Strengthening Legislative Drafting and Scrutiny: Workshop with the Parliament of Sierra Leone

From 1 to 3 September 2026, parliamentarians and parliamentary staff are gathering in Freetown, Sierra Leone, for a three-day workshop on legislative drafting and scrutiny. Organised by the Parliament of Sierra Leone and WYDE Inter Pares | Parliaments in Partnership, implemented by International IDEA and funded by the European Union, the workshop provides a platform to strengthen capacities for developing effective and high-quality legislation.

Through comparative perspectives, peer exchange and practical exercises, parliamentary staff of the Parliament of Sierra Leone are exploring legislative quality, drafting, and pre- and post-legislative scrutiny. The discussions focus on what makes legislation clear and effective, as well as how parliamentary committees, Members of Parliament and staff can contribute to improving legislative quality.

The programme is led by Ms Andrea Wolfe, Senior Project Officer at WYDE Inter Pares | Parliaments in Partnership, International IDEA and facilitated by Dr Maria Mousmouti, an international specialist in legislative quality and effectiveness, together with Mr Abdul Rahim Sowe, Director of the Office of the Law Clerk of the Parliament of Sierra Leone. Parliamentary peers from EU Member States are also contributing their experience, including Mr Pieter Caboor, Director of the Legal Department of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives and Ms Sinéad Fitzpatrick, Private Members’ Bills Legal Adviser at the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisors of the Irish Houses of the Oireachtas.

During the first day, participants examined key principles of good legislation, considered the respective roles of parliamentary actors in the legislative process and compared approaches used by other parliaments. They also took part in a practical scrutiny exercise, working together to identify the strengths and weaknesses of a piece of legislation and consider options for improving it. The second day will take a closer look at the principles of drafting good legislation, combining key concepts with practical examples and exercises. On third day, participants will turn their attention to post-legislative scrutiny and its practical application.

By combining Sierra Leonean expertise, international expertise and parliamentary peer experience, the workshop provides a space for participants to compare different approaches and consider how relevant practices can be adapted to Sierra Leone’s parliamentary and institutional context.

The workshop forms part of the ongoing Inter Pares partnership with the Parliament of Sierra Leone and marks the first stage of a learning process that will continue with an advanced five-day training in early 2027.
 

This publication was funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of WYDE Inter Pares | Parliaments in Partnership and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.