Cambodia-Canada Legislative Support Project

Lead Researcher: William A. W. Neilson and Helen Lansdowne

Time frame: March, 2003 - March, 2008

Website: CCLSP Website

Starting in March 2003, the Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives, along with its partner, the Parliamentary Centre in Ottawa, was actively involved in Cambodia delivering technical assistance for the Cambodia-Canada Legislative Support Project (CCLSP). This bilateral, CIDA funded, five-year, 4.5 million dollar project was directed at building the capacity of the National Assembly and Senate of Cambodia, and their respective Secretariats.

The CAPI arm of the program had particular responsibilities for enhancing the capacity of the Parliament and the Secretariats to effectively review, monitor and supervise government legislative proposals, including public consultation and education. Through the life of the project, CAPI Director Bill Neilson and Assistant Director, Helen Lansdowne delivered a number of workshops in Phnom Penh resulting in a number of publications, including: Rule of Law Norms Guidelines for Cambodian Legislators, Principles of Gender Impact Analysis of Draft Legislation, and Staff Legislation Briefing Note Template. These three documents formed the first chapters of the Projects' Parliamentary Practices Handbook.