Bahrain’s eParticipation Policy

The Electronic Participation Policy (eParticipation Policy) of the Kingdom of Bahrain provides a comprehensive framework to foster civic engagement and participatory governance using information and communication technologies (ICTs). The Kingdom of Bahrain developed this policy to align with its National Economic Vision 2030. The government leverages ICT to foster transparency, inclusiveness, and participatory governance. Various strategic initiatives have been implemented to optimise public services and ensure constituent satisfaction, emphasising the transition from conventional to electronic participation methods. Social media has become a crucial engagement platform, and the policy extends its application to crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on proactive constituent involvement.

Purpose

• Enhance transparency, openness, and inclusiveness in government operations.
• Encourage public participation in policymaking and service innovation.
• Develop rules and guidelines for e-participation processes.
• Provide clarity on responsibilities in the e-participation process.
• Raise awareness about e-participation in the Kingdom.

Scope

• The policy applies to government entities’ online engagement with citizens, residents, businesses, NGOs, and other stakeholders.
• It includes activities like information sharing, consultations, collaboration, and decision-making via digital tools.
• It covers channels such as websites, mobile apps, social media, e-government portals, and digital broadcasting.

Provisions of electronic participation policy

The policy follows the UN electronic participation model. It emphasises three main areas: e-information, e-consultation, and e-decision-making.

E-information focuses on providing accessible public information through diverse digital channels like websites, social media, and mobile apps. It promotes inclusivity by catering to people with disabilities and offers content in both Arabic and English, ensuring clarity and simplicity.

E-consultation aims to engage constituents in policymaking through interactive platforms such as surveys, discussion forums, and social media. These tools are designed to gather feedback, improve services, and facilitate public opinion.

E-decision-making involves empowering constituents to participate in policy design and service development. It seeks early involvement in the policymaking process and promotes collaboration between the government and citizens.

Operationalisation of the policy

The policy is approved by the Prime Minister’s Office and supervised by the Supreme Committee for Information and Communication Technology (SCICT). Its implementation involves creating detailed action plans, guidelines, and performance measures to ensure effective execution. Changes to the policy will be announced through the National Enterprise Architecture (NEA) portal, ensuring stakeholders are kept informed of updates.