[{"bbox": [83, 119, 1145, 197], "category": "Text", "text": "containment measures that followed, revenue to GDP fell to 21.5% in 2021. External factors such as ASEAN integration must be taken into account as they might lead to stagnation of customs revenue, which currently amounts to about half of domestic revenue."}, {"bbox": [83, 212, 1146, 373], "category": "Text", "text": "The COVID crisis has impacted implementation of the PFMRP, mainly due to difficulties in mobilising international expertise, implementing training plans or keeping contracted IT specialists on board the FMIS project. Delays occurred in drafting the new Public Finance System law, in approving the pilot Medium Term Fiscal Framework (MTFF) and in introducing the capital gains tax (postponed 3 times, now scheduled for 2024). However, PFM reforms have overall continued with good momentum, thus reflecting very strong political commitment and ownership of the reform, and progress was generally in line with PFMRP CAP3 schedule:"}, {"bbox": [120, 378, 1146, 486], "category": "List-item", "text": "- The 2020 CAP3 Review and PEFA update have served as a basis for the development of the extended CAP3+2 (2021-2022), which will precede the kicking-off of Stage 4 of the PFM reform with a CAP4 starting in 2023. The adoption in 2019 and 2020 of a package of PFM sub-strategies allows for detailed mapping and sequencing of the reform to 2025."}, {"bbox": [120, 491, 1146, 572], "category": "List-item", "text": "- The Budget System Reform Strategy (BSRS) 2018-2025 adjusted reform objectives to more realistic sequencing of the budget entity framework and programme budgeting. The ongoing piloting of MTFF and Medium Term Budget Framework (MTBF) is an important step to ensure strategic allocation of resources."}, {"bbox": [120, 578, 1146, 655], "category": "List-item", "text": "- Implementation of FMIS Phase 3 continued and the implementation of the FMIS Change Management Strategy has been key to start the much-needed streamlining of the procurement-to-payment business process in 2020."}, {"bbox": [83, 689, 1146, 850], "category": "Text", "text": "Cambodia had a first climate public expenditure review on 2012 (Cambodia Public Expenditure Review Reports), with follow-up exercises supported by the National Council for Sustainable Development (NCSS) and by the Cambodia Climate Change Alliance (CCCA). The latest of these PERs was published in December 2020 covering the fiscal year 2019. Recent PERs concluded that climate change features more prominently in Cambodia's National Strategic Development Plan and in several sector strategies but that this progress on the policy side needs to be better translated into financing strategies, both within the domestic budget and in negotiations with external partners."}, {"bbox": [83, 864, 1146, 918], "category": "Text", "text": "**In conclusion, the public finance management reform strategy is sufficiently relevant and credible, including on domestic revenue mobilisation, and the eligibility criterion is met.**"}, {"bbox": [146, 933, 647, 963], "category": "Section-header", "text": "#### 2.3.4. Transparency and Oversight of the Budget"}, {"bbox": [83, 997, 1146, 1104], "category": "Text", "text": "The entry point is met as the enacted budget is published every year before the start of the fiscal year. The Law on Budget 2021 was approved by the Parliament and published in the National Gazette in December 2020. The Budget is also published on the website of the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Cambodia has conducted a PEFA assessment update in 2020 (finalised in June 2021) and the last OBI was conducted in 2019."}, {"bbox": [83, 1118, 1146, 1226], "category": "Text", "text": "Promoting budget transparency is one of the key objectives of the PFMRP CAP3+2 (Objective #44), with the following activities: improve indicators of budget transparency in PEFA report; increase comprehensiveness of budget documents and timeliness of public dissemination; organize public forum on Medium Term Fiscal Framework (MTFF) and annual budget with the aim to increase participation and access to the information by the public."}, {"bbox": [83, 1239, 1146, 1321], "category": "Text", "text": "The last **Open Budget Survey** (2019) notes that the authorities make the eight key budget documents publicly available online in a timeframe consistent with international standards, including a citizen's budget. This reflects a clear improvement over the findings of the Open Budget Survey 2017."}, {"bbox": [83, 1334, 1146, 1412], "category": "Text", "text": "The most recent **2020 PEFA** also shows good progress since the 2015 PEFA, with the performance indicator on comprehensiveness of budget documentation scoring B (against C in 2015), with all 4 basic elements available and 3 additional elements out of 8."}, {"bbox": [83, 1428, 1146, 1510], "category": "Text", "text": "In 2020 and 2021, the authorities have prevented delays in publication of key budget documents in spite of the COVID crisis. The Budget Laws and Budget Settlement Laws were submitted and approved timely. The mid-year budget execution report 2021 was also produced timely, and so were the financial statements and audit by NAA."}, {"bbox": [83, 1524, 1090, 1553], "category": "Text", "text": "**In conclusion, the relevant budget documentation has been published and the eligibility criterion is met.**"}, {"bbox": [1040, 1663, 1157, 1688], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 13 of 31"}]