Day 3/Session 2

Civil Society Participation in Engaging with Sub-National

Councils

Contents

1- Objective of the session

2- Engagement meaning

3- Key engagement activities format

4- Laws and Legal Frameworks that offering opportunity to Civil Society in Engaging

- Participation in Planning and Budgeting with councils

- Participation in public meetings

- Information dissemination

- Monitoring performance of councils

- Participation in policy feedback

- Capacity development

1- Objectives

1. Describe priorities activities for engagement;

2. Identify approach in implementing engagement with sub-national councils to implement national program;

3. Identify approach in promoting voices of under-represented group in local works as well as sub-national’s affairs.

2 – Meaning of Engagement

What is engaged governance mean?

• Engaged Governance is a mechanism for engaging voices of citizens and their decision made into the public policy and other government programmes and ensure that the mechanism have an impact on the implementation. Civic engagement in public policies: A toolkit, United Nations New York, 2007 (page 33). Email: bertucci@un.org

What is Community Engagement?

Community Engagement is a function of the government and their relationship with citizens and stakeholders in designing, implementing policy, program and service delivery with quality and effective and ensure that there are citizen feedbacks mechanisms in place. Civic engagement in public policies: A toolkit, United Nations New York, 2007 (page 34). Email: bertucci@un.org

3-Key Activities Format

Key activity#1: Participation in Planning&BudgetingA. Identify what have been done?

B. ObjectivesC. What can CSOs do to encourage under-represented

group to have greater voice in planning and budgeting with sub-national councils?

D. What can CSOs do to build capacity of sub-national councils on planning and budgeting?

E. What recommendation do you propose to improve/ strengthen engagement with sub-national councils in planning and budgeting?

3- Laws and Legal Frameworks that Offering CSO Opportunity to Engage

with Sub-National Councils

Key activities of Engagement

• Participation in Planning and Budgeting with councils

• Participation in public meetings

• Information dissemination

• Monitoring performance of councils

• Participation in policy feedback

1.5.1 Guiding Principles

• Encourage changes of behavior and attitudes towards work performance necessary for the new administrative structure to operate and achieve results as expected;

• Allow for the immediate needs of the people to be addressed;

• Ensure that people, especially women, vulnerable groups and ethnic minorities, can participate in decision-making at provincial / municipal, district / khan and Commune / Sangkat levels; National Program for Sub-National Democratic Development, (Eng page 8-9; Kh page 13-14)

1.5.1 Guiding Principles

National Program (NP) Program Area 1: Line accountability #4 Accountability of SNAs to citizens ( Eng page 16; Kh page 24)

• Accountability to citizens through i) surveys of citizen satisfaction with services; ii) IT to increase citizen access to information and services; iii) guidelines, instructions and instruments for consultation, information and participation of citizens; (iv) development of citizens engagement programs and various mechanisms of citizen involvement.

Engagement in Planning & Budgeting

Organic Law: The council shall be accountable directly to all citizens for making decisions on priorities and for ensuring democratic development within its jurisdiction. Art 34 (Eng page 7; Kh page 8)

National Program: 2.2 RGC Policy Commitment point # 3 (Eng page 12; Kh page 18)

Ensure the participation of the people in the decision-making process of the Councils at sub-national level, and in monitoring and evaluating the work performance of the elected Council and staff, including the Board of Governors, to ensure that they are responsive and accountable to the people.

National Program: 2.2 RGC Policy Commitment point # 3 (Eng page 12; Kh page 18)

Ensure the participation of the people in the decision-making process of the Councils at sub-national level, and in monitoring and evaluating the work performance of the elected Council and staff, including the Board of Governors, to ensure that they are responsive and accountable to the people.

National Program: Program Area 1, objective 1 - output 1.3 (Eng page 33; Kh page 53)

Programs that promote citizen’s participation and protect people’s rights.National Program: Program Area 1, objective 1 - output 1.3 (Eng page 33; Kh page 53)

Programs that promote citizen’s participation and protect people’s rights.

Public Meetings

Organic Law Art 38 ( Eng page 9; Kh page 9)

In the formulation and implementation of its development plan, the council shall consult with: The citizens within its jurisdiction; Other categories of councils within its jurisdiction; Relevant ministries, institutions and units of the Royal Government; Relevant stakeholders.

Organic Law Art 38 ( Eng page 9; Kh page 9)

In the formulation and implementation of its development plan, the council shall consult with: The citizens within its jurisdiction; Other categories of councils within its jurisdiction; Relevant ministries, institutions and units of the Royal Government; Relevant stakeholders.

Sub-Decree On Roles, Duties and Working Relationship of the Provincial Council and Board of Governors, Municipal Council and Board of Governors and District Council and Board of Governors

The dissemination and consultative forum shall be participated by provincial councilors and board of governors, municipal councilors and board of governors, district councilors and board of governors, commune and Sangkat councilors in the province, representatives of people’s communities or/and other relevant people as decided by the provincial council. Art 9 (Eng page 3)

Sub-Decree On Roles, Duties and Working Relationship of the Provincial Council and Board of Governors, Municipal Council and Board of Governors and District Council and Board of Governors

The dissemination and consultative forum shall be participated by provincial councilors and board of governors, municipal councilors and board of governors, district councilors and board of governors, commune and Sangkat councilors in the province, representatives of people’s communities or/and other relevant people as decided by the provincial council. Art 9 (Eng page 3)

Information Dissemination

Organic Law: Art 52 (Eng page 14, Kh page 16) Each council shall have a public information board or other means for information dissemination at its main office and in other places within its jurisdiction that are easily accessed by citizens for public information.

Organic Law: Art 52 (Eng page 14, Kh page 16) Each council shall have a public information board or other means for information dissemination at its main office and in other places within its jurisdiction that are easily accessed by citizens for public information.

Sub-Decree On Roles, Duties… Art 54

In addition to the public information boards, the provincial council shall find other means of information dissemination in order to inform about works of the administration to the citizens.

Sub-Decree On Roles, Duties… Art 54

In addition to the public information boards, the provincial council shall find other means of information dissemination in order to inform about works of the administration to the citizens.

Monitoring Performance of Councils

Organic Law Art 40 (Eng page 10; Kh page 11)

The council shall monitor and evaluate annually the implementation of the development plan of the council, including those components of the plan which are under the management and control of: Joint councils; Other categories of councils; Relevant ministries, institutions and units of the Royal Government; Relevant stakeholders.

Organic Law Art 40 (Eng page 10; Kh page 11)

The council shall monitor and evaluate annually the implementation of the development plan of the council, including those components of the plan which are under the management and control of: Joint councils; Other categories of councils; Relevant ministries, institutions and units of the Royal Government; Relevant stakeholders.

National Program 3.3 PA 3: Transfer of Functions ( Eng page 38; Kh page 63)

Improvement of services must also be a bottom-up process and, therefore, strong mechanisms of accountability must be in place that citizens, civil society and Commune/Sangkat councils can utilize to demand improved performance in service provision.

National Program 3.3 PA 3: Transfer of Functions ( Eng page 38; Kh page 63)

Improvement of services must also be a bottom-up process and, therefore, strong mechanisms of accountability must be in place that citizens, civil society and Commune/Sangkat councils can utilize to demand improved performance in service provision.

Policy Feedback

National Program - PA 5: Support Institutions For D&D Reform ( Eng page 57; Kh page 96)

F). Policy Support

Independent leagues and associations of sub-national administrations such as the National League of Communes and Sangkats (NLC/S) and the Provincial Associations of Communes and Sangkats (PAC/S) are important voices of SNAs and must be supported with the aim to articulate and advocate the common interests of SNAs, enhance their participation in the formulation of Government policies, and define and address their capacity development needs.

National Program - PA 5: Support Institutions For D&D Reform ( Eng page 57; Kh page 96)

F). Policy Support

Independent leagues and associations of sub-national administrations such as the National League of Communes and Sangkats (NLC/S) and the Provincial Associations of Communes and Sangkats (PAC/S) are important voices of SNAs and must be supported with the aim to articulate and advocate the common interests of SNAs, enhance their participation in the formulation of Government policies, and define and address their capacity development needs.

Capacity Development

Capacity development to SN councils – specific attention must be given to:• Building a cadre of young professionals who will enter the civil service for

positions that are newly created or open due to retirements at both the SNA and ministry level;

• Ensuring that officials have the core competencies to carry out their responsibilities;

• Ensuring that SNA officials have the right attitudes and behaviors in line with SNA new lines of accountability towards their citizens;

• Preparing a new generation of elected officials;• Citizens interested in governance process and local development or newly

elected to Councils at all levels of SNAs…

It will also be necessary to work with non-government organizations and private companies to meet the voluminous demands for capacity development. NP page 56

Strengthen Engagement with SN Councils

• Strengthen CSO network, develop clear work plan and align own organization work plan with work plan of sub-national councils.

• Increase partnership with SN councils in planning and budgeting process, project feasibility, project implementation, project monitoring and ensure that these processes associated with guidelines.

• Continue to encourage citizens and other stakeholders actively participate in planning and budgeting with SN councils.

• Increase dialogues with SN councils to prepare widely information dissemination mechanism to citizens and other relevant and also provide feedback to councils.

• Support and participate in consultative meeting, capital, provinces, municipalities, district and Khan development plan, Communes and Sangkat as well as investment program.

Questions for Group Discussion

Read key activities distributed, than identified which activities you have already done. Answer these three questions.

1- What can civil society do to encourage that under-presented group will have a greater voice in sub-national and local affairs?

2- What can CSO do to build capacity of sub-national councils?

3- What recommendations do you propose to improve/ strengthen engagement with sub-national councils?