Since the mid–1990s, CIDSE Cambodia's leadership and its member organizations have been planning for and implementing strategies towards the eventual establishment of CIDSE Cambodia as a local NGO. In 1996, during discussions among the CIDSE Co-ordinating Committee in Montreal , a consensus was reached that " Field Offices need to become independent and self-reliant development organisations, able to manage their own affairs and field programmes ". However, the intention for Country Offices to localise dates back to the origins of the CLV programme. While it has always been the practice and preference of CIDSE Member Organisations to work through local partners rather than implement directly themselves, this option was not available in Cambodia in 1979 when work began in the country. The Cambodian situation has changed significantly since then, with greater democratic space, a young and vibrant civil society, and greater human resources, making it more conducive to work through partners rather than through direct management.
In this regard, the initial decision to localise was an external decision to the Cambodian Country Office. Although this decision may have raised initial feelings of apprehension and fear among CIDSE Cambodia staff, strategies applied over the last few years have resulted in a situation where the CIDSE Cambodia staff have claimed full ownership over the process, and are now expressing pride and excitement in their new self-reliance. Pride is expressed in their strong national leadership, ability to self-manage, and the organisation's "fame" within the external community due to its innovative programmes and networking skills. Excitement – almost to the extent of impatience– was evident over the final handover from CIDSE Cambodia to the new organisation, planned for the end of 2005.
Ownership and acceptance of the process among CIDSE Cambodia staff was not won easily but was sought through a variety of different means and over a considerable amount of time. The following section outline's a transitional timeline of steps taken and changes in attitude within the CIDSE Cambodia Country Office with regard to the establishment of a Cambodian NGO – Development and Partnership in Action – DPA
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Transformation 
