Program Objectives:
The overall goal and objectives of the project is to promote transformative leadership for good governance and human rights in Cambodia through strengthening and capacity building the female commune councils network. WFP will facilitate a forum and provide opportunity to female commune councilors for self-organization and self-learning in which they can identify their own issues for discussion and for development of strategies for solution.

The immediate and long term objectives of the project are as follow:

• To build strong solidarity among female commune councilors so that they would have stronger voice;
• To give opportunity for female commune councilors to meet and discuss challenges and barriers, learn and exchange of experience as well as building their capacity;
• To provide opportunity for female commune councilors to strengthen their skills in advocating, lobbying and pursuing their desired agenda;
• To assist the female commune councilors in identifying, prioritizing and finding solutions to the issues/problems;
• To provide the female commune councilors with tools including strategies and methodology in addressing and solving issues of concern to them;
• To strengthen female commune councilors self-confidence and leadership skills, and develop strategies to improve their performance to be more visible in councils affairs;
• To provide skills training in fund raising and public relation with their constituents and civil society organizations;
• To provide gender equality and equity in the implementation of decentralization system and good governance;
• To coach and provide opportunities to interest female commune councilors to meet with the media, and to speak in public forum, with a view to promoting role models of women active in public life;
• To project a good role model of women leading commune affairs;
• To encourage more women to run for the next commune/sangkat election 2007;
• To generate lessons learned for future modeling.

5- Program activities:
1 - Dialogue meeting :
In 2003-2004, WFP has Organized Forum for Female Commune Councilors to meet and dialogue on a regular basis, four times per year in seven provinces such as Battambang, Pursat, Siemreap, Kompong Thom, Kompong Cham, Svay Rieng and Kandal. The female councilors met 4 times per year in a 2-day forum.A total of 62 forum sessions, with a total of 236 FCC as participants.

And in 2005, an additional objective is to begin to equip the participating female councilors with the skills necessary to organize female councilors forum independently in the future. WFP will work with participants to identify possible sources of financial and logistical support to hold the forum on their own.

And in 2006, WFP will organize Forum for Female commune councilors using Exit Strategy in 9 provinces ( 7 provinces as mentioned above plus Takeo and Preah Vihear ).The female councilors will meet 4 times during the contract period, with anexception of 3 times for Preah Vihear. A total of 35 forums sessions, with a total of 310 FCCs as participants.

2 - Organize Expansion of the forum
WFP will organize expansion forum for female commune councilors in 5 provinces (Battambang, Siemreap, Kg. Cham, Svay Rieng and Kandal). A total of 24 forum sessions, with a total of 165 FCCs as participants.

3- Produce Video spot on 6 FCCs' Role model
WFP, donor, MOI and MoVA will work as a team to set up criteria and identify 6 role models of FCCs who have demonstrated an outstanding performance as an elected official, with strong leadership, commitment and community service. Their abilities are based on their job performance and community services as well as their initiative in developing their communes. Their lives and works will be recorded and developed into a 10 minutes spot each and will be broadcast on National Television, Twice per spot, a total of 12 times during the contract period.

4- Organize National and Provincial Round Table
In order to better integrate the FCF into the overall decentralization framework and to attract recognition and support from other decentralization stakeholders. WFP will organize one National Round Table in Phnom Penh , and 4 provincial Roud-Table in Pursat, Battambang, Kg. Thom and Kg. Cham.

It is anticipated that 25-30 participants for the provincial round- table and 100 participants for the National Round-Table. Participants comprise of representatives from MOI,MoVA,DoLA,PLAU, Ex.Com, PFT, Provincial governor, Commune Chiefs, FCCs, and distrct governors where FCCs participate in the forum.

• Received greater support from family members, especially husbands;
• Reported to commune and attend commune meeting regularly, and received work assignment;
• Increase self-confidence and are not afraid to advocate for changes;
• Change in appearance and improved communication skills;
• More assertive in getting their message across and/or in making request to put their concern on the commune agenda for discussion;
• Active participation in commune planning and CIP, and at district meeting;
• Initiated new ideas to implement project for the commune;
• Taking the lead in implementing common strategies developed by forum;
• Great success in eliminating unofficial deduction from their salary for the clerk to withdraw the money from the bank, and in getting support from some of the commune chief to cover transportation cost to come to the forum;
• More valued and recognized including support of their work by male councils especially male commune chief;
• Successfully collected contribution from the people;
• Increase attention of CC on domestic violence, rape, social safety and security, and HIV/AIDS;
• Involved in planning, implementing, and solving dispute with other CC members;
• Increase confidence in making presentation during workshop, conference at national level;
• Increase visibility and gained trust with other government official, NGOs and other stakeholders.