Policy analysis training for Palestinian Legislative Council staff – Speech by the UNDP Sp. Representative of the Administrator

Check Against Delivery

Speech by UNDP Special Representative of the Administrator

Mr Frode Mauring

Policy Analysis Training for PLC Staff

06.11. 2012

PLC Secretary General Ibrahim Khraisheh

EU Head of Operations Sergio Piccolo

Esteemed Graduates

Ladies and Gentlemen

State building is not limited to build capacity to deliver services. It is also about building democratic institutions. That is why UNDP is proud to be a trusted partner in supporting not only the overall State building agenda but also specifically the Palestinian Legislative Council in advancing democratic processes within the Palestinian society.

And that is why I am delighted to be here this afternoon to congratulate you on your success at the policy analysis training.

To achieve your vision, you need to have capable institutions that will ensure representative and responsive public entities with skilled planning and policy processes that meet the needs of the Palestinian people.

But the demands of the modern workplace insist that training and education are not one-off events but an integral part of a professional person’s working life.

UNDP, as a development agency, has been setting global standards and benchmarks, exchanging regional best practices and building capacities of legislators and technical staff in tens of parliaments around the world.

Over the years, UNDP in the occupied Palestinian territory supported the Palestinian Authority in their effort to strengthen and develop their governance systems and administrative institutions.

UNDP attaches great importance to the professional functioning of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) Secretariat.

We also extend our support to other PLC bodies including the Secretariat Speaker, selected Parliamentary committees and the council, once the PLC resumes its work. Professional and well-trained PLC Secretariat staff can play a pivotal role in the successful resumption of the PLC.

They must be capable to deal with backlog of legislative acts and the provision of unbiased and professional advice to members of the PLC.

For the PLC to rise to the challenge, training and exposure to global practices is critical.

UNDP, in partnership with the European Union, PLC and the Inter Parliamentary Union were able to develop a training that will respond to the needs of the PLC.

The training, currently being undertaken, will equip the PLC staff with practical tools to conduct policy analysis, research methods and even provide MP’s with independent expertise during deliberations.

Trainees – what is really exciting about your profession is not just the evaluations and policies but getting work done.

So keep you eyes on achieving results and you can make a difference.

I would like to thank all those who worked so hard in carrying out the training.

Thank you – Shukran!