NCOP Online, an Internet-based information management and communication system, was launched by Naledi Pandor, chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), and Stacey Rhodes, mission director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), at Parliament this week.
NCOP Online integrates the Internet with other communication technologies to link Parliament to the provincial legislatures and local government associations while making all information simultaneously available to the public.
The NCOP`s short four-week legislative cycle poses huge challenges to NCOP delegates trying to consult with provincial legislatures and constituents about bills and other legislative issues. Through the Web site, e-mail, fax and a cellphone messaging system, NCOP Online will provide instant access to bills, committee and public hearing schedules, parliamentary programmes and other legislative information.
"This technology allows the NCOP to build an electronic bridge between the three spheres of government in order to better fulfil our constitutional mandate of cooperative government," says Pandor. "Provinces, local government and members of the public now have access to information almost immediately after it is generated. This is critical to ensuring the NCOP does its job in representing provincial and local government interests."
The NCOP and the National Democratic Institute jointly undertook the project for International Affairs (NDI) under a grant from USAID. Microsoft also made a substantial software donation.
NCOP Online is expected to save money by cutting travel and communication costs as well as increasing the efficiency of the legislative process by smoothing the flow of information between Parliament, the provincial legislatures and local government associations.
Training is critically important to making this system work. Since August, NDI has provided training to NCOP, provincial legislature and organised local government staff who will maintain and update NCOP Online. By the end of October additional training will have taken place in all nine provinces and for political parties represented in the NCOP.
NCOP Online can be accessed by visiting the Parliament Web site at http://www.parliament.gov.za, then clicking on NCOP Online.
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