The Global Parliamentary Report (GPR) is the most comprehensive overview of parliamentary strategies and good practices. The second edition, co-authored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), zooms in on how parliaments can exercise its oversight function to hold governments accountable to their electorate.

Oversight is a core function of parliament. It is essential for building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions as envisioned by Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). By holding the government to account for the use of public money and help improve the quality of essential public services, parliament’s function of oversight is critical to building accountability.
The analysis, conclusions and recommendations in the report are grounded in parliamentary practice and experience, with contributions from 150 national parliaments. The report includes numerous examples of how parliaments and Members of Parliament (MPs) carry out oversight in their countries, as well as tips for MPs on ways to approach oversight.

The report aims to stimulate initiatives that strengthen parliamentary oversight. Ensuring robust monitoring of governmental and executive power is crucial to the ability of parliaments to contribute to the achievements of the SDGs. UNDP works to strengthen parliaments to help them become fit for purpose for the delivery of Agenda 2030 in some 70 partner countries, and will implement the lessons learned from the report in this work.