1. Partners: Botswana Speaks Parliamentary Ini5a5ve is a
project co-funded by With the collabora5on of Business Sweden
Botswana Speaks Parliamentary Ini4a4ve A Socio-Poli5cal Approach to
eDemocracy Ini5a5ves in Developing Countries Kheira Belkacem,
eGovlab, Stockholm University Vasilis Koulolias, eGovlab, Stockholm
University Cedem 2013 Krems 22 May 2013
2. The Botswana Speaks Team The Parliament of Botswana eGovlab
at Stockholm University / Department of Computer & Systems
Sciences (DSV) Gov2u Swedish InternaFonal Development CooperaFon
Agency With the collaboraFon of Business Sweden Botswana Speaks
Parliamentary Ini5a5ve is co-funded by the Parliament of Botswana,
Stockholm University and Gov2u in addi5on to the funding provided
by SIDA.
3. Main points about Botswana Speaks Socio-poli5cal context
Importance of oine consulta2ons as part of the project Partnership
rather than donor-recipient dynamic Sustained capacity
building
4. Project background Poli5cal stability, economic development
ChieRainship system -> consulta5ve tradi5ons Policy context
Botswana Vision 2016 Na5onal e-Government Strategy 2011-2016 IT
infrastructure Mobile penetra5on 2011: 118%* * Botswana
Telecommunica5ons Authority 2012 Mobile Broadband Internet
Subscrip4ons* 2011: 185,971 subscribers 2012: 259,486 subscribers
2011: 203,885 subscribers 2012: 279,429 subscribers
5. Ini5al survey results (February 2012) Ci4zens (620
respondents) 98% own a mobile device 76% never communicated their
concerns to their MPs 94% willing to share their opinions with MPs
(online and oine) Members of Parliament (33 respondents +/- 60% of
all MPs) 87% have used the Internet for work 91% willing to
communicate with their cons5tuents 97% interested in directly
informing ci4zens
6. Botswana Speaks: Descrip5on Fostering communica2on between
MPs and ci2zens in 4 pilot cons2tuencies Who? Where? 4 MPs
Parliament Services Cons5tuency administrators Local authori5es
Ci5zens Bote5 North Maun West Nata/Gweta South East South How?
When? -> online plaform -> SMS -> oine cons5tuency mee5ngs
Pilot phase: April to December 2013
7. Tradi5onal Workow Na5onal Assembly Member of Parliament
Cons5tuency Oce Local Authori5es District Council Land Boards
District Administra5on Kgotla (Chiefs) Na4onal Assembly
Ci5zens
8. Revised Workow with Botswana Speaks Na5onal Assembly Member
of Parliament Cons5tuency Oce Local Authori5es District Council
Land Boards District Administra5on Kgotla (Chiefs) Na4onal Assembly
Cons5tuency mee5ngs Ci5zens Legisla5on introduced
9. Embracing consulta5ve tradi5ons: Cons5tuency Mee5ngs Modeled
on Kgotla mee5ngs: o Take place in the 4 pilot cons5tuencies
according to parliamentary business calendar. o Ci5zens are able to
come and discuss draR bills and commikee mee5ngs business. o
Ci5zens input gathered during oine mee5ngs is then made available
on the plaform for Members of Parliament to consult
10. Botswana Speaks Plaform Case/Issue tracking system Submit
an opinion/ a request for informa5on or a request for ac5on to your
MP Enhance cons2tuency services Direct communica2on between ci2zens
and members of the parliament DraJ bill/order papers posted on the
plaKorm by Parliament Services Delibera5on tool Opinion poll
Involve ci2zens in the early stages of the decision-making
process
11. Botswana Speaks plaform
12. Mobile version - For all mobile devices - Mobile-friendly
version of the plaform for ci5zens use - As a result of deep mobile
penetra5on in country SMS integra4on - Dedicated phone number for
each pilot cons5tuency - Submit an issue/case to MPs via SMS -
Response via SMS or via online plaform
13. Capacity building as a key factor Partnership rather than
donor-recipient dynamic Conceptualiza5on Implica5ons in
decision-making process Design and interface (feedback Alpha and
Beta versions) Sustained training/workshops With MPs With
cons5tuency administrators With Parliament Services With ci5zens in
the 4 cons5tuencies
14. Expected outcomes New technologies and tradi2ons work
together Increased ci2zens par2cipa2on and enhance civic culture
Ci2zens involvement in decision-making Ci2zens beKer connected to
representa2ves Build capacity in the Parliament and among ci2zens
in 4 pilot cons2tuencies
15. Partners: Botswana Speaks Parliamentary Ini5a5ve is a
project co-funded by With the collabora5on of Business Sweden THANK
YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION Kheira Belkacem, eGovlab, Stockholm
University, Sweden [email protected] www.botswanaspeaks.org