With funding from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and with the support from The Asia Foundation (TAF) Lao PDR, Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) is implementing the "Strengthening Parliamentary Oversight and Promoting Women's Political Leadership in Laos" project. 

Through this project, WFD aims to enhance the oversight and representative functions of the National Assembly and Provincial People's Assemblies (PPAs). The focus has been on specific parliamentary practices, such as legislative scrutiny, with particular emphasis on post-legislative scrutiny (PLS).

Additionally, the program addresses the need to increase the capacity and number of women representatives at the national level, aiming to create a more enabling environment for women to enter politics and build their capacity to reach and maintain leadership positions. 

Across the ASEAN region, women remain underrepresented in political life. The regional research - "Women's Political Leadership in the ASEAN Region" - undertaken during Phase I of this project elucidated the barriers that women face in their pursuit of political leadership in Southeast Asia. The Phase II of the project proposes to build upon the learning, and leverage the relationships, networks, and knowledge developed in Phase I. 

The phase II aims to deliver a systematic and methodical response to Violence Against Women in Politics (VAWP) and support an improved uptake of interventions and inclusive practices and processes that address structural and institutional barriers to Women's Political Leadership (WPL) among political actors. The project will contribute to improved equality and enjoyment of fundamental human rights by enabling women leaders in ASEAN countries to exercise and sustain political careers safely and with influence at regional and national levels.

The Strengthening Accountability in Laos project under the CEGGA II programme focuses on enhancing governance at both the National Assembly (NA) and the People’s Provincial Assemblies (PPAs). Implemented by Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), the programme is designed to reinforce key parliamentary functions, contributing to transparent and accountable governance.

Key Focus Areas:

1. The Oversight Function: Post-Legislative Scrutiny (PLS)
   • This component aims to build the capacity of the NA and PPAs to review and evaluate the effectiveness of laws after their implementation. By embedding Post-Legislative Scrutiny practices, the programme ensures that laws deliver on their intended impact and align with national priorities.
2. The Representative Function: A More Efficient Petitions Management Process
   • The programme supports the enhancement of the petitions management system within the NA, enabling them to handle public petitions more efficiently. This improves responsiveness to citizens’ concerns, ensuring their voices are heard and acted upon through formal parliamentary processes.