Web 2.0 to Help Quito Citizens Influence Local Government
Nov 23 2009, Ecuador [EC], Governance
- Source:
- Wietse Bruinsma [wbruinsma(at)iicd.org]
- Country:
- Ecuador [EC]
- Sector:
- Governance
Podcasts, blogs, wikis, Facebook: these are the tools that can help the marginalised citizens of Quito influence local government policy. This is the aim of Ciudadanía en-Línea: a website using social networking tools to foster citizens’ participation in good governance.
Ciudadanía en-Línea is central to the IICD-supported project to encourage public discussion on health, safety and transport issues. Targeting 5 districts in Quito, the aim is to gather feedback via the website and feed this to three key municipal councillors (concejales). The goal is to have a demonstrable impact on public policy making. In preparation for the site, local leaders have been trained in the use of computers and the web 2.0 tools.
The project is run by Auditoría Democrática Andina (ADA), an independent think-tank that fosters and monitors good governance practices in public affairs. To identify and map local needs and priorities, ADA recently carried out a survey of 600 interviewees. The survey results also provided information on the socio-economic profile of the 5 districts.
Trainings both for district leaders and for citizen end-users will be organised based on the results. The lack of access to communication tools, particularly in marginalised areas, is one of the main stumbling blocks to public participation in government in Ecuador. Training will therefore be key to the success of this project.