The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation is using this key instrument to support citizen participation and ease of access to information. Let’s get deeper insight with a focus on how SDC supports democratic processes.
The internet was first introduced in Mongolia in 1996, with only 500 users. In 2022, 2.6 million users were connected to the internet, 80 percent of the population. Also, 87.4 percent of all citizens use smart communication devices. At such a high level of digital technology use, the D-Parliament system—a combination of web and application—is the basis for the effective implementation of objectives such as listening to citizens at all stages of the legislative process (drafting laws, discussion, approval, implementation, and oversight), reflecting their opinions, developing deliberative democracy, and transitioning to digital governance.
"Since the D-Parliament system was launched and introduced to citizens and the public in April 2022, the highest number of entries to our system was for the open acceptance of citizens' opinions on the 2023 State Budget Law of Mongolia," said B. Myagmardorj.
B. Myagmardorj is a 30-year-old representative of Mongolia's new generation, a heating engineer who has fallen in love with the digital world. B. Myagmardorj is currently a digital policy advisor to the Speaker of the State Great Khural (Parliament) of Mongolia.
Mongolia has had a democratic system of governance since 1990. To keep democracy alive and active, B. Myagmardorj believes that citizen participation in the parliament has to be broad and control measures must be correct and realistic.
Since 2020, the Parliament of Mongolia has used two digital governance systems: lawmaker.parliament.mn for lawmakers and drafters of legislation and lawforum.parliament.mn, which allows citizens to vote on proposed legislation and participate in discussions. However, both systems were difficult for lawmakers and citizens to use. B. Myagmardorj said the D-Parliament web and application combined these two systems and was introduced to citizens last year. Today, we are proud to say, that 281 pieces of legislation have been uploaded to the system and viewed by 205,328 people in 35 countries.
B. Myagmardorj was deeply impressed by the open acceptance of citizens' opinions on Mongolia's 2023 State Budget Law through the D-Parliament digital platform. For the first time in Mongolia’s history, a discussion was held to improve the participation and control of the public, civil society organizations, and the private sector in setting the state budget. Most state budget funds are taxes paid by citizens and enterprises, so they are a public asset. Therefore, it is essential to ensure transparency and efficient spending for citizens and enterprises to express their opinions, participate in decision-making, and monitor what kind of development is achieved, and what tax revenue is spent on in a given year.
D-Parliament received citizens' votes in three ways: the platform system, e-mail, and phone for 10 days, from October 7-17. During this period, 68,641 people accessed the D-Parliament system, 15,293 people read the draft of the 2023 State Budget Law, and 798 people submitted proposals, setting a record for the six months since the system’s launch.
During the Budget 2023 public discussion, Speaker of the State Great Khural G. Zandanshatar stated that every suggestion submitted by citizens was reviewed, responded to, and forwarded to the relevant working group and standing committee.
Did they actually read and respond to each suggestion?
This was clarified by S. Monkhtsetseg, the head of a kindergarten in Ulaanbaatar’s Khan-Uul District, who voted on the 2023 State Budget through the D-Parliament system. She said if the expansion of Kindergarten No. 67 is not completed in 2023, the opportunity to provide preschool education to children in the area would be reduced, the kindergarten would be overcrowded, and children's rights would be violated. The kindergarten has the capacity to serve 280 children, but 400 children are enrolled. However, she was pleased when she was informed that her proposal was included in the 2023 State Budget. When B. Myagmardorj told her, her eyes lit up.
Of course, nothing is perfect. The development of the electronic system is an ongoing process and will have to be improved in the future, as other systems will also be further developed.
For more information, please find from D-Parliament website.
