The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK Branch, supported by UNDP, delivered an International Parliamentary Conference on the Post-2015 Development Agenda at the Houses of Parliament in London 26-28 November 2013. Delegates attending the conference expressed their commitment as parliamentarians from across the world to accelerate the process towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); they agreed to exchange information, knowledge and examples of good practice with peers and international development experts; to build capacity to ensure that good governance is at the core of the post-2015 development agenda; and to commit to holding governments to account to ensure that international commitments to development are implemented at local, national and regional levels.

Parliamentarians are key stakeholders in the design, implementation and oversight of the post-2015 framework. There is a unique responsibility of elected parliamentarians to be the bridge between governments and citizens and delegates affirmed their commitment as the people’s representatives to work towards a set of targets with poverty eradication and sustainable development at its core. Integral to the framework are effective and legitimate institutions that support peace and security, the rule of law, property rights, freedom of expression and a free media, open political choice, access to justice, and accountability.

This toolkit provides information and advice to help parliamentarians to become actively involved in the post-2015 process. It is designed to provide a brief, user-friendly guide which parliamentarians can use flexibly according to their individual interests and parliamentary role.