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ID: 116511Added: 2007-10-29 11:51Modified: 2007-11-08 10:54Refreshed: 2010-03-13 12:39 
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The following IDRC-supported projects have been listed by IGF themes (access, diversity, openness, security, development) or under other relevant projects. More information on these and other ICT4D projects can be found through a key word, subject or project number search using the IDRIS database available at http://idris.idrc.ca/app/Search 102693 Capacity Building for Community Wireless Connectivity in Africa The high cost of conventional "wired" infrastructure is an obstacle to those looking to harness the potential of information and communications technologies (ICTs) for development and social change. Wireless fidelity (WiFi), on the other hand, offers tested, low-cost options to complement conventional infrastructure, for example, making use of unlicensed radio spectrum to deliver fast Internet access. This project aims to empower communities and individuals in Africa to harness the potential of ICTs for development and social change through WiFi. It will do so through capacity building, training materials development, knowledge networking, information dissemination and general awareness raising in selected regions in Africa. The project objectives are to:
101981 "First mile" and "first inch" technologies in different low-density contexts The rapid expansion of telecommunications infrastructure in recent years has done much to bridge the digital divide. However, cost remains the principal obstacle to connectivity in Africa. The concept of "last mile" as applied to telecommunications infrastructure is traditionally defined as that which is required to connect a person or institution to the local telephone company, a problem traditionally solved by the telephone company. The concept of "first mile" mentioned in the title represents a more bottom-up analysis of the problem: it refers to new and inexpensive technologies (wireless, open source telephony applications) that are potential solutions to the problem. "First inch," on the other hand, addresses the fact that it is often not enough to place technology in the hands of the user. Rather, technology must be adapted to the local environment by taking into account such factors as language, literacy, physical access, etc. This grant will support 10 innovative pilot projects in rural and peri-urban areas in Southern Africa. Researchers will carry out a comparative analysis of the various technologies involved and map behavioural changes related to the introduction of these technologies. Much of the research on ICTs in Africa have raised the issue of the lack of sustainability of community access centres (telecentres, schoolnets, etc.). The problem is such that some of these centres have not even been able to offer Internet services. The principal causes are often cited as un-affordable costs and inappropriate community applications. This project therefore aims to test innovative ICT solutions within community-based projects that Acacia has traditionally funded, but are either lacking connectivity or the applications to attract community members or community workers to make use of the Internet. The key to this research will therefore be to understand how appropriate these ICT solutions are to African community access centres and their users. These innovations are already being used successfully in countries where incomes are higher, but the question still begs as to whether they are appropriate for lower income settings, notably in Africa. With each innovation, the project will therefore examine: a) the viability of these technologies in low-income countries, notably through the development of business cases; and b) regulatory or policy constraints that need to be addressed to enable diffusion of these technologies. 103371 – Regional Dialogue on the Information Society (DIRSI) The main objective of this initiative is to support the achievement of pro-poor, pro-market ICT regulatory and governance regimes in LAC countries. It also aims to assist in the development of a regional network including: applied and policy-oriented research; case and issue studies; political-economy assessments, etc.; and capacity development activities aimed at researchers, regulators, policy-makers, and other stakeholders. Complementarily, the project aims to stimulate macro- and micro-economic assessments of the impacts, benefits, and costs of governance and regulatory reform, and ICT diffusion in households and communities. The project has evolved through the creation of a regional network of researchers in ICT policy and regulation called DIRSI (Regional Dialogue on the Information Society). Web site: http://www.dirsi.net 102690 - Wireless Fidelity (WiFi): Innovation in Wireless Connectivity Overcoming the digital divide is one of the top issues on the public agenda in Latin American and Caribbean countries. The challenge is to find a technological platform that responds adequately to the salient features of the region, mainly, broad geographic spread of the population, rural-urban income disparity, socioeconomic inequalities, lack of public resources and low purchasing power. This project aims to explore the potential of wireless technology to overcome the communication barriers that keep low-income and rural communities from the benefits of the information society. In particular, the project will explore the Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) itinerant and asynchronous application. Three innovative network applications will be tested on a pilot basis in three different countries of the region. Researchers will explore the socioeconomic impact of these technologies on low-income and rural communities. The research findings will be disseminated, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the three applications 104120 - Agrarian Information System of the Huaral Valley (Peru) The Huaral valley, 100 km North of Lima, features a marginal farming population in a desert climate where scarce water is distributed by "Juntas de Riego" and "Juntas de Usuarios" (irrigation and users' committees). Access to the Agrarian Information System (SIA) of Huaral (http://www.huaral.org/SIA/) and an open source program on water (http://www.huaral.org/yacu.shtml) have demonstrated how information and communication technologies (ICTs) can benefit the farming community. Further timely, pertinent and reliable information could help local farmers adapt their production systems to local, national and external markets. This grant will support consolidation of the Agrarian Information System through innovative hardware and software technologies. The project will include three components: a local, geo-referenced information system for more efficient water distribution; convergence of traditional media with new communication tools (Internet, VoIP, digital radio) for expanded radio coverage; and a study of the relative effectiveness of mobile telephones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) in improving farmers' productivity. Individuals from the community will be trained to update the information in the Yacu (water) distribution system; to function as rural reporters for digital audio production; and to make the most of the (market) information provided through mobile technology. Hotspots with antennas will be installed so as to offer a wider range of access to farmers. 102042 PAN Localization : A Regional Initiative to Develop Local Language Computing Capacity in Asia Since its inception, the Internet has been dominated by the English language and North American culture. But, only about 5% of Asia's population understands English. The first phase of the project saw the establishment of the PAN Localization network (PAN L10n). The aim of the network was to build capacity in areas such as input/output standards (rendering and encoding character systems), localized applications (office suites) and issues related to lexicon and text processing (algorithms associated with grammar, spell-checking and sorting). The languages covered were Pashto (Afghanistan), Bangla (Bangladesh), Dzongkha (Bhutan), Khmer (Cambodia), Lao (Laos), Nepali (Nepal), and Sinhala and Tamil (Sri Lanka). Phase II will expand the project to include more national partner institutions and three additional countries: Mongolia, Pakistan and Tibet. Researchers will explore the obstacles (both policy and technical) to the production and consumption of local content, test strategies for training large groups of users, and analyze behavioural changes in the communities involved. The National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (Pakistan) will continue to coordinate, mentor and lead the network in the area of technology and training. BRAC University (Bangladesh) will handle content. The overall project objectives are to:
The specific objectives are:
103239 – Telework, New Forms of Work and Employment Opportunities This project is the outcome of three complementary proposals submitted by Asociación Argentina de Usuarios de la Informática y las Comunicaciones (Argentina), the Department of Management Studies at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica, and the Argentine Telework Association (AAT). Through applied research and networking, the three research teams analyze whether teleworking in LAC is an effective way of generating employment and thus alleviating the heavy burden of high unemployment. The three projects address the implications of telework for social and labour inclusion, competitiveness, and local development, respectively. One of the outcomes of this project was the production of of the book titled: “Exportadores de servicios en Internet” (http://www.e-libro.net/generos/libro.asp?id_libro=2064). Web site: http://www.aat-ar.org/ Project video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0tHQv3Lve0 102896 Enhancing Capacities for Localization of Arabic & African Languages It is generally agreed that the availability of software and content in the language most familiar to the user is a primary consideration in any attempt to use information and communication technology (ICT) for development. In this case, the term "localization" refers to adapting information and communication technology (ICT) to local modes of communication, culture and standards. In this proposal it is considered to cover a range of applications and centre on language. This project seeks to favour the localization of software and content into Arabic and African languages so as to make ICT more accessible and relevant to users and developers. Researchers will produce a background study on the state of localization in Africa and a follow-up study 2 years later; organize a continent-wide workshop on African and Arabic localization; and construct a website of resources for localization in Africa. The project objectives are:
102845 - Information and Communication Technologies and Native People In Argentina, there is a gap between the indigenous individuals who have moved to urban areas and their original communities. This situation results in the loss of ancient values and cultural roots on the part of those who have moved, and a loss momentum in the sending communities. However, information and communication technologies (ICTs) hold considerable potential for bringing these two sectors of indigenous society together. The Internet will allow indigenous people access to information useful for their development, and give them an opportunity to promote their own culture. This will be achieved by establishing a network of geographically dispersed communities linked through the Internet. Three young indigenous people with training in ICTs provided technical assistance to community members and train other youngsters in the use of ICTs for development. It is hoped that the virtual community thus established will help both urban and rural indigenous people to preserve their culture, and rural indigenous communities to manage their own development. Web site: http://www.lofdigital.org.ar/ 104416 - OSILAC: Observatory for the Information Society in Latin America and the Caribbean LAC has a dearth of comparable statistical data on issues concerning the information society; it is generally non-existent or exhibits a weak methodology and is sometimes influenced by vested interests. Thus, important decisions are often taken on the basis of guesswork analyses or on incomplete — if not flawed or misleading — statistical data. To address this matter, IDRC/ICA, in collaboration with the Economic Commission of Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), created the Observatory for the Information Society in Latin America and the Caribbean (OSILAC) in 2003. This initiative supports national administrations in their efforts to increase the quantity and quality of official statistics related to the emerging information society and economy in LAC. Web site: http://www.eclac.cl/socinfo/osilac/ 103680 OpenNet Initiative - Asia The OpenNet Initiative (ONI) is an international network with a mission to investigate and challenge state Internet filtration and surveillance practices. ONI has a proven track record of high quality research, including production of the IDRC-supported Global Censorship Map. ONI has worked extensively with partners in Central Asia to build local capacity to produce detailed reports, and engage in research and advocacy around these issues. This is the first phase of a project aimed at extending the methods employed in Central Asia to the rest of Asia. The grant will cover the preliminary investigation, partner recruitment and proposal development, and will involve consultation with partners in the region and a project planning workshop. The objectives of the project are:
103590 - Lanz@: Technology appropriation to foster entrepreneurship, participation of citizens and building capacity for productivity in communities of Central America Since 1987, the Fundacion Omar Dengo (FOD) in Central America has fostered development and social mobility by helping various groups - including students, women micro-entrepreneurs and older adults - appropriate information technology. This project will build on the foundation's experience in working with young people (simulated enterprise), small entrepreneurs (productivity improvement) and citizens in general (deliberation capacity). The project will be carried out by the foundation's Centre for Digital Citizenship and Productivity (CIPRODI) and is named Lanz@, an abbreviated form of the Spanish word lanza (launch). Using a train-the-trainers model, local researchers in selected communities in five participating countries will adapt and develop digital training tools appropriate to the needs of their communities, and interact with each other in a network. The idea is to create a culture of entrepreneurship and active citizen participation through demonstration projects in each of the participating countries 103816 - TRICALCAR: Weaving Community-Based Wireless Networks in Latin America and the Caribbean This grant will support a capacity-building and applied research project on community wireless networking in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Researchers will review, update and adapt 18 existing online thematic modules, and design seven new ones. A group of wireless experts with expertise in the social impacts of information and communication technology (ICT) will deliver three in-depth "train-the-trainer" workshops in order to provide 90 technicians with the necessary theory and practice to start their own community-based wireless networks and train additional technicians. In addition, three low-cost wireless networking initiatives will be developed to serve three isolated communities. Moreover, TRICALAR will endeavor to strengthen the emerging network of local community-based wireless champions by facilitating the exchange of knowledge between them and with other like-minded actors in the region. The training materials and knowledge gained during the experience will be documented and made available online. The idea is to improve Internet access in rural and urban marginalized areas at the most affordable cost. 103810 – Competitive Grants for Digital Innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean - FRIDA (Latin America and the Caribbean) This competitive grants program encourages original and innovative solutions to specific development problems in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) through the application of information and communication technology (ICT). In the process, the project is expected to build the capacity of a private sector association partner, LACNIC, to manage applied ICT for Development research. It is also expected to expand the network of applied researchers with which IDRC's works. The idea is to coordinate resources from various funding agencies for more effective utilization. In its first phase, the Regional Fund for Digital Innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean (FRIDA) held two calls for proposals, received 479 submissions and funded 26 research projects developed by institutions in 13 countries. In the second phase, this grant will support at least two more competitions over the period 2007-2009. Operation of the fund will include an evaluation committee for selecting the winning proposals, and a group of specialists to monitor and follow up project performance. This second phase will promote the development and adoption of national public policies that enable the use of ICTs, and help formulate the goals of a common policy agenda at the regional level, the Regional Plan of Action for the Information Society (e-LAC). Website: http://www.programafrida.net/en/ 104012 - Global Network: Integration and Harmonization of ICT Policy and Regulation Regional Research Networks IDRC has invested in the development of three regional networks focused on issues of inclusive information and communication technology (ICT) policy and regulation: Latin America - REDIS/DIRSI (103371), Asia - LIRNEAsia (103017). Africa - LINK Centre (101584). The three regional research networks were built as components of a global initiative driven by Learning Initiatives on Reforms for Network Economies (LIRNE). LIRNE is a consortium of ICT research and training centres associated with universities and institutes in several countries - Denmark, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Uruguay. LIRNE leverages its collective academic knowledge to facilitate ICT policy and regulation for development. This grant will allow LIRNE to develop new and maintain existing synergies between the participating centres and regional networks, with a view to promoting South-South dialogue and initiatives in support of inclusive policy and regulatory research. Of central importance to the project will be LIRNE's coordination and strategy work in preparation for the Third International Global Knowledge Partnership Conference (GK3), "An Event on the Future," 11-13 December 2007. 102896 Supporting Training for the Optimization of University Bandwidth in Africa Much has been said about the power of the Internet to deliver educational material and research publications to poorly resourced universities in the South. Yet all this hinges on having fairly good Internet bandwidth. In Africa, Internet bandwidth is exorbitantly expensive and the amount available makes effective use of the Internet difficult. Moreover, existing bandwidth is inefficiently used due to meagre capacity to deal with issues like spam, viruses and Internet-based e-mail and chat rooms that are extremely bandwidth intensive. This grant will allow the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) to help African research and education institutions optimize scarce Internet bandwidth. It will do so by means of a travelling workshop and supporting materials targeting three key groups: senior management, information intermediaries and information technology staff. The workshop materials will be made freely available to whomever wants to use them and a dissemination strategy will ensure that stakeholders are informed of their existence. The project objectives are:
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