Youth Engagement in Digital Platforms for Citizen Reporting in Congolese Urban Settings,

In Congolese urban settings, digital platforms have emerged as novel tools for citizen engagement in governance. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 30 youths, analysed using thematic content analysis. Youth engagement varied significantly across urban districts, with a majority showing interest and willingness to use digital reporting platforms for civic issues. The findings underscore the potential of digital governance in enhancing citizen participation but highlight the need for tailored interventions addressing youth perceptions and barriers. Policy makers should develop culturally sensitive and user-friendly digital platforms, incorporating community feedback mechanisms. Youth engagement, Digital governance, Citizen reporting, Democratic Republic of Congo 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.