亚开行-新冠肺炎期间柬埔寨的现金转移计划（英）-2022.12-17正式版

ASIANDEVELOPMENTBANKINSTITUTEADBIDevelopmentCaseStudyNo.2022-5(December)Cambodia’sCashTransferProgramduringCOVID-19NorinmonyChhoeung,SesokunthidethChrea,andNghiaNguyen©2022AsianDevelopmentBankInstituteThisworkislicensedundertheCreativeCommonsAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike4.0InternationalLicense./10.56506/RRMZ8095

LeadershipAcademyStanford forDevelopmentCenteronDemocracy,DevelopmentandtheRuleofLawCambodia’sCashTransferProgramduringCOVID-19NorinmonyChhoeung,SesokunthidethChrea,andNghiaNguyenNorinmonyChhoeungisdeputychiefofdivisionintheGeneralDepartmentofPolicyoftheMinistryofEconomyandFinance,Cambodia.SesokunthidethChreaisdeputychiefoftheresearchunitoftheGeneralSecretariatoftheNationalCouncilforMinimumWageoftheMinistryofLabourandVocationalTraining,Cambodia.NghiaNguyenisacapacitybuildingandtrainingassociateattheAsianDevelopmentBankInstitute.TheauthorswouldliketothankKentWeaverofGeorgetownUniversityandBlairCameronoftheLeadershipAcademyofDevelopmentfortheirmentorship,guidance,andfeedbackinpreparingthiscasestudy;ChanNarithoftheGeneralSecretariatoftheNationalSocialProtectionCouncilforvaluableinputandsupport;theAsianDevelopmentBank’sSoutheastAsiaDepartment;andtheAsianDevelopmentBankInstitutefororganizingtheworkshopandeditingthecasestudy,includingKESeethaRam,VeronicaErnHuiWee,TuesdaySoriano,andAdamMajoe.Thiscasestudywasdevelopedsolelyasabasisforclassdiscussion.Itisnotintendedtoserveasahistoricalrecord,asourceofprimarydata,oranillustrationofeffectiveorineffectivemanagement.Allnamesandofficialpositionshavebeenchangedtomaintainanonymity.Introduction“Myhusbandusedtomakeabout$100to$200permonth,dependingonhiswork,”saidYirYean,a24-year-oldmotherof18-month-oldRajit.“Butnowhemakeslessmoneybecauseofthecoronavirus.”UNICEFCambodiametYeanintheChhoukKsachcommune,wheresheandherhusbandhadregisteredforthegovernment’scoronavirusdisease(COVID-19)CashTransferProgram.Yean’shusbandhadbeenworkinginconstructioninSihanoukville,atownonthesouthwestcoastofCambodia,butaftertheCambodiangovernmentimposedtravelrestrictionstominimizethespreadofCOVID-19,Sihanoukvilleemptied,leavingitsmanyworkersstrugglingtosurvive.ForYeanandherfamily,foodwasatoppriority.“Allthemoneywereceivetodayisspentonfood—weneedfoodforourfamily,”shesaid(UNICEFCambodia2020).COVID-19firsthitCambodiaon15February2020,andbytheendofthemonth,thenumberofnewcaseseachdaybegantorise.Within4months,thecountryrecordedmorethan30,000confirmedcasesandnearly500deathsfromthedisease.1Inresponseto1Worldometer./coronavirus/country/cambodia/(accessed2021).1Cambodia’sCashTransferProgramduringCOVID-19thealarmingspreadofCOVID-19,thegovernmentneededtominimizetransmissionoftheviruswhilealsosustainingtheeconomy.Somecommonpreventivemeasuresweretaken,includingtravelrestrictions,restrictionsonmassgatherings,andstrictlockdownstolimitthemovementofresidentsin“redzones,’’areaswherethenumberofcaseswasparticularlyhigh.Whilethesemeasureshelpedcontainthespreadofthevirus,theyalsoseverelyrestrictedeconomicactivities.Manybusinesseswereforcedtoclose,resultinginalossofjobsandlivelihoods.On6April2020,theEconomicandFinancePolicyCommittee(EFPC)2convenedameetingwithkeyministriestoconsiderandformulatemeasurestoprotectpublichealth,supportbusinessesandworkersinhard-hitsectors,andmaintaintheincomeofpoorandvulnerablehouseholds.TheCashTransferProgram(CTP)wasalsoontheagendaofthemeeting,andtheEFPCrequestedstatisticsonpoorandvulnerablehouseholds.InresponsetotheEFPC’srequest,theMinistryofPlanningpledgedtoupdatedataforpoorandvulnerablehouseholdsinruralareasbytheendofMayandpoorandvulnerablehouseholdsinurbanareasbytheendofJune.On24June,PrimeMinisterSamdechHunSenlaunchedtheCTPtoreach560,000poorandvulnerablehouseholdsnationwide.“ThisisthefirsttimeinCambodia’shistorythatasocialprotectionschemeofthismagnitudehasbeenintroduced,”hesaidinannouncingtheprogram.“Itisbasedontheprinciplesofequity,equality,andefficiency…theobjectiveoftheCTPistoimprovethelivelihoodsofthepoorandvulnerablepeopleaffectedbyCOVID-19,includingunemployedormarginalizedpeoplewhohavefallenintopoverty”(OfficeoftheCouncilofMinisters2020).BackgroundTheincreasingandpersistentuncertaintyCOVID-19isputtingthecountryineconomicdistressandthepeopleinalivelihoodcrisisasofMarch2020.TheEFPC,chairedbytheDeputyPrimeMinisterandMinisteroftheMinistryofEconomyandFinance,convenedahigh-levelmeetingtodiscussmeasurestosupporttheeconomicandsocialsectorsinthefightagainstinfectiousdisease.Itwasnoteasytoformulatingappropriatemeasuresinthefaceoftheunpredictableanduncertainpandemicthathasaffectedtheeconomyandsociety.Followingthemeeting,thegovernmentannouncedthatitwouldreserveabout$200milliontosupportnearly1millionpoorandvulnerablehouseholdsaffectedbyCOVID-19throughtheCTP,whichaimstoimprovethelivelihoodsofpoorandvulnerablehouseholdsandchannelcashintotheeconomy.TheCTPbuildsonthesuccessfulimplementationofacashtransferprogramforpregnantwomenfromfamilieswithanIDPoorEquityCardsince2016,andtheIDPoorEquityCard,apovertyidentificationandregistrationsystem,hassincebeenimplemented.Cambodiaexperiencedadeclineineconomicgrowthfrom7%in2019to–3.1%in2020,resultinginlossesof390,000–570,000jobsandincome(ADB2021).TheWorldBank’shigh-frequencyTheEFPC,aninterministerialcommittee,chairedbyDeputyPrimeMinister,MinisterofMinistryofEconomyandFinance.Thiscommitteeistaskedtolead,draft,facilitate,monitor,andevaluategovernmentpolicies,strategies,andothertasksconcerningsocioeconomicandfinancialreform,financialsectordevelopment,andprivatesector2 development.Cambodia’sCashTransferProgramduringCOVID-19phonesurveyofhouseholds(HFPS)3round1,whichwasconductedfrom11to26May2020priortothelaunchoftheCTP,showedthatmorethan80%ofrespondentsreportedadeclineintotalhouseholdincome.Themostaffectedhouseholdswerethosethatdependedonnonfarmfamilybusiness,with82%reportingadecreaseinincome.Urbanhouseholdsexperiencedlargerlossesinincomefromproperties,whileruralhouseholdsexperiencedlargerlossesinremittances.Atthetimeofthesurvey,fewhouseholds(5%)hadreceivedassistancefromthegovernment,astheplannedexpansionofthesocialassistanceprogramwasstillinthedesignstage(Karamba,Salcher,andTong2020).TheUnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme(UNDP)estimatedthatthepovertyratewouldincreasefrom13.5%in2014to17.6%in2020,meaningthat1.34millionpeoplewouldfallintopovertyanddebt(UNDP2020).Thecashtransferprogramwasconsideredextremelyimportanttomeetthedailyneedsofthepoorandvulnerableinatimelymannerduringacriticalandunstableperiod.ChallengesMinistriesinvolvedintheCTPwererequiredtocreateaplanfortheentireprocesswiththeireffortsandresponsibilities,includingcashdistribution,definingpovertycategories,andassessingandmanagingcashtransfertransparency.“Responsibleofficialswouldbepunishediftherewereabnormalcasesineveryvillageorcommune,”PrimeMinisterHunSensaid(OfficeoftheCouncilofMinisters2020).ThedesignandimplementationoftheCTPpresentedachallengeforinter-ministries,asthisprogramwasthefirstcashtransferofitskindintheentirecountry,withouttheopportunitytolearnfrompreviousexperiencesoraccesstoIDPoorregistrationsystems.Despitetheincompleteassessmentofpovertygroups,thepandemicprovedtobeacriticalissuethatforcedthegovernmenttotakeimmediateaction.Enormouscoverage.Theprogramwasdesignedatthenationalscale,whichmeantthatallpoorandvulnerablepeoplewereeligibleforcashtransfers.Thenationalpovertyratewascalculatedtobe13.5%basedondatacollectedfromthe2014CambodiaSocio-EconomicSurvey4.Thisdatashowedthatthevulnerabilitythresholdincreasedby1.5timescomparedtothenationalpovertylineandthat55%ofallhouseholdswereeitherpoororvulnerablein2014.Thisresultcouldbeinterpretedtomeanthatalargeproportionofnon-poorhouseholdswereatriskoffallingbackintopovertyintheeventofaneconomicshock(OECD2017).Beforeprogramimplementation,thegovernmentestimatedthatapproximately15.3%oftotalhouseholds(550,000householdsoutof3.58millionhouseholds)wereeligiblefortheprogram.3TheHFPSsampleisdrawnfromthenationallyrepresentativeLivingStandardMeasurementStudyPlus(LSMS+)conductedfromOctober2019toDecember2019bytheNationalInstituteofStatistics(NIS)withtechnicalandfinancialsupportfromtheWorldBank.TheHFPSsurveyed1,364householdsintheLSMS+usingatelephone.Thetelephonesurveywassuccessfullycompletedamong700households,foraresponserateof51%.Samplingweightswereadjustedtoensurethatthesampleremainedrepresentativeatthenationalandsubnationallevels(urbanandruralareas).4TheRoyalGovernmentofCambodiahassetanewpovertylinebasedontheCambodiaSocio-EconomicSurveyData2019–2020.ThenationalpovertylineinCambodiaiscurrentlyKR10,951($2.7)perpersonperday.Therefore,17.8%ofthepopulationlivesbelowthispovertylinein2021.3Cambodia’sCashTransferProgramduringCOVID-19OutofDateIDPoordatabase.UndertheIDPoorprogram,povertythresholdswereavailabletodeterminehouseholdeligibility(Box1).Startingin2006,poorhouseholdswereidentifiedin8to9provincesperyear.Thesystemmaintainedalistofthepoorthatwasupdatedevery3years.In2016,IDPoorwasextendedtourbanareasandthesystemattainednationalcoverage.Inaddition,in2017,theMinistryofPlanningpilotedanew“on-demand”mechanisminselectedcommunesthatincludeddigitaldatacollection.However,somehouseholdslackedcontinuousupdatessincemanyhouseholdskeptslippingintopoverty.Forthisreason,thegovernmentreceivedonlynotfullyuptodatedataandhadtorelyonittocreatetheprogramofdirectassistancetothepoorinruralandurbanareas.Box1:IDPoorProgramPovertyThreshold(NationalLevel,GovernmentofCambodia)TheIDPoorProgram,establishedin2006attheMinistryofPlanning,aimedtoreducetheduplicationofeffortsandresourcesamongdifferentinstitutionsandorganizationsinidentifyingtargetgroupsforvariouspovertyreductioninterventionsandtoensurethatassistancereachesthehouseholdsthatneeditmost.TheIDPoorProgramwassupportedbytheGermanFederalMinistryforEconomicCooperationandDevelopment(BMZ)andtheAustralianDepartmentofForeignAffairsandTradeandimplementedbyDeutscheGesellschaftfurInternationaleZusammenarbeit(GIZ)GmbH.TheIDPoorProgram’spovertythresholds(national,GovernmentofCambodia)wereasfollows.TheidentificationofPoorHouseholdsProgram(IDPoor)classifiesahousehold’sincomelevelusingaproxymeanstestthatassignsa“povertyscore”tothehouseholdbasedonarangeofinformation,includingdemographicdata,numberofchildreninthehousehold,anddebt.Non-poor:Householdsclassifiedas“non-poor”areassignedaproxymeantest(PMT)withscoresrangingfrom0to44.Poor(“IDPoor2”):Householdsclassifiedas“poor”fallwithinaPMTscorerangeof45to58points.Verypoor(“IDPoor1”):Householdsclassifiedas“verypoor”haveaPMTscoregreaterthan58.ThemonetarypovertylineisKR10,951perpersonperday.Thebasicnationalpovertylineisdividedintoregionsasfollows:KR10,951perpersonperdayinPhnomPenhCity;KR9,571perpersonperdayinotherurbanareas;andKR8,908perpersonperdayinruralareas.Source:OECD(2017)andMinistryofPlanning(2021).Limitedknowledgeofprojectformulationandimplementation.ThesocialprotectionsysteminCambodiawaslimitedatthattime.In2016,thegovernmentintroducedtheIDPoorCashReliefProgram—thesocialassistanceprogramtohelpthepoor,whichfocusedprimarilyonpoorchildrenandpregnantwomen,butonasmallscale.Inthe4 criticalphaseofthepandemic,thegovernmenthadtoformulatepolicyforalarge-scaleCambodia’sCashTransferProgramduringCOVID-19implementationoftheCTPandtoensureefficiencyinimplementation.Duetothetimeconstraintsofonly2monthstoformulateanationwideCTPprogram,thegovernmentwasabletodesignboththeframeworkandtheimplementationandactionplan,andledoftheCTPwiththecollaborationwiththedevelopmentpartnersornongovernmentorganizations.Limitedcoordination.Theprojectalsopresentedsignificantcommunicationandcoordinationproblems.Giventhelargescaleofimplementation,theprogramrequiredeffectivecoordinationamongthevariouskeystakeholdersinvolved,fromnationalgovernmentstolocalgovernments,whichtogetherhadtoactstrictlyaccordingtotheprinciplesofefficiency,equity,andequality.Representativesofthecentralgovernment,theNationalSocialProtectionCouncil,theMinistryofEconomyandFinance,theMinistryofInterior,theMinistryofPlanning,andtheMinistryofSocialAffairs,VeteransandYouthRehabilitationwerenecessarilyinvolved.Giventhescaleofoperationsatthenationallevel,therewasaneedforcoordinationandcommunicationbetweentheseministries.Inadditiontothesegovernmentagencies,thisprogramalsorequiredlocalgovernmentsattheprovincialandcommunelevelstoworktogethertoidentifythepoorandvulnerablehouseholdsintheircommunity.Becausemanykeystakeholderswereinvolved,itwasdifficultforthecentralgovernmenttocoordinateeffectivelytoensurethatfraudwasnotcommittedatthelocallevel.Cashtransfersecurityrisks.Transferringcashtoalargenumberofbeneficiariesacrossthecountryresultedinmanydifficultiesforthegovernmentinchoosingatransfermethodsothatthecashtransfercouldbemadeinanexpeditiousandtimelymanner.Lessthan20%ofthetotalpopulationhadanaccountwithafinancialinstitutionormobilemoneyprovider.Inaddition,theleveloffinancialliteracyisverylow,andbasicfinancialneedsaremetthroughcashandcash-basedservicessuchasperson-to-personpayments(WorldBankGroup2021).Inthisregard,thegovernmentfacedthechallengeofusingdigitaltoolstotransfercashtothepoor.OvercomingtheChallengesThegovernmentsolvedthechallengesbyfocusingonthefollowingsolutions:formulatingtheCTPbasedontheprinciplesofequity,equality,andefficiency;improvingthereadinessoftheIDPoordatabase;capacitybuildingforlocalgovernmentstaff;strengtheningcoordinationamongimplementingagenciesunderstrongleadershipfromtopmanagement;andimplementingthedigitalpaymentsystemforbeneficiaries.FormulatingtheCashTransferProgramTheEFPCwaschargedwithformulatingtheeconomicandsocialprogramsduringthepandemicbecausethepandemicwasuncertain,unpredictable,andknowledgeofhowtomanagethepandemicwaslimited.TheEFPCpredictedthatthisshockwouldseverelyaffectthelivelihoodofpoorandvulnerablehouseholds.5Cambodia’sCashTransferProgramduringCOVID-19Toensurethattheprogramswouldworkwell,atechnicalworkinggroupwasestablishedundertheleadershipoftheEFPCtoassistinprogramformulation.ThetechnicalworkinggroupconsistedofrepresentativesfromtheNationalSocialProtectionCouncil,theMinistryofPlanning,MinistryofEconomyandFinance,MinistryofSocialAffairsVeteransandYouthRehabilitation,andotherrelevantministriesandinstitutions.Theworkinggroupdiscussedwiththedevelopmentpartners,includingtheWorldBank,theUnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme,GIZ,andotherinternationalorganizations,todesignanappropriateprogramtoimprovethelivelihoodsofpoorandvulnerablehouseholdsduringtheCOVID-19pandemicandpreventthemigrationofpeoplefromruraltourbanareas.Thereasonwasthatthebenefitstructureforhouseholdsinurbanareaswashigherthaninruralareas.Inaddition,theworkinggrouphaddeterminedthatthepandemicwouldalsoseverelyaffectworkersintheconstruction,manufacturing,andentertainmentindustriesinurbanareas,resultinginjoblossesandincomelosses.Therefore,theseworkerswouldreturnhomefromurbanareastoruralareas.Toaddresstheseissues,thebestmethodtoidentify,register,andprovideIDPoorequitycardswascarriedout“atthelocalareas”and“coveredallbeneficiaries,especiallypoorandvulnerablehouseholds,”aspointedoutbyThengPanhathon,5directorgeneralofthePlanningMinistry’sGeneralDepartmentofPlanning.Inthisway,duplicationandconfusionwerereduced.Alongwiththeformulatedprogram,thegovernmenthadtohaveanadequatebudgettosupporttheprogram.Bystreamlininggovernmentspendingandusinggovernmentsavings,theamountofupto$1billionfromgovernmentsavingscouldbeusedtosupportcashpayoutsduringthefightagainstCOVID-19.FortheCTP,thegovernmenthas“allocatedtheamountof$125million”forthetemporaryCTPtovulnerableandpoorhouseholds.Budgetaryproblemswereaddressedbywithdrawinggovernmentsavingsandrationalizingthebudgettoensurethatthegovernmenthadsufficientfundstosupportallgovernmentprograms.However,toensuretheprincipleofequityandequalityoftheCTP,abenefitstructurewasestablishedbasedonlocation,povertystatus,householddemographiccharacteristics,andlevelofvulnerability(Box2).AccordingtoUyChanNimol,6deputysecretary-generaloftheGeneralSecretariatoftheNationalSocialProtectionCouncil,thebenefitstructureisbasedon“thedifferenceincostoflivingineachareaandthespendingbehaviorofeachfamily.”Onaverage,eachhouseholdreceivedabout$45permonth.PrimeMinisterHunSenadded,“Ithinkpeoplewantedtoseetheprogram’scashtocometothemassoonaspossible.Itisurgentthereafterforconcernedinstitutionsandauthoritiestogetthecashassistanceintotheirhands….”(OfficeoftheCouncilofMinisters2020).Theprincipleofefficiencyisfurtherelaboratedinthefollowingsolutions.FreshNews,interviewon2July2020withThengPanhathon.6Cambodia’sCashTransferProgramduringCOVID-19Box2:BenefitStructureDesignUrbanHouseholdsUrbanHouseholdsRuralHouseholdsAreasinPhnomPenh($)OutsidePhnomPenh($)($)Benefits(permonth)IDPoor1IDPoor2IDPoor1IDPoor2IDPoor1IDPoor2FamilywithIDPoor303030302020Eachfamilymember13910764Children,0–5years10710764old(perchild)Disabilityperson10710764(perperson)Agedpersonabove60yearsold10710764(perperson)Familymemberwith10710764HIV(perperson)Note:Exchangerate:$1=KR4,000.Source:RoyalGovernmentofCambodia(2020).ImprovingthereadinessoftheIDPoordatabaseFortheentireprocess,IDPooridentificationwasacrucialstageinwhichthepoorandvulnerablehouseholdsmusthaveanIDPoorcardtobeeligiblefortheCTP.“Someofourpeoplemaynotbepooratthistime,butmonthslatertheymaybebecausetheycouldnotfindjobs…weneedtoensureequityandtransparencyinthecollectionofpovertydata,”PrimeMinisterHunSensaid(OfficeoftheCouncilofMinisters2020).Theformalitiesofidentifyingpoorhouseholdsrequiredadditionaltimeandprocedures.TheMinistryofPlanning,togetherwithprovincialdepartmentsofplanning,tookcontrolofupdatingtheIDPoordatabaseacrossthecountry.Meanwhile,provincialanddistrictcoordinationteamsprovidedtrainingandtechnicalassistancetoimplementtheIDPoorprocessineachcommune.Atthecommunelevel,thePlanningandBudgetingCommitteeRepresentativeGroupwasresponsibleforprocessoversight.Atthevillagelevel,theVillageRepresentativeGroupwasdirectlyresponsibleforbeneficiaryidentification.Toensureatransparentidentificationprocess,afinallistofpoorhouseholdswaspreparedandpubliclyannouncedbythePlanningandBudgetingCommitteeRepresentativeGroupandVillageRepresentativeGrouptogetherwithvillagersineachvillage.Villagersweretheninvitedtoparticipateinavillageconsultationmeetingtoreviewandcommentonthefirstdraftofthepoorhouseholdlist.VillagershadtheopportunitytosubmitcommentsandcomplaintsdirectlytotheCommuneCouncil.7Cambodia’sCashTransferProgramduringCOVID-19Tospeeduptheidentificationprocessduetotheurgentneedsofpoorfamilies,theMinistryofPlanningshortened“themechanismbynotifyingthelocalgovernmenttodeclaretothelocalpeoplewhoarepoor,”saidThengPanhathon,directorgeneralofthePlanningMinistry’sGeneralDepartmentofPlanning.Usingthe“on-demand”approach(Box3)allowedhouseholdstoself-assesswhethertheywerepoor.Initially,householdsapproachedtheCommuneCounciltoapplyfortheIDPoorProgram.Afterreceivinganapplicationfromthehouseholds,theCommuneCouncilreviewedtheapplicationanddeterminedwhetherhouseholdswereeligibleforaninterview.Ifhouseholdsareeligibleforaninterview,theCommuneCouncilwouldgototheirhomesandconductaninterview.Theinterviewusesthefourmaincriteriaforevaluation:familystatus,typeofhouse,amenitiesofthehome,andincomelevel.Theresultoftheinterviewiscalculatedandindicateswhetherthehouseholdiseligibleornot.Box3:ProcedurefortheApplicationofIDPoorduringCOVID-19HouseholdsNoSelf-DeclarationNoteligibleSelf-EvaluationYesGotocommuneoceFilloutrequestapplicationNoCommuneCouncilNoteligibleReviewApplicationYesApplicant’sHouseInterviewNoFamilySizeandMemberTypeofHouseNoteligibleEquipmentinHouseIncomeStatusYesIDPoorCardTabletdevicescalculatethescore,applicantwhoareeligiblewillgetIDPoorCardSource:Authors.CapacitybuildingforlocalgovernmentstaffTobuildthecapacityoflocalgovernments,especiallymembersofthecommunitycouncils,toidentifyvulnerableandpoorhouseholdsuponrequest,theMinistryofPlanningconductedatrainingprogramineachprovinceinMay2020.ThetrainingprogramaimedtoprovidetechnicalassistancetoidentifyandsolvevariousproblemsduringtheIDPooridentificationprocess.Toensureasmoothregistrationprocess,theMinistryofPlanningsuggestedthateachdistrict8orcommunefollowbasicprotocols.First,eachdistrictorcommuneshouldhireatleastoneCambodia’sCashTransferProgramduringCOVID-19informationtechnologystaffmemberwhocanresolvetechnicalissuesrelatedtothetablet.Second,eachdistrictorcommuneshoulddesignaclearactionplanandresponsibilities.Third,eachlocalgovernmentshoulddirectcommuneofficialstomonitorthehouseholdinterviewandselecthouseholdsforthesurvey.Fourth,eachlocalgovernmentshouldensurethatallhouseholdprofiles,familymemberswithHIV,disabilities,elderlymembers,andchildrenareproperlyrecordedandreporteddailyat5p.m.viatheTelegramgroupOD-IDPoor-Covid-19.StrengtheningcoordinationamongimplementingagenciesunderstrongleadershipofthePrimeMinisterInordertocoordinatevariousstakeholdersduringtheimplementationprocess,“theimplementationmechanismisdesignedtoensurechecksandbalances”andis“directlyledandcontrolledbytheEFPCanddeterminestheroleandfunctionofeachlineministryandagency,”accordingtoUyChanNimol,deputysecretary-generaloftheGeneralSecretariatoftheNationalSocialProtectionCouncil.Thecheckandbalancemechanismreferstothemechanismwhereallimplementingministriesandagenciescooperateandcheckeachothertoensurethatallstagesofimplementationareefficientandtransparent.(a)Threemainagencieswereassignedtoimplementtheprogramandsupportlocalgovernment.TheEFPChasestablishedthreeworkinggroupsofministriesandagencies:(1)theMinistryofPlanning,whichisresponsiblefortheIDPoordatabasesystem,playedakeyroleasthecoordinatorforupdating,identifying,andregisteringvulnerableandpoorhouseholdsintheIDPoordatabase;theMinistryofSocialAffairsVeteransandYouthRehabilitationwasresponsibleforbenefitcalculationandcashpaymentbasedontheIDPoordatabasesystem;and(3)thetaskforceoftheGeneralSecretariatoftheNationalSocialProtectionCouncilwastomonitorandevaluatetheoverallprogramimplementationinthefield.Inadditiontothesetaskforces,theMinistryofInteriormanagedlocalgovernmentsandassistedtheseministriesandagenciesincoordinatingwithlocalgovernments.Thisenabledclosecoordinationforeffectivecooperationamongtheconcernedministriesandagenciesinnationwideimplementation.TheseministriesandagenciesreportedtheirprogresstotheEFPC,andtheEFPCsummarizedandreporteddirectlytoPrimeMinister.(b)ThePrimeMinisterusedthemediaandsocialplatformstoprovidedirectiontoallimplementingagencies,localgovernments,andcitizens.Toprovideconsistentinformationandimplementationguidelinestothepublic,thePrimeMinisterdeliveredmessagesdirectlytocitizens.WhentheCTPwasofficiallylaunchedon24June2020,PrimeMinisterHunSenheldapressconferencelastingmorethananhourandexplaineddetailedinformationaboutthiscashtransferprogram,includingtherationale,mechanism,andguidelinesforimplementingtheprogram.Thiseventwasbroadcastbyalmostalllocalchannelsincludingtelevision,radio,andnewspapers.PrimeMinisterHunSen’sofficialFacebookpage,apopularsocialmediachannelthatattractscitizens’attention,wasalsousedforthelivebroadcast.Inthefollowingdays,localnewsandmediaoutletssoughtinterviewswithrelevantministriestogainadeeperunderstandingofthemechanismaddedtotheofficiallaunchoftheprogram.9Cambodia’sCashTransferProgramduringCOVID-19Consideringthescaleofoperatio