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The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), with the support of the U.S. Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), is undertaking a legislative exchange program with the Parliament of Algeria that promotes democratic development, institutional capacity building, and improves mutual understanding through information exchange and the provision of technical training for elected members and professional staff.
By engaging staff and members from the Algerian Parliament in exchanges with U.S. legislative experts, this program allows the Parliament to benefit from legislative strengthening programs already undertaken by NCSL in the region; creates links between the staff of U.S. state legislatures and the staff of the two chambers; and then expands upon those relationships to generate legislator-level linkages between Algeria and the U.S.
The first phase comprised a series of regional activities and trainings that took place from July 2004 to December 2005 and included the parliaments of Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Lebanon. The second phase builds on the themes developed during that first phase. It began with an assessment visit to Algiers in January 2006 and is scheduled to continue through early 2008. During this phase, NCSL is providing technical assistance and training geared specifically to the Algerian Parliament’s needs. Activities include:
- A series of workshops in Algiers for deputies, senators, and staff on topics such as parliament-media relations, policy analysis,
budget analysis, and constituent relations & outreach,
- A U.S. study tour for staff on library, information technology, and research development,
- A U.S. study tour for deputies and senators on election communications, constituent relations, and the election process, and
- Technical assistance consultancies focusing on library development, committee operations and support, bill drafting skills, and media relations.
By providing these opportunities for professional development and information exchange between U.S. state legislative staff and Algerian parliamentary staff, the program will continue to promote an improved relationship between Algeria and the U.S. Building on the relationship-enhancing activities of phase one, phase two will form an improved foundation for lasting political stability and an acceleration of the democratic process throughout the region.
NCSL is working with the Institute for Training and Research's Director Boualem Tatah, NCSL’s primary program contact at the National People’s Assembly and plans to conclude the program by the end of April, 2008.
Updated March 10, 2008
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