National Assembly Speaker Frene Ginwala, National Council of Provinces chairperson Naledi Pandor and ACBF executive secretary Soumana Sako yesterday signed the agreement that would see the funds being disbursed over four years for the funding of the Parliamentary Capacity Building Project.
The project will build institutional capacity and strengthen Parliament's support to members in performing their constitutional functions.
Ginwala said she was glad to have been able to conclude the agreement, which would largely benefit new parliamentarians who would take up positions after next year's election.
"After a decade of democracy we have been able to define the kind of support members require".
The project activities would include institutional capacity development; research and policy analysis; training of MPs and parliamentary staff and networking and public education.
She said she was particularly excited about the project as it would build networks among the different parliament's in Africa.
Pandor agreed with Ginwala, saying she was pleased that the agreement made constant reference to Africa.
"This indicates progress and growth in Africa. That we are more able to talk about democratic parliaments on the continent".
She said she was also excited that the ACBF was providing support to other African parliaments, besides South Africa.
Sako said it was not so much the dollar figure that was important but the sense of partnership that permeated the discussions around the agreement.
"I think we have a spirit of partnership between the parliament of South Africa and the ACBF," he said.
He also said that he was pleased that the discussions lead to the emphasise of networking among parliamentarians and the importance of the New Partnership for Africa's Development. – Sapa.
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