Parliamentary and Party Support in MENA
GPA has been working with parliaments, parties, politicians and staff in countries throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) since 2006, including Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait.
Our work typically seeks to strengthen parliaments by making them more effective in their core tasks, and by supporting the process of reform.
Within the Middle East much of this work is particularly sensitive. The region contains a diversity of political systems, and the strength of the parliament often reflects a wider political struggle about the balance of power within that country.
Our work with the Council of Representatives in Iraq, which has been running since 2008, reflects many of these elements.
The project has provided support to a small number of parliamentary committees, helping
committee members and staff first to develop their strategy and internal organisation, and second to improve their impact, through new oversight techniques and their follow-up with ministries.
At the same time we have worked with key parliamentary directorates and the Secretary General to improve their approach to members of parliament.
Although the politics of Iraq are particularly complex, the parliament is improving, albeit slowly, in both its internal organisation and its influence on government.
The uprisings in 2011 changed many of the region’s political dynamics, and our work has expanded to new countries, eager to develop their parliamentary systems. But each of these new parliaments has their own specific challenges.
For that reason, every piece of work is developed with our partners in that country – politicians and parliamentary staff. Our objective is to help each of them become more effective in doing their job. We provide support and expert advice to them on issues of strategy, organisation and process. But, ultimately, it is for our partners to decide on how best to implement them.
For more information on our work in the Middle East and North Africa contact Faten Hussein, Head of MENA Programmes. faten@global-partners.co.uk
