MDGS IN PARLIAMENT:WATCHDOGS FOR DEVELOPMENT
Presentation by Dyfan JonesInternational Expert on Parliamentary Development
The MDGs
UN General Assembly
adopted the MD and the
MDGs in 2000
Mandated the UN to be the
scorekeeper of progress
towards achieving the MDGs
The eight MDGs break down
into 21 quantifiable targets
that are measured by 60
indicators
The starting point: Redressable Injustice
“What moves us, reasonably enough, is not the realization that the world falls short of being completely just – which few of us expect – but that there are clearly remediable injustices around us which we want to eliminate”
Amartya Sen, The Idea of Justice Identifying and addressing
redressable injustice is central to the notion of the MDGs
Parliamentary Development• Build the capacity of legislators and
technical staff• Promote institutional reform• Strengthen parliaments'
relationships with the executive and judiciary branches of government and with civil society
• Enhance the effectiveness of women members of parliament and improve their ability to caucus and learn from one another
Viable democracy and
open society depend on effective
lawmaking, oversight and representation
— the three chief functions
of most parliaments.
‘Traditional’ MDG & Development Partners
MDGs
Executive
NGOs or other service delivery
partners
International Donors
MDG Taskforce
Parliament
www.undp.org[Our work > Democratic Governance > Parliamentary Development]
Giving Parliaments the tools to be Watchdogs for Development
UNDP Initiative in Southern and Eastern Africa
Why should Parliaments Engage with the MDGs?
•MDGs are for the whole country
•Parliaments should be the bodies to track progress
National Forum
•Parliaments are inclusive of various geographical areas and different social or ethnic groups
•Parliaments are the voice of the people at national level
Representative Body
•Parliaments can be catalysts for accelerating progress
•Parliaments can provide the accountability needed
Catalyst
•Everyday there is engagement with the MDGs in Parliament
•Legislative role, oversight function, budget scrutiny, representation
Already Engaged
Legislation
Oversight
Representation
Budget
Scrutiny
ENGAGE
ENGAGE
ENGAGE
ENGAGE
MDG 4
Reducing Child
Mortality
Enabling LawDoes the health law cover the
issue of child vaccination?
OversightIs the vaccination
aspect of the Health law being
properly implemented?
Representation & LeadershipCan Civil Society Organisations and citizens
provide input into creating the health law and give information from the grassroots on
implementation?
Budget ScrutinyIs the funding
available to ensure that all children are
vaccinated?
The Role of Parliaments
Parliaments as Watchdogs
Committees
•Annual MDG workplans
•Field Visits
•Investigations and Reports
Plenary
•Questions to Ministers / Executive
•Debates on key MDG issues
•Debate on the MDG Report
Groups &
Caucuses
•Conferences & workshops
•Profile Raising
A Snapshot of the Watchdog Role from SADC Parliaments
MDG Country Report debated in only 29% of
SADC Parliaments
71% of SADC Parliaments
have initiated investigations
into one or more of the
MDGs
In 29% of SADC Parliaments,
Ministers or the MDG Taskforce come before Parliament to
provide updates on progress
In 43% of SADC Parliaments, International Development Partners have given updates on their work
Challenges faced by Parliaments in being Watchdogs for
Development
Lack of Information
Structural challenges within Parliaments
Capacity and Skills of MPs and staff
Challenge 1 –Information
Information is key - How can MPs be informed?
Induction and
Orientation
Committees
Caucus / Group
Briefings
Library and
Resource Centres
Parliamentary
Proceedings
Challenge 1 - Receiving Information 29% of SADC Parliaments regularly and
automatically receive MDG related documents from Governments and
International Development Partners
MDG Workshops have been held in 85% of SADC Parliaments
Regular MDG briefing programmes in place in only 15% of SADC Parliaments
MDGs included in the induction and orientation programme of only 29% of SADC
Parliaments
In only 29% of SADC Parliaments have CSOs come before Parliament to give evidence on
MDG related issues
Parliamentary Structures to fulfil the
Watchdog Role15% of SADC
Parliaments have created an MDG
Committee
85% of SADC Parliaments engage
through existing Committees
Cross Party Caucus or Group in 29% of SADC
Parliaments
Challenge 2 – Parliamentary Structures to be Effective Watchdogs for Development
Creates greater awareness of the MDGs amongst all Parliamentarians in the ParliamentMakes a clear public statement of the importance that Parliament attaches to the MDGsEnsures that draft legislation is justified with an MDG focus and can make tracking MDG related legislation easier
Creates a central MDG focal point within the Parliament as an Institution
Option 1: Creating a new MDG Committee
Challenge 2 – Parliamentary Structures to be Effective
Watchdogs for Development
Committees are usually well established;
Subject expertise built up within the Committee
Membership;
No need to change the Rules of Procedure to create a new
Committee;
Often more time to scrutinise than MDG Committees that
consider all MDG issues
Option 2: Engaging through existing Committees
Challenge 2 – Parliamentary Structures to be Effective Watchdogs for Development
Easier to establish and more flexible than creating a formal Parliamentary Committee
Forum for discussion on the MDGs in a less formal setting compared to a Parliamentary Committee
Can provide for regular interaction between Members of Parliament, CSOs and International Development Partners
Additional Option: Creating a cross party MDG Caucus or Group
Challenge 3 – Skills & Capacity to be Effective Watchdogs for
Development
Lack of knowledge
of MDGs
Lack of information
and expertise
Lack of time and
engagement
opportunities
Technical Nature of
the subject
STATISTICSHuman Rights Based
Approach