Who uses ICT at Public Access Centers?

Libraries, telecentres and cybercafés are key points of public access to information around the world. In this first study of its kind, named the Public Access Landscape Study, a global research team led by the University of Washington’s Center for Information & Society (CIS) researched public access venues (libraries, telecentres, cybercafés) in 25 countries around the world. The goal of the project was to better understand the needs and opportunities to strengthen institutions that offer public access to information and communication, especially to underserved communities, and with a particular emphasis on the use of information and communication technology (ICT). This paper reports findings from this study, particularly in relation to the users of the different types of venues. Given that most public access venues are located in urban areas, and given the strong prevalence of cybercafés as the most common public access venues in the majority of the countries studied, a strong urban bias was confirmed. An age divide was by far the most significant characteristic of the surveyed population, with youth (15-35 year-olds) accounting for the vast majority of users of these venues. Also significant was that most users were highschool educated, and most were lower to middle-income. Older individuals, those with high or low education levels, and those with higher-incomes did not frequent public access venues nearly as much as younger, poorer, and more modestly-educated individuals. However, contrary to current literature on this topic, gender may not be as strong a differentiator of use of public access venue as other studies report. With few exceptions, women and men participated almost equally in most of the public access venues studied, although men tended to use cybercafés more often. This paper is one of a series of papers presenting findings from this large study across different types of public access venues in 25 countries. Findings from this study can inform policymakers about opportunities and challenges to support and strengthen public access venues and help reach underserved populations with meaningful access to ICT

Outcomes harvesting, Digital Agriculture Project, Kcamacho

This document presents the results of the evaluation of the Digital Agriculture project. The methodology known as outcome harvesting was used, which is a tool that allows to identify, monitor and learn about the changes of various actors involved in the implementation of the project. With the results it was possible to evaluate the significance of changes in the stakeholders and how the project contributed to this change

An evaluation of the outcomes of the calibration and validation of the RUMINANT Model for Colombia

This report is an evaluation of the outcomes of the calibration and validation of the RUMINANT Model for Colombia

Mercantilización del territorio y reconfiguración de las violencias contra las mujeres: el caso de las lideresas en los movimientos ecologistas contra el monocultivo de la piña

La incorporación de las tecnologías digitales en los movimientos sociales liderados por mujeres redefine las violencias de género. Este estudio trabaja con las mujeres lideresas ecologistas de los movimientos sociales en sus territorios rurales para redescubrir como las tecnologías digitales son a la vez un gran fortalecedor del movimiento social pero también un elemento adicional que reconfigura las violencias contra las mujeres por su condición de género y su condición de lideresas. Para hacer un análisis en profundidad se realiza un estudio de caso con investigación-acción. Se propone que la violencia contra las mujeres es integral y que no se puede dividir de la violencia en línea y fuera de línea. Por lo tanto hay que estudiarlo y afrontarlo de una manera completa y no por separado

Introduction

Ce numéro est le fruit de la collaboration entre la coopérative Sula Batsu (Costa Rica) et la chaire Unesco Pratiques émergentes en technologies et communication pour le développement de l’Université Bordeaux Montaigne (France). Il a pour objectif de faire le point sur le développement des technologies de l’information et leurs usages dans le cadre de l’innovation et du développement, de montrer des exemples de pratiques technologiques émergentes, de développer une réflexion théorique et méth..

Information Needs in Developing Countries: How Are They Being Served by Public Access Venues?

This paper analyzes challenges to meet information needs of underserved communities through public access to ICT in 25 developing countries. Information needs are analyzed from the perspective of the users and of the operators of public access venues such as libraries, telecentres and cybercafés. We discuss the importance of locally relevant content, available in local languages, and the need to help strengthen information literacy among users and operators of public access venues, including digital literacy. Libraries, telecentres and cybercafés in the countries studied were found to be meeting local users needs in different ways in each case. Effectively meeting users’ information needs is critical if public access to ICT is to contribute to human development, especially in libraries and telecentres, which generally have a social development mission (as opposed to profit-driven cybercafés)

Cosecha de Alcances: Valoración de las transformaciones producidas por las Mesas Técnicas Agroclimáticas (MTA) en Latinoamérica

Durante el 2019 se realizó un proceso de análisis de las transformaciones que han generado las Mesas Técnicas Agroclimáticas (MTA), en los territorios en que han sido establecidas durante los últimos 6 años. El estudio se enfoca en los cambios observables de comunidades, organizaciones o instituciones que han modificado sus acciones, relaciones, políticas y prácticas en cuatro países de Latinoamérica. Cinco áreas de transformación han sido identificadas i) mayor confianza en la calidad de información climática y agroclimática en el nivel local; ii) información agroclimática más conocida, comprensible y conectada; iii) democratización de conocimiento climático; iv) transformaciones en las prácticas agrícolas, y v) incidencia política y transformación institucional. Se verifican más de 140 alcances o cambios sobre dichas áreas. Se evidencia que las MTA analizadas han promovido un mayor acercamiento de las Instituciones Meteorológicas Nacionales a las necesidades de los territorios, lo que, a su vez, ha propiciado la creación de comunidades de práctica locales sobre la aplicación de conocimientos de clima en la toma de decisiones. En efecto, se tiene evidencia que los agricultores adaptan sus prácticas productivas tomando decisiones basadas en información de variabilidad climática local, reduciendo pérdidas y aumentando rentabilidad. Se demuestra, además, que el desarrollo de alianzas inter-institucionales derivadas de las MTA en los países, ayudan a la construcción y fortalecimiento de políticas públicas locales y nacionales para la adaptación al cambio y la variabilidad climática en la agricultura. Finalmente, se identifican diversas oportunidades y desafíos relacionados con liderazgo y la sostenibilidad del proceso de establecimiento de las MTA en Latinoamérica.During 2019 a process of analysis of the effects or transformations that the Local Agro climatic Technical Committees (MTA) have been carried out, in the territories in which they have been established during the last 5 years. The study focuses on the observable changes of individuals, communities, organizations or institutions that have modified their actions, relationships, policies and practices in five Latin American countries. Five areas of transformation have been identified as outcomes of the MTAs, among which are analyzed: i) greater confidence in the quality of climate and agro climatic information at the local level; ii) best-known, understandable and connected agro climatic information; iii) democratization of climate knowledge; iv) transformations in agricultural practices, and v) political influence and institutional transformation. More than 140 scopes or changes over these areas are verified. There is evidence that the MTAs have promoted a closer approach of the national meteorological institutions to the need of the territories farmers, which in turn has led to the creation of local communities of practice on the application of climate knowledge in decision making agricultural. Indeed, evidence shows that farmers adapt their productive practices by making decisions based on information on local climate variability, reducing losses and increasing profitability. It is also demonstrated that the development of inter-institutional alliances derived from MTAs in the countries, helps to build and strengthen local and national public policies for adaptation to climate change and variability in agriculture. Finally, various opportunities and challenges related to leadership and the sustainability of the MTA establishment process in Latin America are identified

Conectividade rural na América Latina e no Caribe. Uma ponte para o desenvolvimento sustentável em tempos de pandemia

120 páginasSe busca identificar y aproximarse hacia una cuantificación de las verdaderas dimensiones e implicaciones de una conectividad reducida. Para eso, se confeccionan índices de Conectividad Significativa Rural (ICSr) y de Conectividad Significativa Urbana (ICSu), indagando respecto a los núcleos críticos que impiden o dificultan la diseminación de mejores servicios de telecomunicaciones en América Latina y el Caribe. El documento pone de manifiesto el significado social y productivo de la conectividad como motor para la productividad y la inclusión al tiempo que se define como un motor para la inclusión y el apoyo a la economía tras la finalización de la crisis sanitaria.It seeks to identify and approach towards a quantification of the true dimensions and implications of a reduced connectivity. For this purpose, Indices of Significant Rural Connectivity (ICSr) and Significant Urban Connectivity (ICSu) are prepared, inquiring about the critical nuclei that prevent or hinder the dissemination of better telecommunications services in Latin America and the Caribbean. The document highlights the social and productive meaning of connectivity as an engine for productivity and inclusion while defining itself as an engine for inclusion and support for the economy after the end of the health crisis.Procura identificar e aproximar-se de uma quantificação das verdadeiras dimensões e implicações de uma conectividade reduzida. Para tanto, são elaborados os Índices de Conectividade Rural Significativa (ICSr) e de Conectividade Urbana Significativa (ICSu), indagando sobre os núcleos críticos que impedem ou dificultam a difusão de melhores serviços de telecomunicações na América Latina e no Caribe. O documento destaca o significado social e produtivo da conectividade como motor de produtividade e inclusão, ao mesmo tempo que se define como motor de inclusão e apoio à economia após o fim da crise da saúde

Technology and feminism : a strange couple

The "gender digital divide" constitutes a prolific research program that compares the differences between women and men in access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Nevertheless, those using feminist socio-constructivist perspectives argue for the need to pay attention, not only to "access," but also to "design," in addition to considering social relations as something that is coded within technological artifacts. From this perspective, gender constitutes an integral part of technological production. This paper explores the co-constitution of gender and technology, considering a specific action-research experience. It is argued that the re-signification of gendered and technological codes drifts through: a) the opening of gendered and technological codes; b) the production of new cultural imaginaries that question hegemonic representations of gender; and c) the production of new subjectivities through the reorganization of socio-technical practices to develop performative acts that transform patriarchal relationsLa "brecha digital de género" constituye un prolífico programa de investigación que compara las diferencias entre mujeres y hombres en el acceso a las Tecnologías de Información y Comunicación. Las perspectivas socio-constructivistas feministas, sin embargo, abogan por la necesidad de prestar atención no sólo al "acceso", sino también al "diseño", y consideran las relaciones sociales como elementos codificados en el interior los artefactos tecnológicos. Desde esta perspectiva, el género constituye una parte integral de la producción tecnológica. Este trabajo explora la constitución conjunta de género y tecnología a partir de una experiencia de investigación-acción específica. Se argumenta que la resignificación de los códigos de género y tecnológicos se desplaza a través de: a) la apertura de los códigos de género y tecnológicos; b) la producción de nuevos imaginarios culturales que cuestionan las representaciones hegemónicas de género; y c) la producción de nuevas subjetividades a través de la reorganización de las prácticas socio-técnicas para el desarrollo de actos performativos que transforman las relaciones patriarcales