Possibilities when Working in Phnom Penh

Attempts to achieve small successes with our Renewable Energy Project at RUPP can be grindingly slow, probably slower than that even. Just when you think you have some understanding of the levels of bureaucracy involved in this complex scenario along comes another wave that makes the first diminish into insignificance. So in the end , who do you listen to?

• Should it be the Physics Department?  They buy the vision of what we are trying to achieve and can see the long term benefits but the whole idea of strategic planning is an alien intervention in their busy and struggling lives. Their answer is that Mike is here and will provide all given time, which seems to include anything from computers to freshly written text books and equipped laboratories. Miracles are not on my job description, the closest that gets to is 'I am here to help'. Seems that we might have a small problem!
• The University? Sometimes you cant help but wonder if the senior management believes that education is all well and good but does it help people if they end up with unrealistic expectations of their place in society. Its one thing to have a totally skewed theory education which allows you to memorise facts, its another to develop enquiring minds where students are asked to think creatively, question and apply their learning to new situations. This is not a unique situation to CAmbodia but many other countries are  far more developed and dont need to get their skates on and catch up.
• The Ministries? Apparently, their ideas of research and development do not include any technology that will encourage the growth of industry. Its not that they don't want that, they just arent sure what it is so they will always fall back to the safe option of research in education. Think data collection and analysis and black holes full of reports based upon mindlessness. However, it does keep people very busy!
• What about NGO's? There are many well intentioned people working very hard to lift Cambodian society out of poverty and get them on the way to development. How much of this effort actually builds effective capacity and where is all the money going? The Cambodian government loves people who come to help with grant funding but it is difficult to see how all of this can be tied together so that there is an overall way forward. When the funding runs out and the expats leave will the project fall over? Unfortunately thats often the outcome, some think the solution is not to leave hence expats who have been giving for nearly twenty years.

Perhaps the grindingly slow bit will help us to sow the Renewable Energy seed that actually can grow into an effective industry. Thats not going to happen in the year that I am here but we can move a little way along the road so that others from "Engineers Without Borders" who follow me can encourage local ownership of the project.

So who do I listen to? 

Bill Evans, that master of jazz piano who played with Miles Davis on "Kind of Blue"...........So What!

I am off to Siem Reap next weekend to revisit the Angkors and eat at my favourite Cambodian restaurant. There will be lots of listening time on the bus journey, all part of the adventure.

Keep in touch and dont forget to listen.