Desafíos encarados para superar la brecha digital indígena en Brasil

El objetivo de este trabajo es identificar el nivel de inclusión digital realizado por el programa brasileño de inclusión digital Gobierno Electrónico - Servicio de Atención al Ciudadano (Governo Eletrônico - Serviço de Atendimento ao Cidadão - Gesac) en tierras indígenas. Nos guiamos por el sistema de inclusión digital del sociólogo brasileño Bernardo Sorj, quien identifica cinco niveles: 1) la existencia de una infraestructura física de transmisión, 2) la disponibilidad de equipamiento/conexión, 3) capacitación en el uso de herramientas informáticas e internet, 4) la capacidad intelectual e la integración social, e 5) la producción y uso de contenidos específicos. Nuestra hipótesis es que, a pesar del discurso oficial alineado con los debates sobre las sociedades del conocimiento, en la práctica, Gesac todavía está operado por un determinismo tecnológico. Para probar esta hipótesis, realizamos la observación del punto de acceso a internet en la escuela indígena Pamáali, ubicado en la zona noroccidental de la Amazonia brasileña. También hemos discutido y llevado a cabo entrevistas con los actores involucrados en la implementación de programas de inclusión digital dirigida a los pueblos indígenas: los ministerios y funcionarios de la Fundación Nacional del Indio (FUNAI), representantes del tercer sector y los propios indígenas. Los desafíos que identificamos llevan a la conclusión de que la brecha digital indígena es sólo una de las varias brechas a que los grupos indígenas son sometidos desde tiempos coloniales, siendo una consecuencia más de estas divisiones a la vez que también las acentúa. Mientras las acciones de inclusión digital del gobierno brasileño dirigidos a los pueblos indígenas no se hagan e implementen como parte de una política indígena más amplia y no tengan en cuenta las especificidades de estos grupos, estas iniciativas se limitaran a brindar conexión a internet y la donación de equipos que serán subutilizados o se deterioran rápidamente.This paper’s objective is to identify the level of digital inclusion made possible by Brazilian digital divide program Electronic Government – Citizen Attention Service (Governo Eletrônico – Serviço de Atendimento ao Cidadão – Gesac) on indigenous lands. We are guided by Brazilian sociologist Bernardo Sorj’s five level digital inclusion system: 1) the existence of physical transmission infrastructure, 2) the availability of equipment/connection, 3) training in the use of computing tools and the internet, 4) the intellectual ability and social integration, and 5) the production and use of specific content. Our hypothesis is that, despite an official discourse aligned with the discussions on the knowledge societies, in practice, Gesac is still operated by a technological determinism. To test this hypothesis, we performed the observation of the internet access point in the indigenous school Pamáali, of Baniwa and Coripaco ethnicities, located in the northwestern area of the Brazilian Amazon. We also discussed and conducted interviews with actors involved in the implementation of digital inclusion programs aimed at indigenous peoples: ministries and Indian National Foundation (FUNAI) officials, representatives of the third sector and indigenous themselves. The challenges we identify lead to the conclusion that indigenous digital divide is just one of the several divides to which indigenous groups are subjected since colonial times, being one more consequence of these divides at the same time that it also accentuates them. As long as Brazilian government’s digital inclusion actions aimed at indigenous peoples are not created and implemented as part of a broader indigenous policy and do not take into consideration the specificities of these groups, these initiatives will be limited to providing internet connection and donating equipment that shall either remain underused or will rapidly deteriorate

South American Expert Roundtable : increasing adaptive governance capacity for coping with unintended side effects of digital transformation

This paper presents the main messages of a South American expert roundtable (ERT) on the unintended side effects (unseens) of digital transformation. The input of the ERT comprised 39 propositions from 20 experts representing 11 different perspectives. The two-day ERT discussed the main drivers and challenges as well as vulnerabilities or unseens and provided suggestions for: (i) the mechanisms underlying major unseens; (ii) understanding possible ways in which rebound effects of digital transformation may become the subject of overarching research in three main categories of impact: development factors, society, and individuals; and (iii) a set of potential action domains for transdisciplinary follow-up processes, including a case study in Brazil. A content analysis of the propositions and related mechanisms provided insights in the genesis of unseens by identifying 15 interrelated causal mechanisms related to critical issues/concerns. Additionally, a cluster analysis (CLA) was applied to structure the challenges and critical developments in South America. The discussion elaborated the genesis, dynamics, and impacts of (groups of) unseens such as the digital divide (that affects most countries that are not included in the development of digital business, management, production, etc. tools) or the challenge of restructuring small- and medium-sized enterprises (whose service is digitally substituted by digital devices). We identify specific issues and effects (for most South American countries) such as lack of governmental structure, challenging geographical structures (e.g., inclusion in high-performance transmission power), or the digital readiness of (wide parts) of society. One scientific contribution of the paper is related to the presented methodology that provides insights into the phenomena, the causal chains underlying “wanted/positive” and “unwanted/negative” effects, and the processes and mechanisms of societal changes caused by digitalization

Bridging the ICT4D Design-Actuality Gap: “Human ATMs” and the Provision of Financial Services for “Humble People”

Most challenges in ICT for development (ICT4D) projects can be related to differences in perceptions of systems developers and their actual users. Such design-actuality gaps exist both because designers take an uninformed stance towards the user context, and also because problems that ICT4D projects address are nested in systems whose interplay is nearly impossible to predict. Although gaps are inevitable, users are not passive recipients whose only choices are to accept shortfalls in design or reject ICT4D technologies. Rather, users may act to remedy shortfalls through system work-arounds. In this paper we investigate the design use gap in the Brazilian correspondent banking model, an ICT4D project in which local small businesspeople interact with social, financial, government, and technical systems to provide financial services mostly for poor populations. Our findings suggest that correspondents’ acts to alter the financial and social systems proved sufficient to permit success of the project. Our results point to the importance of taking into account user actions and the separate roles of individual systems when designing ICT4D projects and theorizing their performance

Mediatic, informational and digital skills and competencies in students from agricultural family schools and rural family home, in the Amazon Biome, Brazil.

Abstract. The article presents partial results of an ongoing research action, within the scope of the project ?Geodigital Inclusion and Territorial Management of Family-Based Production Units: Generation of Sustainability Index for the Amazon Biome?. This project provides for the definition and availability of indicators of environmental, economic, agricultural, social and governance sustainability, aiming to assist family farmers in the management of the property, subsidizing them in decision making and increasing family income. Embrapa Territorial Intelligence carries out the execution of this research project in partnership with Embrapa Agricultural Informatics, units of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), headquartered in Campinas, São Paulo (SP), Brazil. The article presents a contribution to the education of the field in Brazil, through a continuous formation action, in the non-formal education modality, through presential and distance training courses, for students of the Agricultural Family School (EFA acronym for which it is known in Brazil) and Rural Family House (CFR acronym for which it is known in Brazil) in the Amazon Biome. This action was based on a training needs diagnosis, conducted through a questionnaire applied to 144 students, distributed between EFA and CFR, located in the Brazilian states of Acre, Amapá, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Pará, Rondônia and Roraima. The objective of this diagnosis was to identify and analyze the training needs regarding: 1) media, informational and digital skills and competencies of these students; 2) students? level of knowledge and domain of issues related to agricultural production systems and the sustainable development of family agricultural production units. This paper analyzes and presents the result of the diagnosis regarding only the students? media, informational and digital skills and competencies. In this sense, the analysis of these competencies provided the subsidies for the elaboration of a formation and qualification program, oriented under the Pedagogy of Alternance approach, and that considers the specificities and the aspirations of the young students, in search of an education of the field compatible with the local reality and the aspiration of the subjects involved in the process.Na publicação: João Alfredo Carvalho Mangabeira

Abstracts : Policy Research working paper series - numbers3348-3398

This paper contains abstracts of Policy, Research Working paper series Numbers 3348 - 3398.Environmental Economics&Policies,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Poverty Assessment,Health Economics&Finance,Achieving Shared Growth

BOUNDARY OBJECTS AND BLINDING: THE CONTRADICTORY ROLE OF GIS IN THE PROTECTION OF THE AMAZON RAINFOREST

Based on detailed observations of how senior officials and forest rangers collaborate together using geographic information systems (GIS) this article examines the contradictory role of boundary objects in the enforcement of deforestation control policies in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. Specifically, we unpack the mechanisms behind the way in which these artifacts have simultaneously facilitated joint work and fostered conflict between different groups working in the region. From these observations it emerged that the reification of work related the role of GIS as a boundary object contributed on the one hand the emergence of new forms of collaboration at a distance but on the other hand led to a process we call boundary-blinding, namely, the inability of managers to understand the practices and outcomes of the work of the groups across boundaries. From that the paper proposes a (re)conceptualization of the notion of boundary objects that pays particular attention to the process of reification and its contradictory outcomes in the context of joint work. The paper also concludes point out to some of the challenges involved in fostering inter-departmental collaboration through ICT in the public sector

The Impact of ICT on Financial Inclusion: Evidence from Global Sample

This study investigates the impact of information and communication technology (ICT) on financial inclusion in a panel of 74 countries for a period of four years i.e., 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2021. We employ panel regression methods to estimate our model. Specifically, we used the fixed effects regression as a preliminary analysis. However, to mitigate the potential endogeneity concern in the model, we utilize the panel instrumental variable (IV) regression as our preferred estimation method. We find a positive and statistically significant impact of ICT index on financial inclusion. As a sensitivity analysis, we split the sample into two sub-groups – high-income and middle-income countries. Our results suggest that ICT is a significant determinant of financial inclusion in the sample countries. Specifically, internet penetration is a robust driver of financial inclusion in middle-income countries. The policymakers, particularly in middle-income countries, should focus on expanding the internet base to achieve higher financial inclusion

Climate Change and Innovation in Brazil: Threats and Opportunities

In recent decades, Brazil has adopted a political approach focused on maintaining economic stability and consolidating inclusive social policies. However, despite repeated attempts, little progress has been made in overcoming difficulties within the country and making Brazil more competitive in the global market. Nevertheless, there seems to be an awakening and a certain consensus among scholars of Brazilian problems that the expected inclusive economic growth cycle may be achieved if Brazil invests in enhancing the bioeconomy business environment through bioenergy and innovation. The actual crisis is fast–tracking two major transformations at the global level: the energy transition and the information revolution, both dependent on innovation. Brazil showcases a comparative advantage for renewable energy sources in comparison to the rest of the world. Even considering the controversial major use of hydroelectricity and sugarcane biofuels, these sources are undoubtfully less harmful than fossil sources, such as coal and diesel. This could be an unprecedented opportunity. Nevertheless, Brazil has faced considerable environmental disasters in recent years, despite its consistent legal framework protecting the environment

CHALLENGES FACED IN OVERCOMING INDIGENOUS DIGITAL DIVIDE IN BRAZIL

El objetivo de este trabajo es identificar el nivel de inclusión digital realizado por el programa brasileño de inclusión digital Gobierno Electrónico - Servicio de Atención al Ciudadano (Governo Eletrônico - Serviço de Atendimento ao Cidadão - Gesac) en tierras indígenas. Nos guiamos por el sistema de inclusión digital del sociólogo brasileño Bernardo Sorj, quien identifica cinco niveles: 1) la existencia de una infraestructura física de transmisión, 2) la disponibilidad de equipamiento/conexión, 3) capacitación en el uso de herramientas informáticas e internet, 4) la capacidad intelectual e la integración social, e 5) la producción y uso de contenidos específicos.Nuestra hipótesis es que los programas no tienen en cuenta el seguimiento de los puntos de acceso a internet después de su implementación, ya que no prevén cambios y la reparación o el reemplazo de equipos dañados o no actualizados.Por lo tanto, los puntos de acceso son fácilmente y a menudo están sujetos a problemas técnicos que resultan en infrautilización o incluso obsolescencia.Para probar esta hipótesis, realizamos la observación del punto de acceso a internet en la escuela indígena Pamáali, ubicado en la zona noroccidental de la Amazonia brasileña. También hemos discutido y llevado a cabo entrevistas con los actores involucrados en la implementación de programas de inclusión digital dirigida a los pueblos indígenas: los ministerios y funcionarios de la Fundación Nacional del Indio (FUNAI),  representantes del tercer sector y los propios indígenas. Nuestro principal argumento es que mientras las acciones de inclusión digital del gobierno brasileño dirigidos a los pueblos indígenas no se hagan e implementen  como parte de una política indígena más amplia y no tengan en cuenta las especificidades de estos grupos, estas iniciativas se limitaran a brindar conexión a internet y la donación de equipos que serán subutilizados o se deterioran rápidamente