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However, it was also recognized that communication was not a panacea and this did not solve
the fundamental problem regarding constituent relations: a lack of constituency development.
Crucially, members of parliament felt that they are unable to keep the promises made to
constituents when they were elected because “parliament has no budget for the development of
the constituencies.”
Priority Opportunities for International Support
Recommended Areas of Continued Support
1.
Focus on structural issues relating to parliamentary elections
Although there is a level of reluctance from donors to continue to prioritize elections over the
“everyday” business of governing a country, it is recommended that support to parliament in the
immediate term be tailored towards the smooth running of parliamentary elections in 2015;
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and further, that the current challenges identified by both workshop participants and
interviewees – namely the absence of an electoral law for parliamentary elections, a clear legal
framework for the (s)election of the
Guurti
, and the huge task of undertaking voter registration
– are prioritized as part of these efforts. Targeting and addressing these problems will ensure
that the impact of electoral support is felt beyond the lifespan of the elections, though it is
important to recognize that comprehensive support for parliamentary elections will require a
variety of concurrent inputs which cut across the categories and sub-categories presented here.
2.
Increasing parliamentary accessibility and responsiveness through regional presence
Though this category was not a high priority overall, the workshop discussion itself
demonstrated that there is a perceived need to build trust in parliament at a local level, and
ensure members of parliament are representative, accountable, accessible and responsive to the
needs of constituents. This is an important issue in the run-up to the next parliamentary
elections, which need public buy-in if elected representatives are to obtain solid mandates. Key
entry points in the short-term are therefore bound-up with pre-election voter education, but in
the longer-term, the relationship between constituents and members of parliament would be
enhanced by greater local presence through regular visits, established constituency offices,
strategic communications, and supporting civil society groups that function as entry points for
dialogue. The demand from members of parliament to engage more with communities is
strong, presenting an ideal entry point, and there is arguably scope for members of parliament to
communicate and collaborate more with local councils while retaining their independence.
3.
Support capacity building initiatives which offer clear outcomes and build country
ownership
The workshop demonstrated a huge demand for more study trips for a wider group of
parliamentarians. While their popularity is clear, their long-term impact is less so. There is a
real challenge in ensuring support reflects identified priorities, but also that it can be linked with
a clear outcome. While there is sense in the suggestion by one donor representative that study
trips should not be supported in favor of other types of support, it is still important for donors to
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Following the postponement of elections in 2013.
