First Inter-Parliamentary Strategic Planning Workshop in Zambia
Past Event - 21 October 2025For the first time, senior parliamentary staff from across Africa and beyond convened in Lusaka, Zambia, for a high-level Inter-Parliamentary Strategic Planning Workshop hosted by the National Assembly of Zambia (NAZ) in partnership with Inter Pares, with support from the European Union’s WYDE initiative. Held in October 2025, the workshop brought together clerks, secretaries general, and senior parliamentary officials from 11 parliaments across Africa, Europe, and North America to exchange practical experiences on how parliaments plan, implement, and sustain institutional reform.
The event created a rare space for open and candid peer-to-peer dialogue on the realities of strategic planning. Using an innovative fishbowl format, participants discussed challenges often absent from formal strategy documents, including securing political buy-in, navigating bureaucracy, aligning budgets with strategic goals, and translating long-term plans into daily practice. Discussions reinforced the idea that a parliamentary strategic plan is not merely a technical exercise, but a living roadmap that shapes institutional culture, decision-making, and accountability.
Key takeaways from the workshop highlighted that effective strategic planning depends on broad internal ownership by both Members of Parliament and staff, continuous communication of mission and values, and integration of strategy into everyday processes such as budgeting and performance management. Participants emphasized the role of Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) systems in strengthening democratic governance by promoting transparency, accountability, and adaptability. Practical tools such as dashboards, mid-term reviews, and annual retreats were identified as critical for keeping strategies relevant and responsive to change.
The National Assembly of Zambia (NAZ) played a dual role as host and learning case, with the workshop coinciding with its own mid-term strategic review. This allowed NAZ staff to reflect on their progress while contributing actively to collective learning, demonstrating the value of openness and mutual trust in inter-parliamentary cooperation.
What’s next: The discussions and lessons from Lusaka will form the foundation of a forthcoming Global Handbook on Parliamentary Strategic Planning, designed as a practical reference for parliaments worldwide. Building on this milestone, Inter Pares and partner parliaments aim to continue peer exchanges and support parliaments in strengthening institutional resilience, strategic leadership, and democratic performance through sustained cooperation.
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Photos from the Inter-Parliamentary Strategic Planning Workshop in Lusaka capture a week of open dialogue, peer exchange, and shared learning among senior parliamentary staff from across Africa, Europe, and North America. The images reflect the spirit of cooperation and practical collaboration that underpinned this landmark Inter Pares event. Photo Credit: Amon Chisha
