E-Governance and Urban Policy Design in Developing Countries

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62 E-GOVERNANCE AND URBAN POLICY DESIGN

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settlement that allows the creation of points of interest and facilities

is not easy to achieve but it is a key component as a strategy for

on Google Maps such as churches, schools, markets, police stations,

resource mobilization toward implementation and use of e-governance

parks and health centres. This helps people to organize the pursuit of common interests. These network-based applications are external to

tools. Without the involvement of the community in planning and decision-making, improvement of projects cannot meet the needs of

the e-government process on the platform provided by the municipality,

the community, effectively.

but indicate clearly the tendencies of groups leading the community.

Future Work and Recommendations

In the scenario of squatter settlements in Peru, there are two priority needs before implementing mechanisms of e-governance and good

The main difficulty in incorporating Manchay and other squatter settlements into e-government is the situation of inherent inequality in

results can be obtained. First is to start thinking about other possibilities to ease the process of land tenure formalization in order to promote

comparison with Lima. A starting point is for local governments to begin

private business development and economic flow to satisfy community

providing land tenure security, facilitating ICT access, and promoting

priorities. Second, government and policymakers should consider

community participation in well-established communities. A trustful relationship between government and citizens facilitates coordination

analysing new strategies for providing formal support to squatter settlements using ICT and starting trials for online land and business

for making, implementation and compliance with policies possible.

registration, and encouraging the flow of information in dialogue

Workshops, training sessions and technical advice for communities,

with residents.

united by common interests, can increase the interest and confidence level in local governments. However few can make for closing the digital divide, which requires provision of infrastructure neglected by

Joint initiatives by community organizations are powerful in supporting governance structures and making them stronger. There is evidence

private companies.

that official municipality websites and social media networks facilitate communication between the community organizations, residents

Local governments need to strengthen their communication strategy in order to make residents and community representatives be part of the decision-making processes. Information communications technology has

and local governments. Therefore, project leaders and policymakers interested in community participation need to talk with representatives of community organizations and establish clear processes focused on

demonstrated its reliability as a reliable source to supply, retrieve and disseminate information, ensure transparency, and exchange experiences

conveying the power of local representative leaders to serve local interest.

between community organizations, authorities and residents.

Finally, what happens after land tenure? Once squatter settlements are legally recognized, owners are eligible to basic urban services and facilities to initiate ICT for communicating and organizing with their

Conclusion This chapter explored the community of Manchay in Peru and located the community’s case in the current social and political context.

community leaders for solutions to government challenges. This is a long process where owners of squatter dwellings claim their right to land and provision of services, using the e-government platform.

Development in squatter settlements is a specific form of community participation, the success of which is determined by two key factors: first,

Attempts by local governments to implement ICT to improve local community participation and e-governance have demonstrated that

the role of the local government and the tools they use to implement their strategies; and second, the complexity of the decision-making at the core of the community participation process. Community participation

citizens are capable of using the tool to convey community initiatives. Therefore, Manchay can serve as a blueprint for replication elsewhere where there are similar development challenges.


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