This session investigates the technologies being used by parliamentarians inside and outside the parliamentary chamber to connect with citizens, including young people. It also touches on ways to build awareness and create incentives for all parliamentarians to use digital technologies.

1. World e-Parliament Conference 2016
#eParliament
28-30 June 2016 // Chamber of Deputies of Chile // Valparaiso
“Digital Parliamentarians: Tools, Opportunities and Challenges for the
elected representatives”
L.T. Tobias
National Council / Namibia

2. ICT Gadgets are only as effective to the level they
are utilized to facilitate and navigate daily tasks
efficiently and productively to meeting the needs
of the people and enhancing the work of
Parliamentarians.

3. DIGITAL AND SOCIAL TOOLS AT
PARLIAMENT
 The digital and social tools that is the ICT in its broad sense, has
significantly enhanced the Members participation and engagement
with the public and in the process has to some degree bridged the gap
between Parliament and the Citizens.
 It has steadily increased efficiency and reduced costs. Online publicity
of Parliamentary papers , Parliament Calender and ongoing events
via media such as website and Facebook has lead to a significant
reduction of the number of paper copies being printed.
 In addition, it is streamlining the process of sending written
questions from members to GRN departments and publishing the
responses online.

4. DIGITAL AND SOCIAL TOOLS AT
PARLIAMENT Cont.....,
 The Parliament website (www.parliament.na ) and the Facebook
page (Parliarment of Namibia) which together enhances efficiency
and cost effectiveness to the operations of the Members and allows for
a better deployment of the available resources to reach out to the
citizens.
 The system in the chamber; Members use to vote manually and now
it’s being done using a card system and so is the attendance of the
Members. Members are equipped with gadgets that enable them to be
able to communicate and follow what is happening in the country or
around parliament. The dynamic mobile SMS, is another tool that
members are using efficiently to communicate with their support staff.

5. TRAINING AND SUPPORT FOR MP’S
 Regular training sessions are being organised to train and
support the Member’s use of the digital tools. Also, Members are
sent on study tours to other Parliaments to observe first-hand use
of ICT tools.

6. IMPACT OF SOCIAL TOOLS ON
PARLIAMENT’S FORMAL COMMUNICATION
 Cognisant that the interaction between citizens and the Members enhances the
work of parliament, our parliament is seeking to institutionalize citizen
participation through the integration of social media (i.e. Facebook, Twitter
and WhatsApp) and through the development of other innovative platforms
(i.e. Radio/Chat shows) for parliamentary work in order to effect and deliver
the required information.
 In other words, the integration of the social media in the more formal
communication is streaming the delivery of information in a timely manner
for all concerned. The quality of the democratic process is thus allowed to
function successfully on this platform which is only boosted to become
efficient in performing a multi -directional flow of information.

7. Thank You !!!!!!