PIPS EXPERIENCE OF NEW MEMBERS’ ORIENTATION – CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNED

1. PIPS EXPERIENCE OF NEW MEMBERS’ ORIENTATION – CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNED KHAN AHMAD GORAYA Executive Director Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services PARLIAMENT OF PAKISTAN

2. PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES, PIPS • Established through a unanimous Act of the Parliament • An exclusive and independent facility for provision of legislative, research, capacity building and public outreach services to over 1,000 parliamentarians in all Houses • Board comprises members from all major parties nominated by respective parliamentary leadership. Dr Fehmida Mirza, Speaker, National Assembly of Pakistan, is presently the President, PIPS Board of Governors • Held numerous members’ orientations, policy seminars, topical workshops, skill development courses for parliamentarians, functionaries and media men covering the Parliament

3. NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND TASK ANALYSIS • PIPS Training Standards and Procedures followed • Periodic needs analysis and interviews with MPs • Annual Members’ Survey six months before elections • June 2010 Parliamentarians’ Needs Assessment - Salient findings: • Training Needs: Legislative drafting , effectiveness of committees, budget analysis, oversight and legislative research • Time and Duration: • One day interactive orientations on particular topics • Orientations on Session Days; MPs’ involvement in respective constituencies not affected • Abstract of Orientation, Schedule and Facilitators’ Profile along with Invitation, helps MPs in what to gain

4. CONTENT AND FORMATNew Members’ Induction Workshop • Two day format • Three sessions of one and a half hours each day • Presentations followed by Questions and Answers’ session on parliamentary topics • Preparation of Twenty one bilingual (21) modules (in English and Urdu, Pakistan’s national language) on parliamentary topics, six months before elections – comprise: • Facilitator’s Guide • Participant Book • Power Point presentation

5. Day Long Thematic Orientations Key Parliamentary Topics i. Rules of Procedure ii. Law Making iii. Assessing a Bill iv. Effectiveness of Committees v. Budget Analysis vi. Question Hour Challenge MPs’ attendance varied from low to above average

6. Three days Out-station Professional Workshops i. Focused on technical topics: • Rules of Procedure and Business of the House • Law Making • Assessing Bills ii. Held at resorts • Innovative participatory techniques • Parliamentarians undertook group work and presentations • Active participation of 20-25 MPs

7. FACILITATORS FOR PARLIAMENTARY ORIENTATIONS • Former Speakers • Reputable former parliamentarians respected by all political parties • Secretaries General and officials of the secretariats • Professionals: judges, attorneys, academicians, budget analysts • Institute’s faculty • MPs preferred to the point presentations • Challenge: dearth of facilitators on legislative drafting and legislative research

8. MOTIVATION OF PARLIAMENTARIANS • Members’ Induction Programme must be persuasive and comprehensive in pronouncement, content and delivery • Lessons learnt to ensure MPs participation: • Orientations on topics of MPs’ interest and need • Venue for 3 days professional workshops at resorts • Reputable experts as facilitators • To the point presentations • Role of party leaders , committees chairs and parliamentary groups/forums • Role of Speaker’s Office in motivating MPs

9. EVALUATION AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT Evaluation on Likert Scale for each Workshop • Content and knowledge • Style and delivery • Responsiveness • Learning environment • Shortcomings and Suggestions invited Annual Members’ Survey 2008, 2009 and 2010 • Parliamentarians participation in legislation and committee work, • Support of Secretariats to MPs • Over all effectiveness of the Parliament

10. Thank you very much