Caracterización de la participación ciudadana en el desarrollo local del cantón Esmeraldas, Ecuador

This study aimed to characterize citizen participation in the formulation of local development public policies within the Municipal Autonomous Decentralized Government (GAD) of Esmeraldas during the 2019–2023 period. A mixed-method approach was adopted, using a non-experimental, descriptive, and cross-sectional design. The quantitative component involved the application of a structured survey to a probabilistic sample of 382 citizens, while the qualitative component consisted of a documentary analysis of the 2019–2023 Territorial Development and Land Use Plan (PDOT). Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative analysis was conducted through thematic and categorical coding. The results indicate that although the PDOT formally incorporates citizen participation mechanisms across its economic, environmental, sociocultural, and political-institutional dimensions, there is a low level of public awareness regarding these mechanisms (19.11%) and limited effective participation in the formulation of public policies. Additionally, low attendance at accountability processes was observed, alongside greater involvement in sectoral activities of an economic nature. It is concluded that citizen participation in Esmeraldas is characterized by adequate normative formalization but limited practical appropriation and exercise by the population. The gap between institutional design and citizen experience highlights the need to strengthen the dissemination, accessibility, and effectiveness of participatory mechanisms in order to consolidate more inclusive local governance.