An African Parliamentary Assistance Framework (APAF) a need says Development Partners

Development Partners ,representatives from ACBF, AWEPA, DFID, OSISA   joined UNDESA in calling for the need for an Africa Parliamentary Assistance Framework.  The meeting sought to offer development partners working with African Parliaments the opportunity to discuss the work they are doing, as a means for creating synergies and avoid duplication of efforts.

Noting the synergies and the impact that is likely to be created from a coordinated approach to assisting parliaments, the partners agreed in principle to the establishment of the framework. Partners at the meeting shared their activities, experiences and challenges with regards the work currently being done and planned activities. The exchange of ideas that occurred confirmed the need for partners to establish linkages in the work they are doing with parliaments, both bilaterally and as a group.

Partners at the meeting were briefed about the Africa Parliamentary Knowledge Network, an initiative of African Parliaments to support capacity building activities, common services, sharing experiences and best practices . UNDESA highlighted how APKN offers opportunity for effective engagement with parliaments. It was agreed that indeed the APKN offers an opportunity which partners should effectively utilise. However it was felt that it might be useful to keep a  separation of the two mechanisms, as the APAF should be an avenue for stakeholder to engage beyond the APKN, and also to allow for cross fertilisation of ideas and experience sharing.  Partners present at the meeting shared their activities, experiences and challenges with regards the work currently being done and planned activities.

To operationalise the APAF a stakeholder meeting is planned for March 2010. A matrix of the different initiatives currently being implemented by partners is also to be developed.