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150 WIDENING PARTICIPATIONcountry’s circumstances; on the other hand,when it comes to implementation, it maylet recalcitrant governments off the hooktoo easily. Here too parliaments will have akey role to play.One thing that parliaments need to doto facilitate the implementation of theSDGs is to evaluate their own structuresto effectively track progress and makesure that all relevant SDGs are dulymainstreamed through the policy process.The implementation of the SDGs will haveto do away with the silo approach that canbe found in both branches of governments.This is made all the more urgent by the verynature of sustainable development, whichimplies the merging together of economic,social and environmental policies into onecoherent and cross-cutting approach.A far-sighted approachOver the years, as we looked at the way theMDGs were being dealt with in a numberof parliaments, it has become clear to usthat, generally speaking, there was noconsistent approach and no clear pathwayfor parliaments to translate each goal intoeffective legislation. Some parliamentshave gone as far as to establish MDGscommittees or caucuses to ensure that thebig picture would not be lost, but in actualpractice those structures lacked sufficientresources or authority within the legislativeand budget process to influence outcomes.Closely connected to the need foreffective oversight and legislative structuresin each parliament is the matter of thenational planning and budget process. Theimplementation of the SDGs cannot beleft to improvisation by the governmentof the day but must adhere to a long-termsustainable development plan for the country.The plan must go well beyond the shorttermperspective of the electoral cycle andmust be truly ‘owned’ by all stakeholders. Itneeds to be drawn up through a consultativeprocess that might be led by the executivebranch of government but that must haveparliament closely involved.It is at this planning stage that a nationalconversation must take place as to how theglobal commitments of the SDGs apply tothe country’s specific context. This meansMembers of the Swedish Parliament listen toTurkey’s then President Abdullah Gul. Sweden leadsthe developed world in its commitment to officialdevelopment assistance, currently allocating 1%of its gross national incomereformulating the goals that apply in a waythat reflects the country’s circumstances,and then establishing national targets thatare commensurate with the task and thatcan be adequately monitored afterwards.Unfortunately, far too many countrieseither lack a national sustainabledevelopment plan or have a plan that isnot properly executed. Parliaments mustbe at the forefront in demanding thatsuch a strong plan be put together with allstakeholders and that it is fit for purpose.A golden opportunity for parliamentsLinked to the national plan is of course thenational budget. Will sufficient resourcesbe allocated in the budget to meet thegoals set out in the plan? Will the policiesand regulations that are embedded inthe budget be consistent with the overalldirection of the plan? These are someof the key accountability issues to whichparliaments will need to pay close attentionin the coming SDGs era.Because the SDGs will not be enforceableat the global level other than through thepowers of persuasion and peer pressure,it will be up to parliaments, primarily,at the national level to make sure thatcommitments are maintained. This in turnwill require that we improve the ways inwhich parliaments work and interact withthe people they are elected to represent.In many countries, it will also requiresetting aside political squabbling to put thecommon good ahead of individual interests.While the IPU can help strengthen thecapacities of parliaments around the world,which it has been doing for a long timenow, this cannot be a substitute for deeperinstitutional and political reforms to supportthe SDGs that parliaments themselves musthelp champion.Let’s all work together so thatparliaments everywhere will participatein this historic moment. This is a goldenopportunity for parliaments to step up tothe challenge and show what they can doto strengthen transparency, accountabilityand representation as the core elements ofdemocratic governance and as drivers ofjustice and wellbeing for all. I hope it willnot be missed.© GettyGLOBAL DEVELOPMENT GOALS 2014