Project profile — Improving the Effectiveness of Parliaments in Latin America and the Caribbean

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved parliamentary practices being implemented by parliamentarians in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region; (2) more effective engagement by LAC parliamentarians on regional issues (such as electoral reform and climate change), including gender equality; and (3) increased cooperation between LAC parliamentarians and civil society on regional issues, including gender equality.

Results achieved as of end of the project (March 2022) include: (1) implemented practices to improve transparency of parliamentary work, in relation to skills and knowledge gained and actions taken by parliamentarians. The 12 parliaments in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela adopted these practices; (2) implemented practices to improve gender equality of parliamentary work as a result of skills and knowledge gained and actions taken by parliamentarians. The five parliaments in Antigua and Barbuda, Chile, Grenada, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago implemented these practices (3) 14 parliamentarians and one former parliamentarian in 12 parliaments (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guyana, Panama, Peru, St. Kitts and Nevis, The Bahamas, and Trinidad and Tobago) reported taking an action on gender equality in relation to their participation or exposure to project activities; (4) 13 parliamentarians and one parliamentary staff in nine parliaments (Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Peru, Suriname, The Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela) reported taking actions on climate change, sustainable development and other regional issues in relation to their participation or exposure to project activities; (5) 23 inter-parliamentary statements adopted, in the form of recommendations, resolutions and declarations, reflecting cooperation between parliaments and civil society; (6) delivered 60 capacity-building activities, 14 knowledge resources and 10 online toolkits to improve knowledge and abilities of parliamentarians. These helped them develop and implement the Open Parliament Action Plans or practices that improve transparency and gender mainstreaming of parliamentary work; (7) delivered 80 capacity-building activities and 23 knowledge resources delivered to improve the knowledge and ability of parliamentarians to engage on gender equality; and (8) delivered 27 activities and three toolkits to promote improved cooperation between parliamentarians and civil society actors on regional issues, including gender equality.