The House Democracy Partnership: Supporting the Development of Independent Legislatures

Cover page for the House Democracy Project External Report on Supporting the Development of Independent Legislatures

Executive Summary

The House Democracy Partnership (HDP) is a bipartisan commission of the U.S. House of Representatives chaired by Representative David Price (D-NC) and Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL) that connects members and staff from the U.S. Congress with legislators and staff from around the world to help strengthen independent legislative institutions. Five years ago, HDP conducted a ten-year retrospective review of HDP’s work from its founding in 2005 through 2015. To capture information on program results, as well as gather insight into future programming recommendations, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI) conducted an additional retrospective review of the past five years of programming. This five-year review offers another opportunity to examine the longer-term impact of HDP’s work since the 2015 review and to shape project planning, design, and implementation in the future.

This review includes both general findings and country-specific results achieved through HDP and demonstrates the continued value HDP provides to partner legislatures as they seek to strengthen their institutions. Key general findings, based on interview and survey data, include:

WHAT HDP ALUMS ARE SAYING

99%(61 of 62) of HDP alums, U.S. partners, and implementing partner staff interviewed highly value the HDP program.

98%(101 of 103) of HDP alums surveyed responded that they gained skills or knowledge through HDP programming that enhances their ability to fulfill their legislative responsibilities.

93%(96 of 103) of HDP alums surveyed felt that HDP had influenced their work positively and regularly, and the skills acquired through HDP were helpful in their daily responsibilities.

40%(16 of 40) of interviewed HDP alums could identify changes in their legislative development or practices they attributed to their involvement with HDP.

50%Over 50% (21 of 40) of HDP alums interviewed expressed a willingness to share their strengths with other partners in various thematic areas.

28%(11 of 40) of interviewed HDP alums launched initiatives to better engage citizens and be more responsive to their input.

In addition to distilling general results, HDP identified numerous country-specific successes achieved over the past five years. Multiple HDP partners reported directly implementing lessons learned from HDP exchanges in the form of new initiatives, including at least two partner legislatures launching digital apps to facilitate citizen engagement, the creation of a budget and finance office in another partner country, and the organization of a partner legislature’s first ever public hearing, among many other specific successes. This review demonstrates that partner countries with which HDP engaged at least twice in the past five years achieved positive results.1

While HDP programming has achieved notable results with partner legislatures, interview respondents provided recommendations on how HDP programming may be improved to become even more impactful. Recommendations and lessons learned that emerged from the review include:

The House Democracy Partnership: Empowering Legislatures Since 2005

Overview

Established on March 14, 2005, the House Democracy Partnership, a twenty-member Congressional commission, works directly with legislatures in partner countries around the world to support the development of effective, independent, and responsive legislative institutions. HDP uses peer-to-peer exchange programs through in-person and, more recently because of the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual convenings between U.S. Congressional members and staff and their global counterparts to build capacity in key legislative issue areas such as legislative oversight, budget analysis, legislative procedure, committee operations, constituent engagement, and library and research services, among others. 

These engagements are conducted through a variety of program styles, including inbound exchanges, regional exchanges, technical assistance consultancies (TACs), and virtual programs. Additionally, HDP conducts country assessments with prospective partner legislatures, organizes Official Congressional Delegations (CODELs) through the U.S. House of Representatives, and produces knowledge products, such as toolkits and research papers. Underpinning all of this is a ‘light touch’ program model that aims to be responsive to partner legislature needs with flexible, targeted, shorter-term programming, often organized in response to specific emerging needs identified by partner legislatures or IRI and NDI (collectively, the Institutes) staff. This ‘light touch’ approach also facilitates HDP’s ability to complement and amplify ongoing U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) programming taking place in-country.

2016 – 2020 HDP HAS CONDUCTED IN TOTAL

10Inbound Exchanges

39TACs

14Virtual Exchanges

12Regional Exchanges

6Assessments

25Visits by CODELs to partner countries

12Events

Since its creation more than 15 years ago, HDP has contributed to the legislative institutional development of partners in: Afghanistan, Armenia, Burma/Myanmar, Colombia, Georgia, Guatemala, Haiti, Indonesia, Iraq, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Liberia, North Macedonia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Peru, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, and Ukraine, among others.2 HDP programs are implemented by NDI and IRI with funding from USAID through the Consortium for Elections and Political Processes Strengthening (CEPPS).

The CEPPS partners, through their work in over 150 countries and combined field office presence in 75 countries around the world, have been able to leverage their robust global networks and deep technical experience for richer, and more sustainable HDP initiatives with partner parliaments. CEPPS partners provide critical support by following up on specific HDP activities, by building buy-in and bolstering political will with local stakeholders, and by strengthening legislative capacity in-country. Additionally, CEPPS partners work to ensure other foreign funded projects and initiatives aimed at legislative strengthening are complementary to HDP activities. 

Five years ago, CEPPS partners conducted a ten-year retrospective review of HDP’s work from its founding in 2005 to 2015. This review helped to document the work that HDP achieved since its inception, summarized key findings, captured HDP’s short- and long-term impact with partner countries, and informed subsequent program strategy. Since the conclusion of the review in late 2015, in addition to continuing inbound and regional exchanges, HDP programming has evolved to include two new forms of engagement.

First, as a direct result of the 2015 retrospective review, HDP added technical assistance consultancies as an element of peer-to-peer guidance and exchange. Second, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to continue supporting legislatures, while obeying health and safety protocols, HDP convened virtual exchanges on issues of importance to participating legislatures. 

For a country-by-country disaggregation of activities conducted between 2016 and 2020, see Annex I. In order to capture information on program results, as well as gather insight into future programming recommendations, the Institutes conducted a follow-on retrospective review of the past five years of programming.3 This five-year review offers another opportunity to examine the longer-term impact of HDP’s work since the 2015 review, and to shape project planning, design, and implementation in the future. The following sections capture those findings.

HDP Accomplishments in the Last Five Years

The following is a summary of the key accomplishments and general findings identified by the Institutes throughout the review process. While more country-specific information and highlights can be found later in the report, this section intends to summarize the cross-cutting results HDP has successfully achieved, as well as document the ways in which U.S. members of Congress and staff benefited from their participation in HDP programming. 

The findings are informed by an information-gathering effort, conducted jointly by the Institutes, including interviewing and surveying selected members of parliament and legislative staff from HDP partner parliaments.

The findings are informed by an information-gathering effort, conducted jointly by the Institutes, including interviewing and surveying selected members of parliament and legislative staff from HDP partner parliaments. Additionally, the Institutes interviewed former and current staff of the U.S. Congress, as well as staff from IRI and NDI. Please see Annex III for a more detailed overview of the review methodology, as well as Annex IV for an overview of results by thematic area of engagement. 

The findings of this section and those that follow underscore the continued importance of HDP; the Institutes found that HDP, over the last five years, achieved significant, measurable results that empowered legislatures, strengthened individual and institutional capacity, and enhanced responsive and accountable governance. 

HDP alums indicated that the support provided through HDP programming meets the needs of partners. 

99%(61 of 62) of HDP alums, U.S. partners, and Institute staff interviewed highly value the HDP program.

98%(101 of 103) of HDP alums surveyed responded that they gained skills or knowledge through HDP programming that enhances their ability to fulfill their legislative responsibilities.

93%(96 of 103) of HDP alums surveyed felt that HDP had influenced their work positively and regularly, and skills acquired through HDP were helpful in their daily responsibilities. 

HDP assistance has contributed to positive changes in legislative practices and development in HDP partner countries. 

40%(16 of 40) of interviewed HDP alums could identify changes in their legislative development or practices they attributed to their involvement with HDP.

Procedures in legislatures and committees, as well as the structures within, were enhanced because of their involvement with HDP, according to interviewees.

HDP alums expressed that they and their colleagues perceived a change in culture in their legislatures and an increased willingness to work across party lines.

HDP programming has contributed to the increased capacity and empowerment of individual participants. 

35%(14 of 40) of HDP alums interviewed could describe how participation in HDP exchanges increased their individual capacity.

HDP alums appreciated the ability to build networks and access global contacts through HDP as they develop legislation and policy, which offers new and useful perspectives on issue areas.

HDP supported personal and professional growth over time to legislators and legislative staff, and allowed HDP alums to share information with their colleagues who may not have participated in HDP programming.

Over 50% (21 of 40) of HDP alums interviewed expressed a willingness to share their strengths with other partners in various legislative areas. 

HDP programming has contributed to the ability and willingness of legislators and legislatures to be representative and responsive to citizens. 

28%(11 of 40) of interviewed HDP alums launched initiatives to better engage citizens and be more responsive to their input.

Following HDP programs, alums conducted meetings with constituents, both in-person and virtually, in ways that had not been previously attempted.

HDP programming has enhanced the technical capacity and ability of U.S. partners to effectively perform their jobs.

67%(six of nine) of interviewed U.S. partners reported that their experience with HDP increased their technical capacity or deepened their understanding of democracy strengthening.

Remarks from U.S. partners such as “[HDP] created opportunities for self-reflection on why the U.S. system is set up as it is and how our process works and doesn’t work,” and “This project is the most rewarding thing that I have worked on; it is like an ongoing comparative politics class,” were common among U.S. partners.

Program Innovation and Progress Over the Past Five Years

In HDP’s ten-year retrospective report developed in 2015, the Institutes made six recommendations for consideration to enhance HDP program implementation moving forward. This 15-year retrospective review found meaningful progress on all six recommendations, summarized below:

Progress on: Approach HDP Partner Membership with Greater Flexibility – To provide a rich and collegial opportunity for information exchange, HDP has added new member legislatures, continued to work with strategic observer countries in increasingly innovative ways, invited non-members to engage in programs, and has sought out experts with diverse technical experience. By using these flexible programmatic approaches, HDP brought together a more diverse array of legislatures to learn from one another, engage, and share experiences on legislative successes and challenges.

Progress on: Exploring Additional Types of Partnership with HDP Countries – HDP has explored ‘additional types of partnership,’ including utilizing member legislatures as mentors, inviting countries who are not HDP members to self-fund their participation in regional and inbound exchanges, and collaborating with organizations and legislatures outside of the partnership to host and engage in exchanges. Collaborations with external partners such as the George C. Marshall Center, the e-Governance Academy of Estonia, the Argentine Chamber of Deputies, the Scottish Parliament, and OGP, among others, has expanded HDP partner access to larger international networks and opportunities for experience-sharing among a larger range of peers. By developing these new partnerships, HDP has expanded on areas of technical expertise, included a broader community of global peers, and leveraged networks that connect HDP partners with those outside of the commission to build new relationships. 

Progress on: Long-Term Staff for the Commission – The commission hired a full-time executive director. This regular and dedicated staffing has resulted in a more stable set of strategic engagements with Congressional staff and commission members to build awareness of the work of HDP on Capitol Hill. The executive director has also streamlined coordination between commission members and the Institutes, and has expanded the program’s institutional and sustainable capacity.

Progress on: Expanding the Range of HDP Activities – Over the last five years, the Institutes utilized new approaches to programming, including TACs, regional exchanges, and virtual engagements. These programs have created new opportunities to engage partners, facilitated greater responsiveness to partner requests, and increased the number of partners reached. Additional advancements include regional thematic cooperation, such as anticorruption in Latin America and security assistance in Eurasia. Progress on responsive programming includes expanding technical assistance areas to include security operations, intergovernmental collaboration, and a more focused approach to inclusive law-making. Innovation on HDP activities remains an ongoing priority.

Progress on: Embracing New Technologies to Increase Engagement – In response to program implementation limitations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, HDP adopted a virtual approach. Despite their origin as a temporary measure, virtual engagements have amplified the capacity and reach of partner engagements. For example, virtual exchanges have expanded opportunities to engage with partners that were previously inactive due to travel restrictions or security concerns. Virtual engagements have also increased the speed at which events can be organized and conducted, in addition to their frequency. Further, virtual engagements are lower in cost, and often easier for members, staff, or experts to attend without substantial prior notice. These virtual opportunities will be a positive complement to future in-person programs. 

Progress on: Improving Opportunities for Skills Transfer with Peers – Opportunities for skills transfer and knowledge-sharing continues to be an HDP flagship. Specifically, the program has adapted to provide institutional guidance through the development of knowledge products and reference materials, which are useful for partners and implementers alike, and aid in the sustainability of capturing lessons learned in the long-term. Additionally, to address high turnover in legislatures, HDP will continue to focus on engagements with professional staff to ensure lessons learned are not lost despite potential electoral turnover.

Programmatic Challenges 

In addition to identifying results and progress in strengthening democratic processes, this review process raised specific limitations and challenges HDP programming has faced over the past five years, including the following: 

The ‘Light Touch’ Model Limits Deeper Learning and Sustained Impact: HDP’s model of brief, targeted interactions creates flexible, responsive and short-term programming, or a ‘light touch’ model, but limits momentum for lasting change and the continuation of peer relationships. HDP alums reported that while specific HDP programs by themselves may have been impactful, a lack of consistent follow-on efforts – outside the scope of HDP – limited the sustainability of positive and lasting impacts. Methods to address this challenge include considering programmatic approaches that facilitate more sustained engagement and connection among partner parliaments, such as establishing an HDP alum network to provide more sustained support, or increasing the overall frequency of HDP programming to better engage partners. Additionally, increased coordination between HDP and existing USAID legislative strengthening and other governance programs in HDP partner countries could aid in closing this gap. 

Legislator Turnover Decreases Retention of Institutional Knowledge: High turnover in parliaments and fragile and/or volatile political situations can limit the implementation of lessons learned, as HDP alums might leave office soon after they participate in programming. Methods to mitigate this challenge are to develop more programming that invests in professional legislative staff, target working with newly elected MPs, and provide assistance that is sensitive to election cycles.

Looking Ahead: The Next Five Years

Based on the information shared by HDP alums, U.S. partners, and Institute staff throughout the interviews and surveys that informed this report, five new recommendations were derived for HDP consideration moving forward:

Continue and Expand Mentorship Opportunities. HDP’s unique flexibility in engaging with partners globally offers a rich opportunity for exchange and experience-sharing. HDP should foster mentorship opportunities among HDP partner legislatures as well as with parliaments and legislative assistance organizations outside of the partnership. HDP can build upon existing relationships with mentors such as the National Congress of Chile, ParlAmericas, the Open Government Partnership (OGP) and others, as mentioned above, to expand mentorship opportunities as many partner countries have indicated an interest in either serving as a mentor or receiving mentorship. This continued flexibility, in addition to expanding opportunities for increased engagement with other regional actors and organizations and continually seeking additional external partners, will deepen HDP’s impact and the development of strong, capable legislative institutions worldwide. 

Expand HDP Institutionalization through Knowledge Product Development. HDP’s unique model of skills development through peer-to-peer guidance-sharing offers an innovative way to advance international legislative development. By expanding the development of reference materials and curricula4, peer guidance may be captured in more sustainable forms for both members and staff globally. Further, by focusing materials and program activities on specific case studies, as well as increasing regional programming and follow-on activities where possible, participants will gain more consistent and long-term knowledge. 

Increase Sustainability Through New Technologies. Though the COVID-19 pandemic forced virtual programming adaptations, such efforts also expanded opportunities for global engagement. Recommendations include continuing the use of video conferencing platforms, increasing use of social media and other networking platforms, and utilizing more webinars and training session recordings to create and maintain a digital library of educational resources for partners. The use of this new technology can additionally aid in facilitating more sustained relationships for HDP alums, as digital tools can be used to facilitate networking and communication for U.S. and international past participants. New technologies will continue to provide useful tools to supplement and reinforce lessons learned from in-person engagements.

Add New and Innovative Topics. Legislatures are on the front lines of representative government and require evolving skills and solutions to tackle growing global challenges. One of the most unique and dynamic elements of HDP is its ability to provide adaptive and responsive guidance to legislatures on a variety of issues and topics. The evaluations recommend that HDP expand these topics and, where relevant, explore new issues, such as engaging with the media, advancing digital democracy, improving oversight of intelligence services, and enhancing audit systems and laws, among others.

Increase Program Frequency and Length. The benefits of HDP programming clearly provide opportunities for learning, information exchange and relationship development across cultures and political systems. HDP alums overwhelmingly shared, in both surveys and interviews, that more frequent engagement and longer programs are needed to impart further learning, as well as more sustained dialogue both with U.S. experts and among HDP alums. An overwhelming majority of survey respondents requested an increase in the ‘frequency of engagement,’ 21 percent requested additional ‘opportunities to reinforce skills,’ and 37 percent indicated interest in ‘longer program length/duration.’ In total, 95 percent of respondents expressed a desire for more interaction overall with HDP. Increased frequency of engagements and increased program length could specifically address these requests and better serve HDP’s partner legislatures. More frequent engagements and longer programs will support the momentum needed to drive change and can reinforce the development of democratic practices.

Our Partner Legislatures

Central to HDP’s work is its model of experience sharing between global legislative peers. This peer-to-peer cooperation among legislators and staff in the partnership builds technical expertise intended to advance partner legislature5 accountability, transparency, independence, access to information, and government oversight capacities. HDP currently works with more than 20 legislatures worldwide through a variety of programs and initiatives with assistance from USAID, NDI and the IRI. The following section outlines partnership backgrounds and stories of impact as experienced by HDP member countries.

Afghanistan

Number of Engagements between 2016 – 2020

1Regional Exchanges

0TACs

0CODELs

0 Virtual Exchanges

1Inbound Exchanges

Partnership and Engagement with the National Assembly of Afghanistan 

HDP established a partnership with the National Assembly of Afghanistan in March 2006. Over the past five years, HDP has conducted two programs with MPs in the Afghan National Assembly (disaggregates shown in the chart). 

Impact and Programmatic Highlights 

[Regarding impacts achieved through HDP] I saw it there [in Afghanistan]. I saw what we did to empower women last a long time. HDP has had in the 15 years…a lot of success stories. And maybe they’re not something that has changed the course [of history], but it has created change.

U.S. Partner

Armenia

Number of Engagements between 2016 – 2020

1Regional Exchanges

1TACs

1CODELs

1 Virtual Exchanges

1Inbound Exchanges

Partnership and Engagement with the National Assembly of Armenia

HDP established a partnership with the National Assembly of Armenia in 2020. Though a formal partnership was established in 2020, HDP has engaged with the National Assembly of Armenia since 2019, including conducting five programs with the National Assembly (disaggregates shown in the chart); these engagements included both MPs and staff.

Impact and Programmatic Highlights 

Colombia

Number of Engagements between 2016 – 2020

4Regional Exchanges

3TACs

0CODELs

2 Virtual Exchanges

7Inbound Exchanges

History of Partnership and Engagement with Congress of Colombia  

HDP established a partnership with the Congress of Colombia in September 2006. 

Since 2016, HDP has conducted 16 programs (disaggregates shown in the chart) with Colombia; these engagements included both MPs and staff.

Impact and Programmatic Highlights 

Transparency, Anti-Corruption, and Citizen Engagement: One of the largest initiatives between HDP and the Colombian Congress is the ongoing work toward creating a more transparent and accessible legislature. Between 2016 and 2019, HDP provided technical support to the Congress to develop a mobile software application called “Mi Senado” (My Senate), including the incorporation of input from U.S. partners with digital expertise into the design of the app. Mi Senado allows citizens and Senators to participate in plenary sessions, explore legislative activities and texts, and access realtime results. It can also display citizens’ votes on issues to inform legislative decision-making during plenary and debate sessions. The application has received a positive reception from citizens, both in terms of the number of downloads and usage. During a 2017 HDP regional exchange on legislative transparency, a discussion helped inspire the Colombian Senate to make the app open source. Since then, Colombia has presented the mobile app to international and regional partners who have shown interest in developing similar apps. An Institute staff person familiar with the project said that, “They [the Colombian legislature] are working to improve it every legislative turnover,” suggesting that Mi Senado will continue to evolve and better serve citizens and legislators in Colombia and potentially influence other HDP partners in the region.

Establishment of Network for Nonpartisan Research and Access to Information: In 2017, a series of engagements over the course of eight months between HDP and the Centro de Investigaciones y Altos Estudios Legislativos (CAEL)6 in Colombia resulted in the expansion of CAEL’s capacity to support the Senate of Colombia. CAEL, with the support of HDP, created a robust research framework and standards that its independent research network can utilize, enabling CAEL to respond in a timely and uniform manner to inquiries from members and staff of the Senate of Colombia. Following the final engagement, CAEL formally launched a research network involving nearly one hundred universities in Colombia, as well as access to the executive branch’s research and science agency. HDP will continue to support CAEL as it evolves its capacity to support the Senate.

I can say that transparency in Colombia has moved forward [as a result of developing Mi Senado]. It improved the way I facilitated public access to my team and me [sic] and made our work more accessible and visible.

HDP Alum, Colombia

The Gambia

Number of Engagements between 2016 – 2020

0Regional Exchanges

1TACs

1CODELs

0 Virtual Exchanges

0Inbound Exchanges

History of the Partnership and Engagement with the National Assembly of The Gambia 

HDP began engagement with the National Assembly of the Republic of The Gambia as a strategic observer following a May 2019 assessment in Banjul. The assessment found that conditions existed for an HDP observer relationship to support the National Assembly at a potentially pivotal and transformative time for democracy in The Gambia. 

Since the strategic observer partnership was formalized in 2019, HDP has conducted two engagements with the National Assembly of the Republic of The Gambia; these engagements included both MPs and staff.

Impact and Programmatic Highlights 

Georgia

Number of Engagements between 2016 – 2020

5Regional Exchanges

3TACs

2CODELs

2 Virtual Exchanges

5Inbound Exchanges

Partnership and Engagement with the Parliament of Georgia  

HDP established a partnership with the Parliament of Georgia in 2006. 

Since 2016, HDP has conducted 17 programs with the Parliament of Georgia (disaggregates shown in the chart); these engagements included both MPs and staff. 

Impact and Programmatic Highlights 

Established and Improved the Parliamentary Code of Ethics: With the help of HDP technical experts in 2016, parliament developed the initial version of the ethics code, which it adopted in 2019. Thereafter, HDP supported the Council of Ethics in developing a series of documents that helped set the Council’s rules of procedure and establish operating guidance in a collaborative process. One HDP alum noted: “Over the last four years and the last decade our parliament has gone through a lot of changes. It is very beneficial and needed to have HDP support. The Ethics Council is a good example, we went through a very difficult process with HDP’s help. The [Ethics] Council was already forming and HDP helped develop the documents, I can say that this help was very relevant.”

Implementation of e-Governance Initiatives for Open Committee Hearings: HDP programs focused on e-governance, and specifically programming held in partnership with the eGovernance Academy, exposed MPs to new digital methods of governance and citizen engagement, resulting in more transparent government processes. Following these programs, Georgian MPs implemented digital initiatives to facilitate more direct citizen engagement. In addition to changing chamber rules to allow citizens and CSO groups greater access to hearings, a digital platform was developed to facilitate citizen input in the lawmaking process: “Committee hearings are public, NGOs always participate, [a] new platform was instituted where drafts of legislation are published and citizens have a chance to comment or propose changes on those drafts.” Another HDP alum highlighted the implementation of e-petitions, explaining “We’ve implemented many changes to allow citizens to be more involved in the parliament. Committees now discuss proposals submitted by citizens, an idea taken from Estonia [the eGovernment Academy program]…We have implemented a mechanism for the “people’s initiative” – if a petition is electronically signed by 30,000 citizens, the parliament must consider it.”

Guatemala 

Number of Engagements between 2016 – 2020

3Regional Exchanges

3TACs

1CODELs

4 Virtual Exchanges

2Inbound Exchanges

Partnership and Engagement with the Congress of Guatemala 

HDP established a partnership with the National Assembly of HDP established a partnership with the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala in June 2017. The partnership began after an assessment was conducted by HDP in October 2016. The assessment found that, at the time, conditions existed for an HDP partnership to support the Congress of Guatemala at a pivotal and transformative moment for democracy in the country. 

Since the partnership was formalized and within the period of review, HDP has conducted 13 engagements with the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala (disaggregates shown in chart); these engagements included both MPs and staff.

Impact and Programmatic Highlights 

Building Relationships: Through its engagements in Guatemala, HDP seeks to build both the technical skills of partners and create a network of strong relationships. These relationships help legislators troubleshoot ideas and technical issues, and create a more trusting and comfortable exchange environment among partners and MPs of different parties. An alum said, “That is what HDP means to me. It is a network of contacts from HDP. I know representatives from Ecuador, Bolivia, from Chile, Argentina. I know people, representatives from Central America, Mexico, the United States, and not only from there, because when we’ve had other experiences with both Institutes. We’ve been able to meet representatives from Europe, Africa, Asia. And that’s really very valuable. And believe it or not, we have communication almost daily. This morning, I was receiving messages from Argentina.” Another interviewee noted how sustained relationships provide continued benefits to HDP alums,“[I] follow on Instagram and Twitter to keep up, [and] saw on social media a Chilean [I] had worked with through HDP presented a bill that may be useful in Guatemala, [I] texted her to see the bill and learn more about it.”

Advances in Legislative Transparency: HDP programming has supported partners in creating more open processes and bolstering public access to information and legislative business. As one alum noted, “The most enriching thing was sharing things with other politicians. Some of their activities haven’t made it to Guatemala so I brought them back to debate here and see if we could use them…An example is a transparency trip in Chile. I had a conversation with Congressman Price, and we debated the importance of strengthening public access to information. [HDP] helped in the preparation of a public access bill and I introduced the amendment….” 

Additionally, others expressed, “Now…all of the sessions of the Congress are uploaded to YouTube, as well as the working sessions. The importance of being able to have greater access to initiatives and also to decisions. We were able to make significant progress. We were able to implement from an administrative perspective…This was not possible before HDP.”

When you get input from [a U.S. Congress member] with 20-30 years of experience, that is really helpful. Latin American legislators can learn from the U.S. Congress, and people from other regions who have been doing this for a long time.

HDP Alum, Guatemala

Haiti

Number of Engagements between 2016 – 2020

2Regional Exchanges

2TACs

0CODELs

1 Virtual Exchanges

3Inbound Exchanges

Partnership and Engagement with the National Assembly 

HDP established a partnership with the National Assembly of Haiti in September 2006. 

Since 2016, HDP has conducted eight programs (disaggregates shown in the chart) that have included both MPs and staff of the Haitian National Assembly.

Impact and Programmatic Highlights 

Legislative Progress and Commitment to Transparency: HDP alums from the National Assembly of Haiti have notably gained guidance on strengthening legislative openness and transparency. One interviewee commented that after attending a regional exchange on legislative transparency, they were inspired to work with NDI to draft a bill expanding public access to information. The alum described the experience, noting, “[We drafted] one bill on access to information with NDI. It was not voted upon because of organizational problems, not political ones. And after the experience [with HDP] in Argentina, I praised the organization and the conference and said we need to fight openly against corruption. This truly allowed me to engage on this issue that I’ve been working on for many years.”

Focus on Constituent Engagement: In 2017, HDP engaged in a technical assistance consultancy focused on district communications and constituent engagement, and included U.S. Congressional staff and MPs from the lower house of the Haitian Parliament and the National Assembly. Though unable to interview alums from Haiti that participated in the TAC, an attending U.S. partner offered comments on the engagement: “We shared ideas that they hadn’t thought about. [I stressed] they had to build trust and develop relationships [with constituents].” This U.S. partner added that in conducting HDP programming, it is important for MPs and legislative staff to understand “that [constituents] don’t care about how much you know until they know how much you care,” highlighting the need for sustained communication and outreach as keys to achieving legislative goals.

Indonesia

Number of Engagements between 2016 – 2020

2Regional Exchanges

0TACs

1CODELs

1 Virtual Exchanges

4Inbound Exchanges

Partnership and Engagement with the People’s Representative Council of Indonesia 

HDP established a partnership with the People’s Representative Council of Indonesia in 2005. 

Since 2016, HDP has conducted eight engagements with the People’s Representative Council (disaggregates shown in the chart), including both MPs and staff. 

Impact and Programmatic Highlights 

Iraq

Number of Engagements between 2016 – 2020

0Regional Exchanges

0TACs

0CODELs

2 Virtual Exchanges

1Inbound Exchanges

Partnership and Engagement with the Council of Representatives 

HDP established a partnership with the Iraq Council of Representatives in 2011. 

Over the last five years, the Council of Representatives of Iraq has engaged in three programs (disaggregates shown in the chart); these engagements included both MPs and staff. 

Impact and Programmatic Highlights 

Advancements in Constituent Engagement: HDP alums are exploring new and innovative ways to engage constituents. Following an HDP virtual exchange focused on constituent engagement, an Iraqi alum who was struggling to meet the needs of the more than 850 thousand people they serve was able to utilize the knowledge they gained to better communicate and serve constituents. The alum commented, “We formed social networking groups on apps, and it helped us with constituent engagement. We used WhatsApp, Viber, and Facebook. My participation was very important, especially…during COVID and our difficulties in meeting our constituents [in person].”

Progress on Delivering for Women: A 2020 virtual regional exchange focused on supporting members with the development of comprehensive legislative policies on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and alums noted that they had gained valuable insight into specific legislative strategies to address issues that are disproportionately impacting women, such as sexual harassment, financial freedom, and the ability to confer citizenship to their children. An alum from Iraq noted that they were working alongside MPs to create a public campaign to pass legislation to combat domestic violence during the pandemic. By the conclusion of the event, and after months of planning and information gathering, Iraqi MPs officially launched their advocacy campaign under the slogan, “Through Shari’a and Legislation, You Won’t Lose Your Family.” HDP will continue to support the multi-partisan group of women MPs to leverage their leadership and work toward their goals, as well as the efforts of alums from other countries who were inspired by what they learned through the HDP exchange.

Kenya

Number of Engagements between 2016 – 2020

2Regional Exchanges

3TACs

1CODELs

1 Virtual Exchanges

6Inbound Exchanges

Partnership and Engagement with the Parliament 

HDP established a partnership with the Parliament of Kenya in 2006. 

Since 2016, HDP has conducted 13 programs with the Parliament of Kenya (disaggregates shown in the chart); these engagements included both MPs and staff.

Impact and Programmatic Highlights 

Evidence of Institutional Progress: An alum from Kenya stated, “When we needed the support of HDP for our legislators and for our Parliamentary Research Service we have had senior staff [of the U.S. Congress] come over here when we request assistance, it is always available, and this [relationship] has allowed us to mature faster, we are better than where we were ten years ago,” indicating that the long-term relationship between HDP and the Kenyan legislature has had a noticeable impact in supporting institutional progress. In addition, a number of departments within the Kenyan legislature with joint services have participated in HDP programming, according to a Kenyan HDP alum, “There was a lot of demand for further support, particularly for the Parliamentary Research Service. HDP helped the library office learn how to catalogue laws in an exchange with the Library of Congress and now members of Parliament are accessing information more.”

The emerging democracies will always have to borrow from the established ones, and it is in that spirit of borrowing and sharing that HDP does its work.

HDP Alum, Kenya

Kosovo

Number of Engagements between 2016 – 2020

1Regional Exchanges

4TACs

1CODELs

3 Virtual Exchanges

6Inbound Exchanges

Partnership and Engagement with the Assembly 

HDP established a partnership with the Assembly of Kosovo in 2009. 

Since 2016, HDP has conducted 15 programs with the Assembly of Kosovo (disaggregates shown in the chart); these engagements included both MPs and staff.

Impact and Programmatic Highlights 

Demonstrated Professional Growth of HDP Alums: HDP has supported the personal and professional growth of alums. During an interview with an Institute representative, the interviewee noted that, “One person the [HDP] program impacted who has in turn impacted others is now a chairperson of a caucus in Kosovo. [The HDP alum] was a civil society leader, they received training in running campaigns; they won, and they are now one of the most active and responsible people in the legislature. They had two HDP visits and have really blossomed over the course of the time they have been associated with HDP; it really shows.” 

As for Kosovo, HDP programs offer something very necessary—the trainings have helped me and others to improve our work.

HDP Alum, Kosovo

Kyrgyzstan

Number of Engagements between 2016 – 2020

4Regional Exchanges

0TACs

2CODELs

1 Virtual Exchanges

5Inbound Exchanges

Partnership and Engagement with the Supreme Council 

HDP established a partnership with the Supreme Council of the Kyrgyz Republic (Jogorku Kenesh) in 2012. 

Since 2016, HDP has conducted 12 programs with the Supreme Council (disaggregates shown in the chart); these engagements included both MPs and staff.

Impact and Programmatic Highlights 

HDP and Unanticipated Impacts: HDP exchanges have impacted Kyrgyz partners and institutional processes. During the review process, an Institute staff person observed, “Kyrgyz exchanges have value beyond what they are designed to do. They [HDP alums] come back with ideas you have never thought of. For example [a Kyrgyz alum] visited D.C. and returned to mimic the weekly press conferences Speaker Pelosi does. They also were impressed with the work ethic of Members of Congress.”

Lebanon

Number of Engagements between 2016 – 2020

0Regional Exchanges

0TACs

0CODELs

1 Virtual Exchanges

1Inbound Exchanges

Partnership and Engagement with the Parliament 

HDP established a partnership with the Parliament of Lebanon in March 2006.

Since 2016, HDP has conducted two programs with the Parliament of Lebanon (disaggregates shown in the chart) which included MPs from Lebanon.

Impact and Programmatic Highlights 

I found the conference very helpful. I learned a lot from colleagues in Morocco on health issues, and I gained better insights as to how to make citizens at the center of policymaking. The pandemic shows this has not been the case.

HDP Alum, Lebanon

Liberia

Number of Engagements between 2016 – 2020

2Regional Exchanges

2TACs

2CODELs

1 Virtual Exchanges

6Inbound Exchanges

Partnership and Engagement with the Legislature 

HDP established a partnership with the Legislature of Liberia in July 2006.

Since 2016, HDP has conducted 13 programs with the Legislature of Liberia (disaggregates shown in the chart), which have included both MPs and staff.

Impact and Programmatic Highlights 

Advances in Procedures: HDP alums from Liberia discussed how procedures and institutional structures have shifted within committees because of their participation in HDP programming. An HDP alum from Liberia noted, “What we learn from HDP is very rewarding and extensive. My colleagues participated and they are on the Public Account and Expenditures Committee, [HDP] influenced our procedures and approach to accounting.” HDP alums from Liberia also reported having success in mentoring others on procedural practices gained through HDP participation.

Increased Interest in Constituent Engagement: A number of interviewees also noted that they observed an increased interest in constituent engagement more broadly within the legislature, with MPs and staff recognizing they serve at the pleasure of the people. As an alum from Liberia summarized, “[The program] made me more accountable to the people I serve; I am more aware of what I am doing. We can’t fully adopt everything, but ethical standards [and] transparency are important.” HDP has also successfully supported legislative staff in Liberia to work with lawmakers to publish information on constituent meetings, which allows constituents to be more engaged and increases transparency and accountability. A Liberian alum working on constituent engagement said, “They showed us [how to conduct] quality town hall meetings, how to talk to constituents, [it was] very good.”

Advancements in Institutional Structures: HDP programming that has focused on supporting the development of library and research services has been especially beneficial, and as one Liberian alum surveyed explained, “I found those skills excellent and beneficial for library improvement, and when implemented in my role there was a massive improvement.” Another alum expressed, “I learned how to research and access documents for members of parliament and staff, and how to manage the library, and what is expected of [my role], in line with my day-to-day legislative duties.”

The skill(s) I have in legislative procedures [gained through HDP] have enabled me to [advance in my] position in my legislature and enable me to assist… staff…who have not had the opportunity to participate in the HDP program.

HDP Alum, Liberia

Mongolia

Number of Engagements between 2016 – 2020

2Regional Exchanges

2TACs

1CODELs

0 Virtual Exchanges

1Inbound Exchanges

Partnership and Engagement with the State Great Hural 

HDP established a partnership with the State Great Hural of Mongolia in May 2006.

Since 2016, HDP has conducted six programs with the State Great Hural (disaggregates shown in the chart), which engaged both MPs and staff.

Impact and Programmatic Highlights 

Increased Oversight Through Public Hearings: Following a three-year campaign between HDP and Mongolia’s State Great Hural on the necessity of public hearings, the State Great Hural held its first ever public hearing following HDP programming on the topic.7 These engagements resulted in changes in individual and institutional behavior within the State Great Hural. For example, an HDP alum reported that learning about public hearings through HDP increased their understanding of public hearing procedure, saying, “In 2015 we adapted our law on public hearings – the law was on general regulation. People knew about the law only in general terms, but we had not implemented the law much. But after the participation in the [HDP] program, I learned the procedure of how to hold these public hearings. We held public hearings for two consecutive days, so it reached the public. Our secretariat and the parliament acknowledged the importance of public hearings after this event was held, so I think it [the HDP program] was very effective and useful.” Another HDP alum better understood how to engage citizens in government processes through public hearings, and indicated a public hearing led to the appointment of a commissioner: “In December 2018, I participated in the public hearing seminar and it helped me a lot. [W]e were talking about how to involve the public in our process and we were talking about their involvement in public hearings. We later amended our national criminal rights law and, for the first time, we held a public hearing to appoint the federal Human Rights Commissioner. The knowledge I gained from this workshop was very valuable and helped me assist in organizing this public hearing.”

Nepal

Number of Engagements between 2016 – 2020

0Regional Exchanges

1TACs

1CODELs

2 Virtual Exchanges

2Inbound Exchanges

Partnership and Engagement with the Federal Parliament 

HDP began its engagement with the Federal Parliament of Nepal in 2015.

The majority of HDP’s engagement with Nepal has come since 2016, through five programs (disaggregates shown in the chart); these engagements included both MPs and staff. 

Impact and Programmatic Highlights 

Increased Understanding of the Role of the Legislative Branch: Legislative institutions – and the processes and operations therein – develop in unique ways, but HDP programming has allowed for alums to share and connect on challenges that many may be facing. Following an HDP exchange focused on ways legislatures can safeguard democratic institutions, a Nepali alum said, “In Nepal, the government [executive branch] formulates the bills, and in the U.S., the legislature does. They have rich and knowledgeable staff. We learned we don’t need to panic, this is a learning process and we are developing. It was helpful for my work in committees, [to have] more discussions and expert input. We now invite many stakeholders to give input. I learned that a lot of the MPs from other countries are just like us, not very organized, not any better than us.” 

North Macedonia

Number of Engagements between 2016 – 2020

4Regional Exchanges

1TACs

3CODELs

2 Virtual Exchanges

4Inbound Exchanges

Partnership and Engagement with the Assembly

HDP established a partnership with the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia in 2006.

Since 2016, HDP has conducted 14 total programs with the Assembly (disaggregates shown in the chart); these engagements included both MPs and staff. 

Impact and Programmatic Highlights 

Since the last visit in Washington D.C., we have reached the conclusion that we need to coordinate in order to have oversight over the executive branch to better understand who is responsible to whom. We now have special bodies for coordination that did not exist before the HDP program to coordinate within the institution.

HDP Alum, North Macedonia

[HDP] provides an opportunity for new members to reach out and have direct communication with members abroad. It broadens their minds, and they are more open to the lessons HDP has to teach and in discussing the topics when they return home.

HDP Alum, North Macedonia

Peru

Number of Engagements between 2016 – 2020

3Regional Exchanges

1TACs

2CODELs

2 Virtual Exchanges

6Inbound Exchanges

Partnership and Engagement with the Congress 

HHDP established a partnership with the Congress of the Republic of Peru in June 2009.

Since 2016, HDP has conducted 14 total programs with the Congress (disaggregates shown in the chart); these engagements included both MPs and staff. 

Impact and Programmatic Highlights 

Participating in [HDP programming] was quite interesting; it allowed participants to know more about how American institutions work, as well as in other countries’ from participants who were represented. We could exchange information about similar issues…Sometimes institutions function differently, but the objective is the same. The experience was very useful.

HDP Alum, Peru

Sri Lanka

Number of Engagements between 2016 – 2020

3Regional Exchanges

1TACs

1CODELs

0 Virtual Exchanges

4Inbound Exchanges

Partnership and Engagement with the Parliament of Sri Lanka 

HDP established a partnership with Sri Lanka in July 2016 following a legislative assessment.

Since 2016, HDP has conducted nine engagements with the Sri Lankan Parliament including with both MPs and staff. 

Impact and Programmatic Highlights 

Timor-Leste

Number of Engagements between 2016 – 2020

0Regional Exchanges

1TACs

1CODELs

0 Virtual Exchanges

2Inbound Exchanges

Partnership and Engagement with the National Parliament 

HDP established a partnership with the National Parliament of Timor-Leste in 2006.

Since 2016, HDP has conducted two inbound exchanges and one technical assistance consultancy with the National Parliament; these engagements included both MPs and staff.

Impact and Programmatic Highlights 

Strengthening Research Capacity: HDP alums shared how engagement with HDP programming helped to strengthen both their individual and the parliament’s institutional capacity to conduct research. One HDP alum described how, following an HDP TAC, the National Parliament’s research practice had a stronger foundation for independent legislative research. The alum noted, “With support from HDP, we could establish the foundation of the research center in our parliament. We started out knowing very little about how to conduct legislative research, but through HDP there was a foundation established.” Additionally, another HDP alum, who participated in a previous TAC, focused on sharing U.S. CRS best practices for conducting and analyzing rigorous research, such as using reliable news outlets. The Timorese alum said, “Before, we did not know how to conduct research. We learned what is defined as legit[imate] resources for research. We learned to appropriately analyze.” 

Tunisia

Number of Engagements between 2016 – 2020

1Regional Exchanges

2TACs

2CODELs

3 Virtual Exchanges

4Inbound Exchanges

Partnership and Engagement with the Assembly of the Representatives of the People 

HDP established a partnership with the Assembly of the Representatives of the People (ARP) of Tunisia in 2016, following a CODEL led by U.S. Representatives and HDP Co-Chairs David Price and Vern Buchanan.

Since 2016, HDP has conducted 12 total programs with the ARP (disaggregates shown in the below chart); these engagements included both MPs and staff. 

Impact and Programmatic Highlights 

Increased Willingness to Conduct Citizen Engagement: One of the core topics throughout HDP engagement with the ARP has been the importance of citizen engagement. Over the past five years, the ARP has indicated an increased willingness to engage with constituents as a result of lessons learned during HDP programming. Inspiration for a digital platform to improve constituent engagement was a result of a 2017 regional exchange to Ukraine. An HDP alum was inspired to improve engagement and transparency with civil society by creating the digital platform to allow more direct insight into parliament’s work. 

[HDP programming] has had a positive impact on my role with parliament and civil society. Upon return, we created a digital platform for civil society and parliament where everyone can see what the various committees are working on. The idea came from HDP.

HDP Alum, Tunisia

We’re still in democratic transition in Tunisia and HDP is one of our major supporters… Democratic transition is not in one month, not in one year. We are still facing several difficulties, so I believe these programs are helpful.

HDP Alum, Tunisia

Ukraine

Number of Engagements between 2016 – 2020

2Regional Exchanges

1TACs

3CODELs

0 Virtual Exchanges

1Inbound Exchanges

Partnership and Engagement with the Verkhovna Rada

HDP established a partnership with the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in November 2006.

Over the past five years, HDP has conducted seven total programs with the Verkhovna Rada (disaggregates shown in the chart); these engagements included both MPs and staff. 

Impact and Programmatic Highlights 

I consider these skills extremely important for the representative of the legislative body of the country, and therefore useful for a position of the People’s Deputy of Ukraine. [Including] skills related to committee operations; skills related to legislative transparency; skills related to legislative procedure; skills related to legislative drafting.

HDP Alum, Ukraine

Conclusion

After 15 years, HDP continues to demonstrate its notable impact in advancing the capacity of independent, democratic legislative institutions worldwide. Over the past five years, HDP’s work has allowed partners to make concrete advances in areas such as constituent engagement, legislative ethics frameworks, transparency and openness initiatives, legislative procedure, executive oversight, and overall member and staff capacity. The program has also facilitated connections and expanded networks between and among thousands of legislative peers, allowing for the continued exchange of best practices and experience sharing. The lasting relationships that go beyond programs continue to support the development of solutions to shared global challenges faced by legislators at a time when legislative oversight, representation, and informed lawmaking is more critical than ever. 

Based on the information conducted over the course of this review, HDP will also explore several areas of growth to expand its reach and support for global partners, by engaging more partners on a greater variety of key topics, developing knowledge products and reference materials by peers for peers on key topics of legislative development, and expanding opportunities for sustainable engagement to strengthen partner institutional capacity

HDP remains invested in maintaining awareness of the core needs of legislatures globally and will utilize the results of this review to better inform program design and structure moving forward. The partnership also remains committed to developing techniques that advance its sustained positive impact across all countries and partners with which the program engages. 

Annex I:  HDP Activities, Country Matrix

TOTAL NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS 2016 – 2020: 2,744

Afghanistan

Activities
  • Regional Exchange: Pre-Conference to the Global Legislative Openness Conference: Ethics and Integrity in Open Parliaments (2017)
  • Inbound Exchange: Holding the Executive Branch to Account through Legislative Oversight (2020)
Themes

Oversight, Transparency

Participant Numbers – MPs and Staff

3 MPs

Armenia

Activities
  • CODEL (2019)
  • Inbound Exchange: Leadership Forum (2019)
  • TAC: Legislative Oversight, Citizen Engagement and Constituent Services (2019)
  • Regional Exchange: Regional eGA (2019)
  • Virtual Exchange: Building Citizen Trust in Times of Crisis (2020)
Themes

Roles and Responsibilities, Oversight, Constituent Engagement

Participant Numbers – MPs and Staff

64 Participants: 27 MPs (14 women), 37 Staff (24 women)

Colombia

Activities
  • TAC: Colombia CAEL (2016)
  • TAC: Supporting Technological Innovation for Transparency and Citizen Engagement (2016)
  • Inbound Exchange: Macroeconomic Budget Forecasting and Analysis (2016)
  • Inbound Exchange: The Role of Parliament in Strengthening Public Integrity Systems (2016)
  • Inbound Exchange: Strengthening Legislative Effectiveness through Improved Parliamentary Library and Research Services (2016)
  • TAC: Constituent Engagement (2017)
  • Regional Exchange: Pre-Conference to the Global Legislative Openness Conference: Ethics and Integrity in Open Parliaments (2017)
  • Inbound Exchange: Parliament’s Role in Strengthening Citizen Security through Democratic Engagement and Economic Development (2017)
  • Regional Exchange: Building Transparency, Open Data, and Citizen Engagement (2017)
  • Inbound Exchange: Women Lead Seminar (2018)
  • Regional Exchange: Strategies for Building Citizen Trust: Countering Corruption, Increasing Transparency & Working Together (2018)
  • TAC: Legislative Transparency and Openness (2019)
  • Inbound Exchange: Leadership Forum (2019)
  • Regional Exchange: Beyond the Walls of Parliament: Strengthening Oversight (4th gathering of parlamericas) (2019)
  • Regional Exchange: The Americas Summit for Transparent Legislatures (2019)
  • Inbound Exchange: Holding the Executive Branch to Account through Legislative Oversight (2020)
  • Virtual Exchange: Maintaining Legislative Authority During a Crisis (2020)
  • Virtual Exchange: Providing Quality Research Services for Member and Committee Offices (2020)
Themes

Oversight, Roles and Responsibilities, Ethics, Transparency and Openness, Legislative Procedure, Constituent Engagement

Participant Numbers – MPs and Staff

438 Participants: 40 MPs (16 women) 398 staff (132 women)*

*Some program data did not have gender disaggregates available

The Gambia

Activities
  • TAC: The Core Functions of a Strong Legislature: Budget, Citizen Engagement, Committees and Policy (2019)
  • CODEL (2019)
Themes

Roles and Responsibilities

Participant Numbers – MPs and Staff

36 Participants: 30 MPs (3 women), 6 Staff (1 woman)

Georgia

Activities
  • TAC: Building Robust Parliamentary Ethics Systems (2016)
  • Regional Exchange: HDP e-Government Seminar (2016)
  • Inbound Exchange: The Role of Parliament in Strengthening Public Integrity Systems (2016)
  • Inbound Exchange: Strengthening Legislative Effectiveness through Improved Parliamentary Library and Research Services (2016)
  • CODEL (2017)
  • Regional Exchange: Pre-Conference to the Global Legislative Openness Conference: Ethics and Integrity in Open Parliaments (2017)
  • Inbound Exchange: Building Citizen Trust through Improved Parliamentary Communication and Citizen Engagement (2017)
  • Regional Exchange: Building Modern, Professional and Representative Parliaments (2018)
  • TAC: Developing Parliamentary Rules of Procedure and Effective Oversight of Defense and Security Services (2018)
  • Inbound Exchange: Women Lead Seminar (2018)
  • CODEL (2019)
  • TAC: Defense and Security Sector Oversight (2019)
  • Inbound Exchange: Leadership Forum (2019)
  • Regional Exchange: Parliamentary Oversight of the Security Sector (2019)
  • Regional Exchange: Engaging Citizens in Building a Secure E-Society (2019)
  • TAC: Holding Members and Staff to Account, the Importance of a Committee on Ethics (2020)
  • Virtual Exchange: A Parliament’s Role in Responding to Unprecedented Crisis (Overview of Legislative Importance in Economic & Agricultural Crisis Responses) (2020)
  • Virtual Exchange: Providing Quality Research Services for Member and Committee Offices (2020)
Themes

Roles and Responsibilities, Oversight, Transparency and Openness, Constituent Engagement, Ethics, Research

Participant Numbers – MPs and Staff

104 Participants: 50 MPs (16 women), 41 staff members (21 women)*

*Some program data did not have gender disaggregates available.

** 13 participants were not disaggregated between MPs and staff.

Guatemala

Activities
  • CODEL (2016)
  • TAC: An Effective and Representative Legislature: Creating, Collaborating and Communicating (2017)
  • TAC: Guatemala: Parliamentary Procedure and Legislative Research (2017)
  • Regional Exchange: Building Transparency, Open Data and Citizen Engagement (2017)
  • Regional Exchange: Strategies for Building Citizen Trust: Countering Corruption, Increasing Transparency & Working Together (2018)
  • TAC: Encouraging Economic Growth and Developing Ethical Guidelines (2018)
  • Inbound Exchange: Women Lead Seminar (2018)
  • Regional Exchange: The Americas Summit for Transparent Legislatures (2019)
  • Inbound Exchange: Leadership Forum (2019)
  • Regional Exchange: Beyond the Walls of Parliament: Strengthening Oversight (4th gathering of parlamericas) (2019)
  • Virtual Exchange (three part series): Economic Reform in the time of COVID19; Immigration during COVID19; Strengthening of the Women’s Caucus (2020)
  • Virtual Regional Exchange: Maintaining Legislative Authority During a Crisis (2020)
Themes

Roles and Responsibilities, Transparency, Legislative Procedure, Oversight, Ethics, Constituent Engagement

Participant Numbers – MPs and Staff

206 Participants: 61 MPs (33 women), 14 staff (3 women)*

* Some program data did not have gender disaggregates available.

** 131 participants were not disaggregated between MPs and staff.

Haiti

Activities
  • TAC: Developing Legislative Skills and Legislative Agenda (2016)
  • TAC: Constituent Engagement and Strategic Communications with Parliamentarians (2017)
  • Regional Exchange: Pre-Conference to the Global Legislative Openness Conference: Ethics and Integrity in Open Parliaments (2017)
  • Regional Exchange: Building Transparency, Open Data and Citizen Engagement (2017)
  • Inbound Exchange: Women Lead Seminar (2018)
  • Inbound Exchange: District Office Communications and Citizen Engagement (2018)
  • Inbound Exchange: Leadership Forum (2019)
  • Regional Exchange: Beyond the Walls of Parliament: Strengthening Oversight (4th gathering of parlamericas) (2019)
  • Virtual Exchange: Advancing Committee Functions (2020)
Themes

Roles and Responsibilities, Constituent Engagement, Ethics, Transparency and Openness

Participant Numbers – MPs and Staff

131 Participants: 79 MPs (6 women), 52 staff (9 women)*

*Some program data did not have gender disaggregates available.

Indonesia

Activities
  • Inbound Exchange: Macroeconomic Budget Forecasting and Analysis (2016)
  • Inbound Exchange: Strengthening Legislative Effectiveness through Improved Parliamentary Library and Research Services (2016)
  • Regional Exchange: Pre-Conference to the Global Legislative Openness Conference: Ethics and Integrity in Open Parliaments (2017)
  • Regional Exchange: E-Governance Seminar (2017)
  • Inbound Exchange: Women Lead Seminar (2018)
  • Inbound Exchange: Leadership Forum (2019)
  • CODEL (2019)
  • Virtual Exchange: Providing Quality Research Services for Member and Committee Offices (2020)
Themes

Roles and Responsibilities, Ethics, Transparency and Openness, Research, Legislative Procedure, Constituent Engagement

Participant Numbers – MPs and Staff

18 Participants: 7 MPs (3 women), 11 staff (8 women)*

*Some program data did not have gender disaggregates available.

Iraq

Activities
  • Inbound Exchange: Leadership Forum (2019)
  • Virtual Exchange: Legislative Responses to the Gender Impacts of COVID-19 (2020)
  • Virtual Exchange: Effective Constituent Engagement During COVID-19 (2020)
Themes

Roles and Responsibilities, Constituent
Engagement

Participant Numbers – MPs and Staff

18 Participants: 3 MPs (2 women), 15 Staff (1 woman)

Kenya

Activities
  • Inbound Exchange: Macroeconomic Budget Forecasting and Analysis (2016)
  • Inbound Exchange: The Role of Parliament in Strengthening Public Integrity Systems (2016)
  • Inbound Exchange: Strengthening Legislative Effectiveness through Improved Parliamentary Library and Research Services (2016)
  • TAC: Budgetary Processes (2016)
  • TAC: Roles and Responsibilities: Citizen Outreach, Intergovernmental Communication and Policy Implementation (2017)
  • Regional Exchange: Pre-Conference to the Global Legislative Openness Conference: Ethics and Integrity in Open Parliaments (2017)
  • Inbound Exchange: District Office Communications and Citizen Engagement (2018)
  • Inbound Exchange: Women Lead Seminar (2018)
  • Kenya Self Funded Visit (2018)
  • Regional Exchange: Africa Regional — Representing Constituents Through Effective Communication and Policies (2018)
  • Inbound Exchange: Leadership Forum (2019)
  • CODEL (2019)
  • TAC: Holding Members and Staff to Account: The Importance of a Committee on Ethics (2019)
  • Inbound Exchange: Holding the Executive Branch to Account through Legislative Oversight (2020)
  • Virtual Exchange: Providing Quality Research Services for Member and Committee Offices (2020)
Themes

Oversight, Roles and Responsibilities, Constituent Engagement, Transparency and Openness, Legislative Procedure, Ethics

Participant Numbers – MPs and Staff

151 Participants: 61 MPs (19 women), 71 Staff (12 women)*

*Some program data did not have gender disaggregates available.

**This figure includes a small number of Liberian participants.

*** 19 participants were not disaggregated between MPs and staff.

Kosovo

Activities
  • Inbound Exchange: Macroeconomic Budget Forecasting and Analysis (2016)
  • Inbound Exchange: The Role of Parliament in Strengthening Public Integrity Systems (2016)
  • Inbound Exchange: Strengthening Legislative Effectiveness through Improved Parliamentary Library and Research Services (2016)
  • TAC: Restoring Citizen Trust by Bolstering Ethics Systems and Establishing a Code of Conduct in the Assembly of Kosovo (2016)
  • TAC: Constituent Engagement (2017)
  • CODEL (2017)
  • Regional Exchange: Building Modern, Professional and Representative Parliaments (2018)
  • TAC: Building Modern, Professional and Representative Parliaments (2018)
  • TAC: Party Caucus Staff Academy (2018)
  • Inbound Exchange: District Office Communications and Citizen Engagement (2018)
  • Inbound Exchange: Leadership Forum (2019)
  • Inbound Exchange: Holding the Executive Branch to Account through Legislative Oversight (2020)
  • Virtual Exchange: Bilateral Discussion (2020)
  • Virtual Exchange: Legislative Responses to the Gender Effects of the COVID-19 Crisis (2020)
  • Virtual Exchange: Providing Quality Research Services for Member and Committee Offices (2020)
Themes

Roles and Responsibilities, Constituent Engagement, Ethics, Research, Legislative Procedure, Transparency and Openness

Participant Numbers – MPs and Staff

124 Participants: 54 MPs (28 women), 70 staff (28 women)*

*Some program data did not have gender disaggregates available

Kyrgyzstan

Activities
  • TAC: Committee Oversight (2016)
  • Inbound Exchange: The Role of Parliament in Strengthening Public Integrity Systems (2016)
  • CODEL (2016)
  • Inbound Exchange: The Representative Role of a Member of Parliament: Serving Constituencies Effectively and Resourcefully (2016)
  • Regional Exchange: HDP E-Government Seminar (2016)
  • Inbound Exchange: Building Citizen Trust through Improved Parliamentary Communication and Citizen Engagement (2017)
  • Regional Exchange: Building Modern, Professional and Representative Parliaments (2018)
  • Regional Exchange: Parliamentary Oversight of the Security Sector (2019)
  • Inbound Exchange: Leadership Forum (2019)
  • Inbound Exchange: Holding the Executive Branch to Account through Legislative Oversight (2020)
  • Virtual CODEL (2020)
  • Virtual Exchange: Providing Quality Research Services for Member and Committee Offices (2020)
Themes

Oversight, Roles and Responsibilities, Transparency, Constituent Engagement, Ethics

Participant Numbers – MPs and Staff

95 Participants: 35 MPs (10 women), 60 Staff (26 women)*

*Some program data did not have gender disaggregates available

Lebanon

Activities
  • Inbound Exchange: Leadership Forum (2019)
  • Virtual Exchange: Legislative Responses to the Gender Impacts of COVID-19 (2020)
Themes

Roles and Responsibilities

Participant Numbers – MPs and Staff

4 MPs (2 women)

Liberia

Activities
  • Inbound Exchange: Macroeconomic Budget Forecasting and Analysis (2016)
  • Inbound Exchange: The Role of Parliament in Strengthening Public Integrity Systems (2016)
  • CODEL (2016)
  • Inbound Exchange: Strengthening Legislative Effectiveness through Improved Parliamentary Library and Research Services (2016)
  • TAC: Budgetary Processes (2016)
  • Regional Exchange: Pre-Conference to the Global Legislative Openness Conference: Ethics and Integrity in Open Parliaments (2017)
  • TAC: Legislative Orientation (2018)
  • Inbound Exchange: District Office Communications and Citizen Engagement (2018)
  • Regional Exchange: Africa Regional — Representing Constituents Through Effective Communication and Policies (2018)
  • Inbound Exchange: Women Lead Seminar (2018)
  • Inbound Exchange: Leadership Forum (2019)
  • CODEL (2019)
  • TAC: Liberia Political Party Caucuses Legislative Agenda Development (2020)
  • Virtual Exchange: Providing Quality Research Services for Member and Committee Offices (2020)
Themes

Roles and Responsibilities, Oversight, Constituent Engagement, Ethics, Legislative Procedure, Transparency and Openness

Participant Numbers – MPs and Staff

198 Participants*: 86 MPs (13 women), 112 Staff ( 13 women)

*This figure includes a small number of Kenyan participants.

Mongolia

Activities
  • CODEL (2016)
  • Inbound Exchange:The Representative Role of a Member of Parliament: Serving Constituencies Effectively and Resourcefully (2016)
  • Regional Exchange: HDP E-Government Seminar (2016)
  • TAC: Advancing and Strengthening Public Hearings (2016)
  • Regional Exchange: E-Governance Seminar (2017)
  • TAC: Public Hearings (2017)
  • TAC: Public Hearings: A Tool for Oversight and Developing Inclusive Legislation (2018)
Themes

Roles and responsibilities, Constituent Engagement, Oversight

Participant Numbers – MPs and Staff

230 Participants: 37 MPs (9 women), 193 Staff (92 women)

Burma/Myanmar

Activities
  • Inbound Exchange: The Representative Role of a Member of Parliament: Survey Constituencies Effectively and Resourcefully (2016)
  • Inbound Exchange: Strengthening Legislative Effectiveness through Improved Library and Research Services (2016)
  • Ukraine Regional: Pre-Conference to the Global Legislative Openness Conference: Ethics and Integrity in Open Parliaments (2017)
  • Regional Exchange: E-governance Regional Seminar (2017)
Themes

Roles and Responsibilities, Ethics, Transparency and Openness

Participant Numbers – MPs and Staff

12 Participants: 9 MPs, and 3 staff*

*Some program data did not have gender disaggregates available

Nepal

Activities
  • CODEL (2016)
  • Inbound Exchange: Parliament’s Role in Strengthening Citizen Security through Democratic Engagement and Economic Development (2017)
  • Inbound Exchange: Leadership Forum (2019)
  • TAC: Citizen Engagement and Parliamentary Research (2019)
  • Virtual Exchange: Navigating the COVID-19 Response at the Member, Committee and Party Levels (2020)
Themes

Roles and Responsibilities

Participant Numbers – MPs and Staff

114 Participants: 53 MPs (4 women), 61 Staff (1 woman) *

*Some program data did not have gender disaggregates available

North Macedonia

Activities
  • Inbound Exchange: The Role of Parliament in Strengthening Public Integrity Systems (2016)
  • CODEL (2016)
  • Inbound Exchange: Strengthening Legislative Effectiveness through Improved Parliamentary Library and Research Services (2016)
  • Inbound Exchange: Building Citizen Trust through Improved Parliamentary Communication and Citizen Engagement (2017)
  • Regional Exchange: E-Governance Seminar (2017)
  • TAC: Constituent Engagement (2017)
  • Regional Exchange: Building Modern, Professional and Representative Parliaments (2018)
  • CODEL (2018)
  • CODEL (2018)
  • Regional Exchange: Engaging Citizens in Building a Secure E-Society (2019)
  • Regional Exchange: Parliamentary Oversight of the Security Sector (2019)
  • Inbound Exchange: Leadership Forum (2019)
  • TAC: Parliamentary Budgeting and Appropriations (2019)
  • Virtual Exchange: Building the Capacity of the Standing Inquiry Committee for Protection of Civil Rights and Freedoms in Parliament (2020)
  • Virtual Exchange: Providing Quality Research Services for Member and Committee Offices (2020)
Themes

Constituent Engagement, Roles and Responsibilities, Oversight, Transparency and Openness, Ethics

Participant Numbers – MPs and Staff

109 Participants: 57 MPs (19 women), 52 Staff (5 women)

Some program data did not have gender disaggregates available

Pakistan

Activities
  • Inbound Exchange: The Role of Parliament in Strengthening Public Integrity Systems (2016)
  • Ukraine Regional: Pre-Conference to the Global Legislative Openness Conference: Ethics and Integrity in Open Parliaments (2017)
Themes

Roles and Responsibilities, Ethics

Participant Numbers – MPs and Staff

5 Participants: 5 MPs (1 woman)

Peru

Activities
  • Inbound Exchange: Macroeconomic Budget Forecasting and Analysis (2016)
  • Inbound Exchange: The Role of Parliament in Strengthening Public Integrity Systems (2016)*
  • Inbound Exchange: Strengthening Legislative Effectiveness through Improved Parliamentary Library and Research Services (2016)
  • TAC: Legislative Research and Budget Analysis (2016)
  • Inbound Exchange: The Representative Role of a Member of Parliament: Serving Constituencies Effectively and Resourcefully (2016)
  • Regional Exchange: Building Transparency, Open Data and Citizen Engagement (2017)
  • CODEL (2017)
  • TAC: Becoming an Effective Member of the Legislative Process: Collaborating, Communicating and Representing (2017)
  • Regional Exchange: Strategies for Building Citizen Trust: Countering Corruption, Increasing Transparency & Working Together (2018)
  • Inbound Exchange: Women Lead Seminar (2018)
  • Inbound Exchange: Leadership Forum (2019)
  • Regional Exchange: The Americas Summit for Transparent Legislatures (2019)
  • Regional Exchange: Beyond the Walls of Parliament: Strengthening Oversight (4th gathering of Parlamericas) (2019)
  • Inbound Exchange: Holding the Executive Branch to Account through Legislative Oversight (2020)
  • Virtual Regional Exchange: Maintaining Legislative Authority During a Crisis (2020)
  • Virtual CODEL (2020)
  • Virtual Exchange: Providing Quality Research Services for Member and Committee Offices (2020)
Themes

Oversight, Roles and Responsibilities, Transparency and Openness, Legislative Procedure, Constituent Engagement, Ethics

Participant Numbers – MPs and Staff

255 Participants: 27 MPs (12 Women) 228 Staff (40 women)*

*Some program data did not have gender disaggregates available

Sri Lanka

Activities
  • Inbound Exchange: Strengthening Legislative Effectiveness through Parliamentary Improved Library and Research Services (2016)
  • Regional Exchange: Pre-Conference to the Global Legislative Openness Conference: Ethics and Integrity in Open Parliaments (2017)
  • Inbound Exchange: Parliament’s Role in Strengthening Citizen Security through Democratic Engagement and Economic Development (2017)
  • Inbound Exchange: Building Citizen Trust through Improved Parliamentary Communication and Citizen Engagement (2017)
  • Regional Exchange: E-Governance Seminar (2017)
  • TAC: Developing a System of Checks and Balances Through Legislative Oversight and Executive Collaboration (2018)
  • Regional Exchange: Building Modern, Professional and Representative Parliaments (2018)
  • Inbound Exchange: Leadership Forum (2019)
Themes

Roles and Responsibilities, Transparency and Openness, Constituent Engagement, Ethics, Oversight

Participant Numbers – MPs and Staff

119 Participants: 22 MPs, 97 staff (2 women)*

*Some program data did not have gender disaggregates available

Tunisia

Activities
  • Inbound Exchange: Strengthening Legislative Effectiveness through Improved Parliamentary Library and Research Services (2016)
  • CODEL (2016)
  • TAC: Methods for Collaboration with the Executive Branch (2016)
  • Regional Exchange: Pre-Conference to the Global Legislative Openness Conference: Ethics and Integrity in Open Parliaments (2017)
  • Inbound Exchange: Parliament’s Role in Strengthening Citizen Security through Democratic Engagement and Economic Development (2017)
  • TAC: Citizen Engagement: Techniques for Including Citizens in the Legislative Process (2018)
  • Inbound Exchange: District Office Communications and Citizen Engagement (2018)
  • Inbound Exchange: Women Lead Seminar (2018)
  • CODEL (2018)
  • TAC: New Member Orientation: Developing Inclusive and Effective Legislation (2020)
  • Virtual Exchange: A Parliament’s Role in Responding to Unprecedented Crisis (2020)
  • Virtual Exchange: Legislative Responses to the Gender Impacts of COVID-19 (2020)
  • Virtual Exchange: Providing Quality Research Services for Member and Committee Offices (2020)
Themes

Roles and Responsibilities, Constituent Engagement, Ethics, Transparency and Openness, Oversight

Participant Numbers – MPs and Staff

133 Participants: 96 MPs (68 women), 37 staff (24 women)*

*Some program data did not have gender disaggregates available

Timor-Leste

Activities
  • Inbound Exchange: Macroeconomic Budget Forecasting and Analysis (2016)
  • Inbound Exchange: Strengthening Legislative Effectiveness through Improved Parliamentary Library and Research Services (2016)
  • TAC: Advancing parliament’s External Relations and Research Services (2019)
Themes

Legislative Procedure

Participant Numbers – MPs and Staff

85 Participants: 22 MPs ( 8 women), 63 Staff (29 women)*

*Some program data did not have gender disaggregates available

Ukraine

Activities
  • TAC: Building Robust Parliamentary Ethics Systems (2016)
  • CODEL (2016)
  • Inbound Exchange: Strengthening Legislative Effectiveness through Improved Parliamentary Library and Research Services (2016)
  • Regional Exchange: HDP E-Government Seminar (2016)
  • CODEL (2018)
  • CODEL (2019)
  • Regional Exchange: Engaging Citizens in Building a Secure E-Society (2019)
Themes

Transparency and Openness, Ethics, Constituent Engagement

Participant Numbers – MPs and Staff

92 Participants: 6 MPs (2 women), 1 staff (1 woman)**

** 85 participants were not disaggregated between MPs and staff.

Annex II: Total Participation By Country, 2005-20208

CountryInbound and Regional ProgramsTechnical Assistance Consultancies & Staff DelegationsCODELsVirtual ExchangesTotal Programs 2005-2020
Afghanistan2305028
Armenia21115
Colombia16113232
The Gambia01102
Georgia14207243
Guatemala531413
Haiti2255133
Indonesia15147137
Iraq20226
Kenya3166144
Kosovo2765240
Kyrgyzstan1323119
Lebanon1104116
Liberia2755138
Mongolia2184033
Nepal61119
North Macedonia2956242
Peru2943238
Timor-Leste1766029
Tunisia526316
Ukraine937019
Total Participation By Country, 2005-2020

Annex III: Overview of Methodology

Informed by OECD/DAC evaluation criteria, this review aims to determine the relevance, cohesion, effectiveness, sustainability and effects of HDP programming over the last five years, and build upon findings from the ten-year report completed in 2015. The OECD/DAC approach provides a globally recognized and holistic framework for evaluation of international assistance efforts. In addition, questions relevant to HDP’s specific programmatic goals and objectives were considered in the design of interview guides for U.S. partners, HDP alums, and Institute staff, as well as surveys distributed to HDP alums. A thorough desk review was also conducted to inform the review findings. 

The Institutes utilized the review to distill programmatic results and future opportunities, guided by the below four evaluation questions: 

  1. What changes in legislative development or practices did HDP programming contribute to? 
    • To what extent has the HDP program contributed to individual participants’ increased capacity and empowerment?
    • How has HDP programming contributed to the ability and willingness of legislators and legislatures to be representative and responsive to citizens, including women and marginalized groups, both within legislatures and within the countries the legislatures seek to serve? 
  2. Which programmatic activities and programmatic strategy shifts since 2015 have been most effective and why?
  3. How has HDP programming complemented or amplified other Institutes’ country programming?
  4. Did participants feel that the support provided to HDP partners met their needs? What are their major challenges moving forward and what types of support do they feel HDP could provide? 

Data collection was primarily conducted through virtual interviews and online survey dissemination facilitated by the Institutes field teams, targeting three cohorts of participants, including 1) HDP alums, 2) Institute staff and 3) U.S. partners. A brief overview of criteria used to identify interviewees for each group is outlined below:

Limitations of the Review

Given the COVID-19 pandemic, data collection was limited to being conducted virtually. This made it difficult to reach HDP alums, U.S. partners, and Institute staff in cases of limited or weak internet access. Additionally, virtual data collection limited the Institutes’ ability to conduct thorough follow-up on survey collection and scheduling of Annex 51 interviews, which limited the number of alums the Institutes were able to reach. The Institutes also faced limitations in the number of alums they were able to reach as records of alum contact information over the five-year period were sometimes incomplete, and at times outdated. The Institutes made efforts to remedy the situation and acquire additional contact data by reaching out to Institute country teams. Additionally, because the interviews were conducted by U.S.-based Institute staff and consultants, it is possible that alums were not completely forthcoming about their views regarding programmatic deficits so as not to offend. Biases relating to sampling and lack of ongoing critical reflection of methods during the process may have been introduced, which could have limited depth and relevance of data collection and analysis. Similarly, personal bias, which can occur during qualitative inquiries, may have influenced analysis of data. During the review, every effort was made to ensure participants that their identities would remain anonymous and confidential, and that their honest opinions were highly valued.

Annex IV: Overall Program Results by Thematic Area: Key Findings

In addition to distilling general results, this review outlined findings in relation to six priority HDP program themes, including: member and staff roles and responsibilities, legislative ethics, legislative openness and transparency, legislative procedure, constituent engagement, and oversight. Given the significant focus of HDP programming on these thematic areas – 48 of the 55 (or 87.3 percent) total programs organized between 2016 and 20209 focused on these themes – the review included specific lines of inquiry on HDP programming in these areas. 

The findings were informed by several sources of data, including an extensive desk review, interviews with U.S. partners, HDP alums, and Institute staff, as well as surveys distributed to HDP alums. The below section outlines summaries, takeaways, and feedback from the activities carried out under each theme.

Theme I: Member and Staff Roles and Responsibilities – HDP develops and shares information regarding the unique responsibilities of elected officials and their staff within the legislative institution. 

Theme II: Legislative Ethics – HDP shares best practices on the development of ethical guidelines and the importance of ethics committees, incorporating expert assistance from the U.S. House Ethics Committee, and U.S. members and staff. 

Theme III: Legislative Openness and Transparency – HDP shares experiences on methods to make legislative data available to the public to enhance citizen trust in institutions. 

Theme IV: Legislative Procedure – HDP advises MPs and staff on parliamentary procedure, legislative drafting, budget review process, and committee operations. 

Theme V: Constituent Engagement – HDP advises MPs and their staff on how to communicate legislative priorities and accomplishments, as well as answering constituent inquiries, concerns, and managing casework. 

Theme VI: Oversight – HDP seeks to help improve the review, monitoring, and oversight of the executive branch. 

Footnotes

  1. Due in part to challenges arising from fragile and/or volatile political environments and security contexts, HDP’s engagement with Burma/Myanmar and Pakistan was more limited over the past five years than with some other partners. Although HDP was able to engage with both countries at least twice over the past five years, they were not included as part of this review.
  1. Current observer legislatures include: Nepal and The Gambia
  1. To better understand and evaluate program results, the review included interviews with HDP alums, U.S. partners, and Institute staff from HDP’s inbound exchanges, regional exchanges, TACs, and virtual exchanges. In total, 62 interviews were conducted with 35 men and 27 women. Additionally, surveys were distributed to more than 250 HDP alums, of which 103 were completed by HDP alums in at least 15 countries.
  1. Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Institutes initiated the creation of a number of knowledge products and reference materials to better support legislative partners. At the time this report was finalized, the Institutes had several knowledge products in development, including research papers on parliamentary adaptations and economic responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, guides on cybersecurity and new member orientations, and curricula on disinformation and oversight.
  1. Due in part to challenges arising from fragile and/or volatile political environments and security contexts, HDP’s engagement with Burma/Myanmar and Pakistan was limited over the past five years, and they were not included in this review. HDP will continue to monitor political conditions in all partner countries to determine the potential for future engagement.
  1. In English, the Center for Research and High Legislative Studies.
  1. The Standing Committee on Environment, Food and Agriculture organized the public hearing on the implementation, funding, and impact on Mongolia’s air pollution. Seventy-one people were in attendance, including representatives from different levels of local and federal government, international non-governmental organizations, domestic non-governmental organizations, companies, and the general public.
  1. Due in part to challenges arising from fragile and/or volatile political environments and security contexts, HDP’s engagement with Burma/Myanmar, Pakistan and Sri Lanka was limited over the past five years, resulting in their omission from this chart.
  1. At the time the review methodology was finalized, in September 2020, HDP had conducted 55 total programs, including inbound exchanges, regional exchanges, TACs, and virtual exchanges. Virtual exchanges continued until the close of 2020.
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