Parliamentary expertise

Sarah is adept at informing and mobilising parliamentarians in support of internationally agreed development goals. She has a clear understanding of how to engage effectively with policy-makers, gained from many years of working with parliamentarians around the world. When at Marie Stopes International, she established and managed the secretariat to the European Parliament Working Group on Reproductive Health, HIV/AIDS and Development.

Sarah offers consultancy expertise and technical assistance in:

  • Influencing the political process, shaping parliamentary debate and mobilising resources for global health. 
  • Identifying entry points and target audiences, framing and delivering effective messages in order to win parliamentary support. 
  • Navigating parliamentary procedures and legislative processes, including parliamentary questions, hearings, reports, bills and early day motions.
  • Engaging effectively with all-party parliamentary groups and key parliamentary committees, including the International Development Committee in the UK.   
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"Sarah is a skilled advocate who knows how to work effectively with parliamentarians and has an in-depth knowledge of reproductive health issues.

"The background briefing papers which she has drafted for MPs are well-written, succinct and accurate, presenting complex information in an accessible way."

Shazia Rafi, Former Secretary-General
Parliamentarians for Global Action


Example: parliamentary expertise

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Written evidence for the International Development Committee’s inquiry on the Sustainable Development Goals
 
In 2015, Sarah prepared a submission on behalf of Women and Children First (UK) and partners to the inquiry by the International Development Committee on the SDGs.

Sarah drafted evidence putting forward the case that DFID should prioritise maternal and newborn health (SDG 3) and gender equality (SDG 5) within the post-2015 development framework. She drew on current research and showcased Women and Children First’s participatory women’s group approach. This model has been shown to improve maternal and newborn survival in resource-limited, rural settings, thereby contributing to the achievement of several SDGs. The evidence is available on the House of Commons' website.

See recent work for more examples of Sarah's parliamentary expertise.