UNESCO SCIENCE REPORT

UNESCO SCIENCE REPORT
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, GERD accounts
for approximately 0.05% of GDP. As in many of the world’s
least developed economies, there is a strong reliance on
international aid. The regulatory environment in which nongovernmental
organizations (NGOs) operate is currently a focus
of parliamentary debate in Cambodia. It will be interesting
to see if any potential legislative change to the regulations
reduces R&D investment from the not-for-profit sector.
Scientific publications grew by 17% on average between 2005
and 2014, a rate surpassed only by Malaysia, Singapore and
Viet Nam (Figure 27.8). They came from a low starting point,
however, and had a narrow focus: the majority focused on
biological and medical sciences in 2014.
A first national strategy for S&T
Like many low-income countries, Cambodia has been held
back by the limited co-ordination of S&T across ministries and
the absence of any overarching national strategy for science
and development. In 2010, the Ministry of Education, Youth
and Support 4 approved a Policy on Research Development
in the Education Sector. This move represented a first step
towards a national approach to R&D across the university
sector and the application of research for the purposes of
national development.
4. A National Committee for Science and Technology representing 11 ministries
has been in place since 1999. Although seven ministries are responsible for the
country’s 33 public universities, the majority of these institutions come under the
umbrella of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Support.
Figure 27.9: Cambodia’s rectangular development strategy, 2013
AGRICULTURE
Diversification
and
commercialization
Promotion
of livestock farming
and aquaculture
1
Land reform
and mine
clearance
Sustainable
management
of natural resources
HUMAN RESOURCE CAPACITY BUILDING
PEACE, POLITICAL STABILITY AND SOCIAL ORDER
PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
Education, science
and technology and
S&T training
Population
policy and
gender equity
4
Health
and
nutrition
Development
of social
protection system
FAVOURABLE FINANCIAL ENVIRONMENT
FIGHTING
CORRUPTION
GOOD GOVERNANCE
PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION
REFORM
LEGAL AND
JUDICIAL REFORM
ARMED FORCES
REFORM AND
DEMOBLIZATION
REGIONAL AND GLOBAL INTEGRATION
Transport
and urban
infrastructure
Information and
communication
technology
development
2
Water resources
and irrigation
management
Electric
power
PARTNERSHIP IN DEVELOPMENT
Promoting
investment and
business
Banks
and
finance
3
SMEs
Labour
market
development
PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT
Source: Royal Government of Cambodia (2013) Rectangular Strategy for Growth, Employment, Equity and Efficiency: Phase III. September, Phnom Penh
710