Reimagining the National Assembly of Mauritius: A Digital Transformation Journey
About the National Assembly of Mauritius | Written on September, 2022
Introduction
The National Assembly of Mauritius embarked on a digital transformation journey over the past twenty years. A multitude of issues including the role of open source systems, collaborations, skill shortage, internal processes, the citizen focus, and the future challenges were at the heart of this endeavour. The case of the National Assembly of Mauritius serves as an instructive example of the broader trend towards digitalisation within the legislative and public sectors.
The Power of Collaboration and Open Source Systems
Throughout its digitalisation process, the National Assembly of Mauritius has placed high importance on collaborations and open-source systems. The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) played a crucial role in fostering relationships and knowledge exchange among global assemblies. One key initiative was the partnership with the Brazilian Parliament. Sharing ideas and platforms has enabled these institutions to overcome a lack of expertise in certain areas, such as security.
Furthermore, the adoption of open-source systems and software, particularly the Bungeni legislative system, underlines the importance of flexibility and customisability in the digital transformation process. These tools, by their very nature, encourage innovation and cooperation, supporting the development of a community of like-minded assemblies.
Skill Shortage and Staff Retention Challenges
A critical challenge identified is the struggle to attract and retain skilled personnel necessary for supporting the digitalisation process. The public sector often finds itself in competition with the corporate industry, which typically offers more attractive compensation packages.
The National Assembly of Mauritius's experience illuminates this challenge, with trained individuals often leaving for better prospects elsewhere. The transitory nature of assembly staff has also led to a cyclical problem, with assemblies continually training new staff instead of advancing their digital agendas. This raises pertinent questions about how best to structure compensation and career progression paths within the legislative and public sector to attract and retain skilled employees.
Citizen-centric Digitalisation
A significant shift in focus has been towards increasing citizen participation in assembly affairs. Recognising citizens as key stakeholders, the National Assembly of Mauritius has made concerted efforts to increase transparency and accessibility. From live broadcasting of assembly proceedings to the potential introduction of a parliamentary app, these initiatives signify an ongoing commitment to fostering greater public engagement with legislative processes.
Social media also emerges as a vital tool for engaging the younger demographic and facilitating citizen participation. This citizen-centric approach to digitalisation underscores the transformation of assemblies from traditionally closed institutions to more open, accessible, and engaging platforms for public discourse.
Conclusion: Future Challenges and Opportunities
Looking forward, the National Assembly of Mauritius faces the challenge of streamlining its internal processes to adapt to remote working conditions, a need made evident by the Covid-19 pandemic. Moreover, there is a persistent necessity for training parliamentarians, irrespective of their age, to adapt to the digital shift.
Despite the challenges, the journey so far, characterised by collaboration, a citizen-centric approach, and a continuous learning process, holds promise for the future. The experience provides valuable lessons for other assemblies embarking on similar digital transformation journeys, particularly regarding the value of collaboration, the importance of attracting and retaining skilled personnel, and the necessity of citizen-focused digitalisation.