Released in Phnom Penh, April 20, 2010
The United States today launched a five-year, $16.2 million program designed to promote accountability and transparency in government in Cambodia. The new Accountability in Governance and Politics (AGAP) program will help Cambodians hold their government accountable for policy performance and implementation.
At a launch event at the Inter-Continental Hotel in Phnom Penh, U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia Carol A. Rodley joined Deputy Prime Minister Sok An in praising the potential of the new program.
“The United States looks forward to working with all of our counterparts in government, civil society, and political parties to strengthen democracy in Cambodia,” Ambassador Rodley said.
“I’m excited about the extensive expertise and experience each of these organizations is bringing to their respective areas of the program, and I am confident that we will see positive results over the next five years.”
The program will be implemented by a consortium composed of the International Republican Institute, the National Democratic Institute, and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems.
AGAP will build on the progress of the previous U.S. political competition program. U.S. support for town hall-style Constituency Dialogues, which will continue under the new program, have allowed citizens throughout the country to discuss issues affecting their everyday lives directly with their elected leaders.
Meanwhile, U.S. assistance for programs targeting people under 30 years old, who make up 70% of the population, has helped widen participation in the political process. The Youth Council of Cambodia and the Youth Leadership Challenge television show, which will also continue under the new program, have exposed millions of youth to democratic principles in an engaging and entertaining way.
