Local Administration and Reform Program (LAAR)

Name: Local Administration and Reform Program
Duration: October 2005 - September 2010
Donor: United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

USAID has awarded Pact Cambodia a five-year, $14.4M grant to increase Commune Council and citizen engagement in the decentralization and deconcentration (D&D) reform process in Cambodia.  This program is a component of the Pact's Strengthening Governance and Accountability Program.

The Local Administration and Reform (LAAR) Program aims to:

• reach 500 communes in 10 provinces;
• increase participation and democracy at the sub-national level
• build horizontal and vertical linkages between local government, national government and civil society
• increase public participation in commune investment planning (CIP) and D&D reform processes.

The results of the LAAR program will be increased citizen participation in commune activities, stronger civil society partnerships with government, and Commune Councils that are better able to address the prioritized needs of citizens, especially under-represented populations.

Pact's approach

The LAAR Program will take a multidimensional approach, designed to build on and enhance existing programs in decentralization, with attention to good governance, under-represented populations, and natural resource management (NRM) woven throughout. Pact will work to institutionalize program strategies into existing government and civil society structures so that USAID investments outlive the program and lead to long-term, positive impact on D&D reform in Cambodia.

Primary program components include:

• Intensive capacity building program for civil society organizations and Commune Councils focused on 1) increasing public participation and decision-making in council affairs and 2) improving transparent and accountable management of council funds. Civil society organizations, in collaboration with Commune Councils and government facilitation teams will develop joint action plans to encourage the practical application of skills acquired.
• Provision of grants to Commune Councils of US$3-5,000 for up to three consecutive years an incentive for councils to incorporate socially-focused investments into commune planning. Matching funds will be required from communes to increase ownership and sustainability of the projects.
• Provision of one-time grants of up to US $5,000 to innovative Commune Councils, local NGOs, CBOs and village networks to support projects that aim to increase citizen involvement and that focus on cross-cutting issues of good governance, under-represented groups and NRM.
• The program will increase transparency and accountability at the sub-national level by employing a Commune Council Performance Assessment (CCPA) process, currently being developed by the Working Group for Partnerships in Decentralization, that includes a citizen evaluation survey and Commune Council self-assessment.
• The program will support mechanisms to increase the flow of information between government and civil society and will work to strengthen civil society and Commune Council networks, increasing their credibility and legitimacy to play a more active role in D&D reform.
• LARR will implement an integrated media strategy to raise awareness around citizen rights and participation in commune activities and D&D policy initiatives.

Staff contacts

Sophal Chhor
Chief of Party
sophalch@pactcambodia.org

Leonardo Hosh
Programs Director, Washington, DC
lhosh@pacthq.org