Summary of Terminal Evaluation Results
1. Outline of the projectCountry:
The Kingdom of Cambodia

Project title:
The Project on Improving Official Statistics in Cambodia (Phase 2)

Issue/Sector: Statistics

Cooperation Scheme: Technical Cooperation Project

Division in Charge:
Section of Administrative Function, Governance Group, Public Policy

Period of
Cooperation:

Total Cost (at evaluation):
430 million yen(R/D): 23 April 2007 –30 September 2010

Partner Country’s Implementing Agency: Statistics Bureau,
Ministry of Planning(Extension): N/A

Support Organizations in Japan: Statistics Bureau, Ministryof Internal Affairs and Communications; National Statistics
Center; Japan Statistical Association(F/U): N/A

Related Cooperation: The Project on Improving Official
Statistics in Cambodia (Phase 1)

1-1 Background of the project
The improvement of official statistics in the Kingdom of Cambodia (hereinafter referred to as
Cambodia) has been extremely delayed due to the impact of a lengthy civil war. Since the 1990s,
with support from the United Nations and other organizations, official statistics in Cambodia have
gradually improved. In 1998, with support from the United Nations Fund for Population Activities(UNFPA), a national population census was conducted for the first time in 36 years. This was thefirst important step toward improving official statistics. However, Cambodia’s official statistics stilllag behind in terms of establishing a system. Thus, donor nations and international organizations
often question the accuracy of such statistics.
Under the circumstances, in 2004 the Cambodian government requested a five-year technicalcooperation project for the “2008 Technical Training for Population Census, Human Development,
and Improvement in Economic Statistics.” Since the UNFPA fund could not be procured back then,planning did not include taking a population census. Thus, the Project on Improving Official
Statistics in Cambodia (Phase 1) focusing on statistical training was launched, but did not include a
population census. However, shortly thereafter, a decision was made on procurement of the UNFPA
fund. The population census order (issued on January 30, 2006) announced the decision to conduct a
population census in March 2008. The Cambodian government submitted a request to Japan, mainly
for technical cooperation regarding the population census. In response to the request, this project
was launched in April 2007 as one lasting three-and-a-half years. The goals of the project were toenhance human resources of the National Institute of Statistics (NIS), Ministry of Planning, regional
statistics departments/bureaus, and the statistics departments/bureaus of ministries and agencies, andto improve official statistics by conducting the 2008 population census and a partial economic
statistics survey.
1-2 Overview of the project(1) Overall goal
Fundamental and effective statistic resources are available for use in national and regional
policymaking, planning, and strategies for Cambodia.
(2) Purpose
The purpose of the project is to ensure that planning, summary processing, analysis, the provisionand use of a population census, and other statistical surveys can be conducted in principle by NIS,
the statistics departments/bureaus of provincial planning agencies, and the statistics
departments/bureaus of relevant ministries and agencies.
i(3) Outputs
1) The census enumeration districts have been allocated. The results will be used for taking a
population census and collecting other statistics.
2) A summary of the population census, the examination results, and individual data are prepared.
Statistics tables are also prepared and published.
3) Based on the population census, the results are statistically analyzed, and then the analysis results
are published.
4) A database is created based on the population census results.
5) A report on population census results is prepared, and provided in the form of books (including
statistical maps and census atlas), CDs, and on a website.
6) Statistics on small regions covered by the population census results are prepared and thenpublished.
7) A list of business establishments is prepared and utilized as a sampling frame in an economic
statistics survey.
8) A common understanding is shared among those concerned with the population census (e.g.,census enumeration districts, related census results).
9) Detailed procedures (e.g., important process, important cases, and manuals) for activities related
to the population census are prepared and collected.
10) Appropriate coordination among donors is ensured regarding the population census.
(4) Inputs (at evaluation)
1) Japanese side
Total Cost: 430 million yen- Long-term Dispatch of Experts: 0 experts- Short-term Dispatch of Experts: 31 experts- Trainees received: 9 persons- Cost for enhancing external project (including provision of equipment): 20 million yen- Local cost shouldered by Japan: 0 yen
2) Cambodian side
- Counterparts (C/Ps): 24 persons (number of chief C/Ps)- Land and facilities provided by Cambodia- Collateral Fund for Non Project Grant Aid: approx. 200 million yen
2. Outline of Evaluation Team(Field in charge; name; position)
Kazuto TSUJI (Team leader),Executive Technical Advisor, Public Policy Department, JICA

Evaluation
team

Masakazu, KIMURA (Official statistics),
Inspector, Consumption Statistics Section, Statistics Survey Department, Statistics
Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
Mitsutaka HOSHI (Evaluation planning),
staff, Administrative Function Section, Public Policy Department, JICA

Period of evaluation: 14 February – 24 February 2010

Type of evaluation: Terminal evaluation

3. Outline of Evaluation Results
3-1 Confirmation of achievement level(1) Prospect of achieving the project’s purpose
Regarding the official statistics capacities of NIS, the statistics departments/bureaus of provincial
planning agencies, and those of relevant ministries and agencies, a five-level evaluation was
conducted in the following manner. First, the degree of improvement in the capacity of major staff
since the start of the project was measured. (Japanese specialists and NIS executive officials
conducted an evaluation regarding NIS, NIS executive officials and the heads of provincial planningii

agencies conducted an evaluation regarding said agencies, and executive officials at the respective
statistics departments/bureaus of relevant ministries and agencies conducted an evaluation regarding
said ministries and agencies.) The mean value of the evaluation at the launch was compared withthat in the survey upon completion of the project. Comparisons were made regarding NIS, theprovincial planning agencies, and relevant ministries and agencies in order to confirm
improvements. As a result, we can safely expect to achieve the overall goal of the project.
(2) Prospect of achieving outputs
All the outputs are either already achieved or will be achieved during the period of cooperation.
Outputs 1 through 7 are related to the transfer of technical skills and knowledge necessary for
conducting a population census and making a listing of business establishments. For the population
census, maps of all the census enumeration districts were prepared, with instructors being cultivatedmainly from among the staff of NIS and provincial planning agencies, and a survey was conductedwithout delay on all households in the nation. Regarding tabulation, NIS staff acquired the dataprocessing techniques necessary for tabulating statistical information, steadily conducted theoperation, and then published flash reports and the results of authentic information without delay.
Tables of the results were prepared at the national, provincial, district, and even commune
levels—something that had not been done for the 1998 population census. Based on the information,
four kinds of statistical maps at the commune level were prepared, along with the visualization ofdata. This greatly contributed to promoting the use of statistical information. The listing of business
operators was the first project in Cambodia. The survey period was occasionally extended in Phnom
Penh and other areas where many business establishments were located. The results were thentabulated, analyzed, and published according to schedule, with steady progress being made without
delays from the original plan. As stated above, the capacity of NIS staff to conduct such surveys in aself-sustainable manner is improving from a technical standpoint. Activities in Output 8, where
government officials were targeted to raise awareness about using the results of official statistics, arealso showing steady progress. This survey confirmed that the use of statistical information is being
promoted in central ministries and agencies. Regarding the accumulation of technology andknowledge in Output 9, related records and manuals on conducting a population census have alreadybeen prepared. Regarding Output 10, in addition to JCC being established as part of the project, boththe National Census Committee (NCC) and the Census Technology Committee (CTC) establishedby a Cambodian initiative convene periodically, and performed their coordination function. Thus,
these outputs can be considered achieved.
3-2 Summary of evaluation results(1) AppropriatenessThe promotion of good governance is positioned at the center of the “Quadrangle strategy”(Cambodia’s national strategy). The Cambodian government is focusing on improving official
statistics—the basis of policymaking and monitoring to promote good governance. In Japan’s aid
policy for Cambodia, promoting good governance is set as a priority ODA area for Cambodia. The“Program to enhance official statistics functions” is also positioned as a priority program. Thus, theproject can be considered to have a high degree of relevance.
(2) EffectivenessRegarding the 2008 Population Census, all operations including the allocation of census
enumeration districts, conducting a survey, and tabulating and examining the data were completed asscheduled at the beginning. Related reports will also be analyzed and published as scheduled. The
series of procedures for conducting a population census are recorded and accumulated in the form of
manuals and reports, thereby ensuring the proper retention of techniques and knowledge until thenext survey. This project has improved the fundamental capacity to execute operations regarding a
population census, and therefore has a significantly high degree of effectiveness.
This project cultivated as many as 7,104 instructors for the 2008 Population Census. This recentiii

population census covered all households in the nation, and the survey was efficiently completedwith fewer instructors than those utilized for the 1998 Population Census (8,354 instructors), which
Cambodia conducted the last time (but did not cover all households) thanks to the improved capacityof individual instructors. This evaluation survey evaluated the capacity of staff in charge of statistics
at NIS, provincial planning agencies, and the departments/bureaus of relevant ministries andagencies. In the evaluation, the average capacity level of NIS staff was rated as being higher thanthat upon launch of the project in all relevant departments and bureaus. Thus, the average capacity
level regarding the use of statistical information was also confirmed as being improved in provincial
planning agencies and the statistics departments/bureaus of relevant ministries and agencies. Thisconfirmed that implementing this project resulted in improving the capacity of C/Ps.
(3) Efficiency
A survey entails the involvement of many experts, as experts possessing different techniques andknowledge are needed for different stages of the survey, such as planning, implementation,
calculation, analysis, and the results. In this project, however, experts in relevant fields aredispatched as needed in line with a short-period shuttle schedule. This was a cost-wise effective
input. The Japanese Collateral Fund for Non Project Grant Aid was utilized to pay allowances for the
population census researchers, with whom collaboration on this project was effectively achieved.
Collaboration and coordination with UNFPA and other relevant organizations were also smoothly
conducted. The project cost increased relative to the cost estimated before the start of cooperation,
due to a greater number of analysis reports on the population census and the expanded training todevelop human resources. Such increased cost was reflected in the improved capacity of C/Ps, aswell as in better statistics provided by NIS. Hence, it can be concluded that expenses wereeffectively used to achieve the project’s purpose and overall goal.
(4) Impact
At the level of the central ministries and agencies, the population census results and listing ofbusiness establishments prepared by NIS through the project have already been used forpolicymaking and monitoring by the Ministry of Women's Affairs and the Ministry of Labor andVocational Training, as well as for formulating the 2009-2013 Cambodia National Strategy
Development Plan (NSDP) and monitoring Cambodia’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Policymakers are beginning to recognize the usefulness of statistical information. Thus, the overall
goal should be achieved. The impact at the provincial government level and below is still limited.
However, when the results obtained in provincial or lower administrative units are fully analyzed
and provided in the future, a much greater impact is expected.
(5) Sustainable development
The NIS budget showed a tendency to increase when implementing the project. After the project iscompleted, a more highly prioritized budget for NIS can be expected. Moreover, in 2009 NIS newly
established Dept. of National Accounts, Dept. of Statistics Standards & Analysis, and Dept. ofInformation & Communication Technology (ICT) , through which NIS has been strengthened
institutionally. It can be said that NIS has been steadily strengthened as an institution for sustainable
development in view of the following facts: low personnel turnover at NIS; the creation of various
manuals in this project; and a stronger system to maintain and control the materials and equipment
owned by NIS.
3-3 Factors contributing to an expression of effect(1) Regarding the content of the plan
Timely input was properly conducted as the project was scheduled in line with the progress made by
the 2008 Population Census scheduled by Cambodia, thereby contributing to the project’s highdegree of effectiveness.
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(2) Regarding implementation processes
Collaboration with other donors (e.g., NFPA, the government of Germany) and another scheme (i.e.,
Collateral Fund for Non Project Grant Aid) contributed to the project’s high degree of effectivenessas seen in the coordination of activities among donors and in ensuring the funding needed to conduct
a population census. Cambodia took the initiative in providing an occasion for NCC, CTC, otherCambodian governmental organizations, and relevant donors to meet regularly for sharing
information and pursuing coordination, thereby ensuring smooth communication among those
involved from various fields. This also contributed to smooth activities for the project.
This project adopted a short-term shuttle dispatch of specialists from relevant organizations of the
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications due to the tight personnel arrangement schedule. A
local implementation/monitoring system was separately established based on contracted operation
mainly provided by consultants to compensate for project activities through mutual communicationand coordination. This also contributed to smooth project operations.
3-4 Problems and factors causing problems(1) Regarding the content of the plan
At the stage of project planning, detailed plans for each work process were formulated in order to
conduct the 2008 Population Census and 2009 Listing of Business Establishments. When theactivities actually began, however, the entire plan needed readjustment in the middle of the project
period as some work processes needed more time than expected at the beginning. This was partly
due to the fact that such surveys as a population census covering all households and a listing ofbusiness establishments had never been conducted before in Cambodia. The project was temporarily
delayed in terms of tabulation and other activities due to the readjustment. Finally, the project
achieved its original purpose and outputs in the scheduled period thanks to proper readjustment of
the plan. Through coordination between Cambodia and the donors, the Project Design Matrix (PDM)
was revised based on an interim review, thereby increasing the number of researchers andreconsidering the method of operation used by tabulation workers.
(2) Regarding implementation processes
The Cambodian government had a tough time coordinating the budget for the listing of businessestablishments, thus causing a delay in securing the budget to be shouldered by the Cambodian
government, and affecting preparations for the project. Thanks to a conference held with the
Minister of Planning at the interim review, the Minister coordinated with the Ministry of Economy
and Finance and other relevant organizations. As a result, a listing of business establishments was
implemented as scheduled.
3-5 Conclusion
Intended to enhance the capacity of official statistics that can provide the basic informationnecessary for formulating developmental plans and monitoring various sectors in Cambodia, thisproject had appropriate content from the standpoints of necessity, significance, and impact. Given its
previous experience with a population census, NIS (the C/P organization) had conducted a survey
for the first time that covered all households in the nation, with the support of this project. Throughthe efficient collaboration involving Cambodia, donors, and relevant organizations, NIS improved its
capacity to formulate detailed plans, acquired specialized skills in various areas including the design,
tabulation, and analysis of survey slips to a certain level, and has become able to provide statisticalinformation with higher accuracy. Thus, the project contributed to establishing infrastructure for
Cambodia to formulate development plans based on objective data in the future. At the same time,
having gained more experience is important to maintain and improve the techniques acquired. For
continuous, sustainable development, it is important to regularly implement the means of acquiring
appropriate official statistics, such as conducting an interim population survey after this project ends,
and stabilize the techniques and knowledge nurtured through the project.
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3-6 Recommendations (specific measures, suggestions, and advice regarding this project)(1) In order to disseminate the usefulness of the population census results and listing of businessestablishments created through this project among other ministries, agencies, and relevantorganizations, it is necessary to promote the publication and promulgation of detailed analytic
reports. For that purpose, it is necessary for NIS to establish a system through which
comprehensive, exhaustive data are made available.
(2) The provincial governments and their subordinate organizations apparently do not fully utilize
the survey results. In the future, the capacity to analyze and provide results should be improvedby targeting the provincial, district and commune levels, so that provincial governments andtheir subordinate organizations will effectively utilize the results of surveys conducted by NIS.
(3) A population census is conducted once every decade. During the ten years until the next census,
the knowledge accumulated in this project may become obsolete. In order to maintain theknowledge, such measures as conducting an “interim population census (sample)” arenecessary. The same holds true for an economic census.
3-7 Lessons learned (for reference in the exploration, formation, implementation, andoperation/management of similar projects derived from this project)(1) Rather than performing operations on behalf of the C/P, it is important for JICA experts to standby the C/P, respect the hopes and intentions of the C/P, and “jointly” promote the project. As
this project was conducted this way, the C/P was able to sustainably perform operations without
the presence of Japanese experts.
(2) In addition to the experience possessed by the Japanese government, “Lessons learned in thestatistics field in Indonesia” (for which JICA has cooperated for a long time) were considered inevery detail of the project. This also contributed to the project’s success.
(3) When ministries and agencies are asked beforehand about their requests regarding survey items
and details, more cooperation can be expected from them. This allows relevant ministries andagencies to utilize the survey results more proactively in policymaking and implementation.
3-8 Follow-up
Recommendations made from the evaluation survey are to be reflected in forming a new venture in
2010—the “Project for Improving Official Statistics (Phase 3).”vi