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11 Tightening and capacitating the Legislatures Research Units to meet the expectation of the institutions that compliment Parliament’s oversight function Capacity of the Research Unit of Parliament to disseminate the findings and recommendations of the PSC reports Carmine Rustin
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MANDATE OF THE RESEARCH UNIT
In recognition of the central role of research services to the Parliament the Research Unit is funded completely by the Parliament of South Africa. The Research Unit now serves both the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces. The Research Unit has expanded and is currently staffed by about 39 researchers. In recognition of the need to provide Members of Parliament with a consolidated service, it was deemed more strategic and cost-effective to provide a library and research service, which operates in a single section, and shares much of the resources. The Research Unit and the Library (each headed by a unit manager) were amalgamated into the Information Services Section, headed by a section manager. Prior to 2007, only researchers serving the National Council of Provinces were attached to specific committees, with the exception of five committees in the National Assembly. The latter researchers have been employed on a three-year contract basis, made possible through funding by the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF). Due mainly to capacity constraints, researchers who served the National Assembly provided research in accordance with their areas of expertise and are not attached to specific committees. Since 2007, the Unit has increased its research capacity significantly and now researchers have been employed and are directly attached to specific committees. Each year, approximately 400 Members are served by the Research Unit and about 1000 research reports are completed and distributed. 22 MANDATE OF THE RESEARCH UNIT Mandate of the Research Unit is the Provision of Research support to Members of Parliament, Committee’s and Senior Management in a professional and objective manner Includes provision of support to: Presiding Officer’s Ad Hoc Committees Task Teams Delegations to multilateral bodies (PAP, SADC-PF, CPA) Seminars, conferences, etc
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33 MANDATE [1] Information Services Section. Parliamentary Research and Library Services to Support the Business of Parliament and Parliamentarians. The Information Services Section has reviewed the manner in which research and library services are provided in support of the business of Parliament and its Members. Since 1994, South Africa has become an active role-player in international politics and concomitantly, the role of Parliament has expanded beyond issues of national concern and extends to regional, continental and international activities. The service of providing technical expertise to Committees through commissioned research will be expanded. Such support will be given on a project basis and will be directly related to the legislative and oversight functions of Committees. Within the new strategy, emphasis is being placed on the ability to produce inter-sectoral reports. This will assist Members and Committees in their oversight role. These inter-sectoral reports may be used for engagement with Organs of State and the public and to make recommendations for the improvement of service delivery by Government[1]. The research services provided should thus take cognisance of this in order to provide holistic, comprehensive and relevant support to the work of its clientele. Appropriate and reliable specialist research services are thus needed to support all aspects of the work of the Committees and Members of Parliament. The Third Parliament has also seen a shift in focus from the Legislative function to the Oversight function of Parliament. In prioritising oversight over the Executive, Members require research that is independent from the information supplied by the Government departments. This would necessitate a change in the manner in which research support is offered to Members. Research Services The research services required by Members of Parliament will not differ significantly from the services currently provided, However, Members and committees will require relevant, appropriate and specialist information rapidly in order to fulfill their functions within a national, regional, continental and international context. The type of information required ranges from simple, factual information and statistics to conceptual and analytical research papers and policy and budget analyses requiring specialised expertise. Members and Committees of Parliament must be able to rely on parliamentary information services that would proactively produce these research reports and papers that are aligned to their work. Members of Parliament require research that is reliable, valid, analytical, technically sound and well synthesised to fulfill their Constitutional mandate and to contribute to a robust democracy. It is essential that the Research Unit provides the technical and content knowledge to Members to enable them to make informed decisions when performing their functions. Research support is thus critical.
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STRUCTURE OF THE RESEARCH UNIT
In recognition of the central role of research services to the Parliament the Research Unit is funded completely by the Parliament of South Africa. The Research Unit now serves both the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces. The Research Unit has expanded and is currently staffed by about 39 researchers. In recognition of the need to provide Members of Parliament with a consolidated service, it was deemed more strategic and cost-effective to provide a library and research service, which operates in a single section, and shares much of the resources. The Research Unit and the Library (each headed by a unit manager) were amalgamated into the Information Services Section, headed by a section manager. Prior to 2007, only researchers serving the National Council of Provinces were attached to specific committees, with the exception of five committees in the National Assembly. The latter researchers have been employed on a three-year contract basis, made possible through funding by the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF). Due mainly to capacity constraints, researchers who served the National Assembly provided research in accordance with their areas of expertise and are not attached to specific committees. Since 2007, the Unit has increased its research capacity significantly and now researchers have been employed and are directly attached to specific committees. Each year, approximately 400 Members are served by the Research Unit and about 1000 research reports are completed and distributed. 44 STRUCTURE OF THE RESEARCH UNIT Unit headed by a Chief Researcher, composed of 60 Researchers, 8 Senior Researchers, 10 Administrative Assistants. Currently, Research Unit divided into 8 clusters, each headed by a Senior Researcher, with between 4 – 8 Researchers and supported by an Administrative Assistant Research Unit headed by Chief Researcher, Ms. Carmine Rustin.
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TYPES OF RESEARCH PRODUCTS
55 TYPES OF RESEARCH PRODUCTS [1] Information Services Section. Parliamentary Research and Library Services to Support the Business of Parliament and Parliamentarians. The Information Services Section has reviewed the manner in which research and library services are provided in support of the business of Parliament and its Members. Since 1994, South Africa has become an active role-player in international politics and concomitantly, the role of Parliament has expanded beyond issues of national concern and extends to regional, continental and international activities. The service of providing technical expertise to Committees through commissioned research will be expanded. Such support will be given on a project basis and will be directly related to the legislative and oversight functions of Committees. Within the new strategy, emphasis is being placed on the ability to produce inter-sectoral reports. This will assist Members and Committees in their oversight role. These inter-sectoral reports may be used for engagement with Organs of State and the public and to make recommendations for the improvement of service delivery by Government[1]. The research services provided should thus take cognisance of this in order to provide holistic, comprehensive and relevant support to the work of its clientele. Appropriate and reliable specialist research services are thus needed to support all aspects of the work of the Committees and Members of Parliament. The Third Parliament has also seen a shift in focus from the Legislative function to the Oversight function of Parliament. In prioritising oversight over the Executive, Members require research that is independent from the information supplied by the Government departments. This would necessitate a change in the manner in which research support is offered to Members. Research Services The research services required by Members of Parliament will not differ significantly from the services currently provided, However, Members and committees will require relevant, appropriate and specialist information rapidly in order to fulfill their functions within a national, regional, continental and international context. The type of information required ranges from simple, factual information and statistics to conceptual and analytical research papers and policy and budget analyses requiring specialised expertise. Members and Committees of Parliament must be able to rely on parliamentary information services that would proactively produce these research reports and papers that are aligned to their work. Research background papers Analytical papers Comparative studies Budget Analysis Analysis of Annual Reports Analysis of the State of the Nation Address and implications for sectors Analysis of legislation Factsheets Presentations Developing Terms of Reference for Commissioned research Individual Consultations
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CAPACITATING THE RESARCH UNIT
66 CAPACITATING THE RESARCH UNIT The new structure, is headed by the Chief Researcher who is the research manager, and introduces a new level of senior researchers, who each head a research team. A total of 8 research teams are in place. Each team will consist of between research specialists. The teams are as follows[1]: Social and Public Services Finance and Public Accounts Joint Monitoring Committees and Legislative Proposals Trade and Economic Affairs Education and Recreation Parliamentary Affairs and International Law Intergovernmental and Resources Matters Justice, Security and Constitutional Affairs [1] Information Services Section. Parliamentary Research and Library Services to Support the Business of Parliament and Parliamentarians. Training of Researchers – based on needs of the researchers Knowledge sharing initiatives Development opportunities – conferences, etc.
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DISSEMINATION OF FINDINGS - PSC
77 DISSEMINATION OF FINDINGS - PSC The Research Unit was established in Prior to the establishment of the Research Unit, Members of Parliament relied on party political researchers for all their research support. This meant that in practice, larger parties with more resources had access to better research support, while smaller parties often had no support at all. Eight researchers and a manager were hired to offer research services to the Members of Parliament. Each researcher had specialist skills in a number of sectors and was expected to serve a cluster of approximately four committees each, as well as providing individual research support to all Members. Initially, the Research Unit was only mandated to serve the National Assembly and not the National Council of Provinces. Researchers were hired on contract and were funded by European Union donor funding. Researcher input through the analyses of PSC reports Proactive reporting and alerting Committees Proposing areas for consideration in the Committee programme Areas for consideration for oversight
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REQUIREMENTS Researchers who are proactive Familiar with their sectors
88 REQUIREMENTS [1] Information Services Section. Parliamentary Research and Library Services to Support the Business of Parliament and Parliamentarians. The Information Services Section has reviewed the manner in which research and library services are provided in support of the business of Parliament and its Members. Since 1994, South Africa has become an active role-player in international politics and concomitantly, the role of Parliament has expanded beyond issues of national concern and extends to regional, continental and international activities. The service of providing technical expertise to Committees through commissioned research will be expanded. Such support will be given on a project basis and will be directly related to the legislative and oversight functions of Committees. Within the new strategy, emphasis is being placed on the ability to produce inter-sectoral reports. This will assist Members and Committees in their oversight role. These inter-sectoral reports may be used for engagement with Organs of State and the public and to make recommendations for the improvement of service delivery by Government[1]. The research services provided should thus take cognisance of this in order to provide holistic, comprehensive and relevant support to the work of its clientele. Appropriate and reliable specialist research services are thus needed to support all aspects of the work of the Committees and Members of Parliament. The Third Parliament has also seen a shift in focus from the Legislative function to the Oversight function of Parliament. In prioritising oversight over the Executive, Members require research that is independent from the information supplied by the Government departments. This would necessitate a change in the manner in which research support is offered to Members. Research Services The research services required by Members of Parliament will not differ significantly from the services currently provided, However, Members and committees will require relevant, appropriate and specialist information rapidly in order to fulfill their functions within a national, regional, continental and international context. The type of information required ranges from simple, factual information and statistics to conceptual and analytical research papers and policy and budget analyses requiring specialised expertise. Members and Committees of Parliament must be able to rely on parliamentary information services that would proactively produce these research reports and papers that are aligned to their work. Researchers who are proactive Familiar with their sectors Close co-operation between the support staff of the Committee Active involvement of researcher in committee activities Close interaction with the Chairpersons of Committees Feedback from Chairpersons on products of Unit
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In recognition of the central role of research services to the Parliament the Research Unit is funded completely by the Parliament of South Africa. The Research Unit now serves both the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces. The Research Unit has expanded and is currently staffed by about 39 researchers. In recognition of the need to provide Members of Parliament with a consolidated service, it was deemed more strategic and cost-effective to provide a library and research service, which operates in a single section, and shares much of the resources. The Research Unit and the Library (each headed by a unit manager) were amalgamated into the Information Services Section, headed by a section manager. Prior to 2007, only researchers serving the National Council of Provinces were attached to specific committees, with the exception of five committees in the National Assembly. The latter researchers have been employed on a three-year contract basis, made possible through funding by the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF). Due mainly to capacity constraints, researchers who served the National Assembly provided research in accordance with their areas of expertise and are not attached to specific committees. Since 2007, the Unit has increased its research capacity significantly and now researchers have been employed and are directly attached to specific committees. Each year, approximately 400 Members are served by the Research Unit and about 1000 research reports are completed and distributed. 99 CHALLENGES Time constraints Human Resources Constraints
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