Parliamentary Strengthening

1
Parliamentary Strengthening

• UNDP Experience

2
Parliamentary Development in Governance context

• In the Arab region, UNDP governance efforts focus
  on strengthening national development strategies
  and encouraging reform to improve quality of
  democratic institutions and processes that
  protect citizens rights and freedoms, foster
  inclusiveness and participation, and guarantee
  rule of law.
• Parliamentary strengthening is an entry point to
  democratic governance. Well functioning
  parliaments express the will of the people, pass
  laws and hold governments accountable. They
  mediate different constituency interests and
  foster the development of more just and equitable
  societies.

3
Comparative Strength of UNDP

• Provide follow-up to electoral support
• Long-term, established presence
• Internal policy advisory capacity
• Work with MPs Staff
• Strengthen development peace building functions
  of parliament
  
• Bring a wide range of partners together

4
Parliamentary Development Initiatives

• Country Office Projects Programs (funded by
  DGTTF Bi-lateral)
  
• Staff training
• Policy dialogue with MPs on development issues
• Orientation packages, codes of conduct, internal
  procedures
  
• Training on legislative drafting
• Knowledge enhancement communication
  strategies
  
• Constituency relations
• GPPS POGAR (PDIAR)
• Addressing the knowledge deficit in
  parliamentary reform efforts
  
• Enhancing the effectiveness of MPs via regional
  training and networking
  
• Building the capacity of women MPs
• Fostering interest in critical national issues
  such as peace building, security sector anti
  corruption
  

5
Country Examples of Parliamentary Development
Activities

• Support representative, legislative and oversight
  roles of parliaments in 12 Arab countries
  (Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Sudan, Lebanon, Jordan,
  PAPP, Yemen, Bahrain, UAE, Syria and now Iraq)
• - Strengthen the internal organization of
  parliaments (Lb Pl)
  
• - Train parliamentary staff (Al)
• - Empower women parliamentarians (Al)
• - Promote SHD in legislative deliberations
  parliamentary oversight
  
• - Human Rights (Lb)
• - Trade and MDGs (Eg, Mo)
• - Anti Corruption (regional)
• - Political Party Legislation (regional)
• - Security Sector Reform (regional)
• - Focus on gender sensitive budgeting,
  anti-corruption mechanisms (Eg, Bh)
  
• - Enhance knowledge management, research and
  e-parliament (Lb, Jo, Bh, UAE)
  
• - Enhance parliamentary constituency, civil
  society media relations (Lb)
  

6
Parliaments in Post Conflict

• Key messages
• Legitimately elected parliaments are a forum for
  the concerns of diverse societal actors.
  
• Parliamentary institutions often remain weak in
  relation to the Executive, to armed forces and
  militias.
  
• Flawed peace agreements, weak political parties
  and corrupt elites can undermine parliamentary
  role in peace building.
  
• Power sharing and electoral designs may create
  ineffective parliaments.
  
• However, parliaments have a fundamental role to
  play including
  
• Parliamentarians explain constitutional framework
  and legislation to the people
  
• Legislating for national languages, for land
  rights or allocation of resources among the
  regions (which might inadvertently increase
  conflict).
• Legislating for transitional justice
  demobilization
  
• Oversee public policies for reconstruction,
  poverty reduction and sustainable development
  

7
UNDP Parliaments in Post Conflict

• Key activities
• UNDP is engaged in constitutional processes in
  many post conflict countries such as Iraq, Sudan,
  Somalia, East Timor
  
• Many requests for infrastructure, equipment and
  information technology such as in Palestine
  Lebanon
  
• Rules of procedures, organization and structure
  such as in Palestine
  
• Legislative training (Algeria UAE)
• Issue-based training that brings together MPs,
  government civil society (Lb, Al) HR, MDGs,
  
• MP constituency relations, representation (Pl,
  Al)
  
• Media Strategy (Lb)

8
UNDP Partners

• Inter Parliamentary Union IPU
• InterArab Parltary Union
• Canadian Parliamentary Centre
• International Institute for Democracy Electoral
  Assistance IIDEA
  
• Arab Center for the Development of the Rule of
  Law and Integrity ACDRLI
  
• National Democratic Institute NDI
• Westminister Foundation for Democracy
• Konrad Adenauer Foundation
• SADC

9
Lessons Learned

• Broad-based political support
• Balance emphasis on lawmaking, oversight and
  representation functions
  
• Combine ICT procedural assistance with an
  assessment of the staff human development
  policies
  
• Focus skills of drafting, research, constituency
  outreach, parliamentary diplomacy networking on
  specific needs
  
• Strengthen Oversight via assistance in budget
  review, in committee functions, in
  anti-corruption legislation
  

10
Lessons Learned (contd)

• Plan clear and focused outputs and evaluate
• MPs Workshops should happen early in term
• Staff training during session recession
• Training staff can only work if MPs use staff
  effectively
  
• Management of Projects rest with well respected
  national project leader, inclusive steering
  committee,
  
• Coordinate with other Donors

11

• Thank you
• Noha El-Mikawy
• Governance Policy Advisor SURF-AS
• Email noha.el-mikawy_at_undp.org