| Synopsis: |
Parliaments are essential to meeting many of DFID's ambitions for post-2015, including increasing the accountability of Governments, reducing poverty, tackling corruption and preventing conflicts. While it is clearly more difficult to work with parliaments in fragile or conflict affected states, it is these states who can most greatly benefit, while still requiring relatively little expenditure to realise the benefits. DFID is a major contributor to parliamentary strengthening, spending approximately GBP22.5 million from its bilateral programmes and according to DFID estimated a further GBP3.5 million can be attributed as its share of multilaterals' expenditure. A strong parliament operating in a parliamentary democracy brings many benefits to a nation: a representative, accountable and effective parliament is an asset in any state, and no less necessary in fragile and challenging countries. A strong parliament which has sufficient resources to scrutinise its government will inevitably ensure greater transparency and better use of state revenues including official development assistance. |