Africa i-Parliaments Clinic (C)

The Africa i-Parliaments is a one-semester clinical program offered in the fall.  Students must apply and be accepted to the program before they register. 

In 2008, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN/DESA), initiated a new program called the African Parliamentary Knowledge Network (APKN) to build the capacity of African parliaments to draft and enact more effective legislation.  This clinic will support the APKN initiative by working with clients such as members of African Parliaments, government agencies, and regional government organizations.  An in-house clinic, students will take advantage of the materials held in the BU Library’s various Africa collections, the internet, and communications technology to consult with clients and gather information on various substantive projects.  Students will work closely with student editors and the professors to produce high quality research reports and draft bill language.  Students will also add value to APKN by reporting on recently passed African statutes and governmental reform for publication on the APKN’s Africa Parliamentary Information Exchange (http://apex.apkn.org/).  The weekly seminar will focus on the use of legislation for social change, the legislative processes of Africa, and evidence-based legislation methodology.