The Cambodia-Canada Legislative Support Project

Since the early 1990s, Canada has made efforts to support a sustainable transition to democratic government in Cambodia. In 1998, the Canadian government decided to support a major governance initiative in Cambodia and sent a Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) mission to assess the potential for cooperation between the two countries. The mission identified four areas: legal and judicial reform, public administration, gender issues, and strengthening the National Assembly. Subsequently, CIDA sent short-term technical advisors to work on the first three areas.

In March 2000, CIDA sent a planning mission to Cambodia in order to develop a framework for a long-term governance project. The 2000 mission concluded that "the time is ripe" for Canada to become involved in bilateral governance and recommended that support for the National Assembly and the Senate constitute the major governance initiative by Canada. The project is based on a Memorandum of Understanding between the Governments of Cambodia and Canada.

The Parliamentary Centre was chosen by CIDA as the Canadian Executing Agency for the Cambodia-Canada Legislative Support Project (CCLSP). The Centre implements and manages the project to promote democracy in Cambodia by building the capacity of both the National Assembly and the Senate. The Centre works with local counterparts, along with legislative and administrative specialists, in order to promote sustainability and local ownership.

Project Objective

The main objective of the CCLSP is to contribute to good governance and democratic development in Cambodia through capacity development of the National Assembly and the Senate.

The project has three outcomes:

• Enhanced capacity of the National Assembly, the Senate and their Commissions to draft and review legislation;
• Increased responsiveness of MPs to constituents;
• Improved capacity of the Secretariats to support the National Assembly and Senate.

In the areas of legislation, representation and services of the Secretariats, and taking into account the principles of gender equality, the project will achieve the following sub-outcomes:

Legislation

• Improved management of the legislative agenda;
• Improved legislative drafting;
• Professional analysis provided by Commissions of Parliament; and
• Incorporation of gender analysis in legislation.

Representation

• Improved public policy consultation by Commissions;
• Improved record keeping by Commissions of Parliament.

Secretariats

• Politically neutral services to all parties, through secretariats;
• Improved communication with the public about Parliament business;
• Improved legislative research support to Commissions;
• Improved management and administration; and
• Improved recruitment and use of female staff.

More information on CCLSP.