Strengthening Democracy Through Parliamentary Development

This project was brought into being to provide technical support to the Parliament of Pakistan. Getting regular updates and technical assistance is something all good organizations, including parliaments, have to do. Realizing this, the Pakistani Parliament asked the United Nations Development Programme and the Inter-Parliamentary Union to provide the technical support. As a result, Parliamentarians orientation and staff training have become some of the vital services that Strengthening Democracy through Parliamentary Development, or SDPD, is providing.

The project has six components:

• Improving the organizational structures of the Secretariats of both Houses.


• Strengthening legislative functions of Parliament through enhanced lawmaking skills, improved procedures and adequate staff support.


• Strengthening procedures to promote more effective oversight and legislative scrutiny by the Senate and the National Assembly.


• Improving parliamentary information services for the Senate and the National Assembly, the media and the public.


• Improving the participation of women Members in all activities of both Houses, ie, both the quality and the frequency of their participation.


• Strengthening mechanisms for regular and productive interaction between civil society and the Parliament.