Abstract
Author: Daniella Ben-Attar & Tim Campbell Institution: UN-HABITAT (Consultants) Address: P.O. Box 30030 Nairobi 00100, Kenya Email: daniella.benattar@gmail.com
Paper Title: ICT, Urban Governance & Youth
Youth are the fastest growing segment of the population, numbering more than 1.2 billion, with an estimated 87% living in developing countries. The majority of young people live in cities, with 60% of the urban population in the developing world expected to be under the age of 18 by 2030.
Despite their growing number, youth are largely excluded from participation in decision-making, leaving them socially and politically marginalized. Many youth live in informal settlements where opportunities for dialogue with governments are scarce. At the same time, young people have been at the forefront of the rapid developments in ICT, particularly the mobile miracle.
The critical question relating to these trends has moved from ICT access to usage. Mobile platforms offer new opportunities for engaging youth in urban governance. Broadband limitations have led to the innovation of "narrowband" mobile communications applications tailored for users in developing countries such as text messaging and scaled-down social networking. How are such mobile platforms being used by and for youth to enhance participatory engagement in local government? What are the key barriers and opportunities? What are some of the enabling conditions that must be present in order to ensure meaningful impact?
This paper addresses these questions through the presentation of data based on web-based canvasing of over 50 examples across several continents followed by personal interviews with a sample of cases facilitated by UN-HABITAT and a round of consultations. Research draws on local experiences from youth organizations and local authorities in developing countries, providing fresh insight into the approaches, challenges and impact of their efforts to utilize ICT and social media for civic engagement. The findings are organized around key parameters designed to guide the development of programs and policies that harness ICT as a tool to improve urban governance and local democracy for youth.
