Parliaments’ Legislative Powers: From Pre-legislative Scrutiny to Oversight & Effective Public Consultations

From 17 to 19 March 2025, Inter Pares convened an in-person workshop in Gaborone as part of its partnership with the National Assembly of Botswana, focusing on parliaments’ legislative powers, effective scrutiny and oversight, and meaningful public consultations. The workshop brought together over 70 participants, including Members and staff of the National Assembly of Botswana, representatives from the parliaments of Denmark and France, international experts, and — on the final day — civil society organisations (CSOs) from across Botswana.

Taking place in the context of Botswana’s October 2024 elections and a peaceful transfer of power, the workshop supported the National Assembly in its crucial role of scrutinising the legislative agenda of the new government and overseeing policy implementation. With a significant number of MPs serving their first term, sessions provided practical tools and comparative perspectives to strengthen pre-legislative scrutiny, post-legislative oversight, committee work, research support, and citizen petitions.

A key highlight of the workshop was the first formal dialogue between the 13th Parliament of Botswana and civil society organisations, marking an important step towards more inclusive and participatory lawmaking. Parliamentarians, civil society organizations (CSOs), and experts exchanged experiences and reflected on how to move beyond formal frameworks to practical mechanisms for public engagement — ensuring that underrepresented voices are heard and that legislation better reflects citizens’ needs.

The final day featured a hands-on exercise on public consultations, with mixed groups of MPs, parliamentary staff and CSOs jointly designing a consultation process on a draft bill to reduce school dropout rates. Discussions emphasised the importance of context-appropriate tools, existing community structures, cross-parliamentary collaboration, and addressing barriers to participation such as language, geography and access to information.

The workshop underscored that strong democracy depends on effective parliaments working in partnership with civil society. By fostering direct dialogue, shared learning and practical cooperation, the exchange laid the groundwork for more inclusive, responsive and impactful legislation in Botswana.

Additional Resources: 

• Workshop report
• Programme: 17-19 March (full three days)
• Programme: 19 March (Parliament and Civil Society Organisations)