The COVID-19 pandemic has created many challenges for Public Institutions worldwide, and Parliaments or legislative bodies have not been spared. At a time of national crisis, it is essential that Governments can continue to function, and that the public trust is maintained. As part of efforts to improve public services and other government functions through digitalization, the UNDP Mauritius Country Office has collaborated with key Ministries and institutions to develop the ‘e-Document Management System’ (eDMS). This initiative, created under the COVID – Prevention, Response and Early recovery Project (PREP), aims at revolutionising traditional ways of collaborating and interacting within the Government including the Parliament. It also ensures business continuity and agility, and sustains core democratic functions in times of tremendous demand for transparency and pressure on the Government.

The kick-off meeting for the Parliamentary ‘e-Document Management System’ project (eDMS) was organised by the UNDP on 17 August. It was attended by representatives from the Digital Services and Broadcasting Unit at the Mauritius National Assembly, and a team of consultants from Harel Mallac Technologies. Expected to go live in March 2023, the project aims to provide a platform with the required tools to expedite legislative authoring and amendment processes. This process is expected to streamline and make the workflow more efficient, while securing the dissemination and access to core parliamentary documents. Following a successful implementation in the parliament, this initiative will be rolled out to other institutions, such as the Cabinet, the Private office of the Prime Minister, the Attorney General’s Office and the Office of the President, amongst others. Around 130 people, including Parliamentarians will benefit from the project, which will improve the resilience and sustainability of public service institutions.