E-Participation Adoption: Case Studies of Supply and Demand-Side Dynamics in Rwanda

Abstract

The paper explores the dynamics of e-participation adoption through the two main dimensions identified in the literature: the supply-side (government) and the demand-side (citizens). It focuses on how the interaction between supply- and demand-side drivers shapes e-participation adoption and influences meaningful outcomes, drawing on two case studies from Rwanda—the Citizen’s Guide to the Budget and Irembo.Gov. Through a thematic analysis, using both deductive and inductive coding strategies, the paper identifies the key themes that shape the intersection of supply and demand of e-participation. The case studies highlight that e-participation in Rwanda remains in its formative stages, characterized primarily by government-driven initiatives that often position citizens more as recipients rather than active contributors.