ANNUAL REPORT 2012
Better Parliaments, Stronger Democracies
AWEPA Annual Report 2012
Donors 2012 Production Notes Text AWEPA Staff Editing Marion Girard Cisneros, Marion Verweij, Theo Kralt Photos Katrin Verstraete, Loïc Whitmore, Marion Girard Cisneros, Peter Elamu, Sylvain Liechti, Tobin Jones, Italian Parliament Press Office Design Anton Miselaytes, Marion Girard Cisneros Printing Keizer en van Straten Translation 3ic International AWEPA International Prins Hendrikkade 48-G 1012 AC Amsterdam, the Netherlands Tel +31 20 5245678 Fax +31 20 6220130
amsterdam@awepa.org www.awepa.org ISBN: 9789078147176 ©AWEPA 2013
Cover Photo On 28 September 2012, African and European parliamentarians met in the Italian Parliament (Palazzo Montecitorio) to discuss the management of Africa’s natural resources towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Partners
Contents Acronyms 7 Message from the President 8 About AWEPA 10 European Sections 11 Programmes 14 Aid Effectiveness 15 Bridging the gap between Political Parties and Parliaments 16 Parliament of Burundi 17 Parliament of the Democratic Republic of Congo 19 An Empowered and Effective East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) 20 Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) 22 Parliamentary Forum of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (PF-ICGLR) 23 Strengthening Regional Parliaments Towards Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 25 Mozambique Strategic Vision Programme 26 Network of Women Parliamentarians of Central Africa (RFPAC) 28 Parliament of Rwanda 30
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Acronyms Supporting Legislative Institutions in Somalia 31 Strengthening Regional Parliamentary Capacity in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) 32 South African Provincial Legislatures (SAPL) 33 South Sudan’s Legislative Assembly (SSLA) and State Assemblies 34 South Sudan’s Legislative Assembly (SSLA) and Local Councils 36 Parliament of Uganda 37 Parliament of Zimbabwe 38 Partnership Council 40 Eminent Advisory Board 41 Governing Council 42 Executive Committee 43 Staff in 2012 44 AWEPA Offices 45 Financial Overview 2012 46
AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
ADA
Austrian Development Agency
MPs
Members of Parliament
AIDS
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
MPAC
Municipal Public Accounts Committee
AIID
Amsterdam Institute for International Development
NAC
National Audit Chamber
AWEPA
Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa
CAADP CBO
Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme Community Based Organisation
NCDO
National Committee forInternational Cooperation and Sustainable Development
NIMD
Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy
CEMAC CENAP CIP
Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa Conflict Alert and Prevention Centre Centre for Public Integrity
NLA
National Legislative Assembly
NGO
Non-Governmental Organisation
CSO
Civil Society Organisation
NUFFIC
Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education
DRC
Democratic Republic of the Congo
ODA
Official Development Assistance
EAC
East African Community
EALA
East African Legislative Assembly
OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
PAC
Committee on Public Accounts
PAP
Pan-African Parliament
PBIG
Post-Busan Interim Group
RACR
Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution
RFPAC
Réseau de Femmes Parlementaires d’Afrique Centrale
SADC
Southern African Development Community
SAPL
South Africa Provincial Legislatures
SAPST
Southern African Parliamentary Trust
SDC
Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency Tanzania Parliamentary AIDS Coalition
ECOWAS Economic Community Of West African States EFQM
European Foundation for Quality Management
EP
European Parliament
EU
European Union
FBO
Faith Based Organisation
FCO
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
FGM/C
Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting
FUSP
Frisian Urban Sanitation Programme
GNB
Girls Not Brides
GPEDC
Global Partnership for Economic Development Cooperation
SIDA TAPAC
HIV
Human Immunodeficiency Virus
UN
United Nations
HLF-4
Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness
ICT IDASA
Information and Communication Technology Institute for Democracy in South Africa
UNFCCC UNFPA
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change United Nations Population Fund
IPU
Inter-Parliamentary Union
UNICEF
United Nations Children’s Fund
MDGs
Millennium Development Goals
UNPOS
United Nations Political Office for Somalia
WP-EFF
Working Party on Aid Effectiveness
AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
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Message from the President
About Minister of State Ms. Miet Smet As a member of the Belgian, European and Flemish parliament for over 30 years, 14 of which she served as Minister for the Belgian government, Minister of State Miet Smet has played an important role in Belgian and European politics. During this time she has played a key role in equality in politics, environment and labour.
Minister of State, Ms. Miet Smet, President of AWEPA AWEPA is grateful to all our donors for the success of 2012. We are especially grateful always to the Swedish Development Agency (SIDA) for their longstanding support of AWEPA as an institution. Mid 2012 saw a new contract with Irish Aid, a percentage of which is also for institutional professionalisation. Without institutional support, AWEPA would not be able to carry out its work, as there are a lot of activities that are not directly related to programmes such as pre-contract research, the leadership bodies and communications. The Swiss Development Cooperation also provides institutional funding for the development of our Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and methodology, which have allowed for a greater professionalisation in these areas.
Her deep rooted urge to see equal opportunities for all, not only gender, but in all areas of human dignity, brought her into contact with AWEPA where having served two terms of office on the AWEPA Executive Committee, she was elected President in October 2009 via a unanimous vote of the AWEPA Governing Council. Married to fellow CD&V politician, the former Belgian Prime Minister and former Vice President of AWEPA, Wilfried Martens, Ms. Smet resides in Belgium where alongside her work for AWEPA continues to support society in a variety of ways.
AWEPA is also grateful to all our programme partners. During 2012, we entered into new strategic partnerships such as with Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD). We also signed new contracts such as one to assist in working towards peace and security in Zimbabwe with the support of the European Union, Sweden and the Netherlands. Within the long-established programmes such as our work funded by Belgium in Central Africa, or our newer programmes such as Somalia and South Sudan, funded by the European Union and the Netherlands, we continually strive to improve methodology and tailor our unique approach. Our thematic programmes, such as our Female Genital Mutilation programme funded by Luxembourg, continues to reap success. It is therefore with heartfelt appreciation that I thank all our donors for helping to champion human rights through the vital role parliaments play. The backbone of AWEPA is the European parliamentarians who give their time and effort to fulfil our mission and to help to keep Africa high on the political agenda in Europe, and facilitate African- European parliamentary dialogue. It is always a pleasure to see new members join us, and in 2012 we were pleased to welcome 90 new members. Throughout the year, members have been involved by offering their expertise in our activities from Benin to Mozambique, South Sudan to Democratic Republic of Congo.
AWEPA has been awarded the first level of certification titled Committed to Excellence from the European Framework for Quality Management (EFQM) Excellence Model. Over the next coming years, AWEPA will focus its efforts on achieving the second level of certification, Recognised for Excellence.
As of this year, the annual report of AWEPA will be presented on-line, allowing us to save money and paper and making it more readily available. The annual report strives to convey the work of AWEPA in a more visual and interactive manner to communicate a more complete picture of what was accomplished in the preceding year. The annual report can be found online at www.awepa.org.
Almost every issue facing parliamentarians today extends well beyond national boundaries which is why it is important that AWEPA activities are organised in national parliaments throughout Europe. During 2012, our collective European effort centred around the issue of natural resources. With the support of the Italian Chamber of Deputies and the co-operation of the Italian parliamentary Sub-Committee on Millennium Development Goals a seminar was held in September in Rome, Italy. The subject of discussion: “Managing Africa’s Natural Resources Towards Achieving the Millennium Development Goals, (MDGs)” served to promote a dialogue on the roles and responsabilities of both European and African parliamentarians in the management of natural resources, its importance for Africa’s development and to accelerate the attainment of the MDGs. Our European membership offer their expertise which is part of the uniqueness AWEPA has to offer. In the same way, the partnership we have with the major parliamentary organs in Africa adds great strength and integrity to our work, as well as adding quality. It was therefore also my pleasure at different points of the year to meet representatives of our major African partners and discuss ways forward together. Lastly, I would like to express my appreciation for the AWEPA staff. We have a professional and dedicated staff, all of whom work hard to fulfil the commitment we have to contribute to a better world. It is an honour to work with such committed people.
AWEPA is on the list of Official Development Assistance (ODA) Eligible Organisations of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development/Development Assistance Committee (OECD/DAC).
AWEPA has Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
Ms. Miet Smet, Minister of State, President of AWEPA
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AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
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The European Programme The European Programme is instrumental to AWEPA’s work. AWEPA has a broad network of parliamentarians and former parliamentarians from across Europe, with over 1700 members from parliaments from almost all EU member states, including the European Parliament, Norway and Switzerland. These members are grouped into a Section within their respective parliaments.
The headquarters of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) Parliament in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, saw the signing of a cooperation agreement between CEMAC and AWEPA in February.
About AWEPA
The Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa (AWEPA) works in cooperation with African parliaments to strengthen parliamentary democracy in Africa, keep Africa high on the political agenda in Europe, and facilitate African-European parliamentary dialogue. Strong parliaments lie at the heart of Africa’s long-term development; they serve as the arbiters of peace, stability and prosperity. AWEPA strives to strengthen African parliaments and promote human dignity. AWEPA has served as a unique tool for complex democratisation operations at the Pan-African level and from the horn to the cape. The pillars that support AWEPA’s mission include: • A membership skills base of more than 1700 European parliamentarians, who devote their wide-ranging expertise to peer-learning with African colleagues; • Long-term partnerships with African parliamentary colleagues, which ensure local ownership and accountability; • An infrastructure of political and parliamentary entry points, which span 8 African and 2 European offices, as well as 25 parliaments in Africa and 28 in Europe, including the PanAfrican Parliament and the European Parliament.
AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
AWEPA’s overarching goal is to eradicate poverty and support the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through the realisation of human rights, democracy and development in Africa. AWEPA aims to achieve this objective by promoting: • • • • •
parliamentary competency and authority good governance based on a separation of powers increased participation of women in decision-making participation of civil society in the political process independent and qualified media, as a component of the democratic process
AWEPA is an international parliamentary association that is strictly non-partisan. AWEPA has Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council and is on the list of ODA Eligible Organisations of OECD/DAC. •
African and European parliamentarians discussing the management of Africa’s natural resources towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals, on the occasion of the EU Presidency Seminar held at the Italian Chamber of Deputies (Palazzo Montecitorio) in September. Page 10
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AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
European Sections Background AWEPA is an international non-partisan association of parliamentarians, founded by three European parliamentarians in 1984. Currently, AWEPA has expanded into an extensive European parliamentary network with more than 1,800 current and former parliamentarians representing almost every EU member state, as well as the European Parliament, Norway and Switzerland. AWEPA members represent the range of parties across the political spectrum. They are organised according to a Section within their respective parliaments. Each Section elects a Chair who also represents the Section in the AWEPA Governing Council. A number of AWEPA members are also appointed as the Political Coordinator or Senior Parliamentary Advisor and contribute politically to the development and implementation of AWEPA’s programmes and activities. Objective AWEPA seeks to inform and mobilise its members and other European parliamentarians on policy issues in African-European relations, development cooperation and democratisation in Africa. Through its members and Sections, AWEPA strives to keep Africa high on the political agenda in Europe and to facilitate African-European parliamentary dialogue and partnerships at national, regional and continental levels. The mission of AWEPA’s European Sections programme is: • to facilitate productive knowledge-sharing and stronger cooperation between African and European parliamentarians, and among African parliamentarians;
• to address issues that range from development cooperation to accountability for and local ownership of aid programmes; • to encourage and enable parliamentarians in Europe to increase parliamentary action in areas of development cooperation and thus contribute to sustainable and democratic development in Africa. Impacts • In 2012, 90 new members joined AWEPA from the following parliaments: the European Parliament, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden. Specific focus was given to significantly strengthening the Italian and the Dutch AWEPA Sections; • European parliamentary engagement and peer-learning with African colleagues took place through AWEPA’s institutional and thematic capacity building programmes with African parliaments at national and regional levels; • European parliamentary engagement, lobbying and action took place on thematic issues such as: increased aid and development effectiveness; the abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C); the management of Africa’s natural resources for the advancement of its economies; the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. Example Activity Dutch parliamentarians exchange views to take action against FGM/C. 19 June 2012. The Hague, The Netherlands. The Dutch Section of AWEPA organised an expert meeting on the abandonment of FGM/C. This event was made possible by the National Committee for International Cooperation and Sustainable Development (NCDO). Hon. Kathleen Ferrier, Parliamentarian and former Head of the Netherlands AWEPA Section, hosted the meeting which took place at the Dutch House of Representatives. Members of the Dutch Parliament, policy makers, diplomats and Dutch-based organisations gathered to revive the political debate on the causes and consequences of the practise for many young girls worldwide. They spoke about how FGM/C goes against the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The practise seriously compromises their health and has deep psychological effects which result in broader social and development implications. In addition, the participants looked at initiatives that can be taken by Dutch parliamentarians in order to support FGM/C abandonment.
Chaired by Kathleen Ferrier, Dutch MPs exchange views on taking action against FGM/C in June. The Hague, The Netherlands. AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
From left to right: Hon. Abdi, Ms. Smet, Hon. Barbi and Hon. Zziwa at the Italian Parliament meeting with the newly reformed Italian AWEPA Section in September.
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AWEPA Section Highlights 2012 Dutch Political Parties Working Together for Women’s Rights On 2 July 2012, Dutch Members of Parliament Hon. Kathleen Ferrier (CDA), Hon. Ingrid de Caluwé (VVD), Hon. Jeroen de Lange (PvdA), Hon. Mariko Peters (Green), Hon. Harry van Bommel (SP), Hon. Wassila Hachchi (D66) and Hon. Joël Voordewind (Christian Union) signed the Gender Multiparty Initiative in the House of Representatives, by which they declared a common commitment to equal opportunities and rights of women worldwide. European Parliament Urges Member States to Act Against Female Genital Mutilation On 14 June 2012, the European Parliament renewed its commitment to end FGM/C, through a joint resolution passed with an overwhelming majority. The EP called on member states to meet their international obligations to end FGM/C through prevention, protection measures and legislation. The EP also reminded the European Commission of its commitment to develop a strategy to combat violence against women, both within the European Union and with its relations with third countries. Page 13
Managing Africa’s Natural Resources: Towards Achieving the Millennium Development Goals On 28 September 2012, African and European parliamentarians met in the Italian Parliament (Palazzo Montecitorio) to discuss the management of Africa’s natural resources towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Parliamentarians are key in ensuring sound natural resource revenues, in monitoring the oversight of natural resources management and implementing effective legislation to protect national collective interests. “We need necessary instruments to secure the future in the long term” said Speaker Fini. “Good intentions risk being dead if not attached to strong parliaments”. A political statement on the management of natural resources was adopted by delegations from the Pan-African Parliament, four regional parliaments in Africa and 16 parliaments from around Europe along with international experts, African diplomatic representatives, financial institutions, academics, NGOs and representatives of the private sector. In the statement a range of actions and policies were defined that the parliamentarians in Europe and Africa committed to, towards ensuring sound natural resource management to contribute to achieving the MDGs. In addition, the Italian AWEPA Section was re-established, with Hon. Enrico Pianetta as Head of Section. AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
Programmes AWEPA currently works with 25 parliaments in Africa through jointly agreed institutional and thematic capacity building programmes. These include national parliaments, continental and regional parliamentary institutions, as well as decentralised authorities. For a full list of AWEPA’s activities, please visit www.awepa.org or see the 2012 AWEPA Financial Report.
AWEPA participated in different meetings of the Steering Committee of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation.
Aid Effectiveness Donors Austrian Development Agency (ADA) Irish AID Political Coordinators Lord Chidgey, United Kingdom Hon. Maureen O’Sullivan, Ireland Senior Parliamentary Advisor Hon. Franz Glaser, Austria Background
Exhibition of the Royal Drummers of Burundi for the opening session of the Burundian Diaspora conference, co-organised by AWEPA.
AWEPA co-organized the Parliamentary Forum at the High-Level Forum held in Busan in late 2011. Based on the commitments made in the Busan Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation it was agreed that a structure known as the Post-Busan Interim Group (PBIG) would prepare the way for the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC). AWEPA, in partnership with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), engaged closely in the the Post-Busan Interim Group (PBIG) process, and participated in the subsequent Global Partnership Steering Committee meetings. Objective
Please note: Political coordinators and Senior Parliamentary Advisors mentioned per programme reflect 2013. Page 14
AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
This activity area was designed to enable parliaments from the SADC region, and Africa more broadly, to play a more catalytic role in implementing the Busan agenda. The Aid Effectiveness programme AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
brings to the attention of the OECD and other stakeholders the concerns of SADC parliaments, African regional parliamentary bodies and the Pan-African Parliament, regarding their ownership and accountability roles in aid effectiveness and development cooperation. Impacts Over the course of this timeframe, AWEPA and IPU have paved the way for meaningful parliamentary engagement in the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation structures going forward, and raised the awareness of the significance of parliaments to other stakeholders, in relation to aid and development effectiveness. Example Activity Meeting of the Post-Busan Interim Group (PBIG). 21-22 May 2012. Paris, France. The third meeting of the PBIG took place on 21-22 May in Paris. It marked the final stretch of the Group’s work to negotiate proposals for the governance and monitoring framework of the GPEDC, which was to be presented to the Working Party on Aid Effectiveness (WPEFF) for agreement in its final plenary meeting on 28-29 June. It was at the third meeting of the PBIG that members endorsed parliamentary representation on the Steering Committee of the Global Partnership and asked the IPU- as the most global representative parliamentary institution- to nominate a representative. IPU and AWEPA continue to cooperate closely and share representational responsibilities within the work of the Steering Committee.
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Bridging the Gap Between Political Parties and Parliaments Donors Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs via the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD)
• cultural and behavioural change through political party support. The programme follows a multiparty and non-partisan approach and is based on the principles of national ownership, flexibility and gender equality. Benin is the first country in which the strategic cooperation has been launched. Objective
Political Coordinator
AWEPA and NIMD’s partnership aims at:
Hon. Henk Jan Ormel, the Netherlands
• strengthening multiparty and parliamentary democratic systems through dialogue; • improving the institutional capacity of Political Parties and parliaments; • enhancing the representativeness of Political Parties and parliaments, by reinforcing the link between political actors, civil society and citizens; • ensuring that the interests of the different groups are adequately represented (for instance those of women and girls).
Background AWEPA and the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) joined forces formally in 2011 in a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening Political Parties, parliaments and the party-parliament nexus. The overall objective is to contribute to the development of pluralistic democratic societies through a participatory decision-making process grounded on a solid multi-party system and the work of a strong parliament. The partnership between AWEPA and NIMD, launched in 2011 and developed in 2012, rests on the ambition to link two streams of democracy support, targeting: • democratic structure and procedural reform through parliamentary capacity building and;
Impacts The following preliminary outcomes can be attributed to the programme: • Members of Parliament and political party officials in Benin
have engaged in dialogue on the country’s governance challenges and prioritised actions to be taken in the coming year; • in Benin, a Steering Committee has been established to ensure national ownership and serve as a first dialogue platform among political forces; • regional needs assessment of women’s participation in politics has highlighted prevailing problems and potential solutions to counter traditional gender roles and promote equality; • cooperation in Tanzania led to increased harmonisation among the two parliamentary women’s groups and TAPAC (Tanzania Parliamentary AIDS Coalition) and a joint proposal for future resource mobilisation. Example Activity Benin programme launch workshop. 10-11 October 2012. Cotonou, Benin. In October 2012, AWEPA and NIMD formerly launched their strategic cooperation programme in Cotonou, Benin. In her opening statement, AWEPA’s President, Ms. Miet Smet, reaffirmed AWEPA’s commitment to the strengthening of African legislatures stating that “strong parliaments lie at the heart of Africa’s development and prosperity” and that “to support parliaments is to support democracy”. NIMD Supervisory Council member and former Dutch Minister of Defence, Eimert Van Middelkoop, insisted on the value of trust in politics and mutual respect. Members of parliament and political party representatives strongly welcomed AWEPA’s renewed engagement with the National Assembly of Benin and stressed the relevance of the programme’s support to the latter and to Benin’s highly polarised party system. The main outcome of the launch workshop was the establishment of a Steering Committee composed of Members of Parliament and representatives of all Political Parties.
Opening Session of the Burundian Parliament.
Parliament of Burundi Donor Belgium Ministry of Foreign Affairs Political Coordinator Ms. Lydia Maximus, Belgium Background It is widely acknowledged that AWEPA has played a role in every important political moment in Burundi since the mid-1990s. From 1996 to 1998, AWEPA supported the National Assembly’s effort to partner with the Burundi government, which was ultimately successful. This partnership enabled talks with major political actors to take place, which led to the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement in 2000 and to subsequent cease-fire agreements with armed political movements. AWEPA also supported Burundi’s electoral process in 2005 and 2010. For the past 18 years, AWEPA facilitated the Burundian transnational justice mechanisms. In particular, since 2009, AWEPA has supported the permanent dialogue framework between senators and local councillors. Objectives
Hon. Hélène Aholou Kèkè, President of the Law Committee of the National Assembly of Benin, during the programme launch.
Ms. Smet (AWEPA) and Mr. Van Middelkoop (NIMD) are received by Benin’s National Assembly Speaker, Hon. Nago. AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
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In 2012, AWEPA’s main objective in Burundi and the surrounding region was to assist in the prevention of pending and the management of past conflicts. In order to pursue these goals AWEPA sought to strengthen national and local Members of Parliament’s capacity and develop parliamentary diplomacy mechanisms. By organising more parliamentary days on major national issues, AWEPA enaAWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
resentatives about the political opposition bill. Stakeholders were able to contribute in drafting the bill, which was thereafter approved and thus met a broad national consensus. After a discussion about neighbouring countries, where the status of political opposition is already determined, the discourse focused on the existence of the opposition in Burundi, the need to amend the current Constitution, possible coalitions for the upcoming 2015 elections, the viability of banning certain Political Parties in Burundi and respect for democratic principles.•
Parliament of the Democratic Republic of Congo
AWEPA’s main objective in DRC is strengthening the capacities of the bicameral Parliament, which is composed of a lower Chamber the National Assembly, and an upper Chamber – the Senate. More specifically, the objectives of the AWEPA program in DRC in 2012 were: • to establish the needs of the DRC Parliament; • to organize a series of outreach activities to the attention of parliamentarians and members of the administration of the National Assembly; • to reinforce women parliamentarians capacities in the perspective of provincial and local elections; • to promote parliamentary diplomacy, and in particular, to facilitate meetings between parliamentarians from DRC and Rwanda.
Donor Belgium Ministry of Foreign Affairs From left to right: Mr. Mfuranzima, AWEPA representative in Burundi, M. Ndayiziga, Director of CENAP, Ms. Lydia Maximus, Political Coordinator for the AWEPA Burundi programme, Hon. Ntisezerana, Speaker of the Burundian Senate and Hon. Ntavyohanyuma, Speaker of the Burundian National Assembly.
Political Coordinator Hon. François-Xavier de Donnea, Belgium Senior Parliamentary Advisor Hon. Sabine de Bethune, Belgium
bled exchanges between parliamentarians, members of all Political Parties and leaders of civil society organisations, both of women’s groups and the general population. Important topics such as decentralisation, the permanent dialogue framework of senators and local councillors, the establishment of transitional justice mechanisms, political preparation for the 2015 elections and government action monitoring were discussed. As in other programmes, AWEPA aims to offer a platform for dialogue while it also secures the basis of democracy by promoting human rights and contributing to the efforts of reconciliation and peace-building on a national and regional scale. Impacts The following outcomes can be attributed to actions carried out in 2012 as part of the support programme to the Parliament of Burundi: • Parliament adopted a law acknowledging the status of the political opposition in Burundi, as was announced by the President of the Republic on 14 November 2012; • a national conference, co-organised by AWEPA in Bujumbura in June 2012, assembled the worldwide Burundian diasporas AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
which are now officially committed to supporting local development; The conference was attended by 140 Burundians from more than 20 countries; • all senators in Burundi established direct contact with all communal bureaus throughout the country in order to establish good governance, democracy and sustainable development in Burundi; • contact with neighbouring parliaments increased, strengthening regional cohesion; • knowledge of decentralisation was improved and skills were transferred from the state to the municipalities, based on the visit of Burundian parliamentarians to Rwanda in September 2012. Example Activity Workshop on the status of the political opposition law in Burundi. 28 March 2012, Bujumbura, Burundi. This initiative, organised in collaboration with CENAP (Burundi’s Conflict Alert and Prevention Centre), enabled the Burundian Parliament to inform civil society, political actors and religious repPage 18
Background After consultations with the Congolese Parliament and donors in 2011, the Democratic Republic of Congo Programme achieved almost all of its successes in the context of conflict prevention, particularly through parliamentary diplomacy and capacity building.
Hon. Higiro, Secretary General of the Forum, addresses the Forum of Parliaments of the Member States of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR-PF) in November. Kinshasa, DRC.
The partnership between AWEPA and the Parliament of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was founded in 1999. Since then, AWEPA has cooperated with the National Assembly and the Senate, and has developed activities with four provincial Legislative Assemblies.
Impacts
AWEPA’s role has been to work jointly with the parliament of the DRC in supporting its main functions and in supporting both capacity building and parliamentary diplomacy. On the one hand, capacity building activities aim at strengthening Legislative Assemblies by the means of seminars and workshops, and develop the skills of specific actors (elected national parliamentarians, elected provincial deputies and women parliamentarians). On the other hand, parliamentary diplomacy targets conflict prevention and resolution.
AWEPA was able to develop a parliamentary cooperation plan with both Houses of the Parliament to strengthen its capacity to undertake parliamentary diplomacy and contribute to the management of conflicts in the Great Lakes region. This programme was facilitated within the multilateral framework of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR). AWEPA’s parliamentary cooperation plan constitutes a strong foundation for further bilateral meetings to take place between members of the DRC Parliament and those of neighboring Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi to share views in order to find solutions to issues that currently oppose governments.
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AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
Example Activity Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Parliamentary Forum of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLRPF). November 2012. Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Delegates of the concerned Parliaments were able to exchange views not only on the functioning of the Forum, but also on the state of bilateral relations. A delegation from the Parliaments of Rwanda and DRC attended the meeting and agreed on the ambitious agenda of the Plenary Assembly, which took place three months later, also in Kinshasa. Among other aspects, the agenda of the Plenary Assembly included an analysis of the root causes of the conflict in eastern DRC, the situation between the Republic of Sudan and South Sudan and also the impact of the Lord’s Resistance Army in the Central African Republic.•
presence and engage with legislative and development concerns in East Africa. The EAC’s integration agenda gives EALA this mandate, as specified by the EAC Treaty. Objectives In line with the vision of a prosperous, competitive, secure and politically united EAC, the programme aims to contribute to accelerated, harmonious and balanced development and continued democratisation in East Africa. The programme seeks to empower EALA to effectively fulfil its legislative, representative and oversight mandate, particularly in matters related to improving the EAC integration process and increasing cooperation among EAC Partner States in political, economic, social and cultural fields. Such activities are geared toward the mutual benefit of the EAC Partner States and their citizens. The programme seeks to implement legislation that is important to EAC integration, which would
be mutually beneficial for the Community and the Partner States. Another goal of the programme is that the EAC inhabitants are made aware of the integration process and its role in their lives. Impacts The enactment of EALA’s mandate: • enhanced EALA’s legislative role and improved oversight; • effectively reached out to and represented civil society; • effectively connected with the National Assemblies of Partner States as well as other African and non-African Parliaments. Moreover, the 2nd Assembly concluded their legislative and oversight work on reports and bills in the form of public hearings, auditing of laws, EAC auditing and site visits, interaction with civil society and interaction with National Assemblies through the Speakers’ Bureau. The 3rd Assembly focused on building the capacity of the standing Committees in order to enact a smooth transition, since strong Committees are essential to the effectiveness of a Parliament in implementing its powers. Example Activity Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution Committee Public Hearings. April 2012. Kenya and Uganda.
An Empowered and Effective East African Legislative Assembly (EALA)
The Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution (RACR) Committee held public hearings on pastoralist border communities in Kenya and Uganda. The objective was to appreciate and lobby for pastoralists’ issues in both countries and to enable pastoralist communities to influence policy, legislative processes and attitudes at the local and East African Community level. The results of the meetings led the RACR Committee to offer a number of recommendations. These recommendations were compiled in a report that was tabled at the EALA Plenary in May 2012. Strategies were developed for raising and sharing pastoralists’ concerns with EALA, Kenyan National Assembly and Uganda Assembly members. These actions will lead to the promotion of pastoralism as a viable livelihood.•
Donors Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) via the Embassy of Sweden, Nairobi, Kenya Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway via the Embassy of Sweden, Nairobi, Kenya Political Coordinators Hon. Kerstin Lundgren, Sweden Senior Parliamentary Advisor Hon. Kerstin Engle, Sweden Ms. Katharine Bulbulia, Ireland Background
Villagers head for Ugandan border as unrest in DRC continues. UN Photo/Sylvain Liechti
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Since 2002, the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) and AWEPA have implemented programmes to develop EALA’s capacity in the region. EALA was founded in 2001 and functions as the legislative organ of the East African Community (EAC). EALA has 52 members, 45 of whom are elected to their position (nine from each of the five Partner States) and seven ex-officio members. The 3rd Assembly was inaugurated in June 2012 and seeks to consolidate the achievements of the 1st and 2nd Assembly: to maintain a regional AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
In June, elections were held for the office of the Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA). After several years of exceptionally good understanding with former Speaker Hon. Abdirahin H. Abdi, we are now pleased to welcome Hon. Margaret Nantongo Zziwa as the new Speaker.
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AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
consequences of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting. In Africa it is estimated that more than 90 million girls from ten years of age and above have undergone FGM/C. Along with international migration, FGM/C has become an issue of increasing concern in Europe as well. To successfully promote the abandonment of FGM/C, legislation for repression and care must be accompanied by a strong effort of information, providing sensitisation and education within the communities where FGM/C is practiced. Awareness-raising must take place at all levels, from governments to elected officials, from local administrations to traditional chiefs and religious leaders, women and youth organisations as well as of course the communities concerned. It is also crucial to continue implementing support measures for victims and finding alternative employment opportunities for women whose main income depends on the practice. As for Europe, cultural relativism must be avoided at all times. The same standard (e.g. human rights) must apply to women with different cultural backgrounds as to European women. After a successful partnership in 2011, AWEPA cooperated again in 2012 with UNFPA and UNICEF towards the abandonment of FGM/C in the context of their joint programme Female Genital Mutilation: Accelerating Change. Objectives AWEPA co-organised two public audiences in northern Burkina Faso to exchange views with the citizens on the issue of FGM/C.
Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Programme Donor Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs via the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Political Coordinator Hon. Els van Hoof, Belgium Senior Political Advisor Hon. Petra Bayr, Austria Background Worldwide around 100 to 140 million women are suffering the AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
The overall objective of AWEPA’s FGM/C programme is the abandonment of the practice of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in Africa and Europe within a generation. The purpose of the programme is to enhance the capacity of selected African parliaments – initially Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal - to exercise their oversight, representative and legislative functions with regard to the practices of FGM/C. The programme focusses on one hand on FGM/C legislation and the monitoring of its implementation, and on the other hand on education and sensitisation from a community-based approach. Impacts • parliamentarians in Burkina Faso and Mali are more aware of the issue of FGM/C in general and the cross-border FGM/C issue between Burkina Faso and Mali specifically; • parliamentarians in Burkina Faso are better equipped to contribute to the drafting of the law on violence against women, including FGM/C; • sharing of experience and expertise between African and European parliamentarians has increased mutual understanding and political will for cooperation; • increased interaction between CSOs, citizens in Burkina Faso and African/European parliamentarians on the issue of FGM/C; • there is a strengthened dialogue on the topic between Page 22
Parliamentary Forum of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (PF-ICGLR) Donors Belgium Ministry on Foreign Affairs Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) In April, Hon. Dominique Tilmans met local women in the Yatenga province (Burkina Faso) on the occasion of public audiences regarding the abandonment of FGM/C.
Political Coordinators Hon. Alain Destexhe, Belgium Ms. Therese Frösch, Switzerland
parliamentarians and local leaders; • the parliamentary handbook “Guidelines for parliamentarians: abandoning Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting” has been published and disseminated; • as a follow up to the parliamentary meeting on the abandonment of FGM/C in June 2012, Dutch Members of Parliament signed in July 2012 the Gender Multiparty Initiative, by which they declared a common commitment to equal opportunities and rights of women worldwide. In addition, two Parliamentarians tabled two motions on violence against women and on FGM/C which were adopted in the Dutch Parliament on 5 July 2012; • related to the issue of FGM/C, AWEPA established in 2012 a partnership with the Girls Not Brides (GNB) Campaign. GNB is a campaign with a mission to end another harmful traditional practice, that of child marriage. Example Activity Seminar on the role of parliamentarians in the abandonment of FGM/C. April 2012. Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. In April 2012, the National Assembly of Burkina Faso, in cooperation with AWEPA, organised a National Workshop entitled Le rôle des parlementaires dans l’abandon des mutilations génitales féminines/ excisions (MGF/E) (the role of parliamentarians in the abandonment of FGM/C). Nearly 40 parliamentarians participated, as well as representatives from the government, the National Council, local NGOs, as well as UNFPA and UNICEF. The First Lady of Burkina Faso, Ms. Chantal Compaoré, was present and opened the workshop. The main outcome of the workshop was the adoption of proposed “Key parliamentary actions” that Members of Parliament can undertake to favour FGM abandonment. Following the workshop, a group of parliamentarians led public consultations in two villages in the province of Yatenga, organised jointly with local NGOs, to exchange views with the citizens on the issue of FGM/C.• Page 23
Background In 2006, the Joint Secretariat “United Nations - African Union” requested AWEPA to facilitate parliamentary activities related to the Pact on Security, Stability and Development of the Great Lakes Region. The aim was to allow the ownership and the ratification of the Pact by the country members of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR). Furthermore, parliaments had not been sufficiently involved in the process and parliamentarian action was required for the ratification of the above mentioned pact. AWEPA, in collaboration with the Executive Secretariat of the ICGLR, facilitated meetings of the Steering Committee in charge of the creation of a Parliamentary Forum. This Forum was formed with the aim of working on a framework of dialogue between parliamentary institutions while supporting the efforts of their governments for achieving the goals of the Pact. Since its creation in 2008, the Forum addresses content issues which are discussed by the Heads of State and Government in the context of conflict management. Objectives The main objective of the Programme is to contribute to the prevention of conflicts through parliamentary diplomacy and capacity building of the Forum’s secretariat. In 2012, the Forum focused on illegal exploitation of natural resources as well as active or latent conflicts. In addition, AWEPA facilitates the meetings of the Executive Committee and the Plenary Sessions of the Forum, in compliance with the objectives of the Pact on security, stability and development. The 3rd Plenary Session of the Forum took place in January 2013. Impacts The following outcomes can be attributed to actions carried out in 2012 as part of the support programme to the Parliamentary Forum AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
of the International Conference on the Great Lakes (ICGLR-PF):
Example Activity
• AWEPA contributed to the organisation of the statutory activities of the Parliamentary Forum. The Executive Committee meeting held in November 2012 had the task of establishing an agenda for the Plenary Assembly to be held three months later. • the AWEPA Programmes in DRC, Rwanda and the Great Lakes region as a whole created a synergy which facilitated the meeting of DRC and Rwandan parliamentarians in the framework of the Parliamentary Forum; • a delegation of DRC and Rwandan parliamentarians met in the Executive Committee of the ICGLR-PF and agreed on the ambitious agenda of the Plenary Assembly. At the Assembly, Congolese and Rwandan delegates met for the first time to discuss the volatile situation in eastern DRC. Furthermore, the venue allowed delegates from North and South Sudan to further dialogue in view of finding constructive and peaceful solutions. • in order to contribute to peace, security and development in the Great Lakes region, meetings between DRC and Rwandan parliamentarian delegations have been scheduled to continue taking place in the future.
Plenary Assembly of the Parliamentary Forum of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region. The most important activity of this AWEPA Programme during 2012 was the co-organisation of the Plenary Assembly of the Forum together with the Forum General Secretariat and the DRC Parliament. Attended by seven speakers, all the Forum parliamentarians and a delegation of South Sudanese parliamentarians, the Plenary Assembly allowed the participants to address important common issues and make strong resolutions. The several debates resulted in the adoption of a Declaration and the following five Resolutions: • • • •
on the security situation in the Central African Republic; on the security situation in eastern DRC; on the security situation in Sudan and South Sudan; on sexual violence based on gender in the Great Lakes region and; • on the parliamentary follow up of the decisions taken by the Heads of State and Government of the ICGLR.•
Strengthening Regional Parliaments Towards Achieving the Millennium Development Goals Donors Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) Political Coordinator Hon. Holger Gustafsson, Sweden Senior Political Advisor Hon. Wolfgang Pirklhuber, Austria Background In September 2010, world leaders gathered in New York to reaffirm their commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and evaluate progress. With the 2015 target date only a couple of years away the campaign results are spread unevenly across the continents, with least achievement in Africa. Certain goals are still achievable, but good governance is required to achieve the set objectives. Unfortunately, there is a striking lack of systematic engagement of elected representatives of the affected populations in the process of policy formulation and implementation. African parliamentarians face the daunting task of providing oversight of legislation, policies and development funds towards the MDGs without access to research on policy impacts, information on budgets allocations and foreign aid flows. Through the MDG Programme, AWEPA aims at capacitating parliamentarians, thereby strengthening evidence-based policy dialogues and parliamentary democracy as a means towards Africa’s achievement of the MDGs over 2011-2015. In 2012, discussions to shape the post-2015 development agenda gained momentum, but only an inclusive consultative process will ensure that all actors, including parliaments, are involved in its implementation, monitoring and, eventually, its success. Objectives The overall objective of the MDG Programme is to contribute to the realisation of democracy, poverty reduction and sustainable development in Africa through supporting the capacity development of regional African Parliaments (PAP, CEMAC Parliament, EALA, ECOWAS Parliament, SADC-PF), and through promoting a better understanding among European parliamentarians of the challenges for achieving the MDGs in Africa. Achieving the Millennium Develop-
Plenary Assembly of the Forum of Parliaments of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region. January, Kinshasa, DRC. AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
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In April, AWEPA and EALA hosted a seminar on the integration of children and youth in East African societies. Nairobi, Kenya. ment Goals is contingent upon supporting locally-owned solutions for poverty eradication, enhancing transparency and accountability of governance frameworks, reinforcing regional integration and peer-learning mechanisms. It also entails that policy makers at the national, regional and international levels acknowledge the crucial role of Members of Parliament in attaining most of the MDGs targets and sub-targets, as well as the role of policy coherence in Europe. Impacts • Discussions and recommendations made within regional parliaments are taken increasingly into account in the international MDG-related policy debate; • a number of activity recommendations and communiqués were tabled for plenary discussions and adopted by regional parliamentary bodies, including on the sustainable development of the Lake Chad basin, on making agricultural investment work in West Africa and on Youth Employment in the East African Community (EAC) region; • regional parliaments were invited to consultation meetings to shape the post-2015 development agenda; • increased engagement from parliamentarians of the PanAfrican Parliament (PAP) in the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP); • strengthened North-South dialogue through the exchange of lessons learned on the fair management of natural resources. Example Activity Parliamentary Seminar on the integration of children and youth in East African societies. April 2012. Nairobi, Kenya. In April 2012, AWEPA and the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) hosted the seminar “Towards Parliamentary Action for Integration of Children and Youth in East African Societies”, which AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
facilitated an open discussion about the current state of youth and children-related policies in the region as far as education and employment are concerned, and brought about a series of recommendations to enhance the role of regional parliaments in youth empowerment. The two-day seminar was attended by parliamentarians from EALA and from other regional parliaments. Commitments were made to monitor the implementation of the laws, charters and declarations related to the well-being of youth as well as to promote a structured dialogue and a consultation process with East African institutions to ensure the coherence of youth-related policies. •
on training members of Political Parties and journalists on the new electoral law and their role as electoral observers. In addition, AWEPA collaborates with the Frisian Urban Sanitation Project (FUSP) in partnership with the Ministry of State Administration and the Mozambican National Water Directorate. FUSP is a consortium of Dutch Water Partners (Water Board Fryslân, Vitens Water Company, Province of Fryslân, and the Association of Frisian Municipalities) which aims to address the sanitation and hygiene challenges in urban and peri-urban areas of Mozambique. Objectives
Mozambique Strategic Vision Programme Donors Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) via Diakonia The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Maputo, Mozambique Austrian Development Agency via North South Dialogue (GEZA) The Frisian Urban Sanitation Programme (FUSP) Political Coordinator Hon. Bodil Ceballos, Sweden Senior Parliamentary Advisor Ms. Maria Antonia Avilés Perea, Spain Background AWEPA has been supporting the democratic process in Mozambique since 1992. While starting with major civic education programmes and election observation projects, it shifted its focus to capacity building programmes for elected organs in the past ten years. AWEPA Mozambique works in the framework of its Multi-Annual Programme, which consists of four components: the Parliamentary Programme, the Local Government Programme, the Political Parties Programme as well as Research and Publications. Cross cutting issues such as HIV/AIDS, Gender and Child Rights form an integral part of the programmes. In 2012, significant laws were approved to enhance good governance and transparency in Mozambique. The Parliament prepared five laws to amend the electoral legislation that will pave the way for municipal elections in 2013, and national elections in 2014. Therefore the focus for AWEPA’s Mozambique programme in 2013 will be Page 26
The aim of the programme in Mozambique is to contribute to the development of a democratic process, with properly functioning democratic institutions, a fair knowledge of and respect for the rule of law and human rights, for the benefit of the Mozambican citizens. AWEPA works in cooperation with different partners, primarily with the Parliament, Municipalities, Provincial Assemblies and Political Parties, by building their capacities and by creating opportunities for the exchange of information and best practices. AWEPA’s work in Mozambique is built around three main axes: • Parliamentary programme: AWEPA contributes to strengthening the capacity of the Parliament to perform its oversight, legislative and representative roles more effectively and to oversee government spending; • Local Government Programme: AWEPA contributes to strengthening the capacity of Municipal and Provincial Assemblies to perform their oversight, legislation and representation roles more effectively in general, and to enforce accountability and transparency of government spending; • Political Parties Programme: AWEPA contributes to strengthening the capacities of Political Parties in order to participate more effectively in the multiparty democratic process during non-electoral and electoral periods and to build a constructive relationship between Members of Parliament and Parties.
Exchange visit of the Committee of Petitions of the Mozambican Parliament to the Gästrike Återvinnare (environmental and recycling plant), in Sweden, in November. The delegates learned about the Swedish waste system of collection, separation and treatment, planning, taxes and fees.
•
•
Impacts In total, 980 people participated in the activities organised by AWEPA in 2012. The following impacts can be attributed to the capacity building actions of AWEPA’s parliamentary programme in Mozambique: • parliamentarians’ institutional capacity was enhanced, especially in terms of parliamentary administration and regulations, as well as Information and Communication Technologies (ICT); • parliamentarian’s representative function was stimulated AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
• •
through an exchange visit of the Committee of Petitions to Sweden; Mozambican legislators gained information on matters dealing with the concerns of the citizens; parliamentarians strengthened their skills and gained knowledge on legislation through two seminars: a seminar to review with the Committee of Constitutional Affairs, Human Rights and Legality, and a seminar to sensitize the Committee of Social Affairs, Gender and Environment on the new family law. Moreover, journalists were introduced to the Mozambican Penal Code; targeted Parliamentary Committees were sensitised to specific international or national laws. The Women Parliamentary Cabinet was sensitised on unsafe abortion, while the Committee of Planning and Budgeting was sensitised on the operationalisation of the Busan recommendations; the parliamentary oversight function was strengthened through the training of parliamentarians on development aid monitoring; after attending the 31st session of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, held in Maputo, parliamentarians were sensitised on the importance of strengthening parliamentary democracy in the SADC region;
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• the skills of parliamentary staff were strengthened through training in public relations and interaction with the public. In 2012, AWEPA’s Local Government programme achieved the following results: • the skills of Councillors, staff and members of the Municipalities were enhanced, especially in terms of budgeting and planning; • the capacities of members of the Provincial Assembly were strengthened through seminars on their prerogatives and on the interaction with other institutions and civil society; • a cooperation project was launched to improve sanitation in urban and peri-urban areas in Mozambique with FUSP, the Ministry of State Administration and the National Water Directorate. Lastly, AWEPA’s Political Parties Programme: • The capacities of Political Parties on planning and budgeting were strengthened. Fundraising strategies for the parties Frelimo, Renamo and Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM) were elucidated; • Reflection on the peace process was stimulated through a seminar on the 20 years since the Peace Agreement and the AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
Objectives
consolidation of democracy in Mozambique. • Furthermore, various Political Process Bulletins were published by AWEPA on topics such as the anti-corruption legislation package, the Mozambican response to carbon credits and the municipal by-elections. These bulletins are published jointly by the Centre for Public Integrity (CIP) and AWEPA, and have been covering elections and democratisation in Mozambique since 1992.
RFPAC aims to contribute to the political, economic and social promotion of Central African women, the construction of a gender balanced democracy, the enhancement of women’s representation, the preservation of peace and the implementation of impartial justice. RFPAC seeks to accomplish these goals through strengthening and supporting women parliamentarians in their legislative, executive oversight, and constituent’s representation functions; and representing the voice of women in their countries.
Example Activity Exchange visit Committee of Petitions of the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique to Sweden. 5-9 November. Stockholm, Sweden. In 2012, the Mozambican Parliament, through the Committee of Petitions, undertook the process of reviewing the Petitions Law (Lei de Petições) and Parliamentary Internal Laws (Regimento) with the aim of simplifying citizens’ exercise of the right to petition to the Parliament. Through this exchange visit the Mozambican delegation exchanged information and experience with their Swedish colleagues, since Sweden has a long-time experience in this matter and is a model to other countries being the first to establish an Ombudsman’s office in 1809. The delegation was headed by the Chair of the Committee Hon. Mário Sevene and composed of Hon. Latifo Ismael Xarifo, Hon. Luciano Andrè de Castro, Hon. Ana Antonia Dimitri, Hon. Ângelo Thai and Hon. Miguel Anlauè Mussa. The then Political Coordinator for the AWEPA Mozambique programme, Dr. Jan Nico Scholten was also part of the delegation. Hon. Sevene explained that in Mozambique this Committee is dealing with petitions put forward by all civilians, including foreigners, who reside in Mozambique; “we call this Committee the door through which citizens can go to Parliament” Hon. Sevene said. The delegation had several meetings in the Parliament, Municipality of Gävle, donor agencies Sida and Diakonia and other institutes such as the Federation of Swedish Farmers and Swedish Cooperative Centre.•
The regional RFPAC conference held in October addressed women empowerment as a means to achieve Millennium Development Goal 3.
Through the RFPAC programme, AWEPA aims to improve the position of all women in the region, by supporting women candidates in elections, encouraging women’s economic prosperity and enhancing the capacity of women. Impacts
Network Of Women Parliamentarians Of Central Africa (RFPAC) Donors Belgium Ministry of Foreign Affairs Political Coordinator Hon. Magda De Meyer, Belgium Senior Parliamentary Advisor Hon. Els van Hoof, Belgium
The following outcomes can be attributed to actions carried out in 2012 as part of the RFPAC-AWEPA programme: • Guidelines for parliamentarians on abandoning Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting, produced together with Pan-African Parliament’s Women Caucus, were finalised and distributed by women parliamentarians for use in Central African parliaments; • women parliamentarians drafted a plan of action to implement regional and national strategies of accountability directed toward future generations, with regard to MDG 3: Promote gender equality and empower women through education; • workshops empowered women parliamentarians and strengthened their roles within their national parliaments; they succeeded in bringing gender-related topics to their home parliament’s national agenda; • women parliamentarians succeeded in integrating gender into the AWEPA organised seminar on Managing Africa’s natural
Example Activity Regional Conference of RFPAC on MDG 3: Promote gender equality and empower women through education. 24–25 October 2012. Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. Women parliamentarians from Central African member countries met for two days in Equatorial Guinea to share best practices, experiences, testimonies and to suggest practical solutions for promoting “women and education” (an aspect of MDG 3). The event addressed essential concerns and the discussions that emerged showed that not only is education crucial to development, but that it is also the anchor for all MDGs. Eminent figures also contributed to the success of the conference: the President and First Lady of Equatorial Guinea attended, as well as experts from the United Nations, various Ministries and universities. RFPAC established legislative plans of action in order to implement regional and national resolutions to reduce gender disparities at all levels of education.•
Background The Network of Women Parliamentarians of Central Africa (RFPAC) was established in March 2002 on the request of women parliamentarians attending an AWEPA conference in the region. With AWEPA’s assistance, RFPAC has since formed all-women parliamentarian platforms that gather at least once a year. The network includes women parliamentarians from Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Republic of Congo. The network statutes assimilate key statements such as the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the UN Resolution 1325 and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
resources towards achieving the MDGs, held in Rome in September 2012.
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Honoured by the President and the First Lady of Equatorial Guinea, RFPAC held a conference in their capital, Malabo. Page 29
AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
more aware of the status and prospects of foreign refugees in Rwanda; • in the aim of contributing to conflict prevention and peace consolidation between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), an Ad Hoc Committee successfully analysed and reported on the evolution of relations between the two countries over the past 15 years. Example Activity The Parliament of Rwanda has decided to set up an Ad Hoc Committee to analyse the evolution of relations between DRC and Rwanda since the late 1990s. A report was written by the Ad Hoc Committee in Kinyarwanda. Meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Parliament of Rwanda to analyse the evolution of relations between DRC and Rwanda. From left to right: Hon. Bazatoha, Hon. Mukansine, Hon. Karangwa, Hon. Mukabalisa and Hon. Kayinamura.
Parliament of Rwanda Donor Belgium Ministry on Foreign Affairs Political Coordinator
trolling the actions of government and representing the people. To achieve this goal, AWEPA’s specific objectives in 2012 were the following: • contributing to the capacity building of Rwandan parliamentarians on the submission and the development of legislation but also on the oversight of government action;
Hon. Alain Destexhe, Belgium
• contributing to the functioning of the joint Chambers Ad Hoc Committee on the situation in eastern DRC;
Background
• strengthening the representative function of Parliament by facilitating field visits;
AWEPA has provided parliamentary support to both Chambers of the Parliament of Rwanda since 2003, which includes activities with parliamentarians and staff members. In 2012, the programme also involved Parliamentary diplomacy, conflict prevention as well as peace consolidation. AWEPA’s Programme in Rwanda is focused on implementing projects such as field visits of Parliamentary Committees to provinces, parliamentary seminars and workshops in collaboration with experts, as well as visits in the framework of peace building. Training on technical issues has also been organised with staff members. Furthermore, the AWEPA Programme in Rwanda is working with the Chamber of Deputies on its evaluation, with the aim of making a critical and prospective assessment during the current legislature and identifying good practices and weaknesses. Objectives AWEPA’s objective in its partnership with the Parliament of Rwanda is to support the Parliament’s tripartite mission of legislating, conPage 30
The Parliament of Rwanda requested AWEPA´s support for the translation of the report in English and French as well as for its dissemination. This operation aimed at producing a document which could be useful for Rwandan Parliament partners and their Congolese counterparts to explore the reasons underlying conflict, while attempting to jointly find peaceful solutions. •
• performing a critical and prospective assessment of the work done by the Chamber of Deputies during its first legislature; • enhancing the capacity of the administration, especially in archiving; • enhancing parliamentary diplomacy and conflict prevention in the Great Lakes region via exchange visits and meetings, especially between Congolese and Rwandan parliamentarians.
Supporting Legislative Institutions in Somalia Donors
Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Somalia, with whom activities have been carried out under the Somali programme. New agreements have been concluded for the continuation of support with both the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Union. A systematic coordination mechanism is also in place to ensure that AWEPA’s support remains relevant. Objective The overall objective of this programme is to contribute towards the democratic development of a modern state, which embodies the principles of good governance, effective representation, accountability and transparency, and respect for human rights. This is done through supporting the capacity and development of Somali Legislative Institutions to perform their functions. Besides the traditional functions of representing constituents, debating, amending and passing legislation, and exercising oversight over executive actions, in the Somali context, an additional function can be added; to reconcile opposing parties. In 2012, the AWEPA programme assisted the newly inaugurated Federal Parliament to develop its capacities to play its role in stabilising the political environment, re-connecting with citizens, and performing the traditional roles of a Parliament. In tandem with the support to the Federal Parliament, the programme also serves and responds to the needs of the Houses of Assembly in Somaliland and the Puntland Parliament. All support given has the full ownership of the Legislative Institutions concerned. Impacts Training has proceeded at institutional level as well as at the levels of Leadership, Committees and staff on both general and specialised topics, depending on the priorities identified by the institution
Delegation of the European Commission in Kenya Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Political Coordinator Dr. Jan Nico Scholten, the Netherlands Senior Parliamentary Advisor
Impacts The following impacts can be attributed to the actions of AWEPA in Rwanda: • administrative services of the Parliament were enhanced after a group of librarians and archivists attended an eight-month capacity building training; • field visits strengthened the representative function of parliamentarians. Rwandan parliamentarians were made AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
Hon. Maria Martens, the Netherlands Background AWEPA has actively been supporting Legislative Institutions in Somalia since 2002, first with support from the European Commission and later with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. Partnerships have also been developed with the United Nations Page 31
Late 2012, daily life in Mogadishu returns to normal. UN Photo/Tobin Jones AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
Impacts In close partnership with the Secretariat of the SADC-PF, the programme has further developed and professionalised, and has established a solid foundation for achieving the transformation process. Activities began with SADC parliamentary participation in the HLF-4. The experience gained at this international gathering was employed during the extraordinary meeting of the Trade, Development and Regional Integration Committee held in Maputo in July 2012, as the Committee began the process of formulating a SADC perspective on the outcomes of the HLF-4 and the aid reform process. In the meantime, other project activities gathered preliminary data from each of the organs of the SADC-PF, its parliamentary counterparts in other regions, and Member Parliaments in the region on the best way forward in terms of a successful transformation process. Towards these ends, amongst other activities, a regional survey amongst the National Parliaments was conducted and a regional parliamentary seminar aimed at the collection of best practices and lessons learnt from other regional parliaments was executed in 2012. Pan-African Seminar on Regional Parliamentary Development held in May in Johannesburg, South Africa.
concerned. These and other facilities have improved institutional capacities to respond to a broad variety of challenges. Although there continue to be challenges on the security front, the project has been able so far to mitigate these obstacles, and facilities provided at the request of the institution concerned, continue to be implemented. A new development is that Mogadishu is now accessible. Thereafter the new Federal Parliament is meeting regularly. •
Strengthening Regional Parliamentary Capacity in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Donor Austrian Development Agency (ADA) Political Coordinator Minister of State Ms. Miet Smet, Belgium
Background The transformation of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF) into a Regional Parliament is essential to the regional development of the SADC’s 258 million citizens. The project aims at making a contribution to the fulfilment of the priorities outlined in the 2011-2015 Strategic Plan of the SADCPF towards its eventual transformation to a fully-fledged Regional Parliament. The first portion of the project aims at strengthening the capacity of the staff as closer engagement between the Forum and SADC national Parliaments on the one hand, and the SADC Secretariat on the other, begins. From there, selected priority activities will be implemented within the framework of the project through to the close of 2013. Additionally, participation by SADC-PF in the 4th High-Level Forum (HLF-4) held in Busan in 2011, and subsequent participation in the post-Busan discussions, has assured a voice to the SADC position on the aid and development reform process. At the same time, the programme has ensured that SADC-PF’s institutional development efforts are informed by emerging lessons and assessments conducted within the context of the evolving aid and development effectiveness architecture.
Example Activity
The seminar served as a platform for dialogue on key issues towards strengthening SADC-PF’s strategic approach and its transformation agenda. Participants discussed and compared the varying institutional development paths taken by the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) and the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This included information exchange on best practices in terms of membership, mandates and how these parliaments have been able to maintain financial autonomy, as well as how to face challenges and setbacks. In doing so participants had the opportunity to reflect on the institutional strengths, roles and coordination of Africa’s regional parliamentary bodies in the evolving development aid landscape.•
Swiss Agency for Development (SDC) Belgian Embassy Flemish Representation Political Coordinator Hon. Jan Roegiers, Flanders Senior Parliamentary Advisor Hon. Johan Verstreken, Flanders Background Since 1996, the AWEPA South African Provincial Legislatures (SAPL) Programme has operated in a broader South African political context, whereby constitutional power is shared between three spheres of government (national, provincial and local government), which are ex-
Members of the Legislature and the chairpersons of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee pledging their commitment to the newly established Provincial Public Accounts Chairpersons Forum, by way of creating an artwork containing handprints. pected to function based on the principle of cooperative governance. In this framework service delivery is located with the provincial state level – and the provinces share concurrent powers with the national sphere to formulate and implement policies related to education, health, housing and social welfare, amongst others. The Provincial Legislatures have also had the additional responsibility to oversee the performance of the provincial departments and facilitate public participation in governance processes. As the first decade of postapartheid South Africa was mainly dedicated to policy formulation,
Objective
AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
Donors
Pan-African Seminar on Regional Parliamentary Development. 1718 May 2012. Johannesburg, South Africa.
The project aims to support the SADC-PF in developing its institutional capacity to function as a Regional Parliament. Page 32
South African Provincial Legislatures (SAPL)
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the second decade is mainly devoted to the proper implementation of policies through oversight and public participation. It is in the context of this second decade that the SAPL Programme has become even more relevant, now focusing on the promotion of service delivery and poverty reduction. As a response to the call for the Provincial Legislatures to exercise more vigorous and effective oversight, the AWEPA-SAPL Programme has contributed to the capacity building of the Provincial Legislatures, as well as to those involved in public participation and law-making. Objective To enhance the performance of the South African Provincial Legislatures in their oversight, legislation roles, as well as to better facilitate public participation. Impacts The Programme has been particularly effective in advancing the capacity of members in fiscal oversight, by facilitating and developing Provincial Speakers Forums and Municipal Public Account Committee Chairpersons Forums, and other relevant workshop interventions. Furthermore, the programme has allowed the sharing of best practices regarding ethics and accountability to eradicate corruption and foster transparency. Some of the examples of the impacts generated by the AWEPA SAPL Programme include: • assisting in the development of and formulating a strategic plan for the Gauteng Provincial Legislature Speakers Forum; • establishment of Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) Chairpersons Forum in the Northern Cape Province; • improved transparency and fiscal oversight capability through training for the Limpopo Provincial Legislature Speakers Forum; • enhanced capacity of the Limpopo Legislature to adhere to legislative rules and procedures in order further strengthen and bring about the inherent democratic values contained in the rules and procedures. Example Activity Workshop to establish and capacitate the Municipal Public Accounts Committee Chairpersons Forum of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature. 29-30 November 2012. Port Nolloth, South Africa. In 2012, AWEPA contributed to the establishment and initial capacitation of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee Chairpersons Forum of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature. The MPAC’s are an initiative suggested by the National Assembly of the Parliament of South Africa to strengthen the fiscal oversight capabilities of local government. Due to the highly technical nature of providing fiscal oversight, AWEPA was requested to facilitate a training module for Page 34
the members of the Forum. The feedback and experience gained from this training, which was organised in partnership with the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA), has led to a refinement and expansion of the module to include further workshops centered on technical aspects and on site mentoring during the preparation of the annual oversight report.•
South Sudan’s Legislative Assembly and State Assemblies Donor Delegation of the European Commission in Sudan Political Coordinator Dr Jan Nico Scholten, the Netherlands Senior Parliamentary Advisors Mr. Johan Van Hecke, Uganda (Belgium) Hon. Désirée Bonis, the Netherlands Background In the wake of South Sudan’s independence on 9 July 2011, promoting sustainable peace, good governance and economic stability through institutional development have become crucial, as ethnic relations after so many years of civil war remain fragile. AWEPA is currently implementing a two-year capacity building programme in the National Legislative Assembly and the State Assemblies. The programme, sponsored by the European Union, consists of general and specialised trainings, technical consultancies, study visits and secondments, legislative support, participation in parliamentary conferences, community outreach programmes, media action, publications and parliamentary handbooks. The focus of this programme is to remedy the weak legislative regime in the Assembly, insufficient organisational systems and procedures, inadequate human resource management policies, weak governance and the lack of civil society participation in matters of their governance. Objective The overall objective of the programme is to contribute to achieving meaningful participatory leadership, good governance, accountability and improved service delivery in South Sudan through an effective legislature. The programme and its activities serve the specific objective of improving the capacity of the South Sudan National Legislative Assembly (NLA) and the ten State Assemblies in South AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
Sudan to respond to the challenges they face while enacting their legislative, oversight and representative functions. Impacts The following impacts can be attributed to the actions of AWEPA in South Sudan: • technical legislative support was provided in scrutiny, analysis and drafting of bills; • all Members were trained in budget scrutiny, oversight and analysis; • radio talk shows with members of the NLA were sponsored; • administrative capacity of the NLA was strengthened through skills-based training for staff of the Assembly in Public Relations and Protocol, Records and Information Management, Public Sector Finance Management and transcribing and editing; • the staff structure of the NLA was reviewed and the roles and functions of the different departments were clarified; • several publications were produced and distributed: a manual on Records and Information Management, a manual on Budget Scrutiny, Analysis and Oversight, the Hansard Style & Usage Guide and Transcribing Guidelines; • human resource policy manuals were developed; • public participation was strengthened through public hearings; • the NLA became a Member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly; • a plan of action for the first year of the NLA was developed; • all Clerks and Deputy Clerks of the State Assemblies were trained in parliamentary procedures and practices. Example Activity Support to the Committee on Public Accounts (PAC) in analysing and scrutinising the National Audit Chamber (NAC) reports. 20 July – 18 August 2012, South Sudan. AWEPA supported the Committee on Public Accounts (PAC) in analysing and scrutinising the National Audit Chamber (NAC) reports for the periods that ended on 31 December 2007 and 2008. By supporting the scrutiny of NAC Reports AWEPA made a significant contribution in strengthening the role of the National Legislative Assembly, by examining how resources are used to deliver critical services to the people of the Republic of South Sudan. Compliance with the relevant laws, regulations and literature on public sector financial management in the Republic of South Sudan was reviewed, and the PAC members were briefed accordingly. Briefing papers were produced to help the members interrogate witnesses during public hearings. Committee members were able to interrogate accounting officers about the queries raised by the National Audit Chamber of the Republic of South Sudan.• Page 35
Closing session of the training for Councillors in Mvolo County
AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
South Sudan’s Legislative Assembly and Local Councils Donors Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands
Lastly, with the increase of tribal violence in South Sudan undermining the stability of the new state, special attention is given to enhancing the role of parliamentarians in conflict prevention and resolution, peace building and respect for human rights. Therefore, AWEPA also facilitates reconciliation meetings between the Members of the NLA and the tribal leaders.
Dr Jan Nico Scholten, the Netherlands Senior Parliamentary Advisor Mr. Johan Van Hecke, Uganda (Belgium) Hon. Désirée Bonis, the Netherlands
Background South Sudan is marred by bitter ethnic divisions that date back more than 100 years. AWEPA believes they can only be solved by education, economic development and responsive governance. This programme strengthens the capacity of ten Local Councils of Western and Central Equatoria States through the training of all Councillors in five extensive training modules using a Train the Trainer methodology, publications and community outreach visits. Special emphasis is placed on the promotion and respect of human rights, peace and reconciliation and gender equality in the interest of easing tensions between communities and improving human security. The programme ensures a consultative law-making process and serves as a cornerstone for participatory and democratic governance, giving society the resilience to resolve conflicts without resorting to violence.
Belgium Ministry on Foreign Affairs Political Coordinator
Impacts
Senior Parliamentary Advisor
• The first training module on decentralisation and the local South Sudanese Government system was developed and published;
Hon. Denis Naughten, Ireland
• 20 South Sudanese (two staff members from each of the ten Local Councils) were trained as local trainers for Councillors at the first training module on decentralisation and the local government system in South Sudan.
The Parliament of Uganda and AWEPA first signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2001, which was renewed in 2005 and 2011. The current Parliament is the 9th post-independence Parliament. It commenced in May 2011 and will expire in May 2016. Of its 374 members, 212 are first-time parliamentarians. This means that the majority of the Members had never been exposed to parliamentary work; hence, guidance on certain basic principles of parliamentary practices and procedures is necessary.
Example Activity Training of Trainers on decentralisation and the local government system in South Sudan. 12-17 November 2012. After the development of the first training module on decentralisation and the local government system, AWEPA organised a training of trainers for 20 South Sudanese. The participants were two staff members from each of the ten local councils. The purpose of the training was twofold. First, it provided trainers with different facilitation methods for delivering the training to the Councillors. Secondly, it provided them with key concepts about the decentralised system, the local government system and the local council procedures and practices.•
The Parliamentary Capacity Building programme, implemented by AWEPA in close cooperation with the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) in South Sudan, serves the overall objective of improving human security, strengthening the state of law and decreasing structural poverty, through participatory leadership, good governance, accountability and improved service delivery by effective legislatures in South Sudan. The Programme organises community outreach visits in order to help Councillors and NLA Members strengthen their relationships with the people they represent. Furthermore, it facilitates dialogue between Councillors, Members of Parliament, Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and Faith Based Organisations (FBOs). It also supports the interface between the Assembly and the public Page 36
Background
Objective AWEPA’s Parliamentary Support Programme seeks to strengthen and better equip Parliament and parliamentary Committees so that they will be better able to execute their oversight function, formulate policies and draft laws on their respective areas of focus. Also, the programme seeks to empower Members of Parliament to engage in current issues affecting Uganda’s democratic development. Impacts • The newly created Human Rights Committee was able to conduct a study on human rights and present two reports to the Parliament;
Objective
AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
Donor
Mr. Johan Van Hecke, Uganda (Belgium)
Political Coordinator
Training of Local Councillors on decentralisation and local government system, in Mundri West.
Parliament of Uganda
through printed and electronic media.
• AWEPA printed the business plan and information package of the Institute of Parliamentary Studies and facilitated its launch. As a result, the Parliament carried out the first trainer of trainees session for parliamentary staff and Members of Parliament; • the induction of women parliamentarians on the role of legislators in implementing the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) enabled the Parliament to amend the rules of procedure. Two staff members from each of the ten South Sudanese Local Councils received training in 2012. AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
Example Activity Page 37
Parliament of Zimbabwe
share experiences and best practices. Impacts
Donors Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) Delegation of the European Commission in Zimbabwe Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education (NUFFIC) via Management for Development Foundation (MDF) Launch of the Parliamentary Institute. AWEPA contributed to this event by printing the Institute of Parliamentary Studies business plan and prospectus in September.
Political Coordinator
The Seminar enabled the Parliament of Uganda to discuss the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th observations and recommendations made about Uganda’s progress report by the UN Committee on Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women. Consequently, a motion was moved to amend the rules of procedure by ensuring that, before Ministries and parastatal organisations present country status reports to the United Nations and other stakeholders, these reports are first discussed and adopted by the Parliament. The workshop guided participants on how Uganda can make its national legislative and policy framework fully into compliance with the Convention.•
• strengthening of mechanisms aimed at supporting Zimbabwean parliamentarians in protecting human rights and enhancing gender equity; • enhanced levels of cooperation between parliaments of Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa, as a result of study exchange visits of Zimbabwean parliamentary staff to the parliaments of Zambia and South Africa;
Hon. Maria Martens, the Netherlands Background
Seminar on the role of parliamentarians in implementing the CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women. March 2012. Kampala, Uganda.
• Enhanced capacity of the Zimbabwean Parliament to recognize the dangers associated with climate change and its adverse effects on sustainability. Enhanced regional coordination to better mitigate the impact of climate change;
AWEPA’s activities of support and assistance in Zimbabwe started in 2012 and feature two main components. On the one hand, AWEPA facilitates capacity building of parliamentary members and staff; on the other hand, AWEPA capacitates a Zimbabwean-based civil society organisation, the Southern African Parliamentary Trust (SAPST) , to offer domestic support in terms of legislative analysis and drafting and the enhancement of oversight in regards to human rights and gender equity. AWEPA’s assistance to parliamentary staff takes the form of study exchange visits to gain further knowledge about best practices concerning facets of parliamentary business such as research, dissemination and storage of information, public participation, drafting legislation and improved oversight and monitoring. AWEPA understands its contribution to strengthening the parliamentary democracy of Zimbabwe to be difficult not only because of the overt political issues facing the country but also because of the lack of sufficient resources facing the Parliament of Zimbabwe. AWEPA’s contribution, although small, is thus greatly appreciated by the participants. All involved in the project understand that strong parliaments are the engine room of democracy, economic sustainability and poverty alleviation not only in Zimbabwe but also for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African continent. Objective The objective of the AWEPA programme in Zimbabwe is to support the development of an open and participative Parliament that excels not only in the discharge of its duties of oversight, law making and representation, but also in anchoring peace and good governance in Zimbabwe.
• enhanced knowledge of parliamentary staff in the areas of research, dissemination and storage of information, public participation, drafting legislature and improved oversight and monitoring. Example Activity Seminar on Climate Change. November 2012, Zimbabwe. The programme started with a seminar in November 2012, for the Committee on Environment, Natural Resources Management, Tourism and the Hospitality Industry on Climate Change. The purpose of the seminar was to brief members of the Committee on the current parliamentary discussions on climate change and the role of the Parliament within the debates. The seminar was also attended by Hon. Frolick, Chairperson of the Climate Change Committee of the Parliament of South Africa and Hon. Thibeti, Member of the Agricultural Committee of the Pan African Parliament. They shared their experiences, in terms of the preparations for COP 18 and the Committee’s role in the Climate Change legislation. The seminar served also to prepare the Members for their participation in the World Legislator’s Summit on Climate Change, which they attended in January 2013 at the UK Parliament. The seminar ended with the official launch of the Programme, by the European Union Ambassador to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Aldo Dell’ Ariccia. At the World Legislator’s Summit on Climate Change, the Zimbabwean parliamentary delegation was able to launch a climate legislation initiative which will support Zimbabwean legislators to advance climate change legislation between 2013 and 2015.•
The programme provides capacity building support both for parliamentarians and the staff. A number of activities involve visits by the staff and parliamentarians to other Parliaments in Africa, in order to AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
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Seminar on Climate Change. November, Zimbabwe.
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Partnership Council
Eminent Advisory Board
The AWEPA Partnership Council is an organ consisting of members of the AWEPA Eminent Advisory Board, AWEPA’s main African Partners and the AWEPA Executive Committee. It is jointly chaired by the Chair of the Eminent Advisory Board, Ms. Graça Machel, and the President, Minister of State Ms. Miet Smet. The Council aims to convene once a year to discuss issues of a strategic and visionary nature, where northern and southern stakeholders meet to dialogue around issues that concern all in the collective endeavour to improve human rights in Africa.
AWEPA’s relations with Africa are guided by the advice of the Eminent Advisory Board. The Board meets annually to discuss the policy and programmes of AWEPA, and to make suggestions for future priorities regarding developments in Africa. This Board is appointed for an indefinite period of time and consists of the following members: Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Honorary Chair) A theologian and educator, Archbishop Desmond Tutu served as Archbishop of Cape Town and Head of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Tutu received the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize for the role he played as a pioneer of peaceful resistance methods in the struggle against the apartheid regime in South Africa. He now plays a leading role in The Elders; an independent group of eminent global leaders who support peace building and promote the shared interests of humanity.
Pan-African Parliament (PAP) The establishment of the Pan-African Parliament is informed by a vision to provide a common platform for African peoples and their grassroots organisations to be more involved in discussions and decision-making on the problems and challenges facing the continent. Pan-African parliamentarians represent all the peoples of Africa. The ultimate aim of the PAP is to evolve into an institution with full legislative powers whose members are elected by universal adult suffrage.
Ms. Graça Machel (Chair) Ms. Graça Machel has campaigned as a global advocate for war-affected children and serves as spokesperson for the Global Movement for Children. Following the independence struggle, Machel served as Education Minister of Mozambique. She is currently a member of the Panel of Eminent Persons of the African Peer Review Mechanism, a system introduced by the African Union to help countries improve their governance.
East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) As an organ of the East African Community, EALA aims to legislate, do oversight and represent the people of East Africa in a bid to foster economic, social, cultural and political integration. The Assembly is committed to fostering the following core values in its operations: effectiveness, ethics and integrity; transparency and accountability; objectivity and impartiality; professionalism and team work; unity in diversity; as well as allegiance to EAC ideals.
Ms. Mary Robinson Ms. Mary Robinson was a member of the Irish Parliament from 1969 to 1989 and became a member of AWEPA in the 1980s. She was elected the first woman President of Ireland (1990-1997) and served as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (1997-2002). A human rights advocate, she established the Mary Robinson Foundation - Climate Justice in Dublin.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament The ECOWAS Parliament is a forum for dialogue, consultation and consensus for representatives of the peoples of West Africa in order to promote integration. It provides advisory opinions on issues covering a wide range of areas that are of crucial importance for the integration process. These include respect for human rights, the interconnection of communication and telecommunication links, health, education, agriculture and revisions of basic community texts. Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF)
His Excellency Mohamed A. Sahnoun H.E. Mohamed Sahnoun, the former Ambassador of Algeria to the United Nations, to the United States and to Morocco, has served as Special Representative for the Great Lakes region of Africa since 1997. Sahnoun is also a member of the Special Advisory Group of the War-torn Societies Project and served as the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on the Eritrean-Ethiopian conflict from 1999 to 2002.
SADC-PF is a delivery focused, people-centred institution that accelerates and promotes parliamentary participation in regional decision making for the benefit of the citizens of SADC. The SADC Parliamentary Forum’s mission is to facilitate strategic partnerships within the SADC region, promote information sharing, initiate and implement projects that enhance regional integration and promote effective and professional parliamentary practice.
Dr. Jan Nico Scholten
Network of African Parliamentarians (NAP)
Dedicated to humanitarian solidarity, Scholten was Mayor and Chairman of a District Council before joining the Dutch Parliament (house and senate) as well as serving as a member of the Benelux-Parliament and the Assembly of the Council of Europe. In 1984 he took the initiative in the founding of what is now called AWEPA. He served as Executive and non-Executive President for AWEPA’s first 25 years and is still actively involved. He has received awards from the United Nations, various African countries and the Queen of the Netherlands honouring his commitment to human dignity.
With a membership of engaged parliamentarians across Africa, the NAP is a unique initiative which meets to report back on parliamentary actions on NEPAD in regional and national parliaments, and which keeps members informed about NEPAD and the ongoing debate on aid effectiveness. NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA)
Prof. Albert Tevoedjre
The NPCA is responsible for coordinating the preparation of NEPAD Agency projects and programmes. This includes mobilising technical and financial support, facilitating and supporting implementation, providing information, promoting the programme in Africa and internationally. The NEPAD Agency has been charged by the Heads of State and Government with facilitating the implementation of the NEPAD vision, such as the CAADP.
Professor Albert Tevoedjre has been the Special Envoy for the United Nations Secretary-General to the Ivory Coast since 2003. Before his current responsibility, Tevoedjre chaired the Commission on the “Millennium for Africa” Project, which completed its report in May 2002. Tevoedjre also played a prominent role as Head of Government in Benin. A political scientist by training, his book Poverty, Wealth of Mankind was awarded the Prix de la vie économique.
Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa Parliament (CEMAC-P)
Prof. Ruth Oniang’o
The Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa Parliament (CEMAC) facilitates free exchange and movement across borders for the development and the infrastructural and economic integration of the region. Its parliament was officially inaugurated in 2010 in Malabo after a ten-year transition phase to sensitise local populations to democratic processes. The CEMAC Parliament includes 30 members from six countries: Chad, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and the Republic of Congo. AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
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A former Member of the Kenyan Parliament, founder and executive director of the Rural Outreach Africa , the founder and editor-in-chief of the African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition, and Development (AJFAND), and also a food and nutrition scientist, Professor Ruth Oniang’o has dedicated a great deal of her time over the past three decades to poverty and hunger eradication, nutrition, health and gender issues and the restoration of human dignity. Page 41
AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
Executive Committee AWEPA’s Executive Committee is the executive board of the organisation and meets four times a year. The Governing Council elects the Executive Committee for a period of five years to prepare and execute AWEPA policy under the supervision of the Governing Council. The 2012 Executive Committee is composed of the President, Minister of State Ms. Miet Smet, who serves as Chair, along with six Vice Presidents.
Minister of State Ms. Miet Smet (Belgium) - President and Chair
Hon. Olivia Mitchell (Ireland) – Vice President
Ms. Rosita Runegrund (Sweden) – Vice President
Hon. Maja Ingold (Switzerland) – Vice President
Hon. Henk Jan Ormel (the Netherlands) – Vice President
Hon. Egidijus Vareikis (Lithuania) - Vice President
Meeting of the Governing Council in Palazzo Montecitorio, the Italian Parliament, in September.
Governing Council The AWEPA Governing Council is the highest political body within AWEPA and comprises mostly of representatives from the AWEPA Sections in the European Parliament and the national parliaments of Europe. It operates as a general assembly for a five year term and meets at least once a year. It decides on the overall policy of AWEPA and is chaired by the President, Minister of State Ms. Miet Smet. Executive Committee members are members of the Governing Council as representatives of this body, not as representatives of their country. AWEPA has a broad network of parliamentarians and former parliamentarians from across Europe, with over 1700 members. Each country that forms an AWEPA Section appoints a Head of Section who is the first contact point for AWEPA, and functions as their Section’s first representative on the Governing Council unless they delegate otherwise. A Section is authorized to appoint more representatives to the AWEPA Governing Council dependent on the number of members in their Section, having one member for each 50 members up to a total of three members. The Head of Sections for 2012 were: Austria: Hon. Petra Bayr
Flanders: Hon. Jan Roegiers
Norway: Hon. Marianne Marthinsen
Belgium: : Hon. Sabine de Bethune (currently President of the Senate thus a Vice President’s of the Belgian Section, Hon. Alain Destexhe, is ad interim)
Germany: Hon. Patrick Meinhardt
Poland: Hon. Tadeusz Iwiński
Greece: Hon. Theodossis Georgiou
Portugal: Hon. Maria Antónia de Almeida Santos
Hungary: Hon. Gàbor Harangozó
Romania: Hon. Minodora Cliveti
Cyprus: Hon. Antigoni Papadopoulu
Ireland: Hon. Maureen O’Sullivan
Slovakia: Hon. Boris Zala
Czech Republic: Hon. Jan Hamacek
Italy: Hon. Enrico Pianetta
Spain: Hon. Josep Maldonado i Gili
Denmark: Hon. Karsten Lauritzen
Latvia: Hon. Ingrida Circene
Sweden: Hon. Kerstin Lundgren
Estonia: Dr. Mart Nutt
Lithuania: Hon. Egidijus Vareikis
Switzerland: Hon. Maja Ingold
European Parliament: Hon. Filip Kaczmarek
Malta: Hon. Leo Brincat
United Kingdom: Lord David Chidgey
Finland: Hon. Jani Toivola
Netherlands: Hon. Kathleen Ferrier
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Hon. Patrick Meinhardt (Germany) - Vice President
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Staff in 2012 The Netherlands Office Mr. Theo Kralt, Chief Administrative Officer Dr. Jeff Balch, Director Research and Evaluation Mr. John McKendy, Director Programme Development Geertje Hollenberg, Deputy Director Ms. Marion Verweij, Head of President’s Office and Communications Department Project Department Ms. Liselot Bloemen, Programme Manager Mr. Clément Boutillier, Programme Manager Ms. Kristen Heim, Programme Manager Ms. Tatjana van den Ham, Programme Manager Mr. Loïc Whitmore, Programme Manager Communications Department Ms. Alizia Kamani, Communications Officer Finance Department Mr. Martin Smeding, Senior Financial Officer Mr. Erick Hoekzema, Financial Reporting Officer Ms. Sahila El Fahsi, Financial Officer Ms. Gül Mert, Junior Financial Officer Human Resources Ms. Martien Meenhorst, Human Resources Officer Quality Ms. Gabriela Quiroga, Quality Officer
AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
AWEPA Offices Secretariat Ms. Ambra Scaduti, Secretariat Coordinator and Project Assistant Ms. Jackline Kaaria, Office Assistant IT Department Mr. Gert Vernhout, IT Officer Mr. Ronald Borggreve, IT Assistant Belgium Office Mr. Patrick Mpoyi Luabeya, Programme Manager Ms. Katrin Verstraete, Programme Manager Ms. Yolande Ruritariye, Project Officer Burundi Office Mr. Gérard Mfuranzima, Head of Office / AWEPA Representative Ms. Angeline Nahimana, Project and Administrative Officer Mr. Ferdinand Soferi, Driver DRC Office Ms. Gertrude Bamba Makabi, Project Officer / AWEPA Representative Ms. Merci Lubunga Mema, Assistant Project Officer Mozambique Office Ms. Amarilia Mutemba, AWEPA Representative Ms. Elisa Muianga, Acting Head of Office Mr. Lazaro Antonio Chachuaio, Office Attendant Ms. Rosita Alberto, Project Officer Ms. Alzira Muchanga, Project Officer Ms. Telma Mahiquene,
AWEPA has offices in Africa and Europe, with its headquarters located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. A second European office is situated in Brussels, Belgium. In Africa, AWEPA operates a regional office located in South Africa, and seven local offices: Mozambique,Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, the DRC and Southern Sudan.
Project Assistant Ms. Ilda Mbeve, Office Assistant Ms. Zaida de Pena Beete, Financial Officer Ms. Ivete Antonio Tivane, Office Attendant Mr. Dario Polana Taju, IT Assistant Mr. José Matavele, Driver
Brussels Office
Burundi Office
The Netherlands Tel: +31 20 524 5678 Fax: +31 20 622 0130 Email: amsterdam@awepa.org
Huis der Parlementariërs Leuvenseweg 21, bur. 1310 1009 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +32 2 501 77 27 Fax: +32 2 501 78 85 Email: brussels@awepa.org
BP 2442 Immeuble NEW SPACE Avenue du 18 Septembre N°2 Bujumbura, Burundi Tel: +257 22 24 54 69 Fax: +257 22 24 54 70 Email: burundi@awepa.org
Congo Office (DRC)
Mozambique Office
Rwanda Office
Av. de la Justice 2721 Bâtiment ABC Kinshasa/Gombe, DRC Tel: +243 81 00 44 270 Email: rdc@awepa.org
Rua Licenciado Couthino 77 CP 2648 Maputo, Mozambique Tel: +258 2141 86 03 Fax: +258 2141 8604 Email: mozambique@awepa.org
Parliament of Rwanda C/O Chambre des Députés B.P. 352 Kigali, Rwanda Tel: +250 788306488 Fax: +250 583975 Email: rwanda@awepa.org
Southern Sudan Office Southern Sudan National Legislative Assembly Parliament Building
South Africa Office
Tanzania Office (EALA)
16th floor Plein Park Building 69 Plein Street Cape Town, South Africa 8001 Tel: +27 21 46 21 767 Fax: +27 21 46 22 918 Email: southafrica@awepa.org
EAC EALA Wing G22 EAC Close P.O Box 8064 Arusha, Tanzania Tel:+255 786 691 873 +255 754 806 923 Email: tanzania@awepa.org
Amsterdam Office Prins Hendrikkade 48 - G 1012 AC Amsterdam
Kenya Office Ms. Joyce Lucas, Office Attendant/Assistant Rwanda Office Ms. Beata Mukabaranga, Project Officer / AWEPA Representative South Africa Office Ms. Jessica Longwe, Director Partner Relations Ms. Alexandrina Wonani, Head of Office Mr. Frank Kayitare, Project Officer Ms. Christine Leibach, Project Officer Ms. Natalie Roberts, Office Assistant / Logistics Officer
Juba, Sudan Tel: +249 123 248218 +249 918 689 835 Email: southernsudan@awepa.org
Southern Sudan Uganda Office
Ms. Kris Debref, Project Coordinator, South Sudan
(Eastern Wing Room) Room E-2-14 Parliament of Uganda Parliamentary Avenue 7178 Kampala, Uganda Tel: +256 414 254 947 Fax: + 256 414 254 947 Email: uganda@awepa.org
EALA Office, Tanzania Ms. Tine Hemelings, Programme Manager Ms. Geraldine Rwekaza, Programme Assistant Uganda Ms. Jeniffer Kwarisiima, Project Officer / AWEPA Representative Page 44
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Financial Overview 2012
Income per Donor Received in 2012
Income - Donor Grants Received in â‚Ź
Expenditures in â‚Ź per programme/country
Grants
2012
2011
Grants
2012
2011
Austria - ADA
350.000
393.480
Aid Effectiveness
350.000
830.681
Belgium - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
727.387
1.541.105
Benin
22.696
61.976
Belgium - Flanders
30.059
168.083
Burundi
103.823
184.416
Denmark - Danida
-
185.643
Core funding
588.574
300.000
Denmark - DDP Uganda
-
62.418
Democratic Republic of Congo
161.636
313.818
Germany - GTZ
-
44.216
EALA - East African Legislative Assembly
822.636
950.200
1.828.766
451.671
131.871
11.295
-
19.061
Millenium Development Goals
520.203
564.994
277.407
174.328
Mozambique
944.549 1.533.292
131.871
11.295
-
392.659
Netherlands- Min. of Foreign Affairs
510.025
1.235.853
Netherlands - NIMD
100.592
-
Norway - Embassy Dar es Salaam
146.136
271.731
Norway - Embassy Maputo
266.653
500.000
-
137.919
636.688
750.522
1.485.229
1.297.193
-
193.598
Sudan
Switzerland - SDC
311.185
184.050
United Kingdom - Foreign and Commonwealth Office
57.362
192.042
United Kingdom - NRIL - Natural Resources Ltd.
-
28.968
United Kingdom - AGRA
-
6.969
UNDP
13.690
84.268
Others
70.050
-
European Commission Finland - Finnish Embassy Maputo Ireland - Irish Aid Luxembourg UNFPA Netherlands - AIID
Spain Embassy Moz. Sweden - Diakonia Sweden - SIDA Sweden - Swedish Embassy Nairobi
Total
AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
Gender Programme
MPN - Mobilising Parliaments for NEPAD
-
149.464
42.322
193.921
221
34.304
RFPAC - Network Parliamentary Women Central Africa
33.891
53.445
Rwanda
44.102
186.302
SAPL - South Africa Provincial Legislatures
341.245
282.115
Somalia
774.536
686.360
28.404
125.885
1.590.219
1.101.104
Uganda
18.952
205.005
Zimbabwe
35.555
-
387.666
558.498
PAP - Pan African Parliament Republique Congo
Stability Pact
Various Total
Expenditures - Income and Grants Spent per Programme in 2012
6.943.100 8.327.073
6.943.100 8.327.073
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AWEPA Annual Report 2012 www.awepa.org
Back Photo Group photo of South Sudanese Councillors after a training session in Mvolo County.
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