Access to accurate and timely information is a cornerstone of good governance. Yet many citizens lack the opportunity to know how resources are mobilized and spent, or how decisions are made by their assemblies. Digital platforms, ranging from websites and social media pages to mobile apps and SMS systems, provide direct, cost-effective, and inclusive channels for sharing governance information and receiving citizen feedback.
FoN works with district and municipal assemblies to:
Promote proactive information sharing: Encouraging assemblies to publish data on revenue mobilization, expenditure, and ongoing projects in real time.
Enable citizen feedback: Using digital tools such as SMS platforms, hotlines, or online forms to allow citizens to report concerns, ask questions, or make suggestions.
Strengthen capacity: Training assembly staff on how to manage and sustain digital platforms effectively, ensuring they remain active, user-friendly, and transparent.
Bridge digital gaps: Exploring ways to include citizens who may have limited internet access by integrating offline tools like SMS, community radio, or public information kiosks with digital platforms
Impact and Benefits
Through digital governance promotion, FoN is helping assemblies to:
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Increase access to information and reducing speculation and mistrust.
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Make governance more transparent and responsive.
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Expand citizen participation, especially among youth and urban populations who rely heavily on digital tools.
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Build stronger accountability systems by keeping records and feedback visible.
Linking Digital to Community Accountability
Digital governance platforms complement FoN’s other accountability tools such as town hall meetings, citizen scorecards, and accountability billboards. Together, they ensure that information flows continuously, both online and offline, so that no community is left behind.
Call to Action
FoN remains committed to supporting local governments to embrace digital governance as part of their accountability culture. We encourage citizens to use these platforms actively, and assemblies to invest in sustaining them as key instruments for building open, inclusive, and people-centered governance.