2nd Conference of the Middle East and North Africa Parliamentary Network
2nd Conference of the Middle East and North Africa Parliamentary Network
Source : World Bank
07-Nov-2017
Parliamentarians from Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries gathered on November 7-8, 2017 in Rabat for the Second Conference of the MENA chapter of the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Building on the official launch of the MENA chapter of the Parliamentary Network in 2016 in Tunis, the conference discussed this year common challenges facing participating countries, in the areas of governance, economic reform, migration and education.
The meeting was also an opportunity for the MPs to report back on achievements in their respective countries since the launch, as well as elaborate an action plan for increased parliamentary collaboration to take on development challenges in the MENA region, and strengthened engagement with the World Bank and IMF.
“This was the second edition of the Parliamentary Network in MENA that we intended to be dynamic and engaging. Parliamentarians from the region have many relevant experiences to share in a heterogeneous context yet with a number of common development challenges. Our role in the World Bank and the IMF is to facilitate this exchange and share best practices on Parliamentarians’ role in promoting greater transparency and accountability.” said Marie Françoise Marie-Nelly, World Bank Maghreb Country director. “This platform also opens gates for Parliamentarians to proactively reach out to organizations such as the WBG and the IMF to advocate for their countries’ pressing development needs.”
Parliamentarians from Morocco, Algeria, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, and Tunisia convened to exchange on country experiences in the areas above-mentioned and effective ways to enhance Parliamentarians’ oversight and monitoring of public policies. The conference was hosted by the Moroccan parliament and chaired by Mr Hakim Benchamach, President of the House of Councillors, and Mr Habib El Malki, President of the House of Representatives.
“The MENA region has experienced over the past few years a phase of uncertainty that has shifted the way decision-makers, including Parliamentarians, play their respective roles. Issues such as better governance, more accountable public services and greater opportunities for the marginalized have become paramount to achieving an inclusive growth and therefore peace and stability” said Jeremy Lefroy, PN President. “The MENA chapter offers an opportunity for Parliamentarians to build a community of practice to enable them to better grasp and respond to these challenges”.
The Parliamentary Network, initially founded in 2000 as an independent, non-governmental organization, provides a platform for Parliamentarians from WBG and IMF member countries to advocate for increased accountability and transparency in development cooperation. The MENA Chapter of the Parliamentary Network acts as a platform for parliamentarians from the region to exchange knowledge and experiences on how best to fulfill their role as representatives of the people, and as actors of change to tackle development challenges in their countries and across the MENA region.