Information is power The Urgent Need for Information in Remote Drylands Communities in the Horn of Africa

• 28th Aug 2020
• 1
• Thematic Area: Resilience

• Tags: Information dissemination in ASALs , Community information , Community benefits , Public participation , Community participation ,

The study aims to illustrate the need for information dissemination regarding the policy and development process in remote drylands communities in the Horn of Africa. This asymmetry allows manipulation of communities and inability to hold stakeholders to account. This is the first study by DLCI that aimed to pilot information dissemination directly to communities. The study questioned what would be the most reliable and efficient manner to disseminate information to the communities. While FM radio is often touted as the most effective it still faces challenges such as the lack of vernacular radio stations or that most radio stations have a target audience that they are not willing to deviate form. Additionally, county websites were not regularly updated and rarely have space for public information. The study found that the following issues were a priority for community information provision; Community land law and community benefit sharing legislation; County planning and budgeting; Climate/weather and livestock information; Basic services; Local Conservancies. The study concludes that comprehensive information is required to ensure and promote public participation. The lack of information has resulted in an environment of distrust between communities and the government.

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