Parliamentary development

Parliaments have crucial constitutional mandates in relation to law-making, oversight and representation, and as such play a critical role in advancing sustainable development. They provide an important forum for diverse parts of society to engage in policymaking, express their views, voice concerns and demand accountability.

In the Europe and Central Asia region, steps are required to reform and improve the functioning of parliaments, making them more representative, open, and accountable. Political life remains heavily dominated by male influence and networks, while women face restricted access to formal influential positions and informal networks.

Effective political institutions, such as parliaments and political parties, are central to advancing strong systems of democratic governance.

UNDP works to strength these institutions by:

• boosting efforts to reform and improve parliaments and local assemblies, making them more representative, open and accountable;
• delivering trainings and building skills among parliamentarians and their secretariats on legislative scrutiny, gender equality and international human rights obligations; and
• enhancing parliamentary transparency, using new technologies, tools and capacities in data, budgeting and finance.