DIGITAL INCLUSION, INNOVATION, AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION FOR SOCIETAL RESILIENCE: LESSONS FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Keywords:
Digital Inclusion, Innovation, Development Communication, Societal Resilience, COVID-19 PandemicAbstract
The study investigates how digital inclusion and innovation enhance development communication practices that promote societal resilience during crises. The essence is to examine the role of inclusive digital innovation in strengthening communication systems for collective adaptability and sustainable recovery. Despite the global shift toward digital solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic, disparities in access, participation, and digital literacy limited the effectiveness of communication strategies in fostering resilience, particularly in developing societies. This study is anchored on Development Communication Theory and Diffusion of Innovation Theory. The study adopts a descriptive and analytical research design based on secondary data from reports, policy documents, and scholarly literature. The Unit of Analysis and Document Corpus comprises global and national communication initiatives during the pandemic. Data were analysed thematically and descriptively. Findings indicate that societies with higher levels of digital inclusion and participatory innovation achieved stronger social cohesion, adaptability, and development continuity. The study recommends mainstreaming digital inclusion in national development communication policies to strengthen preparedness and resilience. It concludes that inclusive and innovative communication systems are critical for building equitable, adaptive, and sustainable societies.
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