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SESSION 7: Possible solutions, opportunities and work plans at regional andnational levels to collectively improve parliamentary performance in crisis preventionand recovery issues in West Africa73. Proceedings of the day continued with discussions on solutions, opportunities and work plans toimprove parliamentary performance in crisis prevention and recovery issues. Three round tableswere set up for that purpose; two were dedicated to discussing parliamentary performance in crisisprevention and recovery issues at the national level, and one at the regional level. Participantswere asked to adopt a SWOT analysis approach (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats).SESSION 8: Plenary discussion on possible solutions,opportunities and work plans74. The results of the round table debates were discussed in plenary during session 8.Restitution of the regional group and discussion on regional priorities: Presentation of theSWOT analysis of the ECOWAS Parliament regarding CPR issues in West AfricaStrengths1) Existence of the ECOWAS Parliament, including aPeace and Security Committee.2) Political will of member states to enhance andstrengthen the role of the ECOWAS Parliament.Weaknesses1) Lack of visibility of the ECOWAS Parliament amongMember States and lack of communicationbetween the ECOWAS Parliament and nationalparliaments. (Need to raise awareness of the role32
3) Successful interventions in the Mano River area,Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger and Guinea (advisory,fact finding and mediation role).4) The ECOWAS Parliament has encouraged nationalparliaments to ratify of convention on small armsand trans-border criminality.5) Existence of a gender network.6) Support received by international community andcivil society organizations for training andinformation sharing purposes on peace andsecurity issues.7) Positive attitude of parliamentarians towards crisisprevention issues.Opportunities1) Work more closely with national parliaments; forexample, Niger mediation can enhance the role ofthe ECOWAS Parliament.2) Better assess and take into account the needs ofparliaments in the area of crisis prevention.3) Improve the relations with civil society.4) Promote regional integration programmes toenhance the welfare of people.5) The revised treaty of the ECOWAS now includespeace, security and political stability.6) Newly adopted vision 2020 - towards a moreintegrated entity which will enhance and developthe role of the ECOWAS Parliament - moving froman ECOWAS of States to an ECOWAS of thepeople.7) Upcoming revision of the mandate and role of theECOWAS Parliament which should includelegislative power.8) Training on peace and security spread across all 13committees.of the ECOWAS parliament in the villages; engagethe media to become more visible).2) Limited coordination and strategic supportprovided to the ECOWAS Parliament.3) Limited mandate of the ECOWAS Parliament,consultative role only excluding crisis preventionissues.4) Budgetary constraints.5) Limited human resource capabilities of theECOWAS administration (members and staff Lack).Parliamentarians are obliged to hire consultants tomake papers and researches for them for example.Threats1) Lack of political will to enhance the role of theECOWAS Parliament. Potential opposition fromnational parliamentarians against the enhanced role ofthe ECOWAS Parliament (need to inform them andraise their awareness of the utility of strengthening theECOWAS Parliament’s mandate).2) Existence of multiple parliamentary regionalnetworks.3) No elected members (parliamentarians elected atthe national level are designated).4) High turnover of parliamentarians (promote directelections to avoid high turnover and loss of institutionalmemory).5) Duality of Membership. For example: the ECOWASParliament has never received a petition from nationalparliaments, although the possibility is given by thetexts.6) Bureaucratic rivalry.Restitution of the national groups and discussion on national priorities: Presentations of theSWOT analysis of national parliaments regarding CPR issues in West Africa 3Strengths1) Constitutional authority and legitimacy: parliamentsdraft, vote and amend laws related to crisisprevention and recovery.2) Social diversity.3) Membership of inter-parliamentary committeesand other networks.4) Special committees dealing with ad hoc conflictsand general war, defense and peace issues,especially security issues; existence ofWeaknesses1) Lack of independence and limited capacities ofparliaments and committees due to interference andcontrol of the executive authority.2) No systemic and sustainable mechanism in place toprevent and manage conflict.3) Parliamentarians are too politicized (partisanissues) and forget their raison d’être.4) Lack of basic capacities, resources (furniture,rooms for committees, etc.) and funds to carry out3 This table summarizes the two national round table discussions.33
Page 1: Regional SeminarREPORTTowards Stren
Page 4 and 5: EXECUTIVE SUMMARYOn the basis of UN
Page 6 and 7: INTRODUCTION1. On the basis of UNDP
Page 8 and 9: OPENING CEREMONY9. The opening cere
Page 10 and 11: Building inclusive, responsive and
Page 12 and 13: Parliaments should adopt a region-w
Page 14 and 15: SESSION 2: Parliamentary Performanc
Page 17 and 18: SESSION 3: Parliaments as Peace-Bui
Page 19 and 20: 36. General reflections on the foll
Page 21 and 22: Sierra Leone for example, a reprodu
Page 23 and 24: a) Effective parliamentary oversigh
Page 25 and 26: 51. Mr. Asoba identified 4 major ch
Page 27 and 28: consultations and campaigns for pea
Page 29 and 30: From left to right: Dr. Rasheed Dra
Page 31: Strengthening the mechanisms of reg
Page 35 and 36: 19) Encourage parliamentarians to e
Page 37 and 38: SESSION 9: Closing session: partner
Page 39 and 40: CONCLUSION85. Strengthening parliam
Page 41 and 42: 11:00 - 11:15 Coffee breakSession 3
Page 43 and 44: Annex 2: Participants ListMembers o
Page 45 and 46: International and Regional Organiza

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