Consolidating Parliamentary Democracy in the SADC region

Consolidating Parliamentary Democracy in SADC is a Danish government-funded three-year research, conference and publications project. The central aim of the project is to better understand the relationship between parliaments and civil society within SADC and to utilise the findings of the research and conferences to suggest practical methods of strengthening these relationships.

There are two dimensions to the research focus. The first is to examine what parliaments currently do to encourage, broaden and deepen public engagement with the legislative process. This includes an examination of the extent and effectiveness of parliamentary media relations, public hearings, green paper commentary, committee hearings, debates, constituency meetings and clinics. The second dimension to the research programme is an examination of how civil society currently articulates its interests and engages with parliaments. Here the role and effectiveness of lobbying, written and oral submissions and parliamentary liaison offices are examined. The parliamentary engagement of organised 'insider' groups is evaluated against those of the marginalised in society.

The project will generate research papers on each of the SADC countries as well as the proceedings and outcomes of country-specific workshops and conferences. The final product of the project will be a handbook of parliamentary engagement and best practice for use by both parliamentarians and civil society in the region. Tim Hughes heads this project.