International Development CommitteeWritten evidence submitted by Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

Zambia

1. In response to the International Development Committee’s review of DfID’s programme in Zambia.

2. Parliamentary Strengthening should be integral to development assistance, as Parliament plays a central and crucial role in overseeing government policy, programmes and expenditure.

3. Zambia’s 2011 National Assembly Elections saw a substantial turnover resulting in approximately 60% new parliamentarians. There is a clear requirement to assist capacity building of Members of Parliament to ensure that their professional ability to work effectively in holding the government to account.

4. In January 2012 the new Speaker of the Zambian Parliament, Hon Justice Patrick Matibini QC visited Westminster. During discussions with Westminster colleagues (including Speaker Bercow, the Lord Speaker, the Clerk of the House of Commons and numerous other members of Parliament and parliamentary officials) he expressed a strong interest in establishing opportunities for Zambian Members of Parliament to undertake professional development training in order to establish an effective, credible and powerful National Assembly.

5. There is a clear role for the Westminster Parliament in supporting the Department for International Development’s priorities in Zambia. Member to Member peer exchanges (inter-parliamentary dialogue) are an effective capacity building mechanism for parliamentarians. Westminster is still perceived as “the mother of parliaments” in many Commonwealth countries, and the opportunity to develop best practice with support from Westminster parliamentarians and officials is a motivating and inspiring factor in itself. However, there is a requirement for a systematic rather than an ad hoc approach in assessing need, designing and delivering an appropriate programme taking into account the following:

6. Ownership—the programme should be “owned” by the Zambian Parliament, which has identified a need to improve capacity with support from partners.

7. Alignment—The programmes must be aligned with existing Government and Parliament development plans and strategic objectives. They must also be aligned with political and parliamentary timetables.

8. Harmonisation—an assessment of existing stakeholders in parliamentary assistance in Zambia, looking at areas of focus and priority.

9. Managing Results—Outputs and Outcomes will be monitored and evaluated.

10. In follow up to Speaker Matibini’s visit, the following suggestions have been forwarded by CPA UK to the Clerk of the Zambian Parliament:

(a)A two to three year programme which might include the subjects below and involve short working exchange visits of MPs and Clerks:

The roles of an MP	Holding the Executive to account and scrutiny	Communications within Parliament
Challenges facing new MPs	Committee work	Relationships with the media
Empowering women MPs	The role of the Whips	Relationships with Civil Society

Parliamentary Strengthening and the MDGS

11. For developing countries parliamentary strengthening is inextricably linked with development towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. The Africa APPG 2008 Report on Parliamentary Strengthening in Africa identified this as a crucial reason for strengthening parliament. Most aid is channelled through Governments and they have a responsibility to be accountable for its use of this money. For Governments to credit the role of parliaments in financial oversight and the budget process, parliamentarians must be seen as directly representing the taxpayer and have the operational capacity to provide transparency and accountability.

12. Working with partner parliaments in support of achieving the Millennium Development Goals is closely aligned with CPA UK strategic objectives.

March 2012