Citizen participation index in rural public works management in intercultural contexts
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36097/rsan.v1i67.4079Keywords:
Citizen participation, Local governance, Rural Road infrastructure, Indigenous communitiesAbstract
The study evaluates citizen participation during the planning, implementation, and accountability phases of a rural road project in Indigenous communities in Gonzalo Pizarro, using a Citizen Participation Index (CPI). The study focuses on a 4.5 km road paving project connecting Indigenous communities in Gonzalo Pizarro parish, Ecuador. A mixed-methods approach was employed, using a non-experimental, cross-sectional design, with surveys administered to the target population and semi-structured interviews conducted with community leaders. For the quantitative assessment, a CPI was developed based on a Gaussian-type exponential formulation integrating the planning, implementation, and accountability phases. Its consistency was assessed through statistical analyses, non-parametric correlations, and sensitivity analysis. The results showed a progressive decrease in the CPI across the three phases, with statistically significant associations. Significant differences were identified according to sex and educational level, but not according to age group. The qualitative analysis revealed greater participation during the initial information-sharing and consultation processes, whereas monitoring, social oversight, and accountability showed lower levels of institutionalized participation. It is concluded that mechanisms for continuous participation should be strengthened throughout the entire management cycle of rural public works. The CPI constitutes a replicable methodological tool for characterizing the intensity and consistency of citizen participation in rural infrastructure projects.
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