Parliamentarians from Botswana are meeting with their counterparts from Denmark and France in Gaborone to share experiences on effective legislative scrutiny, oversight and public engagement.
The workshop, which began on Monday and ends on Wednesday, is part of an effort to strengthen Botswana’s parliamentary capacity through mutual learning with international peers.
The gathering brings together chairpersons of Botswana’s parliamentary committees, parliamentary staff, representatives from the Danish Folketing and French National Assembly, as well as international scholars.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Parliament of Botswana said discussions are focused on parliaments’ roles in pre-legislative scrutiny, oversight of government actions and effective public consultations.
Speaking at the event, Clerk of Botswana’s National Assembly Gabriel Malebang noted the importance of capacity-building in navigating complex political landscapes.
He said the workshop’s goal was to equip parliamentarians with tools and strategies to better serve constituents and uphold democratic values.
The workshop forms part of the Inter Pares Partnership with Botswana’s National Assembly, an EU-funded global initiative aimed at enhancing legislative, oversight and representative functions in partner parliaments.
The programme is managed by the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights and implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).
Botswana is one of the few countries selected for this support, which began in March 2023 and is set to conclude in April 2025.
The EU and International IDEA launched the second phase of the three-year programme in January 2023.
Since then, the initiative has benefited from the expertise of EU Member States’ parliaments, offering Botswana valuable insights to strengthen its governance and legislative processes.
The workshop represents a significant step in fostering collaboration and improving parliamentary practices.
JN/APA