Decentralisation in Togo: The Contribution of ICT-Based Participatory Development Approaches to Strengthening Local Governance

Abstract

This study adds to the debate on the contribution of digital Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) towards the improvement of local governance.Sub-Saharan Africa has been identified as a region where the achievement of development goals is hampered by a high degree of government centralisation. The recognition of decentralisation as a strategic imperative for development has contributed to the popularity of participatory development approaches (PDA) which aim at empowering local populations. Motivated by the rapid of mobile telephony in Africa, scholars and development practitioners have become increasingly interested in the possibility of utilising digital ICT in the context of PDA in the region. In the context of a decentralisation programme, the German KfW Development Bank is currently pilot testing an ICT-based citizen participation platform in several Togolese middle cities. The objective of the platform is two improve citizen participation, transparency, and accountability in local governance.This study presents a Social Network Analysis (SNA) that investigates the state of decentralisation in two of the Togolese cities in which KfW’s ICT-based citizen participation platform is being implemented.Based on the findings of the SNA, the authors discuss the potential of ICT-based participatory development approaches to strengthen local governance in general, and formulate specific recommendations for the further development of KfWs ICT-based citizen participation platform in Togo.