Global Network of Parliamentary Budget Offices Community Meeting Seminar on Independent Budget Analysis & Transparency Technical Session 4 How to write MP friendly Reports: Case study in the Kingdom of Cambodia July 11, 2004 University of Ottawa

Seminar on Independent Budget Analysis & Transparency Technical Session 4 How to write MP friendly Reports: Case study in the Kingdom of Cambodia By Hisham M OUSAR, PIC Research Manager Professor of Law at the Royal University of Law and Economics

Few words for introducing the Parliamentary Institute of Cambodia: The Parliamentary Institute of Cambodia (PIC) is a new independent parliamentary support institution based in the Senate compound of the Cambodian Parliament. PIC contributes to the democratic process and the demand for stronger governance in Cambodia. It serves both chambers, the National Assembly and the Senate. Please see:

HOW DO WE WRITE MP FRIENDLY REPORTS? AN BRIEF RESPONSE IN 5 POINTS.

1 st point Bad news. In Cambodia, there is not (yet) a Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO).

2 nd point Another bad news! My colleague and myself, we have no economic education and background.

3 rd point On a serious note, our job is Parliamentary Research. What we mean by “Parliamentary Research”?

Our Target, our Clients are Parliamentarians. Align learning initiative to national priorities and legislative agenda, targeting key commissions of parliament and parliamentarians from different political parties not represented in commissions, ensuring multi-party representation and a gender balance. Why not targeting the public, the media, the civil society, etc.? (publication on line after Client’s approval)

Our main task is to be interpreters for parliamentarians. Respond to the technical needs of our Clients, expressed by them, in an understandable and concise way.

What challenges?  Time constraints  Make technical things become accessible to our Clients with a background information delivery  Cost limitation  A large scope of area is covered

4 th point In order to address our challenges, PIC established a strong protocol.

What is PIC’s protocol?  Client’s request reception  Concept note editing and signature  Research writing process  The delivery of the research product (closed publication first)  Presentation of the research product (in closed-door meeting)  Expert hearing  Forum or seminar  Study mission (abroad)

briefing notesresearch papers expert hearings presentations & public forums Static Interactive Explanatory Exploratory  Pete H. Fontaine

Quote from the Swedish Parliamentary Research Service (RUT) (Evaluation Report, May 2014) “The PIC is a very young research service and has come remarkably far in a very short period of time. Its work is very ambitious and the learning process has been rapid. The PIC already shows a very high degree of research service professionalism. Its organization is adapted to the realities of research services. All the major building blocks of a good research service are in place: research teams, client contacts, dialogue routines, networking (outreach) and training (capacity strengthening). All important principles, policies and routines are in place: there is a mission with core values, an assignment policy, a research protocol checklist, a workflow management system and a code of conduct. Last but not least there is an emerging research culture and researchers show an understanding of the values that are so important to research services: objectivity, integrity and service, to mention just a few”.

5 th and last point What about establishing a PBO in Cambodia?  Our first act can be to produce a comparative study on this issue if a Client requested to do so., and it is up to the parliamentarians to draw conclusions.  We would be pleased after this first step to follow our protocol.

Merci pour votre aimable attention. Thank you for your kind attention. Hisham M OUSAR Research Manager Parliamentary Institute of Cambodia Kingdom of Cambodia +855 (0) www.pic.org.kh/home/