WIREDGOV

Yesterday in the Houses of Parliament, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK (CPA UK) and international development charity VSO signed a memorandum of understanding which will see the two organisations explore opportunities for collaboration to improve governance in Commonwealth countries.

Priority areas for cooperation will include parliamentary strengthening, promoting women’s empowerment and building the capacity of elected members to improve accountability.

‘CPA UK welcomes the opportunity to work with VSO, an organisation for whose work we have always had high regard,’ said Rt Hon. Sir Alan Haselhurst MP, Chair of the CPA UK Executive Committee.

‘Combining CPA UK’s expertise in designing international parliamentary strengthening programmes and VSO’s extensive and expert in-country networks, this agreement will ensure value for money and strengthen our united efforts to improve representation across the Commonwealth.’

VSO Chief Executive Marg Mayne said:

‘VSO is working in some of the world’s poorest counties to empower disadvantaged people and increase their participation in the decisions that affect their lives. Working more closely with CPA UK will help us to support the development of democratic governance systems, structures and practices that increase accountability. It will help us to put people closer to the heart of development.

‘Our work together in Sierra Leone has shown how much we can achieve together drawing on the CPA’s unrivalled knowledge of parliamentary strengthening and our extensive local networks.’

CPA UK and VSO have worked together informally on several programmes to date, including an in-country training seminar for committee clerks of the Parliament of Sierra Leone in April 2012 and a seminar in Naivasha, Kenya run by UK members for members of the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association.

With the formal agreement in place, it is anticipated that similar projects will follow, as CPA UK and VSO undertake to explore and develop other collaborations to further the priority objectives of each organisation.

Editor's notes

About the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK Branch

CPA UK is one of the most active branches of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the professional association of all Commonwealth parliamentarians. CPA UK’s membership is made up of Members from all parties and both Houses of the United Kingdom Parliament. Through dialogue, CPA UK undertakes international parliamentary outreach on behalf of the Houses of Parliament and the wider CPA. With a specific focus on parliamentary diplomacy and parliamentary strengthening activities, CPA UK seeks to foster co-operation and understanding between parliaments, promote good parliamentary practice, and advance parliamentary democracy.

For further information on CPA UK please contact:
Julia Beck: +44 (0)20 7219 5373 / julia.beck@parliament.uk
Victoria Bower: +44 (0)20 7219 5373 / victoria.bower@parliament.uk

About VSO

VSO is different from most organisations that fight poverty. Instead of sending money or food, it brings people together to share skills and knowledge. In doing so, it creates lasting change. VSO volunteers work in whatever fields are necessary to address the forces that keep people in poverty – from education and health through helping people learn the skills they need to make a living. In doing so they invest in local people, so the impact they have endures long after their placement ends. Visit www.vso.org.uk for more information.

For further information on VSO please contact:
Steve Ballinger: +44 (0)20 8780 7632 / steve.ballinger@vso.org.uk