18 July 2008

Maseru, Lesotho: It's not often you get to see how another country is run, but UNV volunteer Dyfan Jones did while he worked with Lesotho's Parliament, helping it make government more accountable.

Lesotho's parliamentary reforms, which began in 2004, include the establishment of portfolio committees. These oversee and scrutinise the work of government ministries, and question ministers and civil servants. Among other things, these reforms will aid Lesotho's pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Mr. Jones's recently-completed role as a UNV Parliamentary Support Specialist was to provide technical advice to the new committees, and assist during their formation and initial meetings.

"Initially, my main role as a UNV volunteer in Lesotho was to work with the HIV/AIDS Select Committees in the National Assembly and Senate," explains Mr. Jones.  According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Lesotho has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world, with 23.2 percent of people aged 15 to 49 estimated to be living with HIV. Mr. Jones's assistance helped the committees provide leadership and monitor the work of Members of Parliament (MPs) in dealing with the HIV/AIDS issue.

Mr. Jones went on to develop strategies for other committees in both Houses of Parliament.  The most daunting tasks, he explains, were assisting the National Assembly's new Finance and Economic Development Committee in scrutinizing the Government budget for 2008-09, and assisting in writing the report which would be debated and voted on in the chamber.

"The Parliament has few resources," adds Mr. Jones, "and I spent many days and nights working with the Committee Clerk and Chair drafting the Committee's report." The UNV volunteer also had to help bring together multiple stakeholders. "It was the first time in the history of the Parliament of Lesotho that civil society organizations, business groups and international donors were asked to go before a parliamentary body to give their views on the Government's programme and budget," he remarks.

Working in any parliament can be difficult and politically sensitive, and Mr. Jones notes that there were serious challenges in Lesotho during his time there, such as a disputed general election, a number of general strikes and a curfew.  But his overall experience was positive. "I received a wonderful welcome from MPs from all parties," he says, "and parliamentary staff were genuinely very grateful for the technical advice and support that I was able to provide."

Originally from Wales, Mr. Jones graduated in History and Politics from the University of Wales, Swansea, first encountering Lesotho during his work with a Welsh NGO. "I would strongly advise anybody considering being a UNV volunteer to take the leap and go for it," he concludes. "I hope that by sharing my experience and knowledge with the Parliament I have assisted in creating better structures and systems that will lead to improved governance and make a real difference to Lesotho's people."