I have been engaged on a short term Nigeria-based consultancy on the role ICTs¹ Just in case, ICTs = Information and Communication Technologies. could play in promoting citizen engagement in public policy and decision-making processes – or what some call e-participation.

Part of the job requires research on the rate of ICT diffusion in the country at the state level as the project being designed will operate at subnational level. For our purposes, ICTs include both Internet and mobile phone, and use of social media platforms by local stakeholders. The usual expectation is that highest levels of poverty and overall socio-economic inequality are accompanied by lower ICT diffusion rates.

Getting data for national ICT diffusion is relatively easy as they are in fact multiple sources. One

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Introduction

According to many observers, the rapid diffusion of new ICTs such as the Internet and social media has empowered people all around the globe. Today, social media users for example have direct access to the public sphere and can thus launch campaigns to sway public opinion. These new channels have given voice to millions of people who previously could not be part of public discussions on issues that affected their lives.

Governments, national and subnational, are also users of new ICT platforms that in most cases are beyond their own jurisdictions and do not require passports. Governments thus need to have defined strategies to promote the use of ICT and social media in policy and decision-making processes and foster the delivery of public services for all.

Harnessing ICTs

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