Parliamentary Support: Strengthening Democratic Legislative Competencies

To achieve these objectives, the project focuses on technical training for administrative staff and key committees of the legislative body, as well as direct support for elected representatives in the exercise of their functions, particularly in relation to civil society. It also supports the generation and dissemination of evidence-based research to enrich legislative debate, the organization of public forums and citizen advocacy initiatives on legislative work, and encourages the use of tools that strengthen access to information and accountability.

A particular emphasis of the project is on supporting progress in gender equality and the inclusion of indigenous populations. In this regard, activities such as participatory workshops with traditional and local authorities and indigenous deputies, as well as technical roundtables, have been held to develop proposals for regulatory and public policy improvements in the Ngäbe Buglé region. Technical assistance is also being provided to the Commission on Women, Children, Youth, and Family to help improve its legislative performance, particularly in relation to gender equality.

The project is also providing technical assistance to the National Assembly aimed at improving transparency and its mechanisms for citizen participation. It is additionally working with civil society, particularly women's organizations, to collaborate in the development of evidence-based proposals and strengthen their coordination with the legislative body.

This project seeks to contribute to improving the quality of democracy in Panama by strengthening a more competent National Assembly that is closer to the citizenry, while empowering civil society organizations to influence the legislative cycle in an informed and effective manner.