The IPU facilitates parliamentary diplomacy and empowers parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy and sustainable development around the world.
Nearly every country in the world has some form of parliament. Parliamentary systems fall into two categories: bicameral and unicameral. Out of 190 national parliaments in the world, 78 are bicameral (156 chambers) and 112 are unicameral, making a total of 268 chambers of parliament with some 44,000 members of parliament. IPU membership is made up of 180 national parliaments
Throughout the year, the IPU and its Members organize many events for parliamentarians to exchange good practices, acquire the latest information and identify avenues for action.
The IPU has been collecting data on parliaments since its inception in 1889, including information on women’s participation in politics since 1945. In this section, discover the IPU's knowledge bank for and about parliaments.
Transforming Parliaments: Digital transformation leadership & governance
Summary
14:30-16:00 (Geneva, CET)
Digital transformation means applying new digital-based tools and technologies to parliamentary processes and culture. It describes a journey of innovation, modernization and renewal. While every parliament starts from a different place, moves forward at its own pace and travels as far as it feels able, all parliaments can learn from each other’s experiences.
In this webinar, we will discuss how strong leadership and good governance are vital to successful digital transformation. Bringing together Secretaries General and IT Directors, the webinar will take the form of two round tables, with questions and interaction with the audience.
This event marks the launch of the IPU-ASGP Guide to digital transformation in parliaments, which is aimed at Secretaries General and senior parliamentary staff tasked with the design, implementation and monitoring of digital transformation programmes in parliaments.
Interpretation: English, French, Spanish
Round table 1: Secretaries General
This session will discuss the role senior leaders can play to support digital transformation. Secretaries General will discuss how parliaments can build a culture that supports modernization, transformation and innovation, and how process change drives technology adoption. There are many challenges and risks within a digital transformation project, as well as rapidly changing technology and, unique to parliaments, the potential impact of political change on a long-term project. The panel will talk about how leadership, effective communication and having the right people in place helps parliaments to manage risk and achieve better outcomes.
Speakers
Ragna Árnadóttir, Secretary General, Althingi, Iceland
Remco Nehmelman, Secretary General, Senate, Netherlands
Clement Nyandiere, Director General, Parliament, Kenya
Moderator: Andy Williamson (Senior researcher, IPU’s Centre for Innovation in Parliament)
Round table 2: IT Directors
The second session, made up of IT directors in parliaments, will discuss why a digital transformation strategy is important and the changes a more traditional IT organization has to make to start working more strategically. It will look at how digital transformation supports parliaments to be forward looking, innovative and supportive of the needs of users, while also addressing challenges such as resourcing, the adoption of new technologies and the way in which the IT department must learn to function more closely with the business of parliament.
Speakers
Ciaran Doyle, Head of Infrastructure, Innovation and Cybersecurity, Oireachtas, Ireland
Ines Kerle, Head of the division for administrative innovation, Parliament, Austria
Esteban Sanchez, Head of IT Systems Department, Chamber of Deputies, Chile
Moderator: Soufiane Ben Moussa (former Chief Information Officer, House of Commons, Canada)