CDI Assisting Indonesian Parliament with Induction Program for New MPs
CDI is assisting both Houses of the Indonesian Parliament - the Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat, Republik Indonesia (DPR-RI) and the Dewan Perwakilan Daerah Republik, Indonesia (DPD-RI) – with their upcoming induction programs in September for new parliamentarians following the April 2009 elections.
Following our experience in organising successful induction programs for other parliaments in our region in recent years including for Solomon Islands and Fiji in 2006, Papua New Guinea in 2007, and Vanuatu in 2008, CDI has been providing advice over recent months to the Secretary Generals and political leadership of both Houses of the Indonesian Parliament on the design and delivery of their induction programs in 2009. The emerging programs we have helped to design go beyond briefing new Members on the basics of parliamentary process and administration, they will encourage greater understanding of public leadership, the constitutional framework, accountability, transparency and parliamentary oversight. They will also raise awareness among participating parliamentarians of key government agencies and constitutional offices by explaining their structures, functions, services, and obligations in relation to leadership and accountability. This will balance MPs’ need for capacity building and skills transfer with demands for the greater engagement of MPs in public policy discussions, and also takes into account research into the efficacy of induction programs which clearly demonstrates that new Members often know little if anything of the extent, complexity and constitutional demands of the representational role they are about to undertake.
The aim therefore is that through these programs Members are more fully informed on their broader role as representatives of the communities that elect them, both at the local constituency and national level.
CDI Deputy Director, Quinton Clements, and Hon. Kevin Rozzoli, former Speaker of the NSW Legislative Assembly, visited Jakarta from 22 to 27 March as part of the induction program development process meeting with the Secretary General of the DPR-RI, Dra. Nining Indra Shaleh, and the Secretary General of the DPD-RI, Dr Ir Siti Nurbaya Bakar, as well as other organisations involved in parliamentary strengthening in Indonesia such as the UNDP. Quinton Clements will visit Jakarta again in early August to provide further assistance with the design and delivery of the two programs.
