Final Report of SEAL I - UNDP Afghanistan

Support to the Establishment of Afghan Legislature
Project ID 00043513
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Furthermore, training sessions were conducted on:
- Legislative Drafting for the staff of the Meshrano Jirga
- Legislative Analysis for the staff of the Meshrano Jirga
- Workshops on Legislative Process for the staff of the Meshrano Jirga
- Training session on lawmaking for the Committee Assistants of the Meshrano Jirga
With the creation of the basic documents of the internal constitution of the Assembly, the
fundamental task of the Legislative Environment team was completed.
In 2007, the SEAL project continued to strengthen the skills of staff, and offer legal, procedural and
other advice and services to the Members of Parliament. Through a variety of SEAL activities, MPs
now better understand their constitutional rights, their responsibilities, and the legislative process.
Promoting better understanding by these MPs of the role of MPs in governance, the budget
process, and oversight is an important goal for the SEAL project.
In 2007, this advice and assistance included assisting with preparation of Member’s bills,
personalized training for MPs in committee work, and seminars for Commissions on rule making,
legislation, oversight, the constitution and the budgetary process.
The budget Commissions of both Houses are better prepared for the process of budget approval
following specific budget training programmes during the reporting period. SEAL’s assistance in
this area also included a dedicated parliamentary and budgetary expert assigned by SEAL to
Commission work, and creation of a Budget Research Unit. Through SEAL’s advisory and technical
support, the research capability of the National Assembly’s Legal and Professional Studies
Department was improved.
The SEAL team also worked with a range of Committees to provide policy, legal, procedural and
other advice. This included advice on the creation of an Ombudsman bill and office, advice on
oversight of foreign policy, advice on the out-of-country refugee situation, and expert advice in
judicial, administrative and anti corruption affairs. The purpose and desired result of these
activities is better informed and better functioning Committees, including the strengthening of
the legal environment.
In the first quarter of 2008, SEAL continued to support a wide range of parliamentary travel by
Members and Senators. Travel included a high profile and intensively prepared trip to Washington,
D.C. by Senate President H. E Mojaddedi and others for which SEAL worked closely with the
Senator, his staff, the embassy in Washington and others. Preparations included speech writing for
an address to the U.S Institute of Peace, media preparation and organizing an event in support of
reconciliation themes in New York. SEAL engaged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a first-time
ever briefing by the Ministry for travelling parliamentarians. The Ministry has agreed to make this a
regular support activity for future SEAL sponsored travel.
Output 4:
Information services and ICT set up to provide timely assistance to those who use the
Assembly
The SEAL Project has created a modern ICT environment at the Parliament. A state of the art audiovisual
system was installed within the National Assembly complex, including both the Upper and
Lower Houses of the Afghanistan Parliament. A Local Area Network (LAN) has been laid out
through all the buildings of the Parliament and the Secretariat buildings. Upgrade in the cabling
system was done simultaneously supported by a modern PABX digital telephone system. A
Satellite provides instant VSAT communication facilities. Over 200 computers and related
Final Project Progress Report |