Toward a Framework for Advancing E-Governance Implementation and Utilization in Sierra Leone: Addressing Policy, Infrastructure, and Usability Requirements

The focus of this study was to design a framework for advancing e-governance implementation and utilization in Sierra Leone. This research work was triggered by the lack of robust ICT Infrastructure, inappropriate laws and policies, poor usability features of web platforms, and low digital skills in Sierra Leone. Most areas of the country lacked broadband connectivity, and people were unaware of e-governance services. Even where internet services were available, many people encountered challenges due to their inability to navigate the web interface and interpret the web content. Such challenges were reflected in the 2022 e-government survey report by the United Nations, in which Sierra Leone was ranked 185th out of 193 countries (“UN E-Government Survey”, 2022). Therefore, this study sought to design a framework for implementing and utilizing e-governance services to enhance service delivery and improve access to social services in Sierra Leone. This study contributed to knowledge from several fronts, such as combining the theoretical framework adopted, the type of research participants selected, and the study location. The mixed methodology with an explanatory sequential design was applied to gather in-depth knowledge of the research problem. Such research methodology and design were considered appropriate to achieve the research objectives and facilitated the generalizability and validity of the research outcome. The data was collected using a questionnaire and further probed by conducting interviews. The questionnaire guided the research participants’ thought process on the research objectives, and the interview captured their experiences in implementing and utilizing e-governance services. Securing these viewpoints enriched the data and provided a comprehensive understanding of the research problem. Additionally, it is worth noting that 98.4% of the research participants were involved in implementing e-governance, and validation from industry experts confirmed the research findings’ contribution to enhancing Sierra Leone’s e-governance. Among others, the key research findings include the need for capacitating regulatory institutions, updating laws and policies to address emerging issues, introducing sustainability measures, establishing standardization guidelines, liberalizing the telecommunication gateway, facilitating increasing digital skills, and introducing Creole as an optional digital content language. Generally, having such a framework would improve service delivery accountability and reduce corruption in the public and private sectors. It would also improve the living standards of citizens in Sierra Leone.