Supporting Democratic Change

ANNUAL REPORT 2014 SUPPORTING DEMOCRATIC CHANGE

AWEPA ANNUAL REPORT 2014 Production Notes Text AWEPA staff

Editing Anastasia-Areti Gavrili, Emanuela Falzon Campbell and Theo Kralt

Photos UN Photos, Creative Commons, AWEPA Staff

Design Anastasia-Areti Gavrili

Translation Spectrum Translations

AWEPA International Prins Hendrikkade 48-G 1012 AC Amsterdam, the Netherlands Tel +31 20 5245678 Fax +31 20 6220130 [email protected] www.awepa.org

Cover Photo North Darfur Woman Votes in Sudanese National Elections. UN Photo/Albert Gonzalez Farran Donors and Partners in 2014

Netherlands Organiza- tion for International Cooperation in Higher Education

Frisian Urban Sanitation Programme Schoon Water voor Mozambique

Specifically, AWEPA would like to express its gratitude for the core funding it receives from theSwedish International Develop- ment Cooperation Agency (Sida) and Irish Aid, as well as the institutional funding from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). Contents

Acronyms 7 Message from the President 9 About AWEPA 10 The European Programme 11 Programmes 14 Bridging the gap between Political Parties and Parliaments 16 Parliament of Burundi 18 Parliament of the Democratic Republic of Congo 20 Development Effectiveness 22 An Empowered and Effective East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) 24 Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) 26 Parliamentary Forum of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (PF-ICGLR) 28 Strengthening Regional Parliaments towards Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 30 Strengthening Democratic Institutions in Mozambique 32 Network of Women Parliamentarians of Central Africa (RFPAC) 34 Parliament of Rwanda 36 South African Provincial Legislatures (SAPL) 38 Supporting Legislative Institutions in Somalia 40 South Sudan’s Legislative Assembly (SSLA) and Local Councils 42 Parliament of Zimbabwe 44 Partnership Council 46 Eminent Advisory Board 47 Governing Council 48 Executive Committee 49 Staff 50 AWEPA Offices 51 Financial Overview 52 Africanisation Policy 56

Page 6 Annual Report 2014 www.awepa.org Acronyms

ACP African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States ICGLR International Conference of the Great Lakes ADA Austrian Development Agency Region AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome ICGLR-PF International Conference of the Great Lakes AJFAND African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition Region Parliamentary Forum and Development ICT Information and Communications Technology AWEPA Association of European Parliamentarians JPA Joint Parliamentary Assembly with Africa MDC Movement for Democratic Change CAADP Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development MDF Management for Development Foundation Programme MDG Millennium Development Goal CAR Central African Republic MPAC Municipal Public Account Committee CBO Community Based Organisation MP Member of Parliament CEASC Committee on Employment and Social and NAP Network of African Parliamentarians Cultural Affairs NEC National Elections Commission CEDAW Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination NEPAD New Partnership for Africa’s Development against Women NFP National Federal Parliament CEMAC Economic and Monetary Community of Central NGO Non-Governmental Organisation Africa NIMD Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy CEMAC-P Parliament of the Economic and Monetary NLA National Legislative Assembly Community of Central Africa NPCA NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency CIP Centre for Public Integrity NUFFIC Netherlands Organisation for International COP United Nations Climate Change Conference Cooperation in Higher Education DAC Development Assistance Committee ODA Official Development Assistance DRC Democratic Republic of Congo OECD Organisation for Economic Cooperation and EAC East African Community Development EALA East African Legislative Assembly PAP Pan-African Parliament EPP European People’s Party RBM Results-based Management ECGLC Economic Community of the Great Lakes REDD United Nations Strategy to Reduce emissions Countries from Deforestation and forest Degradation ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States RFPAC Network of Women Parliamentarians of Central ECOWAS-P Parliament of the Economic Community of Africa West African States SADC Southern African Development Community EU European Union SADC-PF Parliamentary Forum of the Southern African EFQM European Foundation for Quality Management Development Community FBO Faith Based Organisation SAI Supreme Audit Institution FDI Foreign Direct Investment SAPL South African Provincial Legislature FGM/C Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting SAPST Southern African Parliamentary Trust FUSP Frisian Urban Sanitation Programme SDC Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation GIABA Inter-Governmental Action Group against SIDA Swedish International Development Money Laundering in West Africa Cooperation Agency GLOBE Global Legislators Organisation SSLA South Sudan Legislative Assembly GPEDC Global Partnership for Effective Development TD Member of the Irish Parliament Cooperation ToT Training of Trainers HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus UN United Nations HLM High Level Meeting UNFPA United Nations Population Fund HoP House of the People ZANU-PF Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front Annual Report 2014 Page 7 www.awepa.org Annual Report 2014 Page 8 www.awepa.org Message from the President

In 2014, AWEPA celebrated its 30 in these testing circumstances. At the same time, our programme year anniversary and, as we began in another fragile State, Somalia, went from strength to strength. in South Africa, it was a logical place AWEPA has been involved in the capacity-building of Somalia’s to celebrate this special moment. We legislative institutions since 2002 and continues to offer valuable were therefore pleased when the support to improve the functioning of the federal and the region- President of the Pan-African Parlia- al legislative institutions. ment (PAP) offered to join us in or- 2014 was also the year of the AWEPA elections. The Governing ganising and hosting a High Level Council elected a new Executive Committee comprising some for- Seminar at the PAP, in Midrand, mer members and some new members. I also had the honour of South Africa. He proposed the theme being elected for a second term as President of AWEPA. I feel very of “Migration and Development” and Ms. Graça Machel, Chair of confident that this new Executive Committee will build upon the our Eminent Advisory Board, who was equally enthusiastic about successes of past Committees and play an important role in the the theme, agreed to give a key note address at the event. implementation of AWEPA’s mission over the coming five years. In October, therefore, parliamentarians from Africa and Europe AWEPA is grateful to all our donors for their contribution to the came together in Midrand, under the auspices of our Millennium success of 2014. Without their support, AWEPA would not be able Development Goals (MDGs) programme - funded by the Swed- to carry out its work. Democracy is our core business; we offer an ish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) -, to interactive, applicable response to parliamentary needs, and we discuss the human tragedy of migration. We adopted a Commu- are proud of our achievements over the last 30 years. With the niqué, aimed at documenting the complexity of migratory trends dedication of our donors, our leadership, our members and our within Africa and between Africa and Europe, and set out a series professional staff, AWEPA continued to offer hands-on practical of recommendations that parliamentarians can pursue in their assistance to many African parliamentarians through the course respective countries and regions to achieve mutually beneficial of the year, helping democracy to take a firmer hold in many re- development outcomes and increased protection of human gions, and human rights to be better championed, also for mi- rights for vulnerable migrants. norities. A major milestone for African politics during 2014 was the pro- Ms. Miet Smet, Minister of State, President of AWEPA gress which took place within two of the continent’s key parliamentary institutions, the Pan-African Parliament and the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS-P). Both institutions achieved enhanced legislative powers, which is an important outcome, and, as both PAP and About Minister of State Ms. Miet Smet ECOWAS_P are close partners of AWEPA, we were really pleased As a member of the Belgian, European and Flemish Parliaments for over to witness it happening. 30 years, 14 of which she served as Minister for the Belgian Government, Working in some of the world’s most fragile areas naturally re- Minister of State Miet Smet has played an important role in Belgian and quires AWEPA to have an ever-changing and itinerant response. European politics, especially in the fields of equality in politics, environ- Sometimes we see the rewards of our hard work and sometimes ment and labour. Her deep-rooted urge to see equal opportunities for circumstance necessitates withdrawing. The biggest challenge of all, not only regarding gender but in all areas of human dignity, brought 2014 was the distressing humanitarian situation that beset South her into contact with AWEPA where, having served two terms of office on Sudan through most of the year, and left AWEPA, like so many the AWEPA Executive Committee, she was elected President in October others, unable to do more in the central parliament than watch 2009 via a unanimous vote of the AWEPA Governing Council. Widow of from the side-lines. Nevertheless, whilst the situation wasn’t al- the former Belgian Prime Minister and former Vice President of AWEPA , ways easy for our staff, our work in the field with the South Sudan Mr. Wilfried Martens, Ms. Smet resides in Belgium where, alongside her Local Councils continued to assist and empower local leadership work for AWEPA, she continues to support society in a variety of ways.

Page 9 Annual Report 2014 www.awepa.org i Elections lie at the heart of democracy. AWEPA works in partnership with African parliaments to strengthen democracy in Africa, keep Africa high on the political agenda in Europe, and facilitate African-European parliamentary dialogue. Photo / UN Archive

• An infrastructure of political and parliamentary entry points, which span nine African and two European offices, as well as About AWEPA 30 parliaments in Africa and 28 in Europe, including the Pan- The Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa African Parliament (PAP) and the European Parliament. (AWEPA) works in cooperation with African parliaments to With these tools, AWEPA works to promote parliamentary strengthen parliamentary democracy in Africa, keep Africa competency and authority; good governance based on the high on the political agenda in Europe, and facilitate the Afri- separation of powers; the increased participation of women can-European parliamentary dialogue. in decision-making; the participation of civil society in the po- It is the organisation’s firm belief that strong parliaments- in litical process; and an independent and qualified media, as a their role as arbiters of peace, stability and prosperity - lie component of the democratic process. at the heart of Africa’s long-term development. Accordingly, Strategic Vision and Mission AWEPA strives to strengthen African parliaments, and promote human dignity by supporting complex democratisation AWEPA is driven by political leadership; and its leaders, both operations across the continent. African and European, share a vision of reinvigorated parliaments as the foundations of future democracy, peace and The key to AWEPA’s work lies in the organisation’s unique prosperity. As such, they work together to support the realisa- character and tools including: tion of human rights and development in Africa by strength- • An extended membership skills base of more than 1,900 ening these democratic institutions. European parliamentarians, who devote their wide-ranging AWEPA is an international parliamentary association that is expertise to peer-learning with African colleagues; strictly non-partisan. AWEPA has Special Consultative Status • Long-term partnerships with African parliamentary col- with the UN Economic and Social Council and is on the list of leagues, which ensure local ownership and accountability; Official Development Assistance (ODA) Eligible Organisations of OECD/DAC.

Page 10 Annual Report 2014 www.awepa.org The European Programme

The European Membership and Sections form an integral part of AWEPA’s work and mission. AWEPA has a broad network of over 1,900 members consisting of current and former European parliamentarians from the parliaments of almost all EU Member States plus the European Parliament, Norway and Switzerland. The members constitute, where appropriate, a Section within their respective parliaments.

i Elections lie at the heart of democracy. AWEPA works in partnership with African parliaments to strengthen democracy in Africa, keep Africa high on the political agenda in Europe, and facilitate African-European parliamentary dialogue. Photo / UN Archive

MinisterAnnual of Report State 2014 and AWEPA President Ms. Miet Smet addresses participants at the Parliamentary Dialogue in the Margins of the HellenicPage 11 EU www.awepa.org Presidency, held in March 2014, in the Greek Parliament, Athens, Greece. Photo/ AWEPA Greece. The Austrian AWEPA Section hosted an event on the topic of Human Rights and Economy entitled “Menschen, Rechte, Wirtschaft“ in November 2014 , within the framework of the NorthSouthDialogue programme. Photo/AWEPA Austria.

European Membership and Sections Donors Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) Irish Aid (IA)

Background Through its network of members, AWEPA has the unique opportunity to raise issues of common concern and act as a catalyst for policy dialogue. Considering their active role and efforts in the development, implementation and continuation of AWEPA’s work, members are key political contributors to AWEPA’s mission and progammes. AWEPA aims to strengthen its members and Sections in Europe and enhance their commitment to each of AWEPA’s programmes and related scope of work.

Page 12 Annual Report 2014 www.awepa.org Section meetings; membership recruitment; receiving Afri- Objectives can delegations; organising events; public outreach (press Within each Section, members work to: releases); keeping colleagues, relevant committees and government officials informed; and awareness raising during • Facilitate productive knowledge-sharing and strengthen plenary sessions and debates (questions, bills etc.) cooperation between African and European parliamentarians, and among African parliamentarians, regarding Impacts capacity challenges in parliaments; The main impacts of AWEPA’s work with the European parlia- • Address issues ranging from development cooperation ments and Sections in 2014 included: to accountability for, and local ownership of, development programmes related to targeted themes; • A more comprehensive and coherent understanding • Encourage and enable parliamentarians in Europe to among members of capacity challenges in African par- increase parliamentary action in areas of development liaments and pressing development cooperation issues cooperation and to advocate for the important role of relating to the Millennium Development Goals, devel- parliaments in these matters, thus contributing to sus- opment effectiveness and the abandonment of Female tainable and democratic development in Africa. Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C). This has led to various follow-up awareness raising actions; AWEPA’s efforts in relation to its membership and Sections • Improved parliamentary exchange and dialogue be- are centred on a number of key areas: tween Africa and Europe through members’ engagement in AWEPA’s programmes and targeted activities. • Building and maintaining parliamentary Sections in Eu- Members recognise that they have a shared responsibil- rope’s national parliaments; ity in tackling problems in Africa and are committed to working together for a sustainable future. One example • Increasing the strategic involvement of members with The Austrian AWEPA Section hosted an event on the topic of Human Rights and Economy entitled “Menschen, Rechte, Wirtschaft“ in November 2014 , of this is the International Conference for AWEPA’s 30 specific responsibilities in their respective parliament within the framework of the NorthSouthDialogue programme. Photo/AWEPA Austria. year Anniversary in Midrand on migration and mobility (e.g. those sitting on Foreign Affairs or Development within Africa and between Africa and Europe, and its im- Committees); plications and potential for development; • Ensuring a prompt reaction to the needs of each pro- • The regular inclusion and representation of AWEPA gramme, in terms of support for European Members of members in multilateral discussions in international Parliament; participation of EU members; relevant ex- fora. Members are now more regularly invited and rep- pertise regarding interactions with African partners; and resented at the discussion table on matters of interna- facilitation of linkages between members and partners tional cooperation and development, and were present, outside programme activities. for instance, at a parliamentary meeting organised by AWEPA and the IPU, and held during the first High Level meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Develop- Type of activities ment Cooperation in Mexico on 14 April 2014; Extensive efforts were made in 2014 to enhance the com- • The strengthening and renewal of targeted Sections and mitment of members to AWEPA’s mission and programmes, political leadership positions in AWEPA following the and to enhance the exchange between African partners and parliamentary elections across Europe; AWEPA members. Selected members were encouraged to • Support to AWEPA’s membership communications, play an active role in programmes and activities in Africa, delivered on an ongoing and structural basis; in spe- while African partners participated in peer-learning and cific terms, the experiences and reflections of members experience exchange activities (e.g. international seminars, have been showcased more prominently throughout study visits, etc.) in Europe. Other support to members and AWEPA’s communication tools, in particular the monthly Sections, in relation to activities, included coordination of e-newsletter.

Annual Report 2014 Page 13 www.awepa.org Programmes

Throughout 2014, AWEPA worked with some 30 parliaments across Africa, including national parliaments, continental and regional parliamentary institutions, and decentralised authorities. Together with members of these bodies, AWEPA under- took a number of institutional and thematic capacity-building programmes.

Through its institutional bilateral programmes, AWEPA aims to enhance the skills of parliamentarians to enable them to better execute their legislative, representative and oversight roles. Programmes are also carried out in post-conflict zones, where AWEPA seeks to strengthen the role of parliaments in promoting peace, reconciliation and good governance.

The thematic programmes endeavour to inform and mobilise parliamentarians, empowering them to take action on development issues in their country or region. To this end, AWEPA organised a number of conferences, exchanges and publica- tions with a primary focus on the following issues: development effectiveness, female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), achieving the Millennium Development Goals and bridging the gap between political parties and parliaments.

AWEPA’s Core and Institutional Funding Programme enables the organisation to function and continue its work. It covers costs related to communications, programme logistics, finance and human resources management, while facilitating the further professionalisation of the organisation through the enhancement of programme methodologies and ICT systems used by staff in Europe and in Africa.

YoungPage 14girls watch a football game being played outside of their school during breaktime, in the Afgoye corridor, Somalia. UNAnnual Photo/Tobin Report 2014 Jones www.awepa.org Annual ReportPlease 2014 note: Political coordinators and Senior Parliamentary Advisors mentioned per programme reflect 2015. Page 15 www.awepa.org Over the Bridge to the Market, Cotonou. Parliaments are in the heart of AWEPA’s Programme, in Benin. Flickr Photo/ Geraint Rowland Bridging the Gap Between Political Parties and Parliaments (Benin)

Donor Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs via the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD). Political Coordinator Mr. Henk Jan Ormel, the Netherlands

Background AWEPA officially joined forces with the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) in 2011 in a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening political parties, parliaments and the party-parliament nexus. The overall objective is to contribute to the development of pluralistic democratic societies through a participatory decision-making process grounded

Annual Report 2014 Page 16 www.awepa.org in a solid multiparty system and the work of a strong par- Type of activities liament. The partnership between AWEPA and NIMD rests on the ambition to link two streams of democracy support, From 2014 onwards, the differentiation between political party activities and parliamentary activities has been harmo- targeting: nised as AWEPA and NIMD decide jointly on the planning of activities and their methodology / approach. A number of • Democratic structure and procedural reform through activities were implemented in 2014, including training ses- parliamentary capacity building, and; sions for the staff of the Beninese National Assembly and • Political culture and behavioural change through sup- public hearings across the country. Beninese parliamentar- port to political parties. ians participated in a regional conference on “Political Dia- logue between Ruling and Opposition Parties” in Dakar. The exchange was held on the initiative of NIMD, and brought The programme follows a multiparty and non-partisan ap- together parliamentarians from Benin, Senegal, Burundi and proach and is based on the principles of national ownership, Mali to discuss the best practices to foster constructive re- flexibility and gender equality. Benin is the first country in lations between government and opposition parties. More- which the strategic partnership has been launched. over, in a series of public hearings, three food production plants were targeted in the southern part of Benin, where the parliamentarians were denied access on all occasions. However, they were able to hold productive working meet- Objectives ings with local authorities and resource persons living on The overall goal of the programme lies at the core of the site, which allowed them to gather valuable information AWEPA-NIMD partnership: contributing to the development on the operation of the plants. The parliamentarians then Over the Bridge to the Market, Cotonou. Parliaments are in the heart of AWEPA’s Programme, in Benin. Flickr Photo/ Geraint Rowland and consolidation of a democratic pluralist society based headed to the northern part of the country, where they vis- on participative decision-making processes rooted in a solid ited cotton gin factories based in Parakou, Ndali, Bembèrèkè multiparty system and a strong parliament. The approach and Banikoara. The parliamentarians had the opportunity to adopted by NIMD and AWEPA is based on the reform of po- interact with the staff and managers, as well as other partici- litical systems, with interventions at different levels in order pants, on the various challenges the plants are facing. to contribute to effective and inclusive decision making in the National Assembly. Impacts A set of actions has been defined, and aims to address the Since the inception of the programme in 2011, cooperation political system of Benin as a whole, within three distinct in- between NIMD and AWEPA has been successful, effective tervention areas: and efficient. In 2014, a highly qualified local consultant was recruited in order to enhance the programme’s performance • Facilitation of a forum for discussion between parlia- and strengthen the presence of AWEPA / NIMD. Furthermore, mentarians and political parties with the expected out- the activities carried out in 2014 were welcomed by the steer- come of opening a constructive dialogue between Beni- ing committee of the joint NIMD-AWEPA programme, com- nese key politicians; posed of political party members and parliamentarians. The • Capacity building of members of parliament, parliamen- willingness and local push for interparty dialogue has been tary staff, politicians and young political actors through increasing. On the parliamentary side, law drafting courses skills trainings on relevant issues; and tours of public hearings were organised around issues which caused concern among citizens. • Enhanced interaction between political and civil societies through the organisation of multiple public hearings on a theme related to the multiparty dialogue and trainings.

Page 17 Annual Report 2014 www.awepa.org A voter casts her ballot during the July 2005 legislative elections in Cibitoke, Burundi. UN Photo / Martine Perret. Parliament of Burundi

Donor

Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Political Coordinator Ms. Lydia Maximus, Belgium

Background The collaboration between AWEPA and the two chambers of the Parliament of the Republic of Burundi is enshrined in a series of cooperation agreements, renewed each parliamentary term, the first of which was signed on 17 October 1997. Since then, a number of programmes have been put in place to support the Burundi peace process. Following the signing of the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement in August 2000, AWEPA assisted the Parliament of Burundi in strengthening democracy based on a multiparty system and elections.

Annual Report 2014 Page 18 www.awepa.org The AWEPA programme in Burundi provides support to the Na- liament of Burundi. tional Assembly and the Senate in their constitutional functions of Other activities included a workshop, organised by AWEPA in June passing legislation and oversight of government activity. AWEPA 2014, to strategise for the success of free, democratic and peaceful is active in organising capacity-building activities; facilitating activi- elections in 2015; and a field visit made by the Standing Committee ties to promote dialogue between senators and locally elected of- on Education, Youth, Sports and Leisure, Culture and Communica- ficials; and organising meetings with other parliaments who have tion from 27 October to 7 November to the National Assembly in the potential to contribute to conflict resolution. order to carry out a scientific assessment of the primary school system, which was established in 2013. Objectives The 2014 programme objectives are set out in the current coopera- Impacts tion agreement between AWEPA and the Parliament of Burundi. As The Parliament of Burundi organised a number of parliamentary such, AWEPA aims to take action to: days, in collaboration with AWEPA, to set up transitional justice mechanisms, including the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. • extend the political and technical knowledge of Burundian This Commission was established on 15 May 2014 for a term of four parliamentarians in order to enhance their work in the run up years. Its principle mission is to investigate, and establish the truth to the 2015 general elections; about, serious violations of human rights and infringements of in- • strengthen the capacity of parliamentarians to exercise over- ternational human rights law committed up to the end of the civil sight of government activities, particularly regarding the mon- war (2008). The 11 members of the Commissions, who were elected itoring of government programmes and projects in the fields on 3 December 2014 by the National Assembly, were sworn in by of education and environmental protection; the President of the Republic on 10 December 2014 in ceremonies attended by the Political Coordinator of the AWEPA programme, • encourage attitudes of responsibility and accessibility towards Ms. Lydia Maximus. In view of the current political and security citizens to ensure good governance and the monitoring of context in Burundi, activities covering conflict prevention/manage- laws on the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement. A voter casts her ballot during the July 2005 legislative elections in Cibitoke, Burundi. UN Photo / Martine Perret. ment are anticipated for the second semester of 2015. The current situation impels AWEPA to continue its work in supporting nation- Type of activities ally and locally elected officials, as it has since 2008. Since 2008, AWEPA has run a special programme for the Senate in order to provide support to the Permanent Consultative Frame- work and promote dialogue between senators and locally elected officials. AWEPA continued its support in 2014 by financing two meetings between locally elected officials and senators in Kayanza (February 2014) and Makamba (August 2014). During these exchanges, the participants made resolutions on questions of good governance and decentralisation, and achieved a number of concrete outcomes. As a result, two council areas from the Kayanza province (namely, Matongo and Gahombo) ranked among the top 20 (out of 129) best performing constituencies nationally in terms of good governance. The ranking was revealed by the Minister for Community Development on 13 December 2014.

With regards to oversight of government activity, two standing parliamentary committees, namely the committees for the environment and for education, received support with field visits. Ad- Photo: “Primary school students of Nyakabiga during their 10 ditionally, as part of her work in Burundi, the programme’s Political o’clock break.”Members of the Burundian National Assembly Coordinator attended consultations with local politicians and held participated in a field visit and carried out a scientific assessment discussions on AWEPA’s programmes with partners from the Par- of the primary school system of the country, in November 2014.

Page 19 Annual Report 2014 www.awepa.org Parliament of the Democratic Republic of Congo Donor Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Political Coordinator Hon. François-Xavier de Donnea Senior Parliamentary Advisor Hon. Sabine de Bethune

A woman’sAnnual Reportgreeting 2014 at a Peace and Security Meeting in Goma, DRC. Since 2011, AWEPA has been undertaking activities to prevent conflictPage through 20 www.awepa.org parliamentary diplomacy in Central Africa. UN Photo / Sylvain Liechti Background gies for the involvement of women in the development of the DRC and sensitise parliamentary officials on the issue. With The Parliament of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) respect to oversight, the Seminar on Parliament Oversight of occupies a central position in the Congolese political land- the Security Sector served as an information day to facilitate scape. Its role has evolved considerably since the end of the sharing of knowledge on best parliamentary practices the Transition Period in 2006. Since 1997, AWEPA has been and the role of parliamentarians in the oversight of the secu- working in collaboration with the legislative institutions of rity sector. One particularly significant moment in the field the DRC to help to strengthening the capacity of the Parlia- of trans-boundary co-operation was the Meeting of Congo ment and a number of provincial assemblies. During more Republic Foreign Affairs Committees, held in Kinshasa from than 15 years of capacity building in the country, AWEPA has 12 to 14 November in view of the deterioration of relations been able to adapt to the context of political and security between the DRC and the Republic of the Congo. AWEPA or- crises both within the nation and across the region. For this ganised this meeting, which was attended by members of reason, the AWEPA programme in DRC is now largely devot- the Foreign Affairs Committees from both chambers of the ed to conflict prevention through parliamentary diplomacy. two parliaments, with the objective of facilitating dialogue through parliamentary diplomacy; strengthening the bonds of friendship between the two countries; and serving as a Objectives forum for discussions on migration, defence and security. In 2014, the programme’s general objectives were to contribute to conflict prevention and parliamentary capacity building. Specifically, the objectives for 2014 were: Impact The year 2014 was a dynamic one for the AWEPA programme, • To facilitate the organisation of parliamentary oversight which facilitated five high-level meetings and seminars. in the field of security; These tackled a number of key issues and led to concrete actions, including the creation of a Monitoring Committee • To contribute to the capacity building of administrative during the Seminar with women MPs on 3 April 2014; and staff on the issue of gender; the presentation of a final declaration on the creation of a • To assist in the organisation of bilateral and multilateral Parliamentary Network for the Protection of Border Areas meetings with a view to contributing to conflict preven- in the Great Lakes Region, in Goma on 29 November 2014. tion and resolution; • To facilitate a high-level political meeting between a del- Overall, each meeting and seminar constituted a real op- egation from the Parliament of the DRC and the Belgian portunity to establish a frank, constructive and sustainable authorities to enable an exchange of opinions on the dialogue, both within the DRC and across borders. In particu- political and security environment, and on the action re- lar, the parliamentary diplomacy activities organised in the quired to resolve current tensions in the DRC and in the framework of the DRC Programme enabled reconciliation sub-region of the Great Lakes. between parliamentarians from the DRC and the Republic of the Congo; contributed to a thawing of parliamentary relations, and led to a number of ambitious recommendations, Type of activities adopted with the objective of helping political agreements to be reached quickly. Dialogue between these parliamen- Throughout 2014, AWEPA organised a number of activities, tarians had never broken down completely thanks, in part, which placed a particular focus on gender equality, parlia- to the communication sustained in the Parliamentary Forum mentary oversight and trans-boundary co-operation. Re- of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region garding gender equality, the Seminar with women MPs and (PF-ICGLR), an initiative which has also been supported by the Seminar with the DRC Parliament staff on the Represen- AWEPA since the former’s creation in 2008. tation of Women in Parliament, both held in Kinshasa, provided an opportunity for parliamentarians to define strate-

Page 21 Annual Report 2014 www.awepa.org Tanzanian-Irish Joint Monitoring Team Builds Momentum. From left to right: Mr. Seán Crowe TD, Hon. Hamad Mohammed, Ms. Maureen O’Sullivan TD, Hon. Festus Limbu, Denis Naughten TD, Ms. Lina Kitosi of the Tanzanian parliament and Mr/ Anthony Lawlor TD.

Development Effectiveness Programme

Donors Austrian Development Agency Irish Aid Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Political Coordinators Lord David Chidgey, UK Hon. Maureen O’Sullivan, Ireland Senior Parliamentary Advisor Hon. Claudia Durchschlag, Austria

Page 22 Annual Report 2014 www.awepa.org tary inputs and engagement in national and international Background matters, for the benefit of both the international community AWEPA’s Development Effectiveness Programme was de- and the parliaments concerned. Moreover, in 2014, through veloped in response to the experiences of the AWEPA par- Joint Monitoring Team (JMT) Meetings, Tanzanian and Irish liamentary delegation to the Third High Level Forum on Aid Members were able to foster direct communication ranging Effectiveness in 2008, in which it was made clear that parlia- from the highest political levels to local development actors ments were side-lined from discussions and plans on aid and on the Tanzanian fisheries industry, raising the profile of -un development. der-utilised, natural and abundant resources in the country. Tanzanian and Irish JMT Members are also in a position to better understand the relationship between official development assistance and developing country budgets, as well as Objectives how to monitor expenditure and results more effectively. At In 2014, the programme continued its focus on strengthen- the same time, they have each gained a wide perspective on ing parliamentary oversight through peer-to-peer south- the challenges faced by their peers in overseeing the execu- south and north-south cooperation. Towards these ends, the tive branch and developing sources of local revenue. programme worked closely with the Southern African Devel- opment Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF) on issues of domestic resource mobilisation and the oversight of mineral resources, as SADC parliamentarians prepared to Impacts participate in the First High Level Meeting (HLM) in Mexico Project activities have deepened the conviction amongst par- City. Irish parliamentarians worked closely with their Mo- liamentarians and other stakeholders that parliaments play zambican counterparts in strengthening the oversight of Of- a crucial role in the budget process. As AWEPA’s partners ficial Development Assistance (ODA) through increased staff have indicated over the course of the organisation’s activi- support to the Planning and Budget Committee. And, at the ties, many challenges remain with regards to the meaning- same time, Tanzanian parliamentarians worked closely with ful engagement of SADC (and other) legislatures in the entire their Irish colleagues on enhancing the capacity of the Budg- budget process. However, the process of including parlia- et Committee to support efforts at Domestic Resource Mo- ments in development projects and plans continues to pose bilisation (DRM) in the fisheries sector. The programme has a challenge for international development practitioners. also invested in ongoing efforts to assure that parliaments Through their engagement in the regional and continental and their role in the budget process are well understood by activities of this programme, parliamentarians are also more development partners, and that the institution forms part of aware of the changing development landscape and their role emerging policies and plans forged by said partners. as legislators therein.

In addition, joint teams of parliamentarians from Ireland and Type of activities Tanzania are making significant progress in opening produc- In April 2014, Parliamentarians took part in the first ever tive communication towards common goals. This awareness High-Level Meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective includes a deepened understanding of the shifting focus Development Cooperation and called for increased sup- from external to domestic resource mobilisation and the port to help them oversee and scrutinise all development common thread of the parliamentary role in overseeing all resources more effectively. The plenary session saw parlia- forms of development finance. This shift has been accom- mentarians presenting a joint communiqué formulated by panied by an emerging momentum on the part of newly es- AWEPA, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Mexican tablished budget committees, who are making tangible con- Senate. Ultimately, the marginalisation of parliaments in the tributions to their country’s economic development, and, in discussions and debates served as an empirical demonstra- Mozambique, by a renewed focus on enhancing the capacity tion of the urgency and relevance of institutional parliamen- of staff in budgetary matters. tary strengthening and reform. The outcome of the Forum has also highlighted the importance of regular parliamen-

Annual Report 2014 Page 23 www.awepa.org AWEPA’s programme with EALA seeks to empower the Assembly to effectively fulfil its legislative, representative and oversight mandate. Photo/EALA.

An Empowered and Effective East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Donors Government of Sweden Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Political Coordinator Hon. Kerstin Lundgren, Sweden Senior Parliamentary Advisors Hon. Kerstin Engle, Sweden, Ms. Katharine Bulbulia, Ireland

Page 24 Annual Report 2014 www.awepa.org region, and discussed the feasibility of a new vision on re- Background gional security and a sustainable and peaceful co-existence. Since 2002, EALA and AWEPA have been implementing pro- A way forward was adopted with a list of recommendations. grammes to develop EALA’s capacity in the region. EALA was founded in 2001 and functions as the legislative organ of the East African Community (EAC). EALA has 52 members, 45 of whom are elected to their position (nine from each of the Impacts five Partner States) and seven ex-officio members. The Third During 2014, the leadership of the third EALA Speaker Hon. Assembly was inaugurated in June 2012 and seeks to con- Margaret Zziwa was disputed by a number of other EALA solidate the achievements of the previous Assemblies and to members leading to frequent disruption of plenary sittings further the EAC integration agenda. The current EALA Capac- and focus being diverted to debates on internal issues. Hon. ity Development Programme runs from 2011 to 2015 and Daniel Kidega was appointed as the fourth Speaker in De- aims to contribute to accelerated, harmonious and balanced cember 2014, which restored internal relations and EALA is development, and continued democratisation in East Africa. back on track to deliver on its mandate. Despite the internal struggle, most of EALA’s committee work continued throughout the year. Objectives The programme seeks to empower EALA to effectively fulfil its legislative, representative and oversight mandate, particularly in matters related to improving the EAC integration process and increasing cooperation among EAC Partner States in political, economic, social and cultural fields. More specifically, the programme aims to enhance EALA’s legislative and oversight role; realise effective outreach and representation of the interests of the East African people; increase the insti- AWEPA’s programme with EALA seeks to empower the Assembly to effectively fulfil its legislative, representative and oversight mandate. Photo/EALA. tutional and organisational capacity of EALA; and establish effective linkages with National Assemblies, other regional parliaments and internationally.

Type of activities The activities are clustered under five result areas, which con- Photo: EALA Member Hon. Mike Sebalu addressing the participants tribute to EALA’s mandate, including capacity-building work- of the Regional Conference on Regional Security, held by the East shops for Committee Members; studies and public hearings African Legislative Assembly (EALA) and the African Leadership on bills; and EALA participation at regional and international Centre (ALC), in collaboration with AWEPA and the GIZ East African parliamentary seminars, and at a successful Inter-Parliamen- Community program, on 23-24 May 2014 in Arusha. tary Relations Seminar (Nanyuki VIII). One representative activity is the conference on East African Societies and Regional Security, convened by EALA’s Committee on Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution in collaboration with AWEPA and the African Leadership Centre, on 23-24 May in Arusha. Regional legislators, EAC Secretariat officials, government officials of the Partner States, policy partners and representatives of civil society deliberated on strategies to transform societies and contain insecurities in the region. Participants analysed the emerging security priorities, needs and challenges in the

Annual Report 2014 Page 25 www.awepa.org Female Genital Mutilation (FGM/C) Donors Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs (through UNFPA/ UNICEF Joint Programme) Plan Nederland Political Coordinator Hon. Els Van Hoof, Belgium Senior Parliamentary Advisor Hon. Petra Bayr, Austria

More than 125 million girls and women, worldwide, are suffering the consequences of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), a practice that is Page 26 recognised internationally as a violation of human rights. UN Photo/Sylvain Liechti Annual Report 2014 www.awepa.org Background Type of activities and their impacts Worldwide, more than 125 million girls and women are suf- In December 2014, a high level workshop on FGM/C brought fering the consequences of female genital mutilation/cut- together the leadership from each committee of the Nation- ting (FGM/C), a practice that is recognised internationally as al Assembly of Senegal, in order to further engage Senega- a violation of human rights. It is estimated that, if current lese Parliamentarians in this campaign, while encouraging trends continue, 30 million girls are at risk of being cut over committees - other than the Committee on Health, Popula- the next decade. In addition, FGM/C has increasingly become tion, Social Affairs and National Solidarity - to work towards an issue of concern in Europe. According to the European abandonment. The seminar included lively debates and in- Parliament, approximately 500,000 girls and women living in formation was presented by a wide array of speakers, includ- Europe have undergone FGM/C and another 180,000 are at ing experts and religious leaders. The workshop resulted in risk each year. a first draft memorandum with specific requests to various ministries (the Ministry of Women, Children and Women En- trepreneurship, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of AWEPA is uniquely placed to support parliamentarians as key Education, among others). The President of the Health Com- catalysts for ending FGM/C, through its extensive network of mittee noted during her opening remarks that it was the first parliamentarians both in Europe and Africa. AWEPA partners time that so many high level representatives had gathered with civil society organisations as well as the government together on this issue. and the UN to roll out projects in a wide variety of contexts.

In November 2014, AWEPA staff travelled for a consultation mission to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Productive meetings were Objectives held with the Honourable Speaker and four key parliamen- The FGM/C programme, funded by AWEPA’s Luxembourg tarians. The O2P programme was presented during these section, aims to enhance the capacity of African parliaments speeches and the focal persons within the Ethiopian Parlia- to exercise their oversight, representative and legislative ment with whom AWEPA can work were identified. Relevant functions with regard to FGM/C. In particular, the programme stakeholders were informed about the O2P programme in contributes to increasing the capacity of parliamentarians Ethiopia and areas of cooperation explored. Furthermore, to legislate around the protection of women and girls from the working relationship between AWEPA and Plan Inter- violence, including FGM/C, as well as establishing links with national Ethiopia (PIE) was strengthened and the division of communities requiring support towards abandonment. tasks between the two organisations was further discussed. In addition, the monitoring framework (a document contain- ing specific objectives based on the different context of each The objective of the AWEPA / Plan Nederland Programme – country with respect to the parliamentary component of the “Obligation to Protect (O2P): Agents of Change unite against O2P programme) was finalised between AWEPA and PIE. The FGM/C” - is to promote the abandonment of FGM/C within consultation meeting was a positive initial step in working one generation in selected communities in Egypt, Ethiopia, with the Ethiopian Parliament, the Honourable Speaker and Kenya and Sudan by intensifying the legislative and budget- various parliamentarians. ary actions taken by parliamentarians, as well as enhancing the capacity of the local government to influence behaviour change in target communities and to improve the implementation of existing laws through law enforcement mechanisms.

Annual Report 2014 Page 27 www.awepa.org The Congo River at sunset in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Amongst the specific objectives of the AWEPA PF-ICGLR programme in 2014 was to contribute to peacebuilding in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. UN Photo/Marie Frechon.

Parliamentary Forum of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR-PF) Donors Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Peacebuilding Service – S0.1) Political Coordinators Ms. Thérèse Froesch Mr. Alain Destexhe Senior Parliamentary Advisor Mr. Luc Dhoore

Page 28 Annual Report 2014 www.awepa.org tee. AWEPA was also invited to attend the visit, during which Background the PF-ICGLR delegation addressed the tragedy which con- In order to achieve lasting peace in the Great Lakes Region tinues to unfold in east DRC. It was an opportunity to show following the conflicts which have been developing there for compassion with the many victims, to understand their suf- more than 20 years, the Heads of State and Government of fering and to provide them with assistance, while supporting the region signed the Pact on Security, Stability and Devel- the work of Dr. Denis Mukwege in treating rape victims. opment in December 2006, within the framework of the In- ternational Conference on the Great Lakes Region. Through its work, AWEPA contributed to the ownership and the rati- fication of this Pact. The Parliamentary Forum of the ICGLR Impacts (PF-ICGLR) was established in 2008 as a result of the process. The PF-ICGLR represents a platform for the exchange of Since then, AWEPA has contributed to the organisation of the knowledge and information between elected officials in the Forum’s activities in the field of conflict prevention, in col- region, and aims to promote peace, stability and develop- laboration with the General Secretariat of the PF-ICGLR and ment in the Great Lakes Region. As such, it provided the op- the member parliaments. portunity for representatives of the people of the member countries to come together in 2014, when they launched initiatives such as the solidarity visits to rape victims and displaced people as well as political consultation missions, Objectives which allowed them to outline strategies for reconciliation In 2014, the specific objectives of the AWEPA PF-ICGLR pro- based on parliamentary diplomacy. The Forum’s work in gramme were: DRC, which is supported by AWEPA, helped to relieve tensions and provide reassurance to the different stakeholders • To contribute to peacebuilding in the east of the Dem- on the commitment to finding lasting solutions based on an ocratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of the process analysis of the underlying causes of conflict. of monitoring the implementation of the Addis Ababa Agreement; • To express the solidarity of the parliaments of the member countries of the ICGLR with the victims of sexual and gender-based violence, and with displaced people in the Mugunga 2 camp in the province of North Kivu, DRC; • To work towards peace in the Central African Republic and in South Sudan through political consultation missions; • To strengthen the capacity of the General Secretariat and the Executive Committee of the Forum.

Type of activities Photo: Hon. Sylvestre Ntibatunganya, President of the PF-ICGLR Specific resolutions were adopted to combat violence against Executive Committee and Honorary President of Burundi (middle) women in times of conflict, following the Forum’s plenary awarding the PF-ICGLR certificate of recognition to Prof. Ellinor meetings in Kinshasha (January 2013) and Bujumbura (No- Adelrot, interim Medical Director at General Referral Hospital of vember 2013). The plenary meeting in Bujumbura had called Panzi, and to Mr. Maurice André Liwoke, Hospital Director. for, in particular, a parliamentary visit to east DRC to meet victims of sexual and gender-based violence. This visit was undertaken by members of the Forum’s Executive Commit-

Annual Report 2014 Page 29 www.awepa.org Hon. Bethel Amadi, President of the Pan-African Parliament welcomes participants to the “High Level Seminar on Migration and Development”, held in Midrand, South Africa, on 2-3 October 2014.

Strengthening Regional Parliaments towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals Donor Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) Political Coordinator Hon. Holger Gustafsson, Sweden Senior Parliamentary Advisor Hon. Wolfgang Pirklhuber, Austria

Background Africa has made great strides towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. However, results are spread unevenly across countries and several goals will be missed. Good governance and, in particular, effective, open and accountable institutions are necessary to achieve the MDGs. This includes strong and effective parliaments that can live up to the standards set; contribute credibly to the equal distribution of public goods; and hold governments to account for de-

Page 30 Annual Report 2014 www.awepa.org velopment fund allocation and policy implementation. Since its inception in 2010, the AWEPA programme “Strengthening Impacts Regional Parliaments towards achieving the Millennium De- While challenges emerged as a consequence of the Ebola velopment Goals” has focused on strengthening Africa’s re- outbreak in West Africa, including the cancellation of region- gional parliaments through strategic capacity development. al events and lowered attendance of parliamentarians from the most affected countries, 2014 remained a succesful year for the AWEPA MDG programme. The main achievements of 2014 included the strengthened institutional capacity of Objectives regional parliamentary bodies, as highlighted by protocols The overall objective of the programme is to contribute to granting enhanced powers to the PAP and the ECOWAS-P; achieving the Millennium Development Goals in Africa by dialogue between Europe and Africa on migration and de- supporting the capacity building of regional African Parlia- velopment, with parliamentarians affirming their support for ments. These include the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), the the protection of human rights and the freedom of move- Parliament of the Economic and Monetary Community of ment as fundamental values that should be at the forefront Central Africa (CEMAC-P), the East African Legislative Assem- of the migration debate; elaboration of regional parliamen- bly (EALA), the Parliament of the Economic Community of tary recommendations on how best to enhance agriculture West Africa States (ECOWAS-P) and the Parliamentary Forum and food security in Africa; identification of actions parlia- of the Southern African Development Community (SADC-PF). mentarians could take at the regional and national levels to Through this programme, AWEPA seeks to enable regional respond to lake Chad’s de-watering trend; and strengthened African parliaments to develop and implement policy and parliamentary awareness of the possible intervention areas legislation relevant to the MDGs, specifically with respect to within the current mandate of the ECOWAS-P to address re- parliamentary oversight and budgetary control. In addition, gional security concerns in a more comprehensive manner. AWEPA works to strengthen parliamentary dialogue and exchange; to enhance parliamentary participation in international fora on MDG-related issues; and to promote a better understanding among European parliamentarians of the challenges to achieving the MDGs in Africa.

Type of activities The year 2014 was highly dynamic for the programme. Ac- tivities were successfully realised in cooperation with all five partnering regional African parliaments. One particularly significant activity was the high-level international seminar on “Managing Migration for Development: The Need for In- ternational Dialogue and the Role of Parliaments”. This was organised jointly by the PAP and AWEPA on the occasion of their 10th and 30th anniversaries respectively. The seminar sought to address migration within Africa, and between Af- rica and Europe, and its implications for development. Par- Photo from left to right: Hon. Prateebah Koomaree Bholah, liamentarians from Africa and Europe stressed the urgent MP from Mauritius and acting representative of the SADC-PF, Mr. need to act to protect the human rights of migrants, while Henk Jan Ormel, Vice-president of AWEPA, and Hon. Bethel Amadi, capitalising on the potential of migration for development, President of the Pan-African Parliament., at the Regional Seminar as well as strengthening the dialogue between host coun- “Making Agricultural Investment work for Africa: a Parliamentarian tries and countries of origin. Response to the Land Rush”.

Annual Report 2014 Page 31 www.awepa.org Outside the polling station in Namaacha County on the election day of 2009. Photo/The Commonwealth. Strengthening democratic institutions in Mozambique Donors Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Royal Norwegian Embassy in Maputo) DIAKONIA (an intermediary of the Swedish Embassy in Maputo) Frysian Urban Sanitation programme (FUSP) Political Coordinator Hon. Bodil Ceballos Senior Parliamentary Advisor Hon. Maria Antonia Avilles

Background AWEPA has been supporting the democratic process in Mozambique since the Rome Peace Agreement was signed in the 1990s. Having started out implementing major civic education programmes and election observation projects, AWEPA shifted its focus to capacity-building programmes for elected organs, from the National Assembly to the newly established Provincial Assemblies, municipalities and political parties. In 2014, Mozambique held its fifth general election and its second elections

Page 32 Annual Report 2014 www.awepa.org for the Provincial Assemblies. 2014 was also the first working year for the mayors and members of Municipal Assem- Impacts blies elected in 2013. AWEPA’s work was highly influenced by AWEPA has endeavoured to support the revision of the Penal these political events, and ranged from organising introduc- Code by carrying out a series of activities in this area. These tory workshops for the new municipalities to getting political activities were launched in 2010 and aimed to mobilise MPs, parties ready for the elections; and preparing the staff of the parliamentary staff, government officials, specialists indif- Parliament and Provincial Assemblies for the new legislature ferent technical areas, central statistical offices and journal- starting in 2015. ists. As a major result, the new Penal Code was approved in July 2014 with substantial input from civil society and journalists. In addition, the draft zero of the Agriculture Law was prepared following a series of activities, including seminars, Objective workshops and exchange visits, organised by AWEPA to con- The programme’s aim is to contribute to the development of tribute to the inclusive scrutiny of the drafting process of the a democratic process, with properly functioning democratic Law. AWEPA, together with the United Nations Development institutions, and a fair knowledge of, and respect for, the rule Programme (UNDP) and Food and Agriculture Organization of law and human rights, for the benefit of the Mozambican of the United Nations (FAO), intends to support the Parlia- citizens. AWEPA works to achieve this in cooperation with dif- ment further in this process, which will continue beyond ferent partners, primarily with the Parliament, Municipalities, 2015. One of the main outcomes so far of the work carried Provincial Assemblies and political parties, by building their out under the Natural Resources Management Project is the capacities and by creating opportunities for the exchange of approval of the new Law of Petroleum (21/2014) on 18 Au- information and experiences regarding best practice. gust 2014, which includes long-awaited amendments in this area. AWEPA contributed to the approval of these legislative amendments by creating the conditions to inform the members of Parliament about natural resources concepts with an Type of activities emphasis on the extractive industry. With the aim of contributing to free, fair and transparent elections, AWEPA organised two types of activities:

• Training seminars on new electoral legislation for members of political parties with a seat in Parliament; • Workshops, organised in partnership with the Centre for Public Integrity (CIP), to help journalists and local corre- spondents across the country to cover the elections and to include the findings in the Mozambique political process bulletin published by AWEPA/CIP.

Under its project “Towards Sustainable Natural Resources Management for Inclusive Growth: Parliamentary Capacity Building”, AWEPA facilitated several public hearings at local level with the Municipalities and the Provincial Assemblies. Moreover, in the framework of this project, a four-day semi- Photo: An interview is conducted during a three-day capacity nar was held with the Committee of Constitutional Affairs, building seminar for the recently appointed Local Councils in Human Rights and Legality, and the ad hoc Committee for Mozambique, held in April 2014, in cooperation with the Frisian the Revision of the Constitution to discuss the legislation on Urban Sanitation Programme (FUSP). natural resources in relation to the Mozambican Constitu- tion.

Annual Report 2014 Page 33 www.awepa.org Participants at the17th Meeting of RFPAC, held in May 2014, in N’Djamena, the capital city of Chad, on the topic of Fighting Violence Against Women.

Network Of Women Parliamentarians Of Central Africa (RFPAC)

Donor Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Political Coordinator Ms. Magda De Meyer Senior Parliamentary Advisor Ms. Els Van Hoof

Page 34 Annual Report 2014 www.awepa.org place on 7-8 May 2014 in N’Djamena, Chad. It focused on the Background protection of vulnerable women and girls against violence. In the early 2000s, AWEPA facilitated the organisation of a The second took place in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 1-2 number of meetings between women parliamentarians. As a October 2015 as part of AWEPA’s 30th anniversary celebra- result, the women parliamentarians of Central Africa began tions. The annual conference in Chad addressed an impor- to take action and, in March 2002, created the Network of tant theme in the struggle against inequality. Participants in Women Parliamentarians of Central Africa (RFPAC), an all- the activity examined the different forms of violence, high- women parliamentarian platform. RFPAC, whose activities lighted the key features of effective legislation on the issue are facilitated by its member parliaments alongside AWEPA, and outlined strategies for the implementation of a legal is made up of women parliamentarians delegated by their framework. respective institutions.

The following countries are members of the Network: An- gola, Burundi, Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Central Impacts African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic During each RFPAC meeting, follow-up is carried out regard- of Congo, Rwanda and Chad. The RFPAC statutes assimilate ing the previous activity. The head of each delegation is key statements including the Protocol to the African Char- asked, at this point, to inform the assembly about the devel- ter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women opments resulting from the previous activity in their respec- in Africa; the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of tive parliament. During the follow-up on the annual confer- Discrimination against Women (CEDAW); and UN Security ence on violence against women and girls, delegates from a Council Resolution 1325. number of countries shared their feedback with colleagues and superiors, as well as reporting back on the different activities carried out by their respective executive branch to contribute to the protection of vulnerable women and girls. Objectives RFPAC strives to empower women and improve their access to positions of power. To this end, the Network of Women Parliamentarians of Central Africa (RFPAC) carries out in- depth reflection on the challenges faced by women politicians and the steps to be taken to tackle these challenges, with the objective of helping women in general - and women parliamentarians in particular - to contribute to the development of their society. RFPAC’s specific objectives for 2014 included:

• developing mechanisms for the protection of vulnerable women and children; • engaging women parliamentarians in talks on the research into the causes of south-south and south-north migration.

Photo from left to right: Hon. Marie Rose Melighe, Ms. Magda de Meyer and Hon. Estelle Angangou at the RFPAC Conference Type of activities on Migration, Gender and Development, held on the occasion of AWEPA facilitated two RFPAC meetings during 2014. The first AWEPA’s 30th anniversary,in Midrand, South Africa. activity was the 17th RFPAC annual conference, and took

Annual Report 2014 Page 35 www.awepa.org Parliament of Rwanda Type of activities A number of different types of activities are organised in the framework of the Rwanda programme. On the one hand, in- Donors formation sessions, field visits by parliamentary committees and socio-political research contribute to capacity building Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and peacebuilding in Rwanda. On the other hand, the bilateral and multilateral meetings facilitated by AWEPA aim towards the prevention and resolution of both overt and cov- Political Coordinator ert conflicts. Hon. Alain Desthexe

Impacts Background The programme activities have produced results which dem- AWEPA has been working with the Parliament of Rwanda onstrate the effective functioning of the Parliament of Rwan- since 2003. The terms of the collaboration have been agreed da across all its functions and, in particular, with regards the alongside the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. The co- drafting and implementation of legal norms and oversight of operation programme with the Parliament of Rwanda aims to government activity. Indeed, a number of field visits, organ- strengthen the capacity of the Parliament and its members, ised in collaboration with AWEPA, were taken into consid- as well as contributing towards peacebuilding in the country. eration when drafting new norms or amending those which Since 2011, a significant proportion of the programme’s ac- required improvement. In 2013, a number of high-level bilat- tivities has been dedicated to enhancing relations between eral meetings were organised with policy-makers from DRC Rwanda and its neighbouring States in the Great Lakes sub- in Kigali and Kinshasa. Today, the two parliaments continue region. In addition to strengthening bilateral relations, the to reap the rewards of these political meetings which opened programme also recognises the importance of multilateral the door to permanent and sustained dialogue. cooperation in helping to find solutions to the challenges posed by the situation of refugees, the protection of cross- border natural areas and regional economic cooperation.

Objectives The main objectives of the Rwanda programme are to contribute to parliamentary capacity building and conflict prevention through mechanisms of parliamentary diplomacy. The specific objectives of the Rwanda programme are:

• To facilitate field visits made by parliamentary committees to monitor the enforcement of laws; • To aid in the assessment of the impact of legal reforms intended to improve the business climate; • To help strengthen bonds of friendship with other parliaments.

Page 36 Annual Report 2014 www.awepa.org Voting in the Presidential election in Nyamirambo, Kigali, Rwanda. AWEPA’s cooperation programme with the Parliament of Rwanda aims to strengthen Annualthe capacity Report 2014 of the Parliament and its members, as well as contributing towards peacebuilding in the country. Flickr Photo/ Kigali Wire.Page 37 www.awepa.org Elections, South Africa, April 1994. Photo/AWEPA Archive

South African Provincial Legislatures (SAPL) Donors Swiss Agency for Development Belgian Embassy Flemish Representation Political Coordinator and Senior Parliamentary Advisors Hon. Johan Verstreken, Flanders

Background Constitutional power in South Africa is shared between three spheres of government (national, provincial and local government), which are expected to function based on the principle of cooperative governance. In this framework, service delivery is located at the provincial / State level – and the provinces share concurrent powers with the national sphere to formulate and implement policies related to education, health, housing and social welfare, among others. The South African Provincial Legislatures (SAPL) have also had the additional responsibility of overseeing the performance of the provincial departments and facilitating public participation in governance processes. While the first-decade of post-apartheid South Africa was mainly dedicated to policy formulation, the second decade is chiefly devoted to the proper implementation of these policies through oversight and public participation. It is in the context of this second decade that the SAPL Programme has become even more relevant, now focusing on the promotion of service delivery and poverty reduction.

Page 38 Annual Report 2014 www.awepa.org In response to the call for the SAPL to exercise more vigor- es, namely Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga. The com- ous and effective oversight, the programme has contributed bined training and support enabled the Provincial Speakers to the capacity building of the Provincial Legislatures, and of Forum to better contribute to the revision and update of the those involved in public participation and law making. 2014 Financial Management of the Parliament Amendment Bill.

The programme has also assisted in the establishment and Objectives better functioning of Municipal Public Accounts Committees The main objective of the SAPL programme is to enhance (MPACs) in the municipalities of the Northern Cape and Lim- the performance of the SAPL in their oversight and legislative popo Provinces. In a number of municipalities in Limpopo, roles, and to better facilitate public participation. As such, AWEPA training has also contributed to the establishment of the programme initiates and supports training activities with ethics committees, in which members are obliged to declare the overall objective of giving members an understanding of their financial interests. how to conduct financial oversight; the rules and protocol of the legislature; the pathology of corruption; how to conduct oversight into matters that primarily affect the quality of life Furthermore, the programme has provided an opportunity of women; and how to enhance results-based management. for the women’s caucuses of six Provincial Legislatures to interact with the public regarding the proposed Traditional Courts bill, which was viewed by many women parliamentarians as oppressive to women and contradictory to the Na- Type of activities tional Constitution. The bill has now been scrapped. Further results of this activity include the strengthening of platforms The SAPL programme has thus far capacitated 810 members for women parliamentarians to share and debate best prac- and staff of Provincial Legislatures through a total of 16 ac- tices and strategies as well as an enhanced ability among the tivities. One key activity organised within the framework of women parliamentarians to conduct oversight into matters the SAPL programme was a meeting for senior women par- relating to women. liamentarians from the Provincial Legislatures of Limpopo, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, North West, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu Natal, held on 30 September 2014. The meeting was also attended by a delegation of three European parliamentary members of AWEPA, and was facilitated by the South African Ambassador for Thailand, Ms. Ruby Marks. The meeting was an opportunity for the women parliamentarians to gain and share knowledge on the empowerment and protection of women, and the advancement of women’s rights. At the meeting, the Swiss and Flemish AWEPA delegates were informed on the state of play regarding the advancement and empowerment of women in the Provin- cial Legislatures. This was followed by an open exchange of ideas, views and experience, with a particular focus on laws supporting equal rights for women, and the status of women in the Parliaments of the two countries.

Photo: Ms. Therese Frösch, Hon. Maja Ingold, Prof. Ben Turok, Hon. Impacts Johan Verstreken and Swiss Consul Ms. Bernadette Hunkeler Brown at a Multi Party Women’s Caucus Meeting in Johannesburg. In 2014, the SAPL programme supported the establishment and better functioning of Speakers Forums in three provinc-

Annual Report 2014 Page 39 www.awepa.org Supporting Legislative Institutions in Somalia

Donors Delegation of the European Commission in Kenya Political Coordinator Dr. Jan Nico Scholten, the Netherlands (until June 2015) Mr. Cees Bremmer, the Netherlands (from July 2015) Senior Parliamentary Advisor Hon. Maria Martens, the Netherlands

Somali women members of the business community attend a meeting with foreign journalists in Kismayo, Somalia. UN Photo/Tobin Jones Page 40 Annual Report 2014 www.awepa.org committee operations, minute-taking and report writ- Background ing; AWEPA’s “Supporting Legislative Institutions in Somalia” pro- • Training in information and communication technolo- gramme is based on and supports the National Federal Par- gies and language proficiency skills; liament’s strategic plan towards a parliamentary election in 2016. AWEPA has been involved in capacity building of So- • Training, provided to women parliamentarians, in gen- malia’s legislative institutions since 2002, when a Memoran- der-awareness and empowerment, leadership and con- dum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with the Speaker fidence-building skills; of the National Transitional Parliament. In 2006 and 2007, • Financial support provided to staff wishing to upgrade the programme was extended to the regional Parliaments their academic qualifications; of Somaliland and Puntland, respectively. The current pro- • Drafting of technical papers, such as Private Members’ gramme with the Federal Parliament (the House of the Peo- Bills, motions and resolutions. ple) was initiated through an MoU signed with the Speaker in August 2012. It follows a short term “Bridging Facility” to support the inauguration and capacity building of the New In particular, two workshops for women parliamentarians, Federal Houses of Parliament (18 January to 18 April 2014). held on 11-16 and 25-30 August 2014, provided a platform for a comprehensive analysis, discussion and visioning of the challenges and opportunities for more gender equality in a Objectives dominantly patriarchal society. The programme’s specific objectives are to support the improved functioning of the federal and regional legislative institutions by strengthening the capacities of the parlia- Impacts mentarians and parliamentary staff to carry out their repre- The programme has led to an improvement in the quality sentative, legislative and oversight functions more effective- of legislative analysis and proposed amendments to bills; ly, and to perform their constitutional duty of building a new increased quality of legislative output and reporting; more Somalia founded on the principles of good governance. The parliamentary participation in budget development and programme focuses on building the capacities of parliamen- oversight; increased awareness of the obligation for execu- tary officials and staff; strengthening parliamentary admin- tive accountability and transparency; and improved quality istrative structures and systems; enhancing the effective- of administrative and technical support to the plenary and ness of the committee system and operations; supporting the committees. The Somali Women Parliamentarian’s As- parliamentary public outreach and oversight; strengthening sociation (SOWPA) workshops have created a demand for compliance to legislative procedures and practices; provid- AWEPA to develop and implement a specific project proposal ing direct technical support to the Speaker of the Federal for “Empowering Somali Women Parliamentarians”. Parliament; and empowering women parliamentarians to champion gender-equality issues.

Type of activities The activities implemented during 2014 include:

• Training, provided to parliamentarians and parliamentary staff, in committee systems and operations, the budget process, the legislative process, and effective parliamentary outreach and oversight; • Training, provided to parliamentary staff, in plenary and

Annual Report 2014 Page 41 www.awepa.org AWEPA conducted a 6-day Training of Trainers(ToT) on the “decentralisation and local government system” in South Sudan, in November 2014. South Sudan’s Legislative Assembly and Local Councils Donor Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Political Coordinators Mr. Johan Van Hecke, Belgium (living in Uganda) Jan Ormel Mr. Henk Jan Ormel, the Netherlands

Background The four-year capacity-building project for the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) and the local councils in Central Equatoria and Western Equatoria States of South Sudan was launched in July 2012 and will come to a close in June 2016. The programme was a continuation of capacity-building initiatives for the NLA, and a pilot project for the local councils with an initial target of ten counties across the two states.

Page 42 Annual Report 2014 www.awepa.org The programme serves the overall objectives of improving to Decentralisation and Local governance in South Sudan”, human security, strengthening the state of law and decreas- based on a request from the State’s Local Government Min- ing structural poverty. It works to achieve this through par- ister; and, community outreach for councillors in five of the ticipatory leadership, good governance, accountability and ten counties. improved service delivery by effective legislatures in South Sudan. The programme and its activities aim specifically to improve the capacity of the 13 local councils in Western and Central Equatorial States, on the one hand, and the National Impacts Legislative Assembly of South Sudan (NLA), on the other, to In 2014, the project underwent a period of uncertainty due respond to the challenges they face in the discharge of their to the insecurity that arose as a result of the political and legislative, oversight and representative functions civil unrest in South Sudan in December 2013. However, the activities planned for the year were successfully executed, apart from those for the NLA whose critical position in the crisis made it the implementation of AWEPA activities impos- sible. As a result of the training in “Public Finance Manage- Objectives ment and Development Planning”, the councillors were able to scrutinise county budgets and hold country administra- The specific objectives of this programme throughout 2014 tions to prioritise key service delivery programmes for their included: communities. The outreach programmes enabled the councillors to hold sessions in which resolutions were adopted • To generate deeper understanding and application of to improve on service delivery and administration of their the principles of Ethics, Integrity and Human Rights in respective communities. They also facilitated consultation the context of South Sudan; and on-spot monitoring of government projects by the local • To build participants’ understanding of conflict, and its councils. The country officials were therefore conscious of sources, and to develop their skills in conflict transfor- the oversight role of the country councils. mation and peace building; • To provide participants with a deeper and wider understanding and appreciation of the concepts of public finance management and development planning; • To provide and equip participants with tools and tech- niques for budget preparation, execution and oversight in the public sector; • To facilitate outreach and consultation between the local councillors and the local communities that they serve; • To enable councillors in the three counties of Ezo, Na- jero and Tombura to acquire an understanding and appreciation of the concept of decentralisation and local governance in South Sudan; as well is its operation.

Type of activities In 2014, in the framework of the “Training of Trainers on Eth- Photo: AWEPA Staff on its way to a local council training between ics, Integrity and Human Rights” programme, AWEPA organ- Mvolo and Mundri County had to drive across a river, because the ised a module on “Public Finance Management and Develop- bridge was broken. The journey lasted eight hours, instead of two ment Planning”; training on the first module of “Background hours, while others remained stuck there for more than four days.

Annual Report 2014 Page 43 www.awepa.org Voters in Harare queued from before dawn, to take part in Zimbabwe’s 2013 presidential election, July 31st 2013. Photo Flickr/ Jerome Starkey Parliament of Zimbabwe Donors Delegation of the European Commission in Zimbabwe Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education (NUFFIC). Political Coordinator Hon. Maria Martens, the Netherlands

Background The AWEPA Parliament of Zimbabwe Support Programme ran between 2012 and 2014. The programme aimed to contribute to strengthening the systems, institutional processes and mechanisms that promote democratic governance; the peaceful resolution of conflicts; gender equality; and the rule of law.

Objectives The objective of the AWEPA programme “Parliamentary Support to the Parliament of Zimbabwe” is to help the Parliament of Zimbabwe to achieve its vision of becoming an open and participatory Parliament that excels in carrying out its duties of

Page 44 Annual Report 2014 www.awepa.org oversight, law-making and representation, and, importantly, es for members of the ruling and opposition parties. These maintains peace and good governance in Zimbabwe. The spaces have contributed to an enhanced collaboration be- programme provides capacity-building support for both Par- tween the parties around the key thematic areas of gender liamentarians and staff. and climate change. This has led to proposed legislation to establish a national Gender Commission and a Zimbabwe Chapter of The Global Legislators Organisation (Globe In- ternational) which aims to utilise the diplomatic standing of Type of activities Zimbabwe within the regional economic body, the Southern AWEPA’s activities of support and assistance in Zimbabwe African Development Community (SADC), to lead a regional feature two main components. On the one hand, AWEPA legislative drive towards constructing a unified parliamen- facilitates capacity building of parliamentarians and parlia- tary response to climate change. Moreover, the programme mentary staff; on the other hand, AWEPA capacitates a Zim- has provided a neutral platform from which political parties babwean-based civil society organisation, the Southern Afri- have been able to interrogate each other’s proposed poli- can Parliamentary Trust (SAPST), to offer domestic support cies and actions, and has therefore contributed to a more ac- in terms of legislative analysis and drafting and the enhance- countable and transparent level of parliamentary oversight. ment of oversight in regards to human rights and gender eq- uity. The assistance to parliamentary staff provided by the In addition, the programme has supported the capacity programme takes the form of study exchange visits to gain building of staff through exchange visits with other African further knowledge about best practices concerning facets of parliaments. The visits have enhanced knowledge surround- parliamentary business such as research, dissemination and ing information management, specifically the preparation, storage of information, public participation, drafting legisla- storage and dissemination of parliamentary outputs such tion and improved oversight and monitoring. as reports, Hansard, proposed bills, questions, etc. This has also contributed to a more functional parliamentary website which, in turn, allows for greater transparency and account- Impacts ability. The programme has capacitated 210 parliamentarians and 74 staff. The programme has been successful in fulfilling its key objectives by facilitating activities such as exchange visits between parliaments; enabling parliamentarians to attend international meetings on the key thematic area of climate change; and organising a Zimbabwe-Zambia Senior Parliamentary Staff Seminar to assist parliamentarians in the implementation of a new socio-economic blueprint for Zimbabwe. This blueprint, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Eco- nomic Transformation (Zim Asset), aims to reinvigorate the economy; support the organisation of training workshops for parliamentarians involved in gender, constitutional and legislative analysis, human rights and rule of law, or economic literacy; and enhance the capacity of parliamentarians to analyse financial statements and reports. As a result of AWEPA’s extensive parliamentary communication network, the programme has also contributed towards enhancing diplomatic communication between Zimbabwe and Europe Photo: Eight members of the Parliament of Zimbabwe and which, in turn, has led to potentially positive political devel- three parliament clerks participated in an exchange visit to the opments such as the curbing of existing sanctions. Parliament of Rwanda, in March 2014, as part of AWEPA’s capacity building programme with the Zimbabwean Parliament. The programme has also provided political discursive spac-

Annual Report 2014 Page 45 www.awepa.org Partnership Council AWEPA’s Partnership Council serves as its advisory body. It is jointly chaired by the Chair of the Eminent Advisory Board, Ms. Graça Machel and the President, Minister of State Ms. Miet Smet. The Council aims to convene once a year to discuss issues of a strategic and visionary nature, where northern and southern stakeholders meet to dialogue around issues that play a part in Africa’s right-based development. The Partnership Council consists of: Pan-African Parliament (PAP) The establishment of the Pan-African Parliament is informed by a vision to provide a common platform for African peoples and their grassroots organisations to be more involved in discussions and decision-making on the problems and challenges facing the continent. Pan-African parliamentarians represent all the peoples of Africa. The ultimate aim of the PAP is to evolve into an institution with full legislative powers whose members are elected by universal adult suffrage.

East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) As an organ of the East African Committee (EAC), EALA aims to legislate, perform oversight and represent the people of East Africa in a bid to foster economic, social, cultural and political integration. The Assembly is committed to fostering the following core values in its operations: effectiveness, ethics and integrity; transparency and accountability; objectivity and impartiality; professionalism and team work; unity in diversity; as well as allegiance to EAC ideals.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament The ECOWAS Parliament is a forum for dialogue, consultation and consensus for representatives of the peoples of West Africa in order to promote integration. It provides advisory opinions on issues covering a wide range of areas that are of crucial importance to the integration process. These include respect for human rights, the interconnection of communication and telecommunication links, health, education, and revisions of basic community texts.

Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa Parliament (CEMAC-P) The Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa Parliament (CEMAC) facilitates free exchange and movement across borders for the development and the infrastructural and economic integration of the region. Its parliament was officially inaugurated in 2010 in Malabo after a ten-year transition phase to sensitise local populations to democratic processes. The CEMAC Parliament includes 30 members from six countries: Chad, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and the Republic of Congo. Its mission is to promote the harmonious development of member states through the establishment of a true common market.

Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF) SADC PF is a delivery-focused, people-centred institution that accelerates and promotes parliamentary participation in regional decision making for the benefit of the citizens of SADC. The SADC Parliamentary Forum’s mission is to facilitate strategic partnerships within the SADC region, promote information sharing, initiate and implement projects that enhance regional integration and promote effective and professional parliamentary practice.

NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) The NEPAD NPCA is responsible for coordinating the preparation of projects and programmes of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). This includes mobilising technical and financial support; facilitating and supporting implementation; providing information; promoting the programme in Africa and internationally; liaising with development partners; mobilising private sector participation; representing the programme at development forums; and monitoring and reporting on progress.

Network of African Parliamentarians (NAP) With a membership of engaged parliamentarians across Africa, the NAP is a unique initiative which meets to report back on NEPAD parliamentary actions in regional and national parliaments, and which keeps members informed about NEPAD and development issues through regular information bulletins.

Page 46 Annual Report 2014 www.awepa.org Eminent Advisory Board AWEPA is guided by the constructive and inspiring advice of the Eminent Advisory Board. This Board meets annually to discuss the policy and programmes of AWEPA and to make suggestions for future priorities regarding developments in Africa. The board members are appointed for an indefinite period of time:

Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Honorary Chair) A theologian and educator, Archbishop Desmond Tutu served as Archbishop of Cape Town and Head of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He now plays a leading role in The Elders; an independent group of eminent global leaders who support peace building and promote the shared interests of humanity. Ms. Graça Machel (Chair) Ms. Graça Machel, founder of the Graça Machel Trust, is a renowned international advocate for women and children’s rights. Following the independence struggle, Machel served as Education Minister of Mozambique. She currently serves in various capacities in several organisations, among them the Elders, the Africa Progress Panel, and the UN Millennium De- velopment Goals Advocates Panel. She is Chair of the Board of the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes. Prof. Ruth Oniang’o A former Member of the Kenyan Parliament, founder and executive director of the Rural Outreach Africa , the founder and editor-in-chief of the African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition, and Development (AJFAND), and also a food and nutrition scientist, Professor Ruth Oniang’o has dedicated a great deal of her time over the past three decades to poverty and hunger eradication, nutrition, health and gender issues and the restoration of human dignity. Ms. Mary Robinson Ms. Mary Robinson was a member of the Irish Parliament from 1969 to 1989 and became a member of AWEPA in the 1980s. She was elected the first woman President of Ireland (1990-1997) and served as United Nations High Commis- sioner for Human Rights (1997-2002). A human rights advocate, she established the Mary Robinson Foundation - Climate Justice in Dublin. His Excellency Mohamed A. Sahnoun H.E. Mohamed Sahnoun, the former Ambassador of Algeria to the United Nations, to the United States and to Morocco, has served as Special Representative for the Great Lakes region of Africa since 1997. Sahnoun is also a member of the Special Advisory Group of the War-torn Societies Project and served as the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on the Eritrean-Ethiopian conflict. Dr. Jan Nico Scholten Dedicated to humanitarian solidarity, Scholten was Mayor and Chair of a District Council before joining the Dutch Parlia- ment (house and senate) as well as serving as a member of the Benelux-Parliament and the Assembly of the Council of Eu- rope. In 1984 he took the initiative in the founding of what is now called AWEPA. He served as Executive and non-Executive President for AWEPA’s first 25 years and is still actively involved. Prof. Albert Tevoedjre Professor Albert Tevoedjre has been the Special Envoy for the United Nations Secretary-General to the Ivory Coast since 2003. Before his current responsibility, Tevoedjre chaired the Commission on the “Millennium for Africa” Project. Tevoed- jre also played a prominent role as Head of Government in Benin. A political scientist by training, he was awarded the Prix de la vie économique, for his book Poverty, Wealth of Mankind.

Annual Report 2014 Page 47 www.awepa.org Governing Council AWEPA’s highest policy body is its Governing Council, comprising some 40 representatives from AWEPA’s Sections within the European Parliament and the national parliaments of Europe. Every five years, the Governing Council elects the President of the organisation and an Executive Committee, who are accountable to this Council. The Governing Council operates as a general assembly for a five-year term and meets at least once a year. The Council determines the organisation’s overall policy and direction, and is chaired by AWEPA’s President.

As the highest policy organ in the structure of AWEPA, as per article 4 of its statutes, the Governing Council is responsible for approving the Annual and Financial reports; and determining policy and procedures on the objectives; the budget for the up- coming year; and the appointment of members not representing a Section on the Governing Council.

AWEPA has a broad network of parliamentarians and former parliamentarians from across Europe, with over 1900 members. Each European Parliament that forms an AWEPA Section appoints a Head of Section who is the first contact point for AWEPA, and functions as their Section’s first representative on the Governing Council unless they delegate otherwise. The Heads of Sections are:

Austria: Hon. Petra Bayr Belgium: Ms. Magda De Meyer Estonia: Hon. Mart Nutt European Parliament: Hon. Bodil Ceballos Finland: Hon. Jani Toivola Flanders: Hon. Johan Verstreken Greece: Mr. Theodossis Georgiou Hungary: Hon. Gàbor Harangozó Ireland: Hon. Maureen O’Sullivan Italy: Hon. Lia Quartapelle Latvia: Ms. Ingrida Circene Lithuania: Hon. Egidijus Vareikis The Netherlands: Hon. Marit Maij Poland: Hon. Tadeusz Iwiński Portugal: Hon. Fernando Mimoso Negráo Romania: Hon. Minodora Cliveti Spain: Hon. Josep Maldonado i Gili Sweden: Hon. Kerstin Lundgren Switzerland: Hon. Maja Ingold United Kingdom: Lord David Chidgey

Head of Sections mentioned in this report reflect 2015.

Page 48 Annual Report 2014 www.awepa.org Executive Committee AWEPA’s Executive Committee is the executive board of the organisation and meets four times a year. It is elected by the Governing Council for a period of five years to prepare and execute AWEPA policy. It is composed of the President and Vice- Presidents of AWEPA, as well as observers.

President and Chair: Minister of State Ms. Miet Smet (Belgium) Vice President: Hon. Petra Bayr (Austria) Vice-President: Hon. Alain Destexhe (Belgium) Vice-President: MEP Godelieve Quisthoudt-Rowohl (Europe) Vice President: Hon. Olivia Mitchell (Ireland) Vice President: Mr. Henk Jan Ormel (the Netherlands) Vice-President: Hon. Kerstin Lundgren (Sweden) Vice President: Hon. Maja Ingold (Switzerland) Observer: Hon. Dr. Egidijus Vareikis (Lithuania) Observer: Hon. Prof Tadeusz Iwiński (Poland) Observer: Hon. Josep Maldonado I Gili (Spain)

The Executive Committee 2015-2019. Back row left to right: Hon. Dr. Egidijus Vareikis (observer), Hon. Alain Destexhe, Hon. Petra Bayr, Mr. Henk Jan Ormel. Front row left to right: Hon. Kerstin Lundgren, Hon. Maja Ingold, Hon. Olivia Mitchell, President Minister of State Ms. Miet Smet, Hon. Prof. Tadeusz Iwiński (observer) and Hon. Josep Maldonado i Gili (observer). Annual Report 2014 Page 49 www.awepa.org Staff and AWEPA Offices

Management Team Financial Officer Head of Office Mr. Theo Kralt Ms. Gül Mert Mrs. Jackie Kaaria Chief Administrative Officer Junior Financial Officer Project & Logistics Officer Mr. Henk van Maanen Mr. John B.K. Gathecha Dr. Jeff Balch Internal Controller Senior Programme Manager Director Research & Evaluation Ms. Joyce Mbatha Lucas Ms. Kris Debref Human resources Office Assistant Deputy Director Bilateral Programmes Ms. Martien Meenhorst Ms. Kudzai Leslie Makombe Human Resources Officer EALA Office, Tanzania Deputy Director Bilateral Programmes & Partner Ms. Tine Hemelings Relations Secretariat Programme Coordinator Ms. Yvonne van Amersfoort Ms. Anoek van der Vinne Ms. Marion Verweij Events & Logistics Officer Programme Officer Head of President’s Office Ms. Shukri Abdulkadir Ms. Geraldine Rwekaza Desk Officer Programme Assistant The Netherlands Ms. Ludivine Bry Office Assistant Project Department Ms. Liselot Bloemen Mozambique ICT Department Programme Manager Ms. Elisa Muianga, Mr. Ronald Borggreve Acting Head of Office and Project Officer Ms. Tatjana Woesthoff - van den Ham ICT Officer Ms. Amarilia Mutemba, Programme Manager AWEPA Representative and Project Officer Mr. Loïc Whitmore Ms. Zaida de Pena Beete, Programme Manager Belgium Finance and Administrative Officer Ms. Ingrid Johansen Mr. Patrick Mpoyi Luabeya, Ms. Rosita Alberto, Project Officer Programme Coordinator Project Officer Mr. Antoine Brasset Ms. Alzira Muchanga, Project Officer Project Officer Burundi Ms. Telma Mahiquene, Mr. Gérard Mfuranzima Programme and Administrative Assistant Communications Department Head of Office / AWEPA Representative Ms. Ivete Antonio Tivane, Ms. Anastasia-Areti Gavrili Office Attendant Ms. Angeline Nahimana Communications Officer Mr. José Matavele, Project and Administrative Officer Ms. Emanuela Falzon Campbell Driver Communications Intern DRC South Africa Finance Department Ms. Gertrude Bamba Makabi, Ms. Kudzai Leslie Makombe Mr. Martin Smeding Project Officer / AWEPA Representative Deputy Director Partner Relations Senior Financial Officer Ms. Alexandrina P. Wonani Mr. Erick Hoekzema Kenya (Somalia Programme) Head of Office Team Coordinator Finance Department / Senior Mr. Chris Kaija-Kwamya Financial Reporting Officer Mr. Richard Kurt Pfaff Programme Coordinator Ms. Sahila El Fahsi Staff mentioned in this report reflects 2015. Ms. Peninah Ogeto

Page 50 Annual Report 2014 www.awepa.org Project Officer Mr. Jackson Baa Mr. John Simon Yokwe Ms. Kristen Heim Project Officer Operations Support Officer Programme Manager Mr. Peter Elamu Mr. Simon Jude Zikusooka Administrative Officer Finance Officer / Accountant Mr. Andrew Namara South Sudan Project Coordinator Uganda Ms. Kris Debref Mr. Moses Bainipai Oliver Ms. Jeniffer Kwarisiima, Deputy Director Bilateral Programmes / Pro- Legislative Officer Project Officer / AWEPA Representative gramme Coordinator Mr. Umar Turyakira Mr. Herbert Ariko Logistics Assistant / Project Officer Programme Manager/HR Expert

AWEPA has offices in Africa and Europe, with its headquarters located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. A second European office is situated in Brussels, Belgium. In Africa, AWEPA operates a regional office located in South Africa, and nine local offices: Mozambique, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, the DRC and South Sudan.

Amsterdam Office Brussels Office Burundi Office Prins Hendrikkade 48 - G Huis der Parlementariërs BP 2442 1012 AC Amsterdam Leuvenseweg 21, bur. 1310 Immeuble NEW SPACE Avenue du 18 Septembre N°2 The Netherlands 1009 Brussels, Belgium Bujumbura, Burundi Tel: +31 20 524 5678 Tel: +32 2 501 77 27 Tel: +257 22 24 54 69 Fax: +31 20 622 0130 Fax: +32 2 501 78 85 Fax: +257 22 24 54 70 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Congo Office (DRC) Kenya Office Mozambique Office Av. de la Justice 2721 Chaka Place, 2nd floor, Rua Licenciado Couthino 77 Bâtiment ABC Argwings Kodhek/Chaka Road, CP 2648 Maputo, Mozambique Kinshasa/Gombe, DRC PO Box 1189, 00606 Tel: +258 2141 86 03 Tel: +243 81 00 44 270 Nairobi, Kenya Fax: +258 2141 8604 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Rwanda Office South Africa Office South Sudan Office Parliament of Rwanda 16th floor Plein Park Building South Sudan National Legislative Assem- C/O Chambre des Députés 69 Plein Street bly Parliament Building B.P. 352 Kigali, Rwanda Cape Town, South Africa 8001 Juba, Sudan Tel: +250 788306488 Tel: +27 21 46 21 767 Tel: +249 123 248218 Fax: +250 583975 Fax: +27 21 46 22 918 +249 918 689 835 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Tanzania Office (EALA) Uganda Office EAC EALA Wing G22 (Eastern Wing) Room E-2-14 EAC Close P.O Box 8064 Parliament of Uganda Arusha, Tanzania 7178 Kampala, Uganda Tel:+255 786 691 873 Tel: +256 414 254 947 +255 754 806 923 Fax: + 256 414 254 947 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Annual Report 2014 Page 51 www.awepa.org Financial Overview 2014

Income per Donor in €

Grants 2014 2013

Income and grants received from:

Austria - ADA 85.717 236.584 Belgium - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 661.345 712.892 Belgium - Flanders 82.837 63.861 European Commission 1.406.684 1.668.750 Ireland - Irish Aid 128.615 180.571 Luxembourg UNFPA 65.379 192.886 Netherlands- Min. of Foreign Affairs 2.272.194 1.357.928 Netherlands - NIMD 143.415 163.303 Norway - Embassy Dar es Salaam 515.213 243.109 Norway - Embassy Maputo 451.119 476.080 Sweden - Diakonia 617.630 651.688 Sweden - SIDA 1.021.960 1.361.571 Switzerland - SDC 239.234 366.515 Others (including benefits in kind) 216.575 101.083 Total 7.907.916 7.776.821

Page 52 Annual Report 2014 www.awepa.org Diagram Showing Income per Donor Received in 2014

Annual Report 2014 Page 53 www.awepa.org Expenditures - Income and Grants Spent per Programme

Grants 2014 2013 Income and grants, spent in country/programme: Development Effectiveness 214.332 352.155 Bridging the gap between political parties and parliaments 143.415 148.444 Parliament of Burundi 155.078 162.459 Core and institutional funding 368.800 525.154 Parliament of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) 204.747 149.324 EALA - East African Legislative Assembly 799.737 788.917 FGM/C - Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting programme 105.566 192.886 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) programme 471.673 518.732 Mozambique Strategic Vision programme 1.088.147 1.170.125 RFPAC - Network of Women Parliamentarians of Central Africa 114.908 87.498 Parliament of Rwanda 101.843 158.177 SAPL - South Africa Provincial Legislatures 159.631 123.012 Supporting Legislative Institutions in Somalia 1.292.554 602.953 PF-ICGLR - Parliamentary Forum of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region 128.408 238.043 South Sudan 2.207.732 2.345.770 Parliament of Uganda - 2.650 Parliament of Zimbabwe 194.355 183.711 Various (Including benefits in kind) 156.990 26.811 Total 7.907.916 7.776.821

Page 54 Annual Report 2014 www.awepa.org Diagram Showing Expenditures - Income and Grants Spent per Programme in 2014

Annual Report 2014 Page 55 www.awepa.org Africanisation policy

During 2014, AWEPA’s internal Africanisation policy has been furthered in its Africa-based offices. A new regional AWEPA Office was opened in Kampala, Uganda and a Deputy Director was appointed for AWEPA’s bilateral programmes in Central, East and West Africa. The AWEPA Office in Cape Town, South Africa, was restructured for AWEPA’s bilateral programmes in Southern Africa, while a Deputy Director Bilateral Programmes & Partners Relations was appointed for Southern Africa.

Bilateral and national parliamentary capacity-building programmes are run from the African offices and from the Brussels office. In addition, a limited number of thematic programmes are run from Amsterdam headquarters in close cooperation with the African offices, wherever relevant and possible.

In most cases, headquarters plays a facilitating, advisory and supporting role with regards to finance, logistics, human resource management, communications, and programme management and reporting. This situation is partly different for programme interventions in West Africa and some areas of Central Africa, where AWEPA does not currently have a local presence. Bilateral programme implementation is done completely by the African offices in Juba, Nairobi, Kampala, Arusha, Kinshasa, Kigali, Bu- jumbura, Maputo and Cape Town together with a Political Coordinator and Senior Parliamentary Advisor from Europe.

AWEPA has been awarded the first level of certification titled Committed The annual report of AWEPA is mainly presented in a digital format, to Excellence from the European Foundation for Quality Management allowing us to save money and paper and making it more readily (EFQM) Excellence Model. available. The annual report can be found online at www.awepa.org.

AWEPA is on the list of Official Development Assistance (ODA) Eligible Organisations of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development/Development Assistance Committee (OECD/DAC). AWEPA has Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Back Photo A group photo at the AWEPA High Level Seminar on “Migration and Development”, held in Midrand, South Africa, on 2-3 October 2014.

AWEPA International Prins Hendrikkade 48-G 1012AC Amsterdam, the Netherlands t: +31 20 524 5678 f: +31 20 622 0130 e: [email protected]

Belgium [email protected] Rwanda [email protected] Burundi [email protected] South Africa [email protected] DRC [email protected] South Sudan [email protected] Kenya [email protected] Tanzania [email protected] Mozambique [email protected] Uganda [email protected]

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