Role of Parliament in harnessing ICT for development

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Role of Parliament in harnessing ICT for
development

• By GASAMAGERA Wellars
• Senator
• Member of the Political and Good Governance
• Standing Committee
• Parliament ICT Steering Committee Focal Point
• It might be profitable to look upon government
  somewhat less as a problem of power and somewhat
  more as a problem of steering. Steering is
  decisively a matter of communication, and
  information is absolutely essential for
  communication.
• Karl W. Deutsch

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The message

• Introduction
• Review on e-democracy and e-parliament, current
  status within the Parliament, future
  prospects,...
• The question What role should the Parliament
  play in harnessing ICT for development?
• The answer Leadership and commitment..
• The way to do it Championing, resources
  mobilization, training (computer litteracy),
  reducing the gap (technological islets),
• Conclusion and recommendations

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Introduction

• Technology
• printing (15th century), telegraphy and telephony
  (19th century), radio (20th century), television
  (1950s), public internet (1990s), mobile and
  wireless (late 1990s).
• People
• Individuals elected representatives, citizens
• Organizations parliaments, councils, government,
  political parties, NGOs
• People and technology at cross-roads better and
  more quickly addressing societal values through
  IT towards collaborative direct democracy (new
  hybrid representative democracy utilizing IT)

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e-Democracy

• Managing information citizens need to be
  informed
• Enhanced quantity, quality and cost effectiveness
  of information helps making sound decisions,
  coherence
• Full participative democratic processes
• Public space creation and debate
• Power shift co-production and feedback
• Decentralization, rapidity of interaction,
  scalability (from individual to communities)
• Low barriers to entry, no gatekeepers!

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e-Parliament

• Parliamentarian representatives (moral authority
  to act on behalf of their constituency)
  delegates (mouthpieces)?
• ICT conveying views to representatives more
  easily representatives more empowered to make
  decisions, vastly increased knowledge of
  government activities
• Risk of information overload, transforming
  representatives into delegates!
• Democracy and development, the link
  Socio-economic development is based on extension
  of participation in democratic systems of
  government freedom of economic and political
  activities is mutually reinforcing (ownership
  accountability).
• No perfect model... No magic wand!

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Where are we today at Parliament House?

• ICT steering committee operational
• ICT sectoral PoA under development, 5 main axes
  RH training, software, communication, equipment
  and material, RD...aligning with NICI Plan
• 6 ICT related activities in the Senate 2006 PoA
  including networking, database, e-library,
  videoconference syst...
• Services digitalization plan (2000) Parliament
  equiped with 150 desk-tops, all parliamentarians
  with laptops
• Aquarius integrated Information management system
  available at LH, Optic fibre between both
  chambers, separate intranet systems
• Both houses fitted with WIFI LAN system
• 3 main weaknesses suppliers dependency, lack of
  trained staff, call for increased capacity for
  MPs,mains shortage (generator substitute at LH)

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The question What is the role of MPs in
harnessing ICT for development?
Source IT for Parliamentarians WG2, EU, Feb.2005
The Parliament National Laws Members
Debate and decisions Internal and external
dialogue
The Government Rules and regulations Government
Support regulations Impact assessment activities
The role of Parliamentarians
The Ministry Plans and policies Ministries
Influence policies Carry out public consultations
The Players Activities and business Agencies/Depar
tments
Enforce implementation Play a leading role
The Beneficiaries General usage End users
Public awareness and campaign Role of media is
paramount!
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Rules and regulations

• Parliament is instrumental in rules and
  regulations setting, which proves to be crucial
  in Rwanda ICT usage today.
• Role of MPs in shaping information society using
  ICT as a tool is to provide visions and
  leadership Parliament is undertaking to play
  effectively this role.
• Priorities (1)legislate laws and policies
  (2)monitor their implementation (3)represent
  interests of citizens in development (4)work to
  minimise gaps in society/digital unite and (5)use
  ICT for development and act as a leader in this
  field.

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The answer Leadership and commitment

• Openness operate with transparency, facilitate
  participation of citizens in decision-making
  processes (including budgetary undertakings and
  organizational measures)
• Leadership role strong political will not only
  by champion, but formation of core strategic team
  to accompany implementation commitment support
  to strategic design and corporate culture
• Proactivity custom made mechanisms, original,
  complete information in real-time according to
  demand defined by citizens
• Multi-channel combination of possibilities
  offered by internet with those made possible by
  other media e.g. telephone, radio or TV
• Civic values public institutions easying public
  exchanges by simplifying languages, procedures
  and giving maximum visibility of results

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The way to do it...

• Computer litteracy broad base of citizens
  knowledgeable in ICT
• Reducing the gap between technological islets
  within institutions and the common citizen
  (social inclusion)
• Resource mobilization for continued dynamic
  training and hard/software updating
• Increasing reachability (large number of users
  reached thru facilitation of processes)
• Integration (institutional) and alignment with
  NICI plans and synergy with all national ICT
  initiatives

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Conclusion

• It has been proved beyond doubt that ICT can be
  an engine for development, enabler not the
  solution, however!
• Parliament has gone a long way in digitalizing
  its services but loopholes still exist smooth
  interaction between Parliament and citizens still
  lacking, mainly owing to poor public
  communication.
• Initiatives are developed to enhance Parliament
  public visibility and added value may be obtained
  with the role of media.
• Through different channels (advocacy, dialogue,
  exchanges, control...) Parliament can harness ICT
  for development, if following are secured

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Recommendations

• Liberalization of the sector competition cuts
  down costs
• Increased affordability price regulation, flat
  rates for local calls,...
• Support for entrepreneurship facilitation for
  start-ups to achieve legal status and other
  formalities
• Enhancing training and public access a broader
  population base to be knowledgeable
• Local language content user friendly approach
• Laws and policies intellecual property,
  taxation, digital contracts, consumer/privacy
  protection, cyber crimes
• Quickly adopt a regulation system government
  regulation, self-regulation, user control,....
• Parliament to quickly set forth dynamic citizens
  interaction and consultation mechanisms provided
  for in its PoA.

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• MURAKOZE ! ! !