2024 Award "Best Practice in Citizen Participation"

18th Edition

Phase 6 of 7

Publication Preparation 08/09/2024 - 15/10/2024

Process phases

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Province of Esmeraldas: Emerging technologies for active participation with the rural sector

Official proposal

14/05/2024 18:03

Esmeraldas is currently considered one of the most dangerous cities in the world; however, since 2024 these rates have decreased due to government intervention, the incidence of Colombian and Peruvian cocaine producers has submerged us in poverty and lack of opportunities.

For this reason, the Provincial Government of Esmeraldas implemented ‘Rural digitalisation’ through the use of emerging technologies, which consisted in the implementation of rural WIFI in the poorest sectors for a digitalisation process, created an interactive Map of Provincial International Cooperation so that the actors of the territory can be informed and participate as beneficiaries in the different projects. The digital participatory budgeting was installed to inform and encourage citizen participation, allowing them to have a voice and vote in the provincial government's budget execution for the works to be carried out in the fiscal year.

Construction and implementation of the 360-degree interactive tour of the province's natural attractions, the first in the country created by a provincial government and complemented with oculus go virtual reality glasses, to immerse oneself in the depths of the Esmeraldas territory from anywhere in the world, coordinating with entrepreneurs, tourism entrepreneurs and public and private institutions to move from a natural attraction to a natural product.

Each of the projects helped citizens to have tools to promote and expand the systems of citizen participation, from information, connectivity, training, project generation, associativity, job creation, participation in national and international fairs with tourism entrepreneurs. The use of emerging technologies to promote citizen participation in a developing country implies a great effort where precedents have been set when the will of the people is to move forward with the world and governments support this initiative, great changes can be made.