Twenty-eight Commonwealth Parliamentarians from across the CPA’s membership have attended the inaugural Advanced Professional Development and Skills-Building Residency Course in Cape Town, South Africa from 24 to 28 October 2022.

This CPA programme is the second of two CPA Parliamentary Academy residency programmes held in 2022 and it examined how Members of Parliament can enhance their soft skills on topics ranging from leadership and strategic thinking to communications and team management.

Over five days, the delegates developed universal skills that are applicable both in Parliaments and in many different spheres. Delegates were mentored throughout the programme by current and former Parliamentarians and Clerks from across the CPA’s membership including Speakers and Presiding Officers from Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Alberta as well as experts in professional development.

The programme was co-hosted by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Headquarters Secretariat and the Western Cape Provincial Parliament and delegates attended from: Belize; Gambia; Gauteng; Ghana; Jersey; Limpopo; Malawi; New South Wales; Pakistan; Queensland; Sri Lanka; Western Australia; Western Cape; and Zambia.

One participant Hon. Brainax Kaise, MP (Parliament of Malawi) said: “The CPA Residency programme is the catalyst for change in how we deal with issues in our daily lives and in Parliament.”

Hon. Kedibone Lebea, MPL (Provincial Legislature of Limpopo) said: “The course has re-energised my determination, commitment and selflessness to the people of Limpopo … thank you CPA."

Hon. Letti Matlhodi Maseko, MPP (Provincial Parliament of Western Cape) said: "This was a fantastic residency programme. I have gained a lot from the facilitators and from fellow global colleagues."

Delegates were welcomed to Cape Town by the Speaker of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, Hon. Masizole Mnqasela, MPP, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Beverley Schafer, MPP and the CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg who said:

“It is a great pleasure to be hosted by the CPA Western Cape Branch for the second CPA Parliamentary Academy Residency Programme. I thank the Hon. Speaker and Deputy Speaker for their time during the programme and I would like to thank the parliamentary staff of Western Cape who have pulled this all together so well. It is brilliant to see so many CPA Members from across the Commonwealth participate in this Residency programme and I look forward to being further involved in the discussions we have had and the outcomes we can take forward from this opportunity for mutual learning.”

The CPA programme provides an extension of the CPA Parliamentary Academy, the CPA’s portfolio of online courses, training and resources specifically for Parliamentarians and parliamentary officials. The residency courses are intended to complement the online courses, providing face-to-face interactive learning and knowledge-sharing at a more advanced level.

The first residency programme was co-hosted by the CPA Headquarters Secretariat and the New South Wales Parliament in Sydney, Australia in May 2022.

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The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association connects, develops, promotes and supports Parliamentarians and their staff to identify benchmarks of good governance and the implementation of the enduring values of the Commonwealth. The CPA is an international community of around 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures working together to deepen the Commonwealth’s commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance.

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