The Asian Development Bank published today a new Governance Brief written by PTF Chief Technical Officer, Vinay Bhargava, on “Engaging Citizens and Civil Society to Promote Good Governance and Development Effectiveness.”
There is a growing movement for governments to call for greater citizen participation in the design and implementation of public policies and programs. This movement is propelled by emerging evidence that citizen engagement improves development outcomes, reduces poverty, and encourages peace by promoting social inclusion. The rapid rise in connectivity, 24/7 instant communications, and social media also enables governments to engage more extensively with citizens.This Brief explores these trends, outlines the benefits , and provides recommendations for successful citizen engagement programming.