Attended by over sixty parliamentarians and numerous observers, the Forum was opened by Hon. Chung Ui-Hwa, Vice Speaker of the National Assembly Republic of Korea, Hon. Thavy Nhem, Vice President, IPU and Lord David Chidgey, AWEPA Council Member.

The first session included Hon. Pat Breen (Ireland), Hon. Kan Dapaah (Ghana), and Hon. Cho Yoon Sun (Republic of Korea) as discussants. Questions posed by the moderator were dedicated to stimulating thought on the critical role of parliaments in assuring effective development in the countries and regions concerned, with an eye towards how to deepen cooperation with other stakeholders. The second session focused on a review of the HLF-4 outcome document from the parliamentary perspective- assessing progress and setbacks. It also addressed the engagement of parliamentary stakeholders in the current aid reform process and ways this can be further optimized in the future. Discussants included Hon. Odette Nyiramilimo (East African Legislative Assembly, Rwanda), Hon. Franziska Keller (European Parliament, Germany), and Hon. Mkhululi Dlamini (SADC-Parliamentary Forum, Swaziland)

The main aim of the Forum was the formulation of a clear parliamentary message to be delivered to participants of the HFL-4. One of the most prominent points related to the basic requirement that parliament be recognized as key institutions of the State- not merely "stakeholders" as previously suggested. Beyond the acquirement of due recognition and respect, participants were in agreement that parliament should play a leading role in development, especially given their unique mandate to examine, scrutinize and oversee the executive.

The importance of general budget support was emphasized, as was the notion that such a modality must go hand in hand with the strengthening of parliament's capacity for domestic accountability. To these ends, the Forum also strongly supported the Outcome Document's reference to the use of country systems as the default approach for development partners and the commitment expressed to making information- including that related to off-budget NGO-funded development projects- and support for oversight more readily available to parliaments.

Beyond these basic building blocks, the Parliamentary Forum believed that a number of crucial outstanding issues must still be addressed. Going forward, for example, donors should support a parliamentary platform on aid and development effectiveness. Indeed, one of the most prominent messages emerging from the forum was the importance of North-South and South-South dialogue amongst parliamentarians on issues of aid and development. To these ends, donor and partner country MPs should be supported in exchanges of their knowledge and experience towards joint monitoring, mutual peer learning, risk management and policy coherence for development.

It was agreed that effective institutions and policies must start with a separation of powers in order to prevent abuse. Parliamentarians present encouraged one another to assert their independence from the executive by creating the necessary legal frameworks within which they can effectively fulfil their mandates. It was agreed that while support from the international community is vital- especially amongst MPs in recipient countries where the institution of parliament is less well established- MPs have a variety of tools at their disposal which they may employ in order to create space for their deepened engagement. Suggestions included the use of private members motions, committee oversight visits to the field, and strengthened cooperation with audit institutions and NGOs.

In order to assure this democratic fundament, a monitoring indicator for parliament's competence in and performance on aid related matters should be created, amongst those to be agreed on by June 2012 by those leading the development reform process in the post-Busan landscape. At the country level, there was also a firm call for parliamentary involvement in the shaping and negotiation of aid contracts and programmes, mindful that the extent to which this is politically feasible will differ from country to country.

Parliamentarians present also noted the importance of accelerating gender equality and women's empowerment by recognizing that women parliamentarians are an untapped resource, and by prioritizing an increase in resources to strengthen their skills and networking opportunities. The important role of regional parliamentary bodies to carry out oversight of regional development resource budgets and expenditures was also raised. Donors, it was affirmed, should include support for opportunities for South-South parliamentary knowledge-exchange networks and peer learning towards these ends. And the role of Regional Parliamentary Bodies in overseeing their regional executives acknowledged.

The potential for parliament to serve as a focal point to encourage a wider and more effective partnership with civil society, the private sector and local government on diverse initiatives was also suggested as was at the special needs of parliamentarians in fragile States and those in situations of conflict. These MPs, the forum felt, should be recognized, engaged in programmes, and encouraged to exchange good practices with MPs in similar situations.