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

• America, regional (100.00%)

• Democratic participation and civil society:
Democratic participation and civil society (15150) (20.00%)
Legislatures and political parties (15152) (80.00%)

• Gender equality (significant objective)
• Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting) (not targeted)
• Participatory development and good governance (principal objective)
• Trade development (not targeted)
• Biodiversity (not targeted)
• Climate change mitigation (not targeted)
• Climate Change Adaptation (not targeted)
• Urban issues (not targeted)
• Desertification (not targeted)
• Children's issues (not targeted)
• Youth Issues (not targeted)
• Indigenous Issues (not targeted)
• Disability (not targeted)
• ICT as a tool for development (not targeted)

This project aims to strengthen democratic governance in Latin America and the Caribbean by increasing the ability of elected officials in the region to fulfil their roles and responsibilities. The project supports an integrated program aimed at increasing the practical skills and knowledge of parliamentarians so that they can effectively carry out their parliamentary functions and contribute to policymaking related to issues of both national and regional importance. Activities include: (1) providing training programs, peer-to-peer exchanges (involving regional and Canadian parliamentarians), and mentorship programs to improve the abilities of parliamentarians and senior staffers to carry out their functions; (2) conducting topical workshops, briefing sessions with relevant agencies of the Organization of American States, and supporting participation in annual conferences to strengthen parliamentarians' knowledge of key regional issues and mechanisms; and (3) promoting cooperation between parliamentarians and citizens, through dialogue sessions with civil society groups and workshops on effective mechanisms for engaging with citizens and civil society groups.

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.

• Proactive disclosure