It is highly recognized that active and engaged citizens play a critical role in shaping sustainable and good governments. Involving citizens in policymaking and considering their needs and priorities is crucial for designing and implementing effective public policies and services. Citizen engagement has been documented to positively impact service delivery, with evidence showing that involving citizens in decision-making processes can lead to improved service delivery outcomes.
Governments around the world have adopted different ways of engaging citizens including an e-governance platform utilizing information and technology systems, thereby enhancing their operations, and improving the provision of services to citizens. This shift has led to substantial advantages, such as increased efficiency, effectiveness, and enhanced opportunities for citizen engagement.
Despite global advancements, citizen engagement in Somalia has been historically limited due to decades of conflict and instability, weak governance structures, and a lack of basic services and infrastructure. However, in recent years, some positive developments have helped increase citizen engagement and participation in the country. Despite these developments, engagement remains deeply fragmented, with hard-to-reach areas and marginalized communities excluded from the decision-making processes.
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