Phnom Penh - Partnership for Urban Poverty Reduction - Phase II - Slum Upgrading (Completed)

The success of previous projects supporting urban poor in Phnom Penh led to the launch of a new project: Partnership for Urban Poverty Reduction Phase-II in 2004, with the primary aim of according adequate human dignity to the urban poor. This is achieved by enabling communities to form local institutions or community organizations that manage ensure community consultations on local problems and priorities, and then by financing the execution of site improvements schemes they identify. The communities initiate negotiations with the municipality on various issues, thereby building a working link between the communities and the municipality.

*Over 160 new community organizations have been formed and more than 350 community based infrastructure and urban basic services such as footbridges, concrete lanes, drainage, toilets, and drinking water have been built by communities themselves;
*It is estimated that more than 31,000 families have benefited from such improvements;
*There has been consensus amongst community members, the Municipality and the project staff that because of the project participating communities have greater sense of ownership of the project and its outputs;
*The poor communities have a more positive perception of themselves and the local authorities by becoming a part of municipal decision-making;
*Improvement of human dignity of the slum settlements through improved living conditions.

The Trust Fund for Human Security was established in 1999 in the United Nations. By FY 2002, the Government of Japan had contributed total amount of some 22.9 billion yen, making the Trust Fund the largest of its kind established in the UN.