PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES FOR CONSTITUENCY DEVELOPMENT FUNDS
The allocation of government money to Parliamentarians to support projects for the advancement of their constituencies can be a controversial process unless it is run properly. A group of Parliamentarians and academics recommends how to operate them in an effective yet transparent and accountable way.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) in collaboration with the State University of New York organized in June 2011 workshop to investigate the operations of Constituency Development Funds (CDFs) in various jurisdictions throughout the Commonwealth. The Workshop explored the operations of these funds by asking about: the efficiency of service delivery in constituencies, the extent to which such policymaking contributes to effective administration, and the best ways to enhance the accountability and transparency of policy making on such funds. The Workshop, hosted by the Jamaica Branch of the CPA, brought together 11 Parliamentarians from the CPA’s Asian, Indian and Caribbean Regions. It followed on a similar workshop held during the CPA’s 56th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, in September 2010. The latter meeting identified the growth of CDFs in
Commonwealth regions and highlighted the need for there to be a common set of guidelines for these funds. The Parliamentarians attending the Jamaica workshop, together with civil servants and academics, compared the delivery of CDFs in their own jurisdictions as well as case studies from other regions. The discussion revealed that, though there was great diversity in how the funds were administered and allocated, there was an overall consensus on the need for effective governance. The workshop therefore identified the following key principles and guidelines for CDFs.
Introduction Parliamentary involvement in grassroots community development has grown considerably across
Commonwealth countries. One important tool in this effort has been the Constituency Development Fund, which appropriates national funding for
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MP-influenced, locally determined, constituency-level development. CDFs become legitimate mechanisms of development through their creation in legislation. They also facilitate the legitimate connection between Members of Parliament and their
constituencies. A central hope behind CDFs is that local input promotes better targeting of projects to the needs of constituents, more attention to implementation and a way of holding government officials responsible for results by giving the capacity for development to MPs whose electoral fate will be locally determined. CPA Members recognize that
CDFs should include steps to eliminate opportunities for corruption and be part of comprehensive development efforts. Below are principles and guidelines for the operation of CDFs that are consistent with international norms and values about legislative performance and socio-economic development.
These principles highlight the importance of transparent project selection and implementation in a manner that enables citizens to work together for the development of their constituency, demand accountability and maintain regular oversight. Further, the
administration and management of CDFs can empower provincial and district governments and professional experts to apply their own contextual knowledge to solve local development problems. CDFs also should foster public learning through monitoring and evaluation about what types of development projects are most successful in meeting the needs of citizens and promoting community development.
It is clear that the successful operation of any CDF is contingent upon strong MP involvement and leadership. As representatives of a constituency’s citizens, MPs play an essential role in facilitating citizen participation to make claims upon government services. In this role, MPs can ensure that CDF