3. Rationale

The relationship between parliaments and citizens have been traditionally mediated by news media, interest groups, NGO's and direct communication with individual MPs. While these communication channels may operate quite effectively within the spheres of their functions, they are not without their drawbacks. These traditional means of sharing parliamentary information are incapable of fully serving the needs of an increasingly aware society, and a mass media driven by "newsworthiness" often grant priority to the theatrical over the substantive information.

Parliaments must leverage modern information and communications technologies to radically improve the quality of their services, as well as to enable access to all Parliamentary documents and activities in order to promote transparency, accountability and democratic participation, thus strengthening the democracies of Africa.

Parliaments in Africa are continually confronted with demands for greater dialogue between the electors and the elected. To adequately address these demands, parliaments have to learn how to manage information and documents in a way that improves transparency and access, while permitting greater understanding of the democratic process.

In this context, Information and Communication Technologies have the potential to improve existing processes, increase efficiency, reduce costs and deliver new services to Members of Parliament and Parliament's administration. Collaborative and information management tools can greatly improve the quality of work and service by supporting the institutional activities of the MPs, and can also make parliaments more accessible to citizens by improving participation and fostering transparency, accountability and good governance.

The goal of Bungeni is to improve information management in parliaments, while also providing citizens with easy and effective access to parliamentary work and activities. ICTs are an instrumental tool in promoting as well as sustaining accountability and citizens participation. Bungeni will:

• facilitate participation by making it easier for citizens to access information and scrutinise parliamentary activities, by providing access to a full record of debates in the parliaments, details of issues under debate, and all bills before parliament.

• broaden participation by opening up new channels for communication to encourage involvement by people who, due to their being located far from parliament or being unable to participate via traditional means like meetings, political parties, etc. may now have opportunities to use new technologies to make their voices heard.

• deepen participation -- the connection between citizens and parliaments will be strengthened by providing tools to have a dialogue with their elected representatives on issues that concern them.

The Internet and ICTs have an unprecedented potential to narrow the gap between the legislative and the electorate. The Internet can change the way Parliaments and constituents interact. An empowered citizenry can discourage corruption and increase accountability. ICTs provide Parliaments with a unique opportunity to earn the public's trust and support. The transformative potential of free and open access to parliamentary information cannot be underestimated. The emergence of new forms of civic engagement online brings the opportunity and the challenge to reconsider the manner in which the Parliaments makes themselves visible online.