mdgs in parliament: watchdogs for development

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MDGS IN PARLIAMENT: WATCHDOGS FOR DEVELOPMENT Presentation by Dyfan Jones International Expert on Parliamentary Development

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Presentation by Dyfan Jones International Expert on Parliamentary Development. Mdgs in parliament: watchdogs for development. The MDGs. UN General Assembly adopted the MD and the MDGs in 2000 Mandated the UN to be the scorekeeper of progress towards achieving the MDGs - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Mdgs  in parliament: watchdogs for development

MDGS IN PARLIAMENT:WATCHDOGS FOR DEVELOPMENT

Presentation by Dyfan JonesInternational Expert on Parliamentary Development

Page 2: Mdgs  in parliament: watchdogs for development

The MDGs

UN General Assembly

adopted the MD and the

MDGs in 2000

Mandated the UN to be the

scorekeeper of progress

towards achieving the MDGs

The eight MDGs break down

into 21 quantifiable targets

that are measured by 60

indicators

Page 3: Mdgs  in parliament: watchdogs for development

The starting point: Redressable Injustice

“What moves us, reasonably enough, is not the realization that the world falls short of being completely just – which few of us expect – but that there are clearly remediable injustices around us which we want to eliminate”

Amartya Sen, The Idea of Justice Identifying and addressing

redressable injustice is central to the notion of the MDGs

Page 4: Mdgs  in parliament: watchdogs for development

Parliamentary Development• Build the capacity of legislators and

technical staff• Promote institutional reform• Strengthen parliaments'

relationships with the executive and judiciary branches of government and with civil society

• Enhance the effectiveness of women members of parliament and improve their ability to caucus and learn from one another

Viable democracy and

open society depend on effective

lawmaking, oversight and representation

— the three chief functions

of most parliaments.

Page 5: Mdgs  in parliament: watchdogs for development

‘Traditional’ MDG & Development Partners

MDGs

Executive

NGOs or other service delivery

partners

International Donors

MDG Taskforce

Parliament

Page 6: Mdgs  in parliament: watchdogs for development

www.undp.org[Our work > Democratic Governance > Parliamentary Development]

Giving Parliaments the tools to be Watchdogs for Development

Page 7: Mdgs  in parliament: watchdogs for development

UNDP Initiative in Southern and Eastern Africa

Page 8: Mdgs  in parliament: watchdogs for development

Why should Parliaments Engage with the MDGs?

•MDGs are for the whole country

•Parliaments should be the bodies to track progress

National Forum

•Parliaments are inclusive of various geographical areas and different social or ethnic groups

•Parliaments are the voice of the people at national level

Representative Body

•Parliaments can be catalysts for accelerating progress

•Parliaments can provide the accountability needed

Catalyst

•Everyday there is engagement with the MDGs in Parliament

•Legislative role, oversight function, budget scrutiny, representation

Already Engaged

Page 9: Mdgs  in parliament: watchdogs for development

Legislation

Oversight

Representation

Budget

Scrutiny

ENGAGE

ENGAGE

ENGAGE

ENGAGE

Page 10: Mdgs  in parliament: watchdogs for development

MDG 4

Reducing Child

Mortality

Enabling LawDoes the health law cover the

issue of child vaccination?

OversightIs the vaccination

aspect of the Health law being

properly implemented?

Representation & LeadershipCan Civil Society Organisations and citizens

provide input into creating the health law and give information from the grassroots on

implementation?

Budget ScrutinyIs the funding

available to ensure that all children are

vaccinated?

The Role of Parliaments

Page 11: Mdgs  in parliament: watchdogs for development

Parliaments as Watchdogs

Committees

•Annual MDG workplans

•Field Visits

•Investigations and Reports

Plenary

•Questions to Ministers / Executive

•Debates on key MDG issues

•Debate on the MDG Report

Groups &

Caucuses

•Conferences & workshops

•Profile Raising

Page 12: Mdgs  in parliament: watchdogs for development

A Snapshot of the Watchdog Role from SADC Parliaments

MDG Country Report debated in only 29% of

SADC Parliaments

71% of SADC Parliaments

have initiated investigations

into one or more of the

MDGs

In 29% of SADC Parliaments,

Ministers or the MDG Taskforce come before Parliament to

provide updates on progress

In 43% of SADC Parliaments, International Development Partners have given updates on their work

Page 13: Mdgs  in parliament: watchdogs for development

Challenges faced by Parliaments in being Watchdogs for

Development

Lack of Information

Structural challenges within Parliaments

Capacity and Skills of MPs and staff

Page 14: Mdgs  in parliament: watchdogs for development

Challenge 1 –Information

Page 15: Mdgs  in parliament: watchdogs for development

Information is key - How can MPs be informed?

Induction and

Orientation

Committees

Caucus / Group

Briefings

Library and

Resource Centres

Parliamentary

Proceedings

Page 16: Mdgs  in parliament: watchdogs for development

Challenge 1 - Receiving Information 29% of SADC Parliaments regularly and

automatically receive MDG related documents from Governments and

International Development Partners

MDG Workshops have been held in 85% of SADC Parliaments

Regular MDG briefing programmes in place in only 15% of SADC Parliaments

MDGs included in the induction and orientation programme of only 29% of SADC

Parliaments

In only 29% of SADC Parliaments have CSOs come before Parliament to give evidence on

MDG related issues

Page 17: Mdgs  in parliament: watchdogs for development

Parliamentary Structures to fulfil the

Watchdog Role15% of SADC

Parliaments have created an MDG

Committee

85% of SADC Parliaments engage

through existing Committees

Cross Party Caucus or Group in 29% of SADC

Parliaments

Page 18: Mdgs  in parliament: watchdogs for development

Challenge 2 – Parliamentary Structures to be Effective Watchdogs for Development

Creates greater awareness of the MDGs amongst all Parliamentarians in the ParliamentMakes a clear public statement of the importance that Parliament attaches to the MDGsEnsures that draft legislation is justified with an MDG focus and can make tracking MDG related legislation easier

Creates a central MDG focal point within the Parliament as an Institution

Option 1: Creating a new MDG Committee

Page 19: Mdgs  in parliament: watchdogs for development

Challenge 2 – Parliamentary Structures to be Effective

Watchdogs for Development

Committees are usually well established;

Subject expertise built up within the Committee

Membership;

No need to change the Rules of Procedure to create a new

Committee;

Often more time to scrutinise than MDG Committees that

consider all MDG issues

Option 2: Engaging through existing Committees

Page 20: Mdgs  in parliament: watchdogs for development

Challenge 2 – Parliamentary Structures to be Effective Watchdogs for Development

Easier to establish and more flexible than creating a formal Parliamentary Committee

Forum for discussion on the MDGs in a less formal setting compared to a Parliamentary Committee

Can provide for regular interaction between Members of Parliament, CSOs and International Development Partners

Additional Option: Creating a cross party MDG Caucus or Group

Page 21: Mdgs  in parliament: watchdogs for development

Challenge 3 – Skills & Capacity to be Effective Watchdogs for

Development

Lack of knowledge

of MDGs

Lack of information

and expertise

Lack of time and

engagement

opportunities

Technical Nature of

the subject

STATISTICSHuman Rights Based

Approach