On December 1, NDI, together with IRI, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and Congressional partners, organized a gathering of more than 130 policy makers, democracy and governance practitioners, and members of the diplomatic community in the Members’ Room of the Library of Congress to celebrate the impact of the House Democracy Partnership (HDP) over the last decade, as well as look forward to its continued development over the coming years.

HDP, a bipartisan commission of the U.S. House of Representatives, was established as a mechanism to strengthen legislative institutions around the world through peer-to-peer exchanges—building lasting partnerships and bonds of friendship between the U.S. Congress and its 17 partner parliaments around the globe. Since its establishment, NDI and IRI have conducted approximately 35 exchange programs on behalf of HDP, reaching more than 675 members of parliament (MPs) and parliamentary staff, supported by funding from USAID.

Now, more than ever, HDP plays a critical role in helping to advance democratic development worldwide, complementing in-country legislative strengthening programs provided by NDI and other implementers. This bipartisan commitment was highlighted during the anniversary event, with Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Minority Whip Rep. Steny Hoyer joining HDP Chair Rep. Peter Roskam, Ranking Member Rep. David Price, and other current and former members of the bipartisan commission to reflect on the continued importance of HDP.

NDI produced a short video that played during the event, highlighting the personal experiences of former participants and partners. For example, the chief of staff to a Senator in the Colombian parliament attested that “HDP allowed us to find common ground with regards to making information public and accountability.” A Kenyan MP who participated in an NDI-facilitated HDP exchange earlier this year shared that the experience had empowered him to reach across party lines and to cooperate on issues of importance for citizens. Amid a fractious political context, the experience speaks to the bipartisan character and impact of HDP.

NDI President Kenneth Wollack and IRI President Ambassador Mark Green also shared examples of the contributions HDP has made to advance the effectiveness, accountability, and professionalism of partner parliaments. Within the HDP community, partner parliaments have themselves begun to learn from one another. For example, since Kenya became an HDP partner country since 2006, it has undergone a period of transformational constitutional change and increased legislative professionalism. The Kenyan parliament has taken the initiative to share experiences accrued during this period with fellow HDP partners, most notably by hosting staff-level seminars in Nairobi to share lessons from Kenya’s Parliamentary Budget Office and Research Service, which were modeled on the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and Congressional Research Service (CRS), respectively.

At an event to commemorate its tenth anniversary, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi congratulates HDP on its decade of accomplishments.

HDP also serves as a mechanism to help newly democratic legislatures respond to citizen expectations that their elected representatives be responsive, transparent and in some cases, deliver development outcomes beyond the capacity of even the most well-functioning governments. For example, following Euromaidan and the revolution of dignity, the Ukrainian parliament reengaged with HDP and was formally reinstated as a partner this year. The commitment of a new generation of Ukrainian political leaders to advance reforms inspired by their experience on NDI-facilitated  exchanges includes an effort to establish an independent ethics office modeled on the Office of Congressional Ethics, an action plan to commit parliament to implementing principles of transparency and openness; and a proposed pilot participatory budgeting program to engage Ukrainian citizens in determining legislative priorities.

HDP also provides friendship and solidarity to parliaments during periods of crisis.  Over the course of its partnership with HDP, Liberia and its legislature have a number of extraordinary challenges, including the Ebola epidemic.  In addition, a fire damaged the parliamentary library and research center that had been refurbished with support from HDP. Despite these setbacks, Liberian parliamentary leaders have shared their appreciation that “HDP had never abandoned them” since the partnership was established in 2006.

Congressional members and staff work long hours to meet the expectations of their constituents -- but do so with well-staffed offices and administrative support, drawing on the resources of an institution with well over 200 years of experience.  Many of the HDP partner countries struggle to do the same with far fewer resources and institutional experience, often in the face of enormous challenges. Peer-to-peer exchange has been critical to helping committed political leaders and parliamentary staff  respond to these challenges and build effective institutions.  

As noted in an op-ed published in conjunction with the anniversary event, the House of Representatives created HDP with the bipartisan mandate to build legislative capacity of select parliaments around the world to govern with greater accountability and transparency, provide oversight, and be more responsive to citizen needs. During a period of heightened political polarization in many countries, the bipartisan House Democracy Partnership sends a strong, unified message of Congress’s solidarity, cooperation and partnership with democratic legislatures over the long-term. In the words of HDP Ranking Member and Founder Rep. David Price, “I was thrilled to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the House Democracy Partnership with so many friends and colleagues. Our bipartisan work has strengthened democratic institutions across the world, advancing our nation’s values as well as its interests. I very much look forward to continuing HDP’s important work in the years to come.”

ABOUT THE HOUSE DEMOCRACY PARTNERSHIP

The House Democracy Partnership builds upon the work of the Frost-Solomon Task Force, which was instrumental in helping consolidate democratic principles and practices in Eastern European legislatures following the fall of the Berlin Wall. As evidence of their progress, all the former Frost-Solomon countries are now members of the European Union or, in the case of Albania, have begun the accession process. HDP currently works with 17 partner countries: Afghanistan, Colombia, Georgia, Haiti, Indonesia, Iraq, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Liberia, Macedonia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Peru, Timor-Leste, and Ukraine. In 2015, Nepal and Tunisia were granted observer status with HDP.

Published on December 30, 2015.