By:
• Tip Oussa

• September 26, 2024 , 5:15 PM

Cambodia is joining the global trend of digital transformation, aiming to improve its efficiency and development. A key component of this transformation is a robust digital government infrastructure, which is highlighted as a priority in the Cambodia Digital Government Policy 2022-2035.

One of the high-demand public services targeted for digitalization is land registration, a responsibility primarily held by the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning, and Construction (MLMUPC). As Cambodia progresses towards establishing a digital land registration system, the question arises: how far has the country come in this endeavor?

Currently, various technical teams of the MLMUPC and the Ministry of Post and Telecommunication (MPTC) have been working closely to insert standard QR code into the land certificates that could authenticate important information by using the website, verify.gov.kh. This website serves as a document verification platform mainly developed by the MPTC. In addition, the government has also launched another important website, cmhl.gov.kh, to identify property location. 

Gradual digitization of their public services when it comes to land administration has been undertaken by the MLMUPC. For instance, in Cambodia, property owners with land certificates can go to the MLMUPC’s website to look up their land information such as location, area, and type of land among others by typing in the number of their land certificate and a security code. On the same website, they can request for public services regarding land administration by paying a service fee of 20,000 riels, equivalent to $5 through e-banking services including ABA Pay, Wing, VISA, and MasterCard.  

This is a good speedy step forward in their objective to complete the measurement and registration of land nationwide within the official digital land registry system before 2029, which marks the 40th anniversary of the first land titles issued to the people. However, these public services have yet included a full land registration process.

Registering land in Cambodia requires an in-person visit to the ministry. This can be a time-consuming and tedious process, involving frequent trips to cadastral offices or waiting for the ministry to start its systematic registration. Digitalizing this process could greatly simplify things, but it's puzzling why the MLMUPC hasn't done so.

In my opinion, there are a few reasons why the MLMUPC has not fully digitalized the land registration. First and foremost, there is the prolonged issue of digital illiteracy.

According to Minister of Post and Telecommunication, Chea Vandeth, there is approximately 30 percent of Cambodians with a basic level of digital literacy and access to the internet and digital technology, whilst other 70 percent do not. This is, indeed, an alarming concern for the government to digitalize the land registration for the people with digital illiteracy. Additionally, when it comes to cutting-edge technologies such as Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence (AI), there remains a lack of proficient academics in the fields. Therefore, the complex and sophisticated digitalization of land registration cannot be successfully undertaken if there is a shortage of technocrats and talents.

These barriers might be the hardest to tackle because the global trend of digitalization is relatively new in Cambodia. Additionally, for a good number of Cambodians who are adapting to this trend, it is not exactly a matter of learning a new skill set, but rather a matter of unlearning to relearn new skills that are in high demand. Thus, fostering a culture of utilizing digital skills should be further promoted and boosted even though it takes time. After all, as the saying goes, “Rome was not built in a day.”

From my inference, it could just be that the MLMUPC does not prioritize digitalizing the land process since most land plots in Cambodia are already registered. Therefore, they need only digitize all land titles into their digital land registry before 2029.

Another barrier to land registry digitalization is digital infrastructure. This digital infrastructure also includes internet service. A study conducted by ElMassah and Mohiedin in 2020 on digital transformation and sustainable development goals concluded that Cambodia’s “digital network architecture infrastructure” was relatively limited, especially at the subnational level. The study identified a gap in internet connectivity between urban and rural areas, with rural residents often experiencing unreliable internet service, a crucial component of digital development.

To touch on the issue of lack of digital infrastructure, there have been recent donations from high-ranking officials to the MLMUPC. They include external HDD drives, QR code scanners, A4 and A3 printers, printers, desktops, and others. Despite all these donations, the ministry and relevant institutions, including private sector and especially high-tech companies, need to work hard and closely toward achieving a robust digital government. 

This is also crucial to note that materializing digitalization of the land registration in Cambodia is of paramount importance because it can reduce costs of administration and transportation, minimize administrative works of the public servants, heightens transparency between the Cambodian government and citizens, and thus contributes to combating corruption. The well functioned digital public services will gain more public satisfaction and support.

When it comes to land registration, it is important to address the impact on indigenous people. Under international law, Cambodia voted in favor of UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in 2007. Under Domestic Law, Sub-Decree No. 83 on the Procedures of Registration of Land of Indigenous Communities provide specific protection of indigenous people’s rights to land in Cambodia. With this basis in mind, Cambodia has made progress in granting land titles to indigenous communities, but it is slow. Out of around 455 indigenous communities, only 33 have been granted land titles. A myriad of reasons constitute to the slow progress ranging from low political will to economical to the complexity of the registration process and to a lack of human capacity. 

This process goes through three essential phases, and they will need to go through the Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Interior and finally the MLMUPC assisted by NGOs and development partners. Because the process is complex, there needs to be a capacity building program from the commune level about the land registration process for indigenous people. Including step-by-step videos and making available to watch offline about the process on the relevant ministries’ websites whilst ensuring adequate digital infrastructure and internet connection, will boost understanding, especially amongst local authorities. Should they need to replay the videos, it is there for them. Though this is just one step in addressing the broader issue, it is incredibly important to address competently. 

The Royal Government of Cambodia, particularly through MLMUPC, has surely been making strides in digitalizing the land registration to expedite the government’s effort to measure and register land nationwide before 2029. Parallel to this, they also need to pay more attention to the land registration process for indigenous people. Clearly, there are many obstacles that the government and all relevant stakeholders must work closely together to overcome. Only achieving a well-built digital and innovative ecosystem for new technologies at national and sub-national levels will significantly contribute to the government’s aim of becoming a smart government and a high-income nation per the Pentagonal Strategy and Digital Government Policy.
 

Tip Oussa is currently a fellow of Adenauer Young Scholars for Excellence (AYSE), a public policy training program co-organised by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) Cambodia and Institute for International Studies and Public Policy of the Royal University of Phnom Penh.