Quarterly Report: Fiscal Year 2020, Quarter 1

The project aims to support citizens in improving their capacity, access to information, and networks for collective action, helping them to build public demand and develop solutions to address community priorities. The project's vision is that, after its conclusion, Cambodian citizens will have the information, knowledge, skills, and networks necessary to hold local government accountable. The project will work with respected Cambodian civic organizations in urban areas to bring together diverse groups of citizens, civil society organizations (CSOs), technologists, and government officials to discuss shared community priorities and common issues, develop potential solutions, and undertake collective action to build demand for change. ISAC will assist CSOs, civic leaders, and other groups and associations to enhance their networks for information sharing and collective action, making them better able to sustain the pressure for social accountability beyond the life of the project. ISAC will also increase the availability of credible, accessible, and easily-understood information and social accountability technology tools for use by CSOs, citizens, and journalists to strengthen civic understanding of government services and processes and improve accountability. The project is working toward four outcomes: Improved information access on government decisions and processes, and the planning, spending, and investment of public funds; Increased citizen participation and collective action to hold local government accountable for public services; Increased utilization of new or existing enabling technologies for citizens to hold local government accountable for delivery of public services; and Education and outreach to raise awareness of accountability and integrity in public administration. The project began with the onboarding of the Chief of Party (COP) in October 2019, who traveled to Cambodia along with the ISAC-designated FHI 360 Program Officer from the Home Office. During their visit, the COP and Program Officer supported operations, recruitment, preparation of the workplan, attendance at the ISAC kick-off meeting with USAID/Cambodia, and meetings with stakeholders including the World Bank and USAID implementing partners. FHI 360's Cambodia office in Phnom Penh provided staff and resource support to expedite procurement processes, office selection, and recruitment. Key start-up activities carried out in Q1 included staffing and recruitment, registration, and memorandums of understanding. FHI 360 hired and onboarded several staff members, including Social Accountability Specialist Tun Youheang, Grants Manager Mary Loung, and Finance and Administration Manager Seng Sophy. ISAC partner DAI hired and onboarded two full-time staff members, Digital Development Specialist Pounlok Sour and Digital Development Specialist Samnang Oung. Internews also began recruitment during Q1, interviewing candidates for the Media Specialist and Open Data Specialist positions. The project has made significant progress in its first quarter, laying the groundwork for its implementation in the coming months. The COP has been onboarded, and key staff members have been hired and are in the process of being onboarded. The project has also begun to establish partnerships with local organizations and stakeholders, which will be crucial to its success.