SADC Parliamentary Forum
PROGRAMME - MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF CLERKS/SECRETARIES GENERAL OF MEMBER PARLIAMENTS
26 Aug 2023PROGRAMME - MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF CLERKS/SECRETARIES GENERAL OF MEMBER PARLIAMENTS
26TH – 27TH AUGUST 2023
“SETTING OUT A ROADMAP FOR PARLIAMENTARY PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION AT NATIONAL LEVEL”
VENUE: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
CONCEPT NOTE MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF CLERKS/SECRETARIES GENERAL OF MEMBER PARLIAMENTS
26 Aug 2023CONCEPT NOTE - MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF CLERKS/SECRETARIES GENERAL OF MEMBER PARLIAMENTS
26TH – 27TH AUGUST 2023
“SETTING OUT A ROADMAP FOR PARLIAMENTARY PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION AT NATIONAL LEVEL”
VENUE: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
1.0 INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND
The Committee of Clerks/Secretaries General of Member Parliaments is an institutional organ of the SADC-PF established under Article 10(1)(f) of the Forum’s Constitution and guided by Rules 20A-20F of the Rules of Procedure. Since its inception, the Committee has evolved into a robust advisory platform which proficiently engages on topics of administrative interest that are referred to it by the Executive Committee. In this regard, the Committee has successfully advised the Forum organs that are vested with administrative tasks including the Secretariat, the Executive Committee and by extension, the Plenary Assembly as the main policy-organ of the SADC-PF.
1. Introduction and background to assignment
The SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF) has been implementing the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), HIV and AIDS Governance Project in collaboration with 10 participating national Parliaments over the past four (4) years. The Project inter alia aims at leveraging on parliamentary interventions to promote universal access to SRHR services across SADC within a context of democratic accountability and the respect for human rights. With the end of the implementing period under the Project, participating countries have registered several success stories and achievements which are to be documented in view of ensuring that the SRHR legacy survives beyond the life of the Project and that consistency in SRHR parliamentary delivery is progressively institutionalised.
1. Introduction and background to assignment
The SADC Parliamentary Forum is the main inter-parliamentary organisation of Southern Africa which is mandated by its Plenary Assembly to develop and monitor the domestication of Model Laws, Minimum Standards and other related normative instruments. Over decades, the Model Laws developed by the Forum have become crucial legislative benchmarks for SADC national Parliaments, in particular to level up legal and administrative norms in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights, HIV, child marriage, public financial management etc. Model Laws are inspired from the relevant United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU) human rights treaties and are additionally adapted and contextualised to befit the Southern African context. For the sake of completeness, each Model Law developed by the Forum has been arrived at pursuant to widespread consultations with stakeholders and interest groups emanating from the three arms of the State (Executive, Legislature, and the Judiciary).
- Introduction and background to assignment
The SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF) is the main inter-parliamentary organisation of Southern Africa whose membership consists of 15 sovereign Member Parliaments. The SADC-PF operates on the robust bedrock of its Constitution, Rules of Procedure and Administrative Rules. In this respect, the overarching objective of the Forum is to pursue inter-parliamentary cooperation and diplomacy by the discussion of issues which are of regional interest. While the SADC-PF has been in existence for nearly three decades, the Plenary Assembly of the organisation has set out periodic strategic objectives in view of further guiding the activities of the Forum through a Vision, Mission Statement and objectives which need to be fulfilled by measurable indicators.
Since the 5-year Strategic Plan (2019-2023) of the Forum is about to come to an end on 31st December 2023, it is imperative that a new Strategic Plan of the Forum be devised to chart out the way for the next 5 years of the Forum’s operations. In this regard, a Consultant, or a group of Consultants within a partnership, will be hired on a short fixed-term performance contract to identify the strategic areas for intervention in consultation with Forum representatives, and to prepare a detailed strategic plan with measurable indicators, time frames and costed activities.
Joint SADC PF-SAYoF Statement on International Youth Day 2023
Dear Colleagues/Partners,
It is with great pleasure that we release this inaugural joint statement to partners in view of celebrating the International Youth Day on this 12th August 2023.
This is to recognise that the youth of Africa is ready to embrace the emerging challenges and opportunities that the region has to offer. Yet, the youth need the conducive policy and legal environment necessary to grow and evolve into the best version of themselves.
The SADC RISDP & Social Accountability in Public Resource Management
A National Dialogue for Non-State Actors – 28th June 2023
Concept Note
Statement delivered during the Official Opening ceremony marking the national engagement and Capacity Building high level session for Members of Parliament to promote the domestication of the SADC Model Law on Gender-Based Violence in the Republic of Malawi
21 st to 24 th June 2023
Salima, Malawi
By Moses Magadza
MAHE, SEYCHELLES - The recently concluded SADC PF Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) HIV and AIDS Governance Project in Seychelles has been hailed as a significant step forward in addressing the HIV and AIDS crisis in the island nation.