The World Bank Group on Wednesday approved a US$20 million grant for the Demand for Good Governance (DFGG) Project in Cambodia to help enhance citizens' engagement in development and governance processes, and government responsiveness to their demands.

The DFGG Project represents an integral part of the World Bank's efforts to tackle governance issues in Cambodia, according to a statement released by the World Bank.

Even though the country has achieved impressive economic progress over the last decades, governance remains a key impediment for broad-based development and further poverty reduction, it added.

This innovative project will seek to enhance the demand for good governance in priority reform areas in Cambodia by strengthening institutions, supporting partnerships, and sharing lessons, said the World Bank.

It will do so by promoting so called "demand-side" approaches, which strengthen the ability of citizens, civil society organizations, and other non-state actors to work constructively with government and to hold it accountable. These approaches also enhance the capacity of the government to become more responsive to citizens.

"This project is part of the Bank's response to calls for broader engagement in governance reform in Cambodia. The Bank has provided leadership on supporting the public sector governance reform in the past," said Qimiao Fan, the World Bank Country Manager for Cambodia.

"Now it is a great time to work with a broad range of stakeholders such as the government, private sector, civil society, donors, parliamentarians, and media, to create a stronger demand for good governance," he added.

Good governance is increasingly recognized as a fundamental prerequisite for sustainable development. Its opposite -- corruption -- is also recognized as a major impediment to efficient and effective government, with a disproportionate impact on the poor.

Stimulating citizen demand for better governance has become a fundamental tool for more transparency and accountability in public affairs, and an integral part of the World Bank's governance and anti-corruption strategy.

(Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2008)