A new EUR 3.5 million ($4.09 million) EU–funded programme is set to strengthen transparency, accountability and civic engagement in Cambodia’s public financial management.
Launched on August 13, the “Strengthening Civic Engagement and Oversight in Public Financial Management” (SCOPE-PFM) initiative will run from June 2025 to May 2028.
Led by Oxfam, in partnership with the Advocacy and Policy Institute, NGO Forum and SILAKA, the project seeks to give Cambodians a greater voice in how public resources are managed.
“Promoting transparency and accountability in budget management has been the focus of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, including participating in the Open Budget Survey (OBS), which has been conducted every two years since 2008,” said Soksensan Meas, secretary of state at the finance ministry.
He credited EU support and NGO collaboration for helping Cambodia raise its OBS score from 33 points in 2021 to 43 points in 2023.
Bryan Fornari, head of Cooperation at the EU, stressed that the programme reflects a shared commitment with the Royal Government to improve fiscal governance.
“Empowering citizens to take part in the management of public resources is essential to building public trust and improving the quality of public services,” he said.
Oxfam national director Sophoan Phean emphasised the programme’s civic impact.
“Democratic governance begins with the power of informed and engaged citizens,” he said.
“This project is not just about reforming processes, it’s about amplifying the voices of Cambodians and ensuring that public resources truly serve the public good,” he added.
The programme builds on two decades of financial reform in Cambodia, which have modernised tax and customs systems, expanded the tax base and introduced a Financial Management Information System to streamline treasury operations and procurement.
Despite these advances, budget transparency and public scrutiny remain limited.
SCOPE-PFM aims to close these gaps by fostering dialogue among government agencies, civil society and citizens, reinforcing oversight mechanisms and aligning reforms with community priorities.
