What does work and what does not work On Kep iREACH Management Committee (MC) Election
1. Background:
Why does Kep iREACH need Management Committee (MC)? One of the main project objectives is to pilot-test a community-driven system of blended technologies in support of services, applications and content identified by the communities as contributing to social, economic and cultural development. The project staff has also introduced to community members that iREACH belongs to community. The MC is a key element in achieving this objective. Generally, there were two main steps before having MC, including the Interim Committee (IC) and MC election steps. The following detail steps were followed before, during, and after the establishment of the MC:
1. Project introduction to community, including village/commune leaders and commune council 2. Project discussion with key community members to find out what the project management structure should be. The community agreed that they needed an MC, By-Laws, and an Interim Committee (IC) before the MC should be formed. 3. Project discussions with key community members to set up the IC election rules and processes 4. Candidate registration and election campaign for IC 5. IC members election Day (4-10 April 2007) at the village level6. Chair, vice-chair and assistant election for IC7. On-going training to the IC members 8. Others Community By-Laws searching 9. iREACH By-Laws development (this took 3 months)10. Candidate registration and election campaign for MC 11. MC members election day at village level (1-8 September 2007)12. MC members got to know each other and to work together for at least 2 months before the chair, vice-chair, accountant, and assistant elections.
2. What Does WorkA) IC Election Process The election was a three-stage process. In the first step, all villagers were eligible to vote for village representatives and to stand as candidates. There were 20 altogether – one male and one female from each of nine villages, and one representative from each of the remaining two villages in the district. The second stage took place at the district level, where only the elected village representatives were eligible to vote and stand as candidates. This step elected 12 committee members representing each of the three communes in the district (four from each commune). In the third step, the chair and vice-chair were elected by and from the 12 committee members. . The pilot co-ordinator was also a voting member of the interim committee, so the committee had 13 members. Note: Election Day for IC (4-10 April 200): The project staff posted the candidate requirements, on the flipcharts. Staff then explained the process of election by using loudspeakers to the villagers who came to elect their representatives to the . Criteria to be a candidate of the Interim Committee:1. Have general knowledge 2. Can write (Khmer)3. Can read (Khmer)4. Have time to work 5. Strong commitment 6. Working hard 7. Should be active person 8. Have work experience in any sector 9. Have facilitation skill is good 10. To work as a volunteer11. To be honest/non partial 12. Have good communication 13. Have facility for traveling14. Chosen through election Benefit1. Will get knowledge and experience on ICT 2. Will become well known in the community 3. To be a active person in developing the community4. Gain more understanding of community development5. Access to information and experience sharing MandateThe committee will not serve more than 3 months and will be dissolved when the Management Committee is elected Note for candidates: 1. There was no promise that members of the interim committee would be elected to the Management Committee automatically, because it would depend on the new election.,However they were eligible to be candidates during the permanent committee election. 2. The criteria above were set in collaboration between the commune meeting and iREACH.3. Villagers could vote for only one candidate. The votes were then counted and the elected members were announced (one man, one woman). Then the elected members thanked the voters and made a commitment statement to the voters (villagers). B) MC election process The election was a two-stage process. In the first step all villagers were eligible to vote for 13 village representatives, one each from 9 villages, and two representatives (one male and one female) from each of the remaining two villages in the district. The second stage took place at the district level, where only the elected village representatives were eligible to vote and stand as candidates for the positions of chair, vice-chair, and accountant. The pilot co-ordinator is also a non-voting member of the management committee, so the committee has 14 members. There is 40% of Management Committee members woman. Please note that the process at the MC election day was most the same process at the IC election day; and the following steps were followed for the MC election process, which took 3 months: a) Candidate Announcement (3rd week of August 2007). The strategy for announcement was included word of mouse, house to house by IC members, village leaders, village assistant, commune leaders and commune council; and by project staff via loudspeakersb) An election campaign by the candidate (3rd-4tt week of August 2007) c) An election day (1-8 September 2007) for MC members d) MC members get to know each other and work together (9 September-1 November 2007)e) An election day (2 Nov.2007) for chair, vice-chair, assistant and accountant. Note: Criteria to be a candidate of Management Committee (MC)15. To be at least 18 year, including both women and men 16. To have a good reputation 17. To be able read and write (Khmer)18. To work as volunteer 19. To be a resident in the village 20. To be well known21. To be honest/non partial22. To not be a monk 23. To have good health 24. IC members can be candidates if they like to apply 25. Woman are encouraged Generally, staff and community members were satisfied with the whole election process at the village level for both tie IC and the MC elections. 3. What Does Not Work For IC:The election was a three-stage process. In the second step, only the 20 elected village representatives were eligible to vote in order to elect 12 IC members.. Based on that experience, we are not recommending an election where only the elected members at the district level can vote, because you could see the disappointment in candidates who failed at this level, even if she/he was the top candidate elected by her/his community members. The third step, where the 12 elected committee members representing each of the three communes in the district voted for the positions of chair, vice-chair and assistant took place too early. We recommend that you do not have an election for these positions until the elected members know each other well. They should have time get to know each other and work together, rather than voting for a candidate they do not know very well. 4. Conclusion To select one representative at the village level is a better model than selecting two representatives (one man and one woman), as one of them will not be elected (voted down) at the district level. In conclusion, it was a fantastic election of the Kep iREACH Interim Committee at the village level, but not at the district level. The MC election process was better. 5. Lesson Learned
The election for IC at village level was the best.
The election for IC at the district level was not good, but an opportunity to learn. This method is not recommended
We learned from what we did at the IC election, both good and not good. We then applied this experience to improve the MC election.
APPENDICES
Picture of Interim and M Cs election
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