The Parliamentary Centre in Africa: Other Projects

Other Activities

The Centre is called on regularly to provide advisory services to legislatures. Additional work in Africa has included:

• Resource persons for workshops

• Legislative needs assessments

• Project design missions

• Strategic planning for Parliaments

• Staff training

• Organizing study missions to Canada

Malawi:

In cooperation with the World Bank, the Centre participated in the 2001 pre-assessment and design mission for the Financial Transparency and Accountability Program (FIMTAP). The Centre worked with counterparts from the National Assembly of Malawi and the Office of the Ombudsman on accountability and transparency in FIMTAP.

Under contract from the National Democratic Institute, the Centre coordinated a Malawian delegation's visit to Ottawa: Patrick Kachimera - Human Resources in the Civil Service; Mr. Upindi - Cabinet Secretary, advisor to the President; Gertrude Hiwa - Parliamentary Draftsperson, Ministry of Justice; Marjorie Chisambo - Assistant Clerk to the Cabinet and; Alex Maluza - Clerk to the Cabinet.

Zimbabwe:

Under contract from CIDA, the Centre provided advice and technical assistance on the draft constitution during the Constitutional Conference of the Zimbabwe Constitutional Reform. This included participating in the thematic committees on "Separation of Power," "Levels of Government," and "Customary Law."

Nigeria:

In cooperation with the World Bank, the Centre has worked with the Members of the National Assembly and the Senate on oversight and accountability. Two Members and one Senator recently participated in a workshop for Members of the Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament of Ghana. Activities planned with the National Assembly include videoconferences on the Role of Parliament in the Budget cycle.

Chad:

In Chad, the Centre has been involved in the assessment and development of World Bank-funded "Parliamentary Economic Capacity Building". The project aims to strengthen this Parliaments capacity to oversee economic policy and poverty alleviation programs and to facilitate communication between the electorate and Parliament.