Advancing ICT4Governance in Eastern Africa: The Case of Me & My Leader (MML) e-Participation System Design

Abstract

This paper describes a Mobile SMS-Online-Radio e-participation system designed to accelerate citizens-leaders democratic engagement to improve public service delivery in the Eastern Africa region. It builds on the participatory action research (PAR) theoretical framework and aims to operationalize the PAR e-participation model previously proposed by Toro Development Network (ToroDev) at the end of 2014. The system design develops knowledge required for joint reflection and continuous decision making during the engagement processes between citizens (civil society) and government through a participatory action research approach. The paper emphasizes the ICT convergence approach that combines broadcast media, specifically Radio, mobile phone and online or internet technologies to receive and request grassroot public opinion on national strategies, policies and programmes.