Rabat: The ‘Network of Secretaries-General of the South-South Parliamentary Dialogue Forum’ was launched in Rabat, on the sidelines of the 3rd edition of this two-day forum, under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, this initiative is part of the ongoing dialogue and cooperation between countries of the South, creating a framework for exchanges, dialogue, and exploring solutions to enhance the institutional performance of member councils. The Network’s founding statement, read at the conclusion of a meeting of the General Secretaries participating in the Forum, outlines that the Network will employ participatory mechanisms, forming a consultative and coordination framework aimed at fostering inter-cooperation and promoting institutional integration as a means of advancing modern parliamentary diplomacy.
The establishment of this Network seeks to create a regular institutional platform for dialogue and exchange of expertise among Secretaries-General, with the goal of strengthening the human and administrative capacities of legislative councils. It also aims to develop joint initiatives to modernize parliamentary administration and improve its effectiveness.
The objectives include strengthening councils’ advisory and research functions, launching professional training programs for senior administrative staff, and promoting cooperation with regional and international networks of common interest. El Assad Zerouali, Secretary-General of the House of Councillors, highlighted that this Network is envisioned as a pioneering initiative, establishing a solid base for joint action rooted in geographical diversity, cultural openness, and professionalism.
The Network will focus not only on exchanging expertise and aligning administrative practices but also on collective thinking to develop innovative solutions to challenges in the field. This approach aims to reinforce the institutionalization of joint action and promote a flexible parliamentary administration adapted to technological and institutional developments.
Zerouali emphasized that this initiative represents a new tool for improving parliamentary performance in the South, with Secretaries-General serving as the link between the political visions of legislative institutions and the administrative and technical implementation mechanisms. The establishment of this Network, a first in parliamentary diplomacy in the South, aligns with efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in establishing effective institutions subject to continuous monitoring and evaluation.
Several Secretaries-General from legislative institutions across the four main geopolitical regions of the South-Africa, the Arab world, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia-praised this initiative as a step towards greater integration and openness in parliamentary action. They noted that the creation of this Network will formalize the institutional and administrative framework of legislative institutions in Southern countries, providing a permanent platform for enhancing administrative and functional competences, as well as modernizing legislative institutions’ action mechanisms.