E-Governance as an Enabler of Climate Resilience in a Climate Vulnerable State: A Qualitative Policy Analysis of The Gambia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64780/jeims.v2i1.13Keywords:
Climate Resilience, Digital Innovation, E-governance, Socio Technical SystemAbstract
Climate change poses significant challenges for The Gambia, particularly through sea level rise, coastal erosion, and increasing rainfall variability that threaten livelihoods, food security, and coastal ecosystems. Although national climate adaptation efforts have largely emphasized physical infrastructure and sectoral interventions, the potential of e governance as an engineering enabled innovation system for strengthening climate resilience remains underexplored in climate vulnerable developing states. This study aims to examine the role of e governance in supporting climate adaptation by integrating digital infrastructure, data systems, and governance processes in The Gambia. The research adopts a qualitative policy analysis approach using thematic analysis of secondary data, including national policy documents, government and international organization reports, and peer reviewed academic literature. The analysis focuses on how digital governance tools such as climate data platforms, early warning systems, and digital participation mechanisms are positioned within existing climate adaptation frameworks. The findings indicate that e governance has considerable potential to enhance climate resilience by improving access to climate information, enabling real time early warning mechanisms, strengthening data driven planning, and promoting inclusive citizen participation. However, effective implementation is constrained by critical engineering and institutional barriers, including limited digital infrastructure, unreliable electricity supply, low digital literacy, fragmented information systems, and weak inter agency coordination. This study contributes to climate governance and innovation literature by conceptualizing e governance as a socio technical, engineering enabled mechanism that transforms climate resilience from a policy aspiration into an operational adaptive capacity. The findings offer policy relevant insights for integrating engineering driven digital innovations into national climate adaptation strategies in resource constrained contexts.
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