Quality and Transparency of Public Information in the Municipalities of Ecuador

This project addresses the gap between the potential of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and the actual implementation of the Organic Law on Transparency and Access to Information (LOTAIP, 2004) in local governments in Ecuador. Although the law mandates the public dissemination of all information generated with state resources, municipal websites are not always utilizing these tools to provide quality information or guarantee citizens' right to access it. The study aims to analyze the current situation by examining how LOTAIP is implemented in data publication and the quality of that information. The methodology combines quantitative approaches (web content analysis and citizen participation indicators) with qualitative methods (description and analysis of the communication reality). It will investigate aspects such as the organization, accessibility, and classification of published information, seeking to explain the underlying causes of communication problems in the application of the law. The direct beneficiaries are the citizens, who, by having access to transparent information about the use of economic resources, can influence political decision-making and demand improvements in local quality of life. Previous evaluations (2016-2017) already indicated initial shortcomings, although subsequent contact with municipal officials suggested significant improvements.<br/><br/><b>Goal</b>: <br/>The main objective is to generate a comprehensive explanation regarding the relationship between the quality and transparency of information published on local government websites, the routines of communication managers, and the degree of compliance with the Organic Law on Transparency and Access to Information (LOTAIP) in Ecuador, in order to identify key areas for improvement.<br/><br/><b>Research lines</b>: <br/>State, citizenship, public policies and interculturality