Date Printed: 11/03/2008 JTS Box Number: lFES 2 Tab Number: 22 Document Title: Cambodia Electoral Assistance Project 1996-98 Final Report Document Date: 1998 Document Country: Cambodia lFES ID: R01555 I I 110115th SlREET, N.w.' THIRD R.OOR ' WASHINGTON. D.C. 2<XX5 • (202) 8288507 • fAX (202) 452.(8)4 • VMW.IfES.ORG I Cambodia Electoral Assistance Project I 1996:"1998 Final Report Submitted to: I USAIDlPhnom Penh Delivery Order No.6 I IQC #: AEP 5468-1-00-6003-00 I I I I I I I I .-." I I I BOARD OF DIRECTORS Barbara Boggs Pe'er G. Kelly leon J. WeD DIRECTORS EMERITI Charles T. Manan Joseph Napolitan Dame Eugenia Charles Maureen A. Kindel Richard W. Soudriette James M. Cannon (Domina) Chairman Treasurer Jean-Pierre Kingsley Iffsident Peter McPherson Patricia Hubr Judy G. Fernald (~nad.) Randal C. Teague RM:hard M. Scammon I 5«rPt1fIY Couns./ WiDiam J. HybI Sharol w. Siemens HONORARY DIRECTOR I Lesley Israel . Wiffiam R. sweeney~ Jr. Mrs. F. Oilton White I I IF.:"'- International Foundation for Election Systems .J .;",." 1101 15th Street, N.W.- 3rd Floor - Washington, D.C. 20005 I ~ Tel (202) 828-8507 - Fax (202) 452-0804 - http://www.ifes.org I November 25, 1998 I Mr. Willard J. Pearson, Jr. Mission Director United States Agency for International Development I Phnom Penh, Cambodia I Dear Mr. Pearson: Please find attached the final report on program activities carried out by the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) in Cambodia from August 1996 through September 1998 I under the auspices of the United States Agency for International Development. This report recapitulates the impact of the technical assistance and support IFES provided, often under challenging circumstances, to the Royal Government of Cambodia in an effort to establish I transparent methodologies for implementing credible elections. IFES is very proud of its contribution in helping to establish election management systems I in Cambodia and encourage a free, credible, election process there. You will see in the final report I that IFES produced impact in the following areas: • Establishment of an independent and permanent National Election Committee ( NEC); • Capacity building at the NEC, specifically on how to design an election system, ballots, and I security and anti-fraud features; • Incorporation of basic principles of democratic elections, in respect to the constitution (Le., free, direct, individual voting). into the new election law; I • _.Computerization of the voter registration system following IFES' design; • Upgrading the UNTAC computer system (in coordination with the AEC), and assembling and training a team of Cambodians to manage the computer center; and I • Providing on-the-job training to fifteen permanent staff members of the Board of Elections in creating a master election plan, conductirig pre-election tasks, and working in the field in I order to do realistic planning for the provincial and local levels. The process of democratic reform and improvement in the election system of Cambodia has only just begun. The newly-elected Cambodian Parliament, the National Election Committee, and I the non-governmental community all face arduous tasks ahead as planning continues for local elections in 1999. IFES hopes the United States Government will again take an active role to assist Cambodia through this challenging time. To that end, IFES recommends that further assistance be I provided in the following areas: I I -I I • Development of election laws, implementing regulations, and administrative procedures to address local elections of village chiefs and commune councils (for elections to be held in Mayor November 1999); I • Development of rules of democratic governance for commune councils (e.g., village by- laws); . • Advancement of the legal franlework and election management system for the election of I provincial and district authorities; • Assessment of the Constitution and the potential for reform and/or amendments; • Creation of codes for administration and management of the National Assembly (e.g., I provisions for forming a government if the contending parties are at an impasse); • Reform of the election law regarding the composition of the NEC; • Development of a school curriculum and civic education program on constitutional rights 1 and responsibilities in concert with non-governmental organizations and appropriate ministry officials and educators; and 1 • Assistance to the NEC for upcoming commune elections, with particular focus on dealing with the new majoritarian system and educating the voters about it. I IFES stands ready to assist in these activities with a proven capability in Cambodia, relationships with relevant officials and NGOs, and knowledge about the systems of governance in the country. Most importantly, we are committed to the development of democracy and promotion of peace and 1 stability in the Cambodia. Thank you for your past support ofIFES initiatives. We hope to work with you again in the near 1 future. 1 Respectfully, h\~J-~ ~ I Mary Lou Schramm I Deputy Director for Asia I cc: Mr. Joe Clough, Democracy and Governance Program I I I 1 1 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR ELECTION SYSTEMS 1l0115th Street NW • 3rd Floor· Washington, DC 20005 I Tel. (202)828-8507 • Fax (202)452-0804 • www.ifes.org I I Document: Final Report I Project Title: Cambodia Electoral Assistance Project, 1996-1998 Project Office: USAlDlPhnom Penh I Contract: U.S. Agency for International Development AEP 5468-1-00-6003-00 Delivery Order No.6 I Contractor: The International Foundation for Election Systems I Date: 30 September 1998 Compiled by: Jessica Hunter, Program Officer for Asia I Theo Noel, Election Administration Specialist Mary Lou Schramm, Deputy Director for Asia I Du Tran, Program Assistant for Asia I I I I I I I I -. I TABLE OF CONTENTS • I. Executive Summary .................................................. ; .... 1 A. Summary of Delivery Order No.6 ..................................... 1 • B. The International Found3tion for Election Systems ....................... 2 II. Background .........•.................................................. 5 A. Recent Democratization Efforts in Cambodia ............................ 5 • B. IFES' Pre-Election Technical Assessment .............................. 5 III. Program Description ..................................................... 7 • A. D.O. #6 Phase I: Program Design and Scope of Work ....... " ......... " ... 7 B. D.O. #6 Phase II: Program Design, and Scope of Work ............ "........ 8 C. D.O. #6 Phase III (Suspended): Program Design, and Scope of Work ......... 8 • D. D.O. #6 Phase III (Modified): Program Design, and Scope of Work ......... 10 IV. Program Implementation ........................... ~ ..................... 11 • A. D.O. #6 Phase I: Deliverables, Personnel, and Reports .................... 11 B. D.O. #6 Phase II: Deliverables, Personnel, and Reports ................... 13 C. D.O. #6 Phase III (Suspended): Deliverables, Personnel, and Reports .... " ... 15 I• D. D.O. #6 Phase III (Modified): Deliverables, Personnel, and Reports ......... 15 V. Issues and Recommendations ............................................. 16 A. D.O. #6 Phase I: Election Administration .............................. 16 B. D.O. #6 Phase II: Poll Worker Training & Voter Education ........... ~ .... 18 • C. D.O. #6 Phase III (Suspended): Logistics and Commodities ............... 22 D. D.O. #6 Phase III (Modified): AAEA Election Observation Mission ......... 22 • VI. Conclusion ........................................................... 24 • VII. Appendices ............................................................ 26 . • • • • • I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I. Executive Summary I A. Summary of Delivery Order No.6 From August 1996 until July 1997 the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) worked I closely with the Royal Government of Cambodia (RCG) to strengthen and improve Cambodia's electoral framework in preparation for July 1998 parliamentary elections. In the form of on-site technical experts, IFES provided the know-how and comparative experience to accomplish a I challenging scope of work which included drafting election laws and regulations, preparing an election calendar and budget, designing a voter registration system, initiating recruitment and training programs for election officials and pollworkers, procuring and distributing election supplies I and equipment, ballot design, and voter education. IFES provided this assistance in a politically I volatile and troubled environment, the result of decades of political turmoil and civil strife. Beginning in 1996, IFES' election administration expert, Theo Noel, assisted the Ministry of Interior's (MOn Election Law Drafting Committee with the drafting of new electoral laws and I regulations. This expert also worked with the MOl's Bureau of Elections (BoE) with initial planning for implementation of the election law and corresponding regulations. He was joined in March 1997 by a training specialist, Carl Slaugenhaupt, who assisted the BoE's Training Unit as it developed I training programs and handbooks for election officials. Both activities focused on building the institutional capacity of the BoE and its successor National Election Committee to conduct elections I and to help promote honest, impartial and efficient administration of the 1998 national elections. Although IFES' direct assistance to the government was suspended by the United States Government