1. The Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office Internship Programme
Cherrel Africa
Political Studies Department
Economic and Management Sciences Faculty

2. The Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office:
The CPLO is part of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC). The CPLO facilitates and contributes to debates on issues of public policy in areas of political, economic and social concern.
The aim of the CPLO is to contribute to the formulation of public policy and legislation in South Africa that will most effectively accomplish full human development for all people through the application of the principles contained in Catholic Social Teaching.

3. The following activities form part of the CPLO programme:
Giving recommendations to Parliament on key pieces of legislation.
Attending parliamentary sessions and meetings.
Developing and distributing documents and publications on policy and legislative issues.
Holding public fora and roundtable discussions on policy issues.
Participating in conferences and public debates on policy matters.
Co-ordinating with other SACBC agencies and other civil society organisations with regard to responding to policy matters which concern their constituents.
Training and assisting African bishops’ conferences to do parliamentary liaison/advocacy work.
Training and assisting other NGOs and church-based organisations to do advocacy.

4. Collaboration with the Political Studies Department
Collaborative arrangement with CPLO established in 2012.
The Political Studies Department provides three Masters-level interns to the CPLO on an annual basis.
This arrangement simultaneously strengthens the capacity of the CPLO and provides real-world experience to our senior students.

6. In 2013 this arrangement was formalized so that students doing a structured Masters programme can have their internship accredited as a Masters-level course.

7. Interns generate at least two briefing papers
BP 402 How to Train your Drone Jan 2016
BP 403 Stateless Children_ Apr 2016
BP 404 Climate Change and SA Natural Resources April 2016
BP 405 Hidden Economic Burdens May 2016
BP 406 Why Do We Need Provinces June 2016
BP 407 Mental Well-Being June 2016
BP 408 The Domestication of the Paris Agreement June 2016
BP 409 Local Government Overview July 2016
BP 410 Credible Elections Addresses on the Voter’s Roll July 2016
BP 411 Intergenerational Poverty The Plight of South Africa’s Born Frees Aug 2016
BP 412 Credit-Rating Downgrades A Necessary Evil Aug 2016
BP 413 Keeping Learners in School Sept 2016
BP 414 The Nature of Political Corruption in South Africa Sept 2016
BP 415 Mining Wars The people vs The Leaders Oct 2016
BP Local Government Elections An Examination of Youth Participation 2016
BP 417 Teenage Pregnancy Children giving birth to Children November 2016
BP 418 Regulating Religion November 2016
BP 419 The Municipal Elections 100 Days On November 2016
BP 420 Green Voters Guide December 2016
BP 421 Public Participation In Local Government December 2016
BP 422 A Place To Call Your Own December 2016
BP 423 Segregated Spaces Jan 2016
BP 425 Addiction December 2016
Interns generate at least two briefing papers

8. Interns organize high-level roundtable discussions.

9. Political studies staff also assist the CPLO by providing facilitation support and participating in roundtable discussions.

10. Benefits of the collaborative arrangement:
The CPLO benefits from enhanced capacity.
Students leave their internship programme with real-world experience.