Geneva – At a time when democracies are under unprecedented attack, the French Senate and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have launched an ambitious new partnership aimed at advancing more effective, accountable, and inclusive parliamentary institutions and processes worldwide. 

Loïc Hervé, the Vice-President of the French Senate in charge of interparliamentary cooperation, emphasized the strategic importance of the MoU and the collaboration with UNDP: “Through lawmaking and their activities of overseeing government and evaluating public policies, parliaments play a key role in integrating global development goals. By focusing on strengthening the capacities of parliaments, this collaboration will promote good governance and pursue the goal of bringing citizens closer to their representatives,” he said.

The partnership will leverage UNDP’s global expertise and its existing support to 65 parliaments  as well as the recognized expertise of the French Senate, in order to respond to the growing demand from parliaments seeking assistance in realizing their full potential as drivers of democracy, accountability, and sustainability.

In concrete terms, this work will support parliaments - on a demand driven basis - to strengthen their fundamental parliamentary functions, whether in terms of effective lawmaking, oversight of the executive, or inclusive citizen participation. The cooperation will also strengthen parliamentary institutions offering capacity-building, peer learning and parliamentary exchanges, and provide tailored support to parliaments navigating political transitions or decentralization processes. The work will also help with thematic needs, for example addressing gaps in climate action and digital capacities.

“At this critical time, when trust in institutions is declining, strengthening parliamentary capacity is essential to support the needs and aspirations of communities,” said Susan Brown, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy. “In a well-functioning democracy, every voice matters, citizens can take a stronger role in contributing to public policies and societies become more stable and more sustainable”.

“One in three parliaments worldwide asks for UNDP support for a variety of needs,” she said. “This cooperation with the French Senate will increase the support we are able to offer.  Together we want to help Parliaments be better equipped to confront humanity’s most urgent challenges”.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), was signed today at the French Permanent Mission, in the presence of Ambassador Céline Jurgensen, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations in Geneva. It builds on a strong legacy of collaboration dating back to the French Senate and UNDP’s 2005 cooperation framework.

The MoU establishes a flexible, non-binding framework for collaboration and can adapt to evolving democratic contexts and respond to the priorities of parliaments worldwide.

Media Contacts:

UNDP: Alexis Laffittan, Partnerships Manager, Geneva Representation Office: alexis.laffittan@undp.org

Sénat: Direction des Relations Internationales et du Protocole (Paris) | cooperation@senat.fr

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About UNDP: UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP.

About the French Senate: The Senate of the French Republic is one of the two chambers that make up the Parliament of the Fifth Republic. It votes on legislation, monitors the actions of the Government, and evaluates public policies. It represents local authorities.