The Support for Democracy Project in Burkina Faso ended its activities in March, 2019. It was approved in the wake of the popular insurrection that led to the burning of the National Assembly with a view to recast a new vision for Burkina’s legislature, closer to its people, more transparent and accountable. The project encompassed a support for the development of the Assembly’s strategic plan and gender strategy. It was this strategic plan that caught the attention of donors and led to their support under PROCAB.
Through PADEB, the National Assembly undertook innovations in oversight processes of the Executive. Members of Parliament also learned how they could better explain their role to their constituents, and how to appropriately be involved in the dialogue with the executive. This was namely the case regarding the fight against the social exclusion of elderly women shunned from their communities as they were accused of witchcraft and while assessing the implementation of government programs in education, health and local infrastructure (roads, bridges…).
It also was an opportunity to start rebuilding the Assembly’s documentary holdings destroyed during the fire, by developing guides based on good practices:
- Gender-sensitive Parliamentary research
- Drafting and amending legislation
- Holding public hearings with Civil Society, experts and citizens
- MP’s manual
Burkina Faso
March 2016 to March 2019
Focus: Parliamentary Institution; Citizen Outreach and Engagement; Parliaments and Gender;
Budgetary Oversight and Accountability; Democratic Oversight of the Security Sector
Funders: Global Affairs Canada
