The Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (the Constitution) came into force in 2008. Chapter 4 of the Constitution establishes the Union Legislature or the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw comprising two Hluttaws, Pyithu Hluttaw (House of Representatives) and Amyotha Hluttaw (House of Nationalities), that are generally equal in status. The term of the Union Hluttaw is 5 years from the day of the first session of the Pyithu Hluttaw. Following the Myanmar election held on 8 November 2015, newly elected MPs were sworn in as MPs of the Pyithu Hluttaw on Monday 1 February 2016, and of the Amyotha Hluttaw on Wednesday 3 February 2016. The Constitution has also established sub-national parliaments comprising one parliament for each of the fourteen states/regions. The Union and State/Region Parliaments are independent institutions with different political compositions and mandate, but their administrative support is provided by union civil service staff, under the guidance of the Permanent Secretary of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw.

UNDP, under its Stengthening Accountability an Rule of Law (SARL) and Support to Effectvie and Responsive Institutions (SERIP) projects supports the establishment of improved committee practices at Myanmar’s Union and Region/State Parliaments, to improve these institutions’ law-making budgeting and oversight functions.

A key activity to advance committee development in 2019 is UNDP’s provision of close technical support for newly-established Hluttaw committee inquiries, the first ever such parliamentary inquiries conducted in Myanmar. Support to Committee Chairs, Secretaries, Members and staff in the conduct of international best practice inquiries will build capacity to discharge key committee responsibilities through effective inquiry practice.

In January 2019, the Mon State Hluttaw Public Accounts, Finance and Economic Affairs Committee launched its inquiry into the operation and impact of the Myanmar Investment Commission in Mon State. This is only the second ever parliamentary committee inquiry to be conducted in Myanmar, following the inquiry commenced by the Union’s Amyotha Hluttaw Agriculture, Livestock Breeding and Fishery Development Committee in October 2018. These inquiries are a major step forward for the institutional development of Myanmar’s Hluttaws, and will serve as examples of best practice for other committees in Myanmar’s Union Hluttaws and fourteen Region and State Hluttaws.

The Mon State Hluttaw Public Accounts, Finance and Economic Affairs Committee has published the inquiry Terms of Reference (attached), and made a call for public submissions, which will be received until end March 2019. After collecting submissions, the Committee will conduct hearings with stakeholders, and will make a report to the Hluttaw in mid 2019. Building on previous professional development and staff training support on parliamentary inquiries, UNDP/IPU is providing this inquiry with close and targeted support.

As part of that support, UNDP seeks to engage an experienced researcher in the public policy field of investment promotion and coordination to provide research, analysis and writing support to the Mon State Hluttaw Public Accounts, Finance and Economic Affairs Committee Chair and Members, and to provide the Committee staff with on-job mentoring and skills development in research, analysis and writing.