NCSL Conducts Assessment Visit to Algerian Parliament

In January 2006, a State Legislator from Texas, four senior legislative experts from Colorado, Minnesota, and New Jersey, and an NCSL staff member carried out an assessment of both chambers of the Algerian Parliament. The assessment was made under the auspices of NCSL's 28-month MEPI funded program entitled Parliamentary Strengthening and Staff Training in North Africa and Lebanon. The assessment marked the beginning of the second phase of the program and intended to map out and determine the current institutional capacities of the parliament.

The Assessment team was extremely busy during its time in-country, holding numerous meetings each day with various groups in both chambers focusing on IT, library development, research & analysis from both member and staff points of view, and committee operations. The NCSL faculty met with over 100 staff members from both chambers and 7 deputies and senators, including committee chairs and the head of the Independence Party of Algeria.

In meetings the Speakers of both chambers promised that the assessment team would have an “open door” to chamber operations and that promise held. It was clear from leadership and staff members of both houses of parliament that the Algerian Parliament is committed to enhancing its institutional capacities. Overall, the team was impressed with the staff’s professionalism and competence and the trip was a great success.

The assessment was written about in over two dozen national and local newspapers in Algeria. Here are two articles from the visit:

http://www.elwatan.com/2006-01-21/2006-01-21-34663

http://www.elmoudjahid.com/stories.php?story=06/01/23/4727252

Photos from the visit:

http://community.webshots.com/album/547381025KMiYbM

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Updated February 28, 2006