Briefing Paper

Peer Learning as an Approach to Improve the Work of African Parliaments

Developing capacities in parliament for evidence use is a long-term process wherein parliaments themselves with the help of national governments and regional institutions must own and lead the process and provide long-term support in order to maintain crucial gains. This is more important in an age where development evaluation has moved from a purely donor-based activity to a tool for optimising on performance improvement and learning for development. The support of governments needs to be more innovative and holistic, focusing on institutional development, individual training, and creating an enabling environment for the promotion of an evaluation culture. This practice brief highlights the capacity development efforts by stakeholders in the parliamentary space through Twende Mbele and the Centre for Learning on Evaluation and Results (CLEAR-AA) peer learning programme. It looks at some of the challenges facing parliamentarians – both generators and users of evidence, and the benefits of taking part in the peer learning programme where the help of capacity development partners as facilitators, meet and share best practises.