The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), serving as the focal organization for the APO Center of Excellence on Public-Sector Productivity, continues to explore governance dynamics of APO member economies. This edition examines Cambodia’s public sector, shedding light on its public expenditure reforms and governance challenges. 

The World Bank’s Public Financial Review 2024 revealed that Cambodia has successfully leveraged improved revenue collection and prudent fiscal management to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19. This is reflected in Cambodia’s increased spending in the social sector, particularly in health and education. However, outcomes remain suboptimal compared to regional benchmarks, pointing out resource allocation and public service delivery inefficiencies. 

Despite these challenges, Cambodia remains committed to improving fiscal resilience. The government focuses on enhancing strategic budget management, linking salary increases to performance and improving resource allocation across sub-national levels. Key priorities include strengthening capital budget management, public sector accountability, and performance-based outcomes.

Through its role in curating governance data, the DAP underscored the importance of these developments, offering member economies actionable insights to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth. By analyzing Cambodia’s governance practices, the DAP fosters innovative approaches to enhance regional public-sector productivity and governance.

For more insights and resources on public-sector productivity, visit — https://coe-psp.dap.edu.ph/public-sectors/public-sector-profile-of-cambodia-2/