Dear Colleagues/partners,

I have the immense contentment to release this Statement to the Forum’s Member Parliaments and partners in  view of celebrating the  International Day of Democracy 2023.

On this day, it is essential to recognise that democracy is the single most important pillar for human development. Democracy provides the necessary space for human rights to be progressively implemented and enables the protection of minorities. Democracy is the only form of governance which bestows credence to the will of the people and allows citizens to freely choose their elected representatives to advance their interests within parliaments. Parliaments which embody democracy then provide a framework for accountability and for checks and balances to be exercised on the Government of the day. Whilst Parliaments derive their mandate from the democratic framework, a strong democracy logically translates into a robust Parliament.

PROGRAMME  - MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF CLERKS/SECRETARIES GENERAL OF MEMBER PARLIAMENTS

 26^TH – 27^TH AUGUST  2023

“SETTING OUT A ROADMAP FOR PARLIAMENTARY PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION AT NATIONAL LEVEL” 

VENUE: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

 10-Concept-Note-and-Programme

 CONCEPT NOTE - MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF CLERKS/SECRETARIES GENERAL OF MEMBER PARLIAMENTS

 26^TH – 27^TH AUGUST  2023

“SETTING OUT A ROADMAP FOR PARLIAMENTARY PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION AT NATIONAL LEVEL”

VENUE: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

 10-Concept-Note-and-Programme

 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.

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (EOIs) FOR A CONSULTANT WITH REGARDS TO DEVELOPMENT OF AN SRHR NEWSLETTER FOR THE SADC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM

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.

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR CONSULTANT WITH REGARDS TO DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPENDIUM OF SADC MODEL LAWS AND RELATED INSTRUMENTS

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).  

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (EOIs) FOR A CONSULTANT WITH REGARDS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN (2024-2028) FOR THE SADC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM

1. 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 31^st 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 – 28^th June 2023

Concept Note

Concept Note - The SADC RISDP & Social Accountability in Public Resource Management A National Dialogue for Non-State Actors – 28th June 2023