The seminar will run over a period of 3 days, with the first two days set aside for the seminar and the last day reserved for excursion. It will take the format of plenary sessions combined with group discussions in order to maximise exposure and participation of delegates.
DAY ONE: MONDAY, 2 JULY 2018
Day one will commence with the welcome and opening address by the Speaker and Chairperson of SoCATT followed by a plenary in the morning and group discussion in the afternoon.
SESSION 1: CAPACITATING PARLIAMENTS IN THE KNOWLEDGE BASED ECONOMY TO REALISE AGENDA 2063
- Three presenters are earmarked for the sessions that will set the tone for the seminar by exploring and understanding the knowledge based economy and how it is impacting on the role of Parliament.
- The 1st presentation will focus on the global impact of the 4th Industrial Revolution focusing on the effects on the economy, public and private sector institutions as well as on the skill development whilst also outlining opportunities and challenges.
- The presentation will be followed by responses from the two panel expects whose role will be to make sense and domesticate the presentation to parliamentary environment by refocusing it on the following areas:
-
- One panel member will respond on the likely impact of the revolution on the role Parliaments (including attainment of Agenda 2063 targets) and what Parliaments can do to prepare and to respond to a future that is unknown.
- Another panel member to focus specifically on the skills, knowledge and competencies that will be required by Parliamentarians to deal with the impact of the changing role of Parliament and resultant effect on parliamentary needs and effectiveness. At the end the sessions, participants are expected to know and understand the 4th Industrial Revolution and its impact, should be better prepared to conceptualize how to respond to it and capitalize on the opportunities that will be created.
SESSION 2: OVERVIEW OF REGIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATIVES: REGIONAL BREAK-AWAY SESSIONSThe second session which will be conducted in groups per regions is inwardly looking and building on session one topic. It is aimed at contributing to the seminar theme, objectives intended outcomes. It will:- Reflect on the presentations and look at the role of Parliaments in their region in Knowledge Based Economy to assess their readiness to respond to 4th Industrial Revolution and its impact.
- Identify existing and possible new Capacity Building Programmes in a changing world and parliamentary environment and revisit the question of what knowledge, skills and abilities do parliamentarians need to do their job?
- Make proposals on enabling facilities for Parliaments to meet the demands of the 4th Industrial Revolution.
- Devise strategies and proposals on how to manage and secure African Parliament’s intellectual knowledge.
- Identify strategic partnerships for African Parliament and their role in assisting Parliaments attain Agenda 2063. (Institutions of Higher Learning, Parliamentary Institutes and Research Institutes)
NB: Each group will identify a chairperson of the session, scriber and a rapporteur.
DAY TWO: 3 July 2018
SESSION 3: REPORT BACK ON REGIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATIVES
- A plenary session will be held whereby regions will report back on work done during regional group sessions.
- All regions are expected to develop a power-point presentation for delivery during report backs.
- The report back will be followed with engagements on different presentations aimed at providing a platform for dialogue whilst clarifying and consolidating input.
SESSION 4: STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS FOR AFRICAN PARLIAMENTS: THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENTARY INSTITUTES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTES IN CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT IN THE KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY
This plenary session is building on previous presentation with a focus on establishing and creating strategic partnership to sustain capacity building programmes. Parliamentary institutes have been identified as centres of excellence for capacity building, research, knowledge and information management for Members and staff. They are identified as strategic partners for the development and management of institutional memory. Identified institute will share purpose and objectives, areas of focus, delivery methods, accreditation status of their programmes, governance structure in place and its relationship with the Legislature, and how they measure return on investments.
SESSION 5: CONSIDERING STRATEGIC INTERVENTIONS TOWARDS BUILDING AND STRENGTHENING PARLIAMENTARY INSTITUTES IN AFRICAN PARLIAMENTS
The purpose of the session is to consolidate work done in day one and two. The intention is to identify and explore focus areas for capacity building based on input from day one and vehicles for sustaining capacity building which are the parliamentary or research institutes. At the end of the session, participants will know capacity building programmes, that are available, capacity building programmes that must be collectively developed in regions and sub-regions and parliamentary institutes in existence or in the process of being developed as well as areas for collaboration and partnership.
SESSION 6: SEMINAR RECOMMENDATIONS AND DECLARATIONS
receding the closure of the session, the session is expected to deliver on the following:
- Draft declaration and recommendations
- Implementation plan to track seminar recommendation
- Publish proceedings on SoCaATT Journal
DAY 3: 4 July 2018 – EXCURSION