Addis Ababa, February 19, 2021 (FBC) –The first annual parliamentary research conference opened at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) hall this morning.
The two-day conference was organized jointly by the secretariat of the House of People’s Representatives (HPR) of Ethiopia and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The conference is aimed at providing a platform for parliamentary research services to share best practices, information and knowledge as well as build capacity of its members and promote evidence based policies and legislations.
The conference is hoped to establish linkages between researchers and legislators, according to the House.
In his opening remark at the conference being held with the theme “Parliament, Democracy and Human Rights,” Tagesse Chaffo, Speaker of HPR said Houses would serve as a platform and instrument to build democracy.
Successful relations of Houses with higher education and research institutions, profession associations, and civil society would play a key role for the economic growth of the country by addressing socio-economic and political challenges.
The conference would have a significant contribution for the on-going institutional reform of the parliament, besides allowing it to take decisions based on researches, particularly in drafting laws and monitoring activities.
Moreover, it would help universities, research institutions, think-tanks, civil society organizations and professional association to forge strong network and engage in problem solving researches, thereby contributing their share for national economic growth, he said.