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The role of parliament in the implementation of the PRSP
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10. The Role of Regional Parliamentary groups in the PRSP
Poverty is a common problem and knows no boundaries. Countries at various levels of development and preparedness can learn from the experiences of others. Within the southern African Development Community (SADC) not all the countries are undertaking PRSPs for one reason or another. However we have seen that hunger does not define boundaries between HIPC eligible and non-eligible countries. Whatever the route a country follows to reduce the high levels of poverty economic status notwithstanding, the SADC region is one. Member countries of the SADC Parliamentary Forum must share experiences not only with fellow SADC member countries but also with members of sister Regional parliamentary groupings such as the ECOWAS Parliament and the East African Community Parliament.
These parliamentary groupings also have capacity needs that must be addressed. In a sense the requirements of regional parliamentary groups reflect the inadequacies in their member countries. The SADC Parliamentary Forum, for example, has a credible poverty reduction agenda. The committee on Regional co-operation and integration of the Forum aspires to rally the 1800 parliamentarians in the region so that they work together in the fight against poverty. That aspiration will be unattainable if the capacity needs of parliament at the regional and country levels are not addressed.
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