Parliamentarians – as elected representatives – can be powerful advocates for development. They pass laws, debate, and approve foreign aid budgets; review development policies; and hold governments accountable for World Bank-financed programs. The World Bank Group, in turn, is an important focus of parliamentary interest as it channels around one-fifth of all aid to the poorest countries. It is also an important source of knowledge and information on poverty reduction. How does the Bank engage with parliamentarians? Knowledge Sharing As a knowledge institution, the Bank conducts and publishes development-related research on a range of issues including poverty reduction, the financial crisis, climate change, health, and education. It also conducts studies of the general functioning of parliaments and looks for ways to improve governance by strengthening parliaments. Parliamentarians can access this research through the Bank website (which has a special web page for parliamentarians--www.worldbank.org/parliamentarians), through numerous publications or through contacting World Bank staff. Capacity Building During the past 10 years, the World Bank Institute (WBI) has trained more than 10,000 members of parliament in partnership with parliamentary organizations. Acting both as a knowledge broker and a centre for action research the Bank works with development partners around the globe to strengthen the capacity of institutions, individual parliamentarians, and parliamentary staff. The aim is to enhance parliaments’ capacity to effectively fulfil their responsibilities, particularly on budget oversight, policy implementation, and program performance. Consistent with the Bank’s mandate, the Parliamentary Strengthening Program focuses on issues related to the budget cycle and parliamentary administration, as well as the role of parliament in curbing corruption, reducing poverty, and preventing conflict. WBI is also on the Board of the recently created multilateral portal for parliamentary development, www.agora-parl.org Ongoing Dialogue The Bank interacts with parliamentarians through information sharing, consultations, seminars, conversations, informal briefing sessions, and video conferences. For example, the Bank regularly engages members of parliament to contribute to consultations on Bank policies or country assistance strategies. The Bank regularly receives parliamentary delegations visiting its headquarters in Washington, D.C. World Bank Senior Management often have informal meetings with foreign policy, finance or development policy appropriation committees when visiting member countries. The Bank also interacts with a number of parliamentary organizations, notably the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank (PNoWB); and the Global Legislators Organizations (GLOBE). Examples include dialogue between the World Bank President and a global delegation of influential parliamentarians and legislators at the Annual Conference of the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank (PNoWB); the parliamentary field visits organized jointly by the Bank and PNoWB, bringing together MPs, government officials, Bank staff, and donors to discuss poverty reduction strategy processes, visit project sites, and interact face-to-face with stakeholders; and the Bank’s participation in events organized by GLOBE and the Alliance of Communicators for Sustainable Development (COM+, with which the Bank is a partner). Consultations The Bank involves parliamentarians in the preparation of our Country Assistance Strategies, and encourages parliamentary participation in Poverty Reduction Strategy processes. A recent survey of World Bank Country Office engagement with Parliamentarians shows Parliamentarians were involved in three out of four Country Assistance Strategies in 2009. Parliamentarians are also invited to comment on sector strategies: the European Parliament hosted a consultation meeting on the new World Bank Environment Strategy in October 2009. Restrictions Although the Bank works with parliamentarians in various capacities as outlined above, the Bank maintains its official relationships with the governments of its 187 member countries, whose ministers of finance, economy, development, or foreign affairs sit on its Board of Governors. As mandated by its charter, the Bank does not involve itself in the domestic political affairs of a country. This means that except in rare cases, Bank staff cannot testify before a legislative body. Who Works with Parliamentarians at the Bank? The Bank’s country offices and country teams are the key entry points for most parliamentarians, and country offices are encouraged by Bank management to have an open and active dialogue with parliaments, through consultations on the Bank’s Country Assistance Strategies or other means. In a recent EXT survey of county offices, most offices reported regular interaction between Country Offices, parliaments and parliamentarians. Many country offices also have Public Information Centers (PICs) where documents and reports on Bank-financed projects and other key publications can be found. The Parliamentary Relations Team is the Bank’s centralized contact point for parliamentarians. The team acts a facilitator, connecting parliamentarians and parliamentary organizations with relevant Bank units and country offices. Through joint activities with organizations such as PNoWB, the Bank creates a platform for mutually beneficial dialogue, information sharing, and development advocacy. The World Bank Institute (WBI), the Bank’s knowledge-sharing arm, strengthens the capacity of parliaments in developing countries through structured learning events, knowledge exchanges, and support for parliamentary networks so that parliaments can contribute to better development results. The Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Network (PREM) aims to integrate the Bank’s poverty reduction efforts at the country level by strengthening the Bank’s operational and analytical knowledge. It also supports country teams that wish to engage with parliamentarians in the context of broader governance activities. More Information is available through: • World Bank’s website for parliamentarians (www.worldbank.org/parliamentarians). • An upcoming website centralizing eight years of Parliamentary Field Visits (www.MPsinthefield ) • The Eight Pointers: a special guide with useful tips for staff willing to engage with Parliamentarians (available upon request) - # - Media Contact: Viki Betancourt, (202) 473-9127, vbetancourt@worldbank.org Updated September 2010 |
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