The Parliamentary Development Initiative in the Arab Region (PDIAR) is a joint project launched by UNDP's Global Programme for Parliamentary Strengthening (GPPS) and the Programme on Governance in the Arab Region (POGAR) with the support of the Belgian government to address the increasing demand for parliamentary assistance in the Arab Region.

It builds on recent activities, findings, and lessons learned and aims at promoting democratic governance through enhancing the role, capacity and image of the legislative institutions in the Arab countries and supporting the work of their members and administrations.

• creating and strengthening thematic parliamentary working groups and networks on key issues for the region,
• addressing the knowledge deficit, especially in Arabic, by encouraging research, developing tools and manuals to support parliamentary work in the region, and making relevant information and databases available through the Initiative's website,
• Empowering women MPs from the region by encouraging their effective involvement in the Initiative's activities, facilitating exchange of experiences and practices and developing knowledge on women's political participation.