Open Source Software Adoption by Rural Community Leaders in The Gambia: Evaluating Leadership Training Programmes Effectiveness

Open Source Software (OSS) adoption in rural communities is increasingly recognised as a means to promote technological advancement and economic empowerment. In The Gambia, where access to technology infrastructure is limited, leadership training programmes have been initiated to facilitate the uptake of OSS. The research methodology employed a mixed-method approach comprising qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys. Data was collected from 120 participants across The Gambia. A thematic analysis revealed that 75% of the respondents reported enhanced leadership skills leading to better OSS adoption strategies. However, only 40% of the community leaders successfully integrated OSS into their local governance processes. The training programmes have been effective in improving leadership qualities but face challenges with practical implementation. Further tailored training sessions and supportive policies are recommended to enhance long-term OSS adoption. Model estimation used $\hat{\theta}=argmin_{\theta}\sum_i\ell(y_i,f_\theta(x_i))+\lambda\lVert\theta\rVert_2^2$, with performance evaluated using out-of-sample error.