eParticipation in East Africa: Theory, platforms and a case - Amahoro Mu Matora - from Burundi that is considered in detail. A lecture for the Virtual University of Uganda - www.virtualuni.ac.ug

1. eParticipation in East Africa
introduction, some platforms
and a case study:
Amahoro Mu Matora
Victor van Reijswoud
MIS4D.com
victor@mis4d.com
Landry Ninteretse
world.350.org/africa/
landry.ninteretse@gmail.com

2. Government and ICT
• e-Government: ICTs within government, with a view to
improve the efficiency in interactions and information
flows between government departments and state
organs
• e-Governance: ICTs in the interface between
government and citizens, with a view to improving
interaction and feedback between government and
citizens
• e-Participation: ICTs for empowerment of citizens and
civil society organisations. This occurs at three levels:
provision of information to citizens, citizen consultation
and dialogue between governments and citizens.

3. The e-State

4. Three cross-cutting components
1. Access to ICT and connectivity: Public investment in
information and public/private communication
systems, connectivity and equipment infrastructure, to
enable XS4All.
2. Access to information: Public investment to promote
the digitalization and dissemination of public
information within the population
3. Regulation and political environment: Public
investment to support the creation and implementation
of new technology strategies for development and egovernance, legislation and regulation, and for
strengthening competencies within public bodies
involved in setting, implementing and monitoring
policies.

5. Citizen Participation
• ‘The concept of good governance carries in it the
essence of democracy through the mechanism of
institutionalized citizen participation’
(Coulibaly, 2004)
• Citizen participation is expressed through:
–
–
–
–
–
information
awareness-raising
consultation
questioning
dialogue etc.

7. Citizen participation processes
1. Information: One-way relationship in which
citizens receive information from governments
2. Consultation: Two-way interaction via
forums, opinion surveys, polls, etc.
3. Representation: Presence within institutions
where decision-making takes place.
4. Volunteering: Participation and commitment
5. Monitoring: Watchdog role; monitoring public
policies; inspection; evaluation of public services

8. Limiting factors
1. Low human capital: poor literacy and
schooling rates
2. Gender inequalities
3. Infrastructure limitations
4. Status of democratic governance: genuine
democratic practices and
processes, demonstrated by the ability of
citizens to exercise full freedom of expression.

9. Some platform

10. Blogging
• Wordpress.com
• Blogspot.com

11. Crowdmapping
Kenyan Innovation
multiple-channel
crowdsourcing
information to map
(visualize)
information
> emergency
response, election
monitoring,
peace building…
open source

14. Online petitions / e-Petitions
• Use the internet to
mobilize large groups
• Transnational
• Change.org
• Onlinepetition.org
• Gopetition.com

18. eParticipation
Case study of an Early
Warning Early
Response Project

19. ‘Amahoro Mu Matora’ Project
• In 2010, 10 local and international
organisations initiated ‘Amatora Mu Mahoro’
to monitor democratic principles and
prevention of electoral violence
• Project used a web platform
(www.burundi.ushahidi.com) updated with
information from more than 400 citizen
reporters

20. Goal and Objectives
• Goal: To prevent electoral violence in Burundi 2010
elections
• Objectives:
• Use reliable data to prevent electoral violence
• Map and monitor electoral violence objectively and
reliably
• Strengthen the capacity of CSOs in monitoring and
mapping electoral violence
• Develop a better understanding of the causes of
electoral violence and mitigation strategies

21. Key Components
• Early warning to allow early response
• Monitoring and Reporting on electoral
violence
• Mapping of conflict and conflict indicators
• Provide advice and support strategies of
conflict resolution and violence reduction
• Building grassroots networks of conflict
resolution

22. Methodology
• Clear definition of electoral violence
• Reporting based on incidents (location, time,
damages and victims)
• Reporting based on indicators (early warning
to violence indicators)
• Reporting on peace initiatives
• Importance of information verification
• Public reporting of data and trends

23. Technology used
•
•
•
•
Mobile phones
Desktops and laptops connected to Internet
Mapping softwares
Centralized data base

24. Results of monitoring
Web site
• Presents reports sent by
SMS
• Identifies and locates
violent incidents
• Shares information with
stakeholders to take
immediate action
Weekly Reports
• Identify early indicators
• Provide detailed data
analysis from citizen
reporters
• Share information with
appropriate stakeholders to
take preventive measures

25. Successes and Challenges
• This experience showed a strong potential of
organizations, citizen reporters and analysts to monitor
objectively relationships between various political and
non-political actors
• This experience inspired the Kenyan civil society that
has used and improved this system to organize a
careful monitoring of the 2013 elections.
• This initiative faced technical and logistical challenges
and was not able to collect rapidly and objectively facts
and incidents for an early response