Asia-Pacific Regional Centre

Parliamentary Development in Asia and the Pacific

Comparative Study of Knowledge Research Services for Parliaments

One of the key fundamental elements of the capacity of the parliament is the provision of substantive and informed information and knowledge support services for MPs and parliamentary committees. Information and knowledge services that are timely, accurate, responsive, objective (non-partisan or free of other bias) are critical for the productive functioning of parliaments and their members.

Although these kinds of services are highly desirable, not many countries in Asia-Pacific have established specific knowledge or research institutions supporting the parliament with such services. Less than one-third of the countries in Asia and the Pacific, have dedicated and well-funded information resources or research services supporting the lawmaking and oversight functions of the parliament.

The ARGP, has commissioned a comparative research study on Knowledge Resource Centers of Parliaments, looking at existing structures in Asia and beyond, with the aim of providing a knowledge product for parliaments and parliamentary support partners to learn from and to develop if possible additional capacity building programmes in support of further capacitating parliaments in this area.

ARGP has commissioned the Parliamentary Centre of Canada to conduct a comparative study of the knowledge resource institutions supporting parliaments. The list of issues that the comparative research shall address includes the following:

• Origin and process of establishment;
• Governing structure, mandate, mission and objectives;
• Range of services and products;
• Distinctions, if any, between library and information services and research services;
• Institutional relations with parliament, the executive, allied or similar knowledge and research institutions (like universities);
• Organizational structure, resources  and management’;
• Cost considerations for establishing basic services and maintaining sustainability.

The methodology for this comparative research consists of the following elements:

• Literature Review and Desk Analysis: A typology has been developed describing, among others, the nature of the legislative regimes and political system of the country, the types of knowledge resource institutions supporting the parliaments, the range of services they provide, their operating environments, and the legislature relationships with the executive and other knowledge service providers.
• Mail out -Phone back Survey Questionnaire: A structured questionnaire has been designed and sent to the providers of parliamentary information and research services in various geographic regions. Forty countries were selected to reflect different types of political systems and/or level of democratic development or governance.
• Case Studies:Case studies address similar issues outlined in the questionnaire with a significant addition on the views of the clients, members of parliament, on their perspectives about their research and information needs and their perceptions about relevance, timeliness, accessibility, usefulness and the like.
• Field Visits: Field visits to Asian countries are being conducted by a combination of structured interviews with members of the legislature, providers of services including parliamentary staff, other information/research institutions, and observations of the operating environment.

The Study will be completed by July 31, 2006 and will be available for free access on line at this site.