S’engager auprès des parlements : Conseils à la société civile

This guide, written by Victoria Ayer for the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), provides strategic advice for civil society organizations (CSOs) on how to effectively engage with and influence parliaments to achieve legislative and social change. Drawing on the author's experience training over 120 organizations across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the Balkans, the document emphasizes the importance of understanding electoral systems, building long-term relationships with legislators, and providing high-quality, non-partisan data to fill resource gaps within parliamentary institutions.

• Civil society organizations should not dismiss parliaments as mere rubber stamps for the executive; instead, they should view parliamentarians as accessible entry points for advocacy. The author notes that many legislators are motivated by a desire for public service and may be more open to engagement than government ministers.
• The ability of a parliamentarian to act independently of their political party is heavily influenced by the electoral system. Single-member districts using a 'first-past-the-post' majority system typically provide legislators with a more independent power base compared to multi-member districts or closed-list systems. In sub-Saharan Africa, only nine democracies—Botswana, Central African Republic, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Sierra Leone, and Zambia—utilize a single-member majority system.
• Parliaments often suffer from severe resource constraints, including limited staff, poor research archives, and a lack of training for new members. For example, the Ethiopian parliament continued to vote by show of hands two years into a term despite having electronic voting machines, because there were no resources or will to train members on their use. CSOs can fill this gap by providing accurate, non-partisan information and research.
• Effective advocacy requires building long-term, trust-based relationships with legislators rather than only contacting them during crises. The author suggests creating a 'parliamentary face-book' with photos and contact details and scheduling at least two meetings per year with targeted members to keep them informed.
• CSOs should identify and cultivate a 'champion'—ideally a member of the ruling party—who can openly support their cause and navigate the internal levers of power. While the executive branch typically formulates policy, a champion in parliament can help ensure a problem is included in official policy plans or introduce legislation.
• To maintain political credibility and legitimacy, CSOs should practice financial transparency and root themselves in their own communities. The author argues that having a base of local members who contribute small amounts of money is more persuasive to politicians than relying solely on foreign donors.
• Strategic use of the media is essential to pressure political elites and educate the public. CSOs are encouraged to organize at least four media events per year and to create 'school reports' (bulletins scolaires) that publicly track how parliamentarians vote on key issues before elections.

APA

Ayer, V. (2008). S’engager auprès des parlements : Conseils à la société civile. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/Occasional-Paper-8-FR.pdf

Chicago

Ayer, Victoria. S’engager auprès des parlements : Conseils à la société civile. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2008. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/Occasional-Paper-8-FR.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Ayer |first1=Victoria |title=S’engager auprès des parlements : Conseils à la société civile |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=July 2008 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/Occasional-Paper-8-FR.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ayer2008sengager, author = {Ayer, Victoria}, title = {{S’engager auprès des parlements : Conseils à la société civile}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2008}, month = jul, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/Occasional-Paper-8-FR.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }