Mainstreaming Collaborative Decision-Making
Challenge
Citizens’ isolation from governance is still a widespread challenge in many African countries which undermines democratic ideals and thus stifles growth. Often, political power is concentrated in the hands of a few elite persons or groups, resulting in a schism between the government and the general public. This isolation is manifested by low public participation in decision-making processes, a lack of openness, and insufficient representation of varied communities. As a result, policies and governance institutions may fail to meet the majority’s needs and ambitions, deepening socioeconomic inequities and fuelling dissatisfaction in the regime government.
The involvement of communities in their governance is crucial for any functioning democracy. Citizen participation refers to any procedure that directly engages the public in decision-making and fully considers public input. According to the United States Protection Agency, citizen participation is an ongoing activity rather than a one-time event. It consists of a set of activities and actions taken by a sponsor agency over the duration of a project to both inform and solicit feedback from the public. Public involvement allows stakeholders (individuals, interest groups, and communities) to influence decisions that affect their lives.
Proposal
To mitigate this, we believe that proper promotion of direct citizen input in governance through tech-driven platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram as it is popularly used in Africa or the use of an Application. In-person methods, such as town hall meetings, public consultations, and advisory committees, will be used to provide valuable opportunities for direct dialogue between citizens and policymakers, which then ensures diverse perspectives are heard and considered. In addition, it has been noted that technology can enhance these efforts by offering online surveys, e-government portals, social media engagement, and mobile apps, which facilitate broader participation and real-time feedback. Combining these approaches increases inclusivity, transparency, and responsiveness in governance, while also accommodating different segments of the population. To ensure effectiveness, it is crucial to prioritise accessibility, educate citizens on using these platforms, and safeguard data privacy which will foster a more connected and representative democratic process.
For example, according to Obonyo (2023) in Kenya, the constitution that was adopted in 2010 enshrined the ordinary citizens the right to be involved in policy-making especially at local levels. This dispensation gave the people at grassroots and or community levels the opportunity to take part in discussions, decision making and scrutiny of government through a collaborative process.
Funding for this project will be sourced from multiple stakeholders, including civil society organisations, various government bodies, and international funding partners. By engaging a diverse range of contributors, the project aims to leverage a broad spectrum of resources and expertise. This approach ensures not only a robust financial base but also a wealth of support in terms of knowledge and networks. Collaboration with these stakeholders will be pivotal in achieving the project’s objectives and ensuring its sustainability. The combined efforts of these entities will help drive the project forward, fostering greater impact and success in addressing the targeted issues.
Impact
Collaborative decision making has been known to lead to better decisions because decision-makers have more full knowledge, in the form of new facts, values, and viewpoints received via public input – to employ in the decision-making process. In this way, decisions are more implementable and durable because they take into account the needs and interests of all stakeholders, especially vulnerable and marginalised populations, and stakeholders have a better understanding and investment in the outcomes. Consequently, judgments informed by collaborative decision making processes are perceived as more legitimate and less vulnerable to criticism. Decision-makers who properly understand stakeholder interests become better communicators, able to explain decisions and decision reasons in language that stakeholders understand and relate to.