Local Administration and Reform (LAAR)

1. Background
2. Goal and Objectives & Program Structure
3. Scale of Activities
4. Scope of Work

Cambodia’s decentralization process commenced in 2001 with the enactment of laws on commune administration and management and commune elections. In pursuing decentralization reforms, the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) has three overall objectives: strengthening local democracy, promoting participatory development, and reducing poverty. While the emergence of the elected local government can be viewed as a positive and significant development in Cambodia, more needs to be done to strengthen the councils’ capacity and ability to respond to local needs, and to strengthen citizens’ participation.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) established the Local Administration and Reform (LAAR) Program in order to support the institutionalization of participatory development processes and democratic practices between the levels of sub-national government, with a strong focus at the commune level through technical assistance and material support to the Commune Council (CC), mobilization of citizen participation in local affairs, and strengthening the capacity of NGOs/civil society in monitoring the work of CCs.

The LAAR Program will take a multi-dimensional technical and provide Social Development Funds (SDFs) to CCs, in conjunction with the capacity building and technical assistance needed to manage service-oriented projects. The Program aims to develop core skills in targeted CCs and civil society organizations in building networks and partnerships, identifying and serving the needs of communities, facilitating the provision of social services, and promoting the involvement of CC constituencies, including the most vulnerable members of the community.