs assisting the development of the health system -- and agencies conducting exploratory missions.

First of all, one should note that the current status of NGOs in Cambodia is not yet clear. The long awaited "law on associations and NGOs" is not yet finalized and is still subject to discussions between the Royal Cambodian Government and NGO representatives. And so is the important "Protocol Agreement between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFA) and the NGO".

In principle, an NGO willing to operate a health project in Cambodia should sign a Project Agreement with the Ministry of Health, and a protocol agreement with the MFA. Additional paperwork is necessary with the Council for Development of Cambodia to obtain tax-free importation of project-destined supplies or car.

While waiting for the finalization of those important policy documents, here is what is recommended to do.

1. Preliminary meeting with the Department of International Relations of the Ministry of Health (Mme Huot Mann, or Dr. Sok Khim (855-23-366 186 or 366 553)
2. Upon the results of the preliminary discussion with Department of International Relations of the Ministry of Health, the agency may submit a project proposal. To speed up the process they may submit the proposal under the form of the standard project agreement between the MoH and the NGO. The later document can be obtained either as a hard copy or as an electronic template on disquette from the MoH Dept. of International Relations or from MEDiCAM.
3. The MoH cannot sign the agreement unless the agency has fully registered at the MFA first, and/or has already signed the protocol agreement with the MFA (to be finalized). However, in the meantime, the MoH will issue a letter to the agency certifying that the MoH approves the project. This letter must be brought to the MFA for the registration.
4. It is only once the line ministry (here the MoH) and the MFA approve the project that the NGO can start to apply for duty-free importation of project-supplies at CDC.

Once again, these are just a few leads. We are hoping in a near future to be able to post here a much more exhaustive procedure with more details (i.e. names of officials, their Tel/fax numbers, E-mail addresses, etc). Come and visit the site regularly to check that it is updated.