Meeting between the Institute of the Legislative Studies and PCAsia

On 28 February 2023, Parliamentary Centre of Asia (PCAsia) received a delegation from the Institute of Legislative Studies (ILS) of the Lao National Assembly led by Hon. Dr Yangkou YANGLUSAI, Head of the Institute. The objective of the meeting was to exchange capacity development experiences, especially related to PCAsia’s parliamentary research programme and parliamentary training program.

The delegation was composed of:

  1. Hon. Dr Yangkou YANGLUESAI, Head of the Institute of Legislative Studies, National Assembly of Lao PDR
  2. Mr Sinthala LASOUKSAMAY, Deputy Head of the Institute of Legislative Studies
  3. Mr Khamthene VILAKOUN, Director of the Centre for Training and Information
  4. Mr Vilaphat PHABVIXAI, Deputy Director of the Centre for Science and Legislative Research
  5. Mr Sithanome PHOMMACHANH, Head of Division of Information, Centre for Training and Information
  6. Mr Longthao TONGPAOTHOR, Head of Division of Science and Fundamental Issues Research, Centre for Science and Legislative Research
  7. Mrs Phouvaly PHOUNSAVANH, Head of Division of Planning and Legislation, Centre for Science and Legislative Research
  8. Ms Chittakone KEOMAHAVONG, Deputy Head of Parliamentary Relations and Cooperation Division
  9. Mr Ounkham SENGSITHPRASUETH, Deputy Director of Division of Southeast Asia Department, Interpreter (Lao-Cambodian)

During the meeting, Hon. Dr Yangkou YANGLUESAI gave an overview of the evolution and duties of the ILS, including their human resource challenges. Discussion next turned to the recent request from the Lao National Assembly related to the preparation of 45th AIPA General Assembly and the goal of deepening the technical cooperation between ILS and PCAsia in terms of capacity development and sharing of research and training resources.

Mr Dararith KIM YEAT, Executive Director of PCAsia, briefed about the background of PCAsia, its capacity development programmes, along with successes and challenges faced. He recalled the experiences of capacity development with AIPA Member Parliaments especially with Cambodian Parliament on subjects such as Parliamentary Research and Fiscal Analysis Capacity Training. He stressed the importance of tailoring the training curriculum to meet the needs of the trainees, on-the-job training and mentoring in developing practical skills that can be applied in a parliamentary setting, and also the benefit of applying an institutional approach to foster a lasting impact.

 PCAsia had been offered office space and facilities to conduct training activities within the Cambodian Parliament. This has facilitated its pedagogical approach of “on the job training and mentoring” and “Build, Operate and Handover” as the relevant materials, tools, products and trained staff were handed over to the Parliament at the end of the training program, such as the Parliamentary Budget Office/Fiscal Analysis Training Program. He noted how this integrated approach has helped to ensure the sustainability of improved parliamentary capacity, and asked that the Lao National Assembly consider these experiences during the planning and implementation of capacity development for their institution.