Transcript Parliamentary Engagement with the MDGs

Presentation by Dyfan Jones
International Expert on Parliamentary Development
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
“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
Viable democracy
and open society
depend on
effective
lawmaking,
oversight and
representation —
the three chief
functions of most
parliaments.
• 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
Executive
MDG
Taskforce
MDGs
International
Donors
Parliament
NGOs or
other service
delivery
partners
National Forum
• MDGs are for the whole country
• Parliaments should be the bodies to track progress
Representative
Body
• Parliaments are inclusive of various geographical areas and
different social or ethnic groups
• Parliaments are the voice of the people at national level
Catalyst
• Parliaments can be catalysts for accelerating progress
• Parliaments can provide the accountability needed
Already
Engaged
• Everyday there is engagement with the MDGs in Parliament
• Legislative role, oversight function, budget scrutiny,
representation
Legislation
ENGAGE
ENGAGE
Budget
Scrutiny
Oversight
ENGAGE
Representation
ENGAGE
The Role of
Parliaments
Budget
Scrutiny
Is the funding
available to
ensure that all
children are
vaccinated?
Enabling Law
Does the health law cover
the issue of child
vaccination?
MDG 4
Reducing
Child
Mortality
Representation &
Leadership
Can Civil Society Organisations and
citizens provide input into creating the
health law and give information from the
grassroots on implementation?
Oversight
Is the
vaccination
aspect of the
Health law
being properly
implemented?
• Annual MDG workplans
• Field Visits
Committees • Investigations and Reports
Plenary
Groups &
Caucuses
• Questions to Ministers / Executive
• Debates on key MDG issues
• Debate on the MDG Report
• Conferences & workshops
• Profile Raising
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
Lack of Information
Structural challenges within
Parliaments
Capacity and Skills of MPs and
staff
Induction and
Orientation
Committees
Library and
Resource
Centres
Caucus /
Group
Briefings
Parliamentary
Proceedings
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
15% 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
Option 1: Creating a new MDG Committee
Creates greater awareness of the MDGs amongst all
Parliamentarians in the Parliament
Makes a clear public statement of the importance that
Parliament attaches to the MDGs
Ensures 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 2: Engaging through existing Committees
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
Additional Option: Creating a cross party MDG Caucus or Group
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
Lack of
knowledge of
MDGs
Lack of
information
and expertise
Lack of time
and
engagement
opportunities
Technical
Nature of the
subject
Human Rights
Based Approach
STATISTICS