Afghanistan:
Preparing for a new parliament
At the request of the United Nations Development Programme, the Union has designated a team of experts that will travel to Kabul in October 2004. They will carry out a comprehensive assessment of the needs of the future parliament of Afghanistan and make proposals for meeting those needs. Among other things, the team will consider the human and material resources required by the future parliament, with a view to implementing a project to ensure that the new legislature is equipped adequately to handle the urgent tasks facing it as it sets out to prepare a new legal framework for Afghan society. Parliamentary elections are scheduled for April 2005.

Equatorial Guinea:
Providing newly-elected parliamentarians with the know-how they need

Equatorial Guinea Parliament

Under the assistance project the IPU is implementing for the parliament of Equatorial Guinea, the Union held a three-day seminar from 15 to 17 September 2004. This event was scheduled to follow the parliamentary elections of April 2004, and was intended to give newly-elected legislators in-depth knowledge of the role and working methods of a parliament as they assumed their duties for the next five years. The seminar focused on such issues as the rule of law and democracy, including human rights, legislative procedure and committee systems, as well as the administrative set-up of parliament to support its work. It marked the full-scale start of this European Union-funded project, which also includes components aimed at strengthening the parliament's documentation capacity, improving its human resources and developing its relations with society as a whole.

Iraq :
Fundamentals of a wellfunctioning parliament for the members of the interim legislature
The IPU and United Nations Development Programme are currently working together to establish a package involving the improvement of the the parliamentary skills of the members of the new Iraqi interim National Council, elected in August 2004. Activities will include seminars and workshops as well as working visits to foreign parliaments, to allow the legislators to experience first-hand how such bodies function. The IPU's involvement is consistent with the statement issued by the Speakers of Parliaments of the countries neighbouring Iraq when they met in Amman in May 2004, which pledged that the international parliamentary community would contribute to the establishment of democratic institutions in Iraq. The newly-elected interim National Council is tasked with designing and overseeing the implementation of the legislative provisions that will lead to a stable constitutional democracy in 2005. It has been given a prominent oversight role in respect of provisional institutions in Iraq, including the Government.

Nigeria :
Bringing parliament closer to the people
In July 2004, the IPU signed an agreement with the Nigerian Federal Government and the European Commission to implement a multi-million euro democracy project in support of the Federal Parliament and six state legislatures. Project implementation began immediately, with the establishment of a project management team composed of one international and four Nigerian experts. This project seeks to build the capacity of the legislatures concerned and to ensure that legislative decisions are informed by inputs from various sectors of society. Apart from training and information activities, the project will help to establish well-equipped documentation centres in the legislatures, including Internet capacity, and encourage more interaction with constituencies and civil society organisations. The IPU is working in partnership with a local organisation, Legis 37, and is thus helping to build endogenous capacity to deliver assistance to legislatures in Nigeria following completion of the current project.

Kosovo :
Building parliamentary documentation capacity
As part of its assistance project for the Assembly of Kosovo, which is being implemented jointly with the United Nations Development Programme, in September 2004 the IPU fielded a needs assessment mission to the Assembly. The mission also provided advice and assisted in the design and implementation of a plan for the physical reorganisation, equipment and management of the parliamentary library and the strengthening of research capacity. It also assisted in developing an official information policy and strategy for the parliament, and advised on the best possible mechanisms for forging closer ties with constituents and society in general.

MAJOR PROJECT IN NIGERIA: INTERVIEW Mr. Adolphus Wabara The IPU has signed a 1.12 million contract with the National Planning Commission of Nigeria and the European Commission for a 17-month technical cooperation project in Nigeria. Under this project, the IPU will help to build capacity in the national and state legislatures. Interview with the President of the Senate of Nigeria, Mr. Adolphus Wabara. " The project will enhance the capacitybuilding of the legislatures at both the federal and state levels " Q.: Mr. Speaker, what are your expectations from this project? How can it help fulfil your vision for the development of democracy in Nigeria? Senator Adolphus Wabara : My expectation is that the project will enhance the capacity-building of the legislatures at both the federal and state levels, providing the necessary tools to carry out legislative and oversight functions. The project corresponds with my vision for the development of democracy in Nigeria. Presently Nigerians have a great deal of expectation for the legislature as a branch of government. It is common knowledge that each time the military has intervened in governance, the legislative branch of governmenthas been forced to remain in abeyance as long as the military held sway, while the executive and judicial branches continued to function. Q.: What does this project mean for the people of Nigeria? A.W. : The project will facilitate a two-way communication channel between the legislators and their constituencies. In that way, the constituents will become active participants in the legislative process.