Home // ICDS 2018, The Twelfth International Conference on Digital Society and eGovernments // View article


Citizen -centric Smart City Planning for Africa: A Qualitative Case Study of Early Stage Co-creation of a Namibian Smart Community

Authors:
Virpi Oksman
Mika Raunio

Keywords: -Citizen-centric; smart city; co-creation; virtual reality, Africa, developing economies

Abstract:
This paper examines social and economic sustainable development of African urban areas using the Smart Community concept. Sub-Saharan African communities face an urgent need for affordable housing, new working and learning environments, and technologies to support sustainable development. The paper provides insights to the main research questions: 1. How can citizen-centric engagement process for community development be enhanced in an African context? 2. What kinds of ICT tools can support such processes? and 3. What is required for citizen-centric smart community development? We conducted a focus group study in Keetmanshoop, the Karas region in Southern Namibia. The main lesson learned focus on the need to develop a reliable ICT infrastructure along with affordable housing and feasible services.

Pages: 30 to 35

Copyright: Copyright (c) IARIA, 2018

Publication date: March 25, 2018

Published in: conference

ISSN: 2308-3956

ISBN: 978-1-61208-615-6

Location: Rome, Italy

Dates: from March 25, 2018 to March 29, 2018