Parliament assistance is still a relatively new but growing work area for the SDC. DDLGN will contribute to further expanding its knowledge and experience. The main ideas are laid down in a position paper (link to parliament paper is coming soon) on the subject.
Parliaments are a central actor in the accountability architecture of a state, being situated between government and citizens. When working with parliaments, the SDC aims to help improving their performance in assuming and owning their core functions: law making, representation and oversight. At the same time, assistance tries to strengthen the institutions of parliament (secretariat, presidency, or parliamentary services). Seen from the citizens' perspective, SDC aims at rendering the work of parliaments more effective, but also at opening them up towards the citizens, by either listening to them or by offering ways for them to participate meaningfully in parliament work.
Support to parliaments is often directed at: improving the knowledge base of parliamentarians on key aspects of the domestic development agenda (training, coaching, documentation), assisting them in policy analysis, in drafting legislation and launching investigations, enhancing outreach and communication with their constituency, and facilitating constructive dialogue and collaboration between different political parties.
In the future, SDC will further explore links to electoral system reform and to working with political parties. It will also try and identify innovative ways of supporting parliaments and look into the trans-national and international dimensions of parliamentary work. You can find resource documents here below.
This report synthesizes reflections and learning emerging from a learning journey that brought together SDC’s FCHR, Governance and Education networks to discuss approaches to civic and human rights education – and their contribution to empowerment, participation and social cohesion.
Around the world we observe a contestation of the civic space. Fundamental freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly are repeatedly challenged. The scope for civil society to operate and engage in policy processes without fear of official disapproval, violence or judicial pursuit has narrowed. This guidance sheet frames the issue and formulates responses at different levels.
This report summarises and analyses donor responses to the closure of civic space around the world. It is part of a wider effort within the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation to enable joint learning to support SDC offices in dealing with the growing challenges they encounter in restrained or shrinking spaces for civil society.
The case study focuses on the outcomes and impacts of social audit practices in the framework of the Improved Livelihood of Rural Communities (ILRC) project implemented by HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation in Afghanistan.
This section analyses twelve case studies on civil society participation and accountability in local governance processes. It looks at power issues and the analysis of power, the role of civil society and participation of civil society in local governance, accountability mechanisms and experiences, alignment with national policies and systems, and specific issues in fragile contexts.
This guidance aims to transfer the vision into daily practice. It does so by: [a] Clarifying organizational entry points to PFM, decentralization and local governance projects. [b] Defining key principles for effective PFM, decentralization and local governance interventions. [c] Creating awareness for complementary strengths and resources of SECO and SDC. [d] Providing practical guidance for institutional and thematic cooperation between SDC and SECO.
Topic paper
Synthesis note
This note introduces practical tools to help navigate SDC’s support in this field.
This note maps out existing SDC projects.
The guide focuses on how to utilise more politically-informed and adaptive methods to encourage effective programming for engaging with parliaments and political parties.
An issue paper (2016) - Governance support has to be inclusive if it is to be effective. Democracy support needs to find balanced ways of addressing the entire spectrum of actors in a democracy. Otherwise, the risk of doing harm increases.
