Is citizen engagement a game changer for development?

1. Is citizen engagement a game changer for development? Argue your case by referencing
the concepts, theoretical frameworks and examples highlighted in this course.
Is citizen engagement a game changer for development? YES IT IS
Citizens are the ultimate beneficiaries of any development and also the primary absorbers of
distresses that arise from underdevelopment. This means that citizens should at the far front be
engaged in any form of development since are the main benefactors and thus in position to guide
on the best development initiative design to achieve the best final results. Best chefs knows how
and when to taste to see that there is right balance of ingredients for the best meal; therefore,
citizens are the best chefs/cooks for that which themselves will benefit from.
One main difficulty which has been experienced in driving for societal developments is lack of
accountability by those involved in the decision making and implementation process of projects.
Through citizen involvement in project identification through implementation, this problem can
be greatly reduced.
Citizen engagement is not a technical process that can be replicated independently of context.
This means that, understanding the localized context where developments are desired will go a
long way to deternine the extend and the best way to engage the citizens.
Three-part Framework for context analysis
1 Citizen engagement is interplay of five constitutive elements: Citizen action, State action,
Civic mobilization, Information and Interface.
2 Review of sociopolitical factors has greatest bearing in man effectiveness on citizen
engagement. These factors include: political society, state-society relations, civil society, intra-
society relations, inter-elite relations and global dimensions

2. 3 Presentation of the framework to assess context.
Long versus Short Route to Accountability
Long route to accountability
Short route to accountability
Short route to accountability is where the citizens have a direct contact with the service
providers. Long route means the process where citizens participate in electing policy makers who
can fight for transparency and truthfulness or in referendums to determine a more effective
policy prescription for their particular context. Short route (citizen-provider relationship) has
been seen as the most effective in monitoring and demanding for social accountability because
citizens are able to access the service providers and query a certain action or result. Moreover,
linking service providers to citizens through community scorecards, citizens are empowered to
identify priority issues and provide feedback to service providers. Citizen-provider relationship
can further be strengthened by: providing citizens greater choice of service providers,
empowering citizens to monitor service providers and hold them to account, and by tailoring the
service to better meet the needs of citizens. This approach is best in minimizing odds in
tendering and procurement processes. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2015.03.011)
Policy
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3. ‘Thick’ versus ‘Thin’ participation
‘Thick’ engagement in involves many people working in small groups . it is intensive,
informed and deliberate. This form of engagement is more likely to be face to face. Many thick
processes today include both online and face to face elements. This approach has been widely
applied in India .
‘Thin’ engagement involves a range of vast numbers of people to express their opinions, make
choices or affiliate themselves with a particular group or cause in relatives simple ways. It is
faster, easier and potentially viral. This approach has been applied in Kenya 2010 constitutional
referendum, Tunisia 2014.
http://www2.ids.ac.uk/gdr/cfs/pdfs/AnUpside-downViewofGovernance.pdf
Conflict affected situations
Studies have shown that top-down anti-corruption practices and national level approaches to
improving accountability mechanisms have failed in conflict-affected situations. In contrast,
identifying and supporting local accountability mechanisms, strengthening partnerships and
supporting collaborative governance and capacity building are more effective in these contexts.
Cases like Afghanistan and Liberia