Strengthening Community Governance of Open Infrastructure Services in Lusaka, Zambia

Adah Bitiah Chembo

Funding Area: Community governance / Gobernanza comunitaria

Problem Statement: The proposed work addresses several problems and needs within the context of community governance of open infrastructure services in Lusaka, Zambia. Firstly, there is a lack of meaningful community engagement and participation in decision-making processes related to infrastructure services.This project aims to address this need by organizing community workshops and establishing a dedicated committee/working group that includes key stakeholders. Through these efforts, the project will enable the local community to actively contribute to the design and implementation of governance structures. . The project seeks to diversify governance by actively involving marginalized groups, ensuring that decisions are made with a broad range of perspectives and interests in mind.

Proposed Activities: Organizing community workshops: The expertise required includes facilitation skills, community engagement expertise, and knowledge of governance principles. Convening a dedicated committee/working group:. The expertise required includes project management, leadership, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge of governance practices. Reviewing and evolving governance processes: This activity involves a comprehensive review of existing bylaws and policies, identifying gaps and areas for improvement. The timeline for this activity can be set for a few months, considering the need for thorough analysis and consultation with stakeholders. The expertise required includes legal expertise, policy analysis, and governance expertise. Maximizing openness and accessibility: This activity focuses on ensuring that the project and infrastructure services are open, accessible, and reusable with minimal restrictions. It involves incorporating open licenses, providing accessibility services such as translation and closed-captioning, and promoting inclusive practices. The timeline for this activity can be integrated into the overall project timeline. The expertise required includes expertise in open licensing, accessibility standards, and inclusive design. Capacity building and resource allocation: This activity involves providing training and support to community members, committee/working group members, and other stakeholders on governance principles and practices. It also includes allocating resources, such as software subscriptions, equipment, and supplies, to strengthen the governance structures. The timeline for capacity building can be ongoing throughout the project, with specific training sessions and resource allocation occurring at appropriate intervals. The expertise required includes training and capacity building expertise, resource management, and budgeting skills. Monitoring and evaluation: This activity ensures that the project's progress and outcomes are tracked and evaluated regularly. It involves setting up monitoring mechanisms, collecting data on project milestones, and conducting periodic evaluations to assess the effectiveness of the governance structures. The timeline for monitoring and evaluation can be spread over the entire project duration, with regular check-ins and evaluation cycles. The expertise required includes monitoring and evaluation expertise, data collection and analysis skills, and reporting. In terms of resources, the project will require: Human resources: Project coordinator/manager, facilitators for workshops, experts in governance, legal support, translators or interpreters, and evaluation specialists. Financial resources: Funding to cover staff/consultant fees, travel costs, honoraria, accessibility services, equipment and supplies, software subscriptions, and overhead costs. Physical resources: Workshop venues, equipment for training sessions, and necessary technology infrastructure for accessibility services.

Openness: Engagement of a broader community: The project recognizes the importance of engaging a broader community in the governance of infrastructure services. Activities such as community workshops will be organized to solicit input and feedback from community members regarding their governance needs and to actively involve them in decision-making processes. The workshops will provide a platform for diverse voices to be heard and considered. The project will also establish a dedicated committee or working group comprising key stakeholders from the community to lead the work on diversifying governance. This inclusive approach ensures that a broader range of perspectives and expertise are represented and that decisions are made collectively. Open sharing of project output: The project is committed to sharing project outputs openly to benefit a wider audience. This includes sharing the findings, lessons learned, and best practices emerging from the (re)design of governance structures and processes. The project will adopt open licenses for its outputs, enabling others to freely access, use, and build upon the knowledge and resources generated. Additionally, the project will leverage digital platforms and networks to disseminate project outputs, ensuring they reach a broader audience and contribute to the broader discourse on open governance in infrastructure services.

Challenges: Community engagement: Engaging a diverse community in the (re)design of governance structures and processes can be challenging. Some community members may have limited awareness or interest in governance matters, making it difficult to achieve widespread participation. Resistance to change: Introducing changes to existing governance structures may face resistance from stakeholders who are comfortable with the status quo or fear losing influence. Institutional buy-in: Gaining support from relevant institutions and authorities for the proposed work may pose challenges. Some existing governance structures may be resistant to change or may not recognize the value of community-led governance. Building relationships with key stakeholders, effectively communicating the benefits, and demonstrating the feasibility and impact of the proposed work will be important in garnering institutional buy-in.

Neglectedness: To the best of my knowledge, there may be other potential sources of funding available for this type of work. However, at this time, no funding has been received for the proposed work

Success: Increased community engagement and participation: Success can be measured by the number of community workshops conducted, Additionally, tracking the number of new individuals or organizations actively participating in the governance structures would indicate the success of efforts to diversify governance. Improved governance structures and processes: tangible improvements in the transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness of the governance structures. This will be evaluated through surveys, feedback from stakeholders, and the establishment of effective decision-making processes. Adoption of open practices and principles: Success can be measured by the extent to which the infrastructure service adheres to open practices, such as utilizing open licenses and promoting accessibility.

Total Budget: 8650

Affiliations: N/A

LMIE Carveout: Yes, our project fits within the category of projects led by individuals and organizations working in Low and Middle Income Economies (LMIEs). Our team and organization are based in Lusaka, Zambia, which is located in a LMIE. The proposed project specifically aims to strengthen community governance of open infrastructure services in Lusaka, Zambia, and addresses the needs of the local community. By focusing on enhancing transparency, accountability, and openness in infrastructure services, our project directly benefits the community in a LMIE setting.

Team Skills: Our team possesses a diverse range of skills, capacity, knowledge, and lived experience that are vital to the success of the proposed project. We have a deep understanding of community governance, open infrastructure, and public health, which will enable us to effectively address the needs of the project. Our expertise in project management, monitoring and evaluation, and data analysis will ensure the smooth implementation and impact assessment of the project. O We are confident in our ability to drive positive change, strengthen community governance, and promote openness and transparency in infrastructure services in Lusaka, Zambia.

Submission Number: 13