Achieving the MDGs in Cambodia: Improving Aid Efficiency

Abstract

Cambodia borders Thailand, Laos and Vietnam and has a population exceeding 14 million (World Bank, 2006a). The country is still recover­ing from the brutal Khmer Rouge regime, which ruled the country from 1975 to 1979. During this period, an estimated two million lost their lives through execution, torture, starvation and illness. The regime implemented polices of forced labour, the closure of schools and hos­pitals, the confiscation of property, eradicating money and banning religion. By the time the regime was overthrown in 1979 by the Viet­namese, there was very little infrastructure and very few skilled and experienced people left in Cambodia. Rebuilding institutions, infra­structure and human capital from such a low base will take many decades. Moreover, despite reconstruction efforts commencing in 1979, political instability and civil unrest continued until 1998, hampering development progress. Similar to Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the Solomon Islands, Cambodia is often classified as a fragile state charac­terised by weak governance.