[Lac] Newsletter : Mucha informacion de Latinoamerica ....

Fri Mar 5 13:36:27 GMT 2004

IMT : Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt Universidad 
Peruana Cayetano heredia

>Dear GKP Member,

Welcome to PARTNERS, the bi-monthly newsletter that brings you the latest news.

In this issue: 
HIGHLIGHTS
- WSIS UPDATE
- AWARDS UPDATE 
SPECIAL FOCUS
- SUCCESS STORIES
- ARTICLES & RESOURCES
- PROJECTS & INITIATIVES
- ORGANISATIONS

EVENTS CALENDAR 
LINKS TO OTHER ICT4D NEWSLETTERS

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HIGHLIGHTS 
World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) - Update

The first phase of the WSIS in Geneva addressed the broad range of themes 
concerning the Information Society and adopted a Declaration of Principles and 
Plan of Action. The scope and nature of this ambitious initiative will require 
partnerships with public, private and civil society entities, and such 
partnerships will be actively sought in the coming months. 

For a comprehensive look at the Geneva summit, please visit 
http://www.itu.int/wsis/ and 
http://www.ict-4d.org/Marketplace/en/default.htm

GKP Preparation for Tunis

The ICT4D Platform, the largest single parallel event of the World Summit on 
the Information Society (WSIS), was a resounding success. The co-organisers, 
the Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP) and the Swiss Agency for Development 
and Cooperation (SDC) were overwhelmed by the positive response from both 
participating organisations and visitors. From here, the GKP will re-orient 
its work in order to prepare for the second part of the Summit in Tunis. The 
members will discuss the role of the GKP for WSIS 2005 during its Annual 
Meeting in San Jose, Costa Rica, from 12-14 May 2004.

Tunis Preparation

Tunisia will be hosting an Informal Preparatory Meeting for WSIS 2005 from 4-5 
March in Tunis. The government of Tunisia is inviting the bureaus of the 
governments and civil society, the coordinating board of business 
interlocutors, and the high-level summit organizing committee for the informal 
brainstorming session.

Announcement

Mr. Charles Geiger nominated as Assistant Executive Director
The Secretary-General of ITU, Mr. Yoshio Utsumi, has nominated Mr. Charles 
Geiger as Assistant Executive Director of the WSIS Executive Secretariat. Mr. 
Geiger is on secondment from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation 
(SDC) of the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the preparation of WSIS. 
The WSIS Executive Secretariat has taken over the functions (including 
accreditation) of the Civil Society division, which was dismantled.

Internet Governance

ITU Workshop

The ITU has organized a workshop on 26-27 February 2004 in Geneva, 
Switzerland, in order to prepare ITU’s inputs and position vis-à-vis the 
Working Group to be established by the UN Secretary General on Internet 
Governance. This workshop investigates and makes proposals for action on the 
governance of the Internet by 2005.

UN ICT Task Force consultation on Internet Governance

Participants in the event, scheduled for 25-26 March 2004 in New York, will 
engage in an open discussion on all aspects of Internet governance. The Global 
Forum will contribute to the worldwide consultation process to be organised by 
the UN Secretary-General.

More info: http://www.unicttaskforce.org

Digital Solidarity Fund

CTO Conference: Implementing the WSIS Action Plan

On 25-26 March 2004 a conference is going to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, 
aiming at examining ways of implementing the WSIS Plan of Action adopted in 
Geneva. The event, initiated by the Commonwealth Telecommunications 
Organisation, will act as a follow-up to WSIS, focusing on implementation and 
best practices. As well as providing participant organisations with a unique 
opportunity to deliberate, plan and share common interests on specific key 
topics, the conference is aimed at facilitating the journey to WSIS 2005 in a 
creative and constructive way.

More info: http://www.cto.int

African Preparation

African Bureau Meeting

The African Bureau meeting on 21-22 February 2004 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 
was scheduled to discuss the WSIS follow-up. The meeting was about the format 
and content of the African Regional Preparatory Conference to Tunis, Digital 
Solidarity Fund, Internet governance, Capacity Building, Themes for Tunis 2005 
and Africa’s role in the global process leading to Tunis. 

Awards Update

Regional Awards

The APC Betinho Communications Prize: Recognising the use of ICTs for social 
justice in Latin America and the Caribbean

The $7,500 USD Betinho Prize is open to NGOs, community-based groups, 
coalitions, working groups or social movements that have successfully used 
information and communication technologies as an essential ingredient in their 
social justice and development work. In 2003, for the first time, the APC 
Betinho Prize was offered in recognition of ICT efforts that are improving the 
lives of people and communities in Latin America and the Caribbean.

APC targeted ICT initiatives that:
1. are people-centred and mobilise participation
2. have positive community impact
3. are driven and developed in Latin America and the Caribbean

Global Awards

Petersberg Prize

The deadline for nominations for the Petersberg Prize has been extended to 
Monday, March 22, 2004, to allow more time for submissions during this first 
year.

The Petersberg Prize will award 100,000 Euros for outstanding achievement in 
the use of ICT for development. Nominations must be complete and all 
supporting materials must be received by March 22, 2004.

In addition to awarding the Prize, the Development Gateway will share 
nominees’ stories on its global portal of knowledge for development, to help 
advance an understanding of their work and of the contribution of ICT to 
development.

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SPECIAL FOCUS: ICT AND ITS IMPACT IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN (LAC)

Editorial

As all over the world, ICTs have a very significant impact on the LAC 
countries. But whilst ICTs are seen as an important tool for sustainable 
development in LAC we have also to acknowledge that ICTs have significantly 
contributed to widen the gap between the rich and the poor.

ICTs are still available mostly on the basis of the ability of paying for 
them, which excludes the majority of the population from having access to 
ICTs. This situation has been recognized and there are currently a large 
number of digital inclusion initiatives undertaken in the region by all 
sectors of the LAC countries societies and the articles within this newsletter 
represent just samples of these initiatives. Many mistakes have been made 
through introducing top down “one shoe fits all” models that only use the 
ability to connect and financial sustainability as the sole benchmarks for 
digital inclusion. We are learning now that in order for ICTs to have a strong 
and lasting impact we need to take strongly into account the needs and demands 
of the grassroots communities and also the social, cultural and political 
dimensions of ICTs.

All sectors of society need to learn to work together in a focused, open and 
transparent way in order to fully develop the potential of ICTs as a tool for 
sustainable development.

Karin Delgadillo (Co-editor)

Karin Delgadillo, Executive Director, ChasquiNet Foundation 
(http://www.chasquinet.org/), Quito. Karin is the Coordinator of the telelac 
project that supports somos at telecentros (www.tele-centros.org), the Latin 
American and the Caribbean telecentre network, and is a member of the Interim 
Committee of the Latin American Community base telecentros network. She is 
also a Member of the Hemispheric Advisory Board of Institute of Connectivity 
of the Americas (http://www.icamericas.net).

She is a pioneer for ICTs and development in Ecuador and Latin America and is 
the author of numerous articles on the social use of ICTs for development, 
working on methodologies for the empowerment of grassroots communities and 
impoverished groups. She is a lobbyist and advocate for policies and 
regulations of ICTs for the social sector.

The views expressed in this editorial are solely those of the editor.

Success Stories from the LAC region

The following are initiatives that have been using ICTs to make a real and 
meaningful difference in communities in the Latin American and the Caribbean 
region. These success stories were recognised during WSIS Geneva.

Youth Award Success Stories (GKP)

Strengthening and empowering low-income communities through Digital Inclusion
This project uses the Internet as a communication channel for young people 
belonging to different social groups in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
Website: http://www.cdi.org.br
Tony Zeitoun Awards Success Stories (GKP-infoDev-IICD) 

El Correo del Agricultor – The farmer’s mail
A simple means of using the radio, with information sourced from the Internet 
and communicated through e-mail, has helped improve the lives of 14,500 
families in Bolivia.
Website: http://www.ondaslibres.org

I play, my Mom learns!
The project utilizes community-based toy libraries to enable poor children and 
lower-income families to access information via ICT tools.
Website: http://www.unesco.org/education/news_en/index_archives.shtml
Gender & ICT Awards Success Stories (GKP-APC WNSP)
Community Reproductive Health Project (REPROSALUD)
REPROSALUD is an attempt to reduce the great gap that exists in healthcare 
between women living in urban, peripheral and rural areas.
Website: http://www.manuela.org.pe/reprosalud.asp

Modemmujer: Mexico’s Only Electronic Communications Network
The project aims to play a leading role in the social and political arena, and 
the decision-making process, by promoting women’s rights.
Website: http://www.modemmujer.org/indexw.htm

FIRE – Feminista International Radio Endeavour
FIRE is the first international Internet radio produced by women.
Website: http://www.fire.or.cr

Strengthening Cyberela Network
The initiative gives women experience with the Internet while allowing access 
to radio programmes and gender content.
Website: http://www.radiofalamulher.com

GKP/Panos Media Awards

Brazil in the Information Society
A five-part series of radio reports on "Brazil in the Information Society", 
broadcast by National Radio of Brasilia and National Radio of Rio, from the 8 
to 15 October 2003. 

Articles

Women in Action: Women in Communication

Women in Action is a publication by the Isis International - Manila. Among the 
articles published for the February 2002 (focusing on Women in Communication) 
issue include an article by Angela Castellanos on “ICT Applications in Latin 
America: From Information to Knowledge Building”. This article highlights the 
issues on the availability of access, networks and the promotion of knowledge 
building in Latin America.

More info: http://www.isiswomen.org/pub/wia/wia202/ictlatam.htm

Community Telecentres for Development: Lessons from Community Telecentres in 
Latin America and the Caribbean

This document is the result of several years of research about community 
telecentres in Latin America and the Caribbean, coordinated by Fundación 
Chasquinet of Ecuador and supported by the PAN Americas program of the 
International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada.

The document explains the principles for community telecentres, their 
usefulness, sustainability and concrete examples. It is available online in 
English, Portuguese and Spanish at:

The Power of Networking: Somos at Telecentros, the Regional Network of 
Telecentres in LAC

The concept of networking is commonplace. All segments of all societies over 
the ages have established patterns of interaction, be it of interaction within 
the same society segment, or with other segments within a society or with 
segments of other societies. Contemporary ICT policies are no exception and 
put a lot of emphasis on Networking and on partnerships between the social, 
private and governmental sectors, the so-called SPG partnerships.

A recent article looks into one example of networking and partnerships, 
Somos at Telecentros (S at T), the Network of Telecentres in Latin America and the 
Caribbean. S at T is a showcase for networking inside one sector and actively 
seeks SPG partnerships. Looking into the lessons learned from S at T’s will 
provide valuable insights into the realities of networking and SPG 
partnerships.

The complete article is available at: 

Basic Principles of Telecentre Sustainability

It is a fact that the vast majority of Public Internet Access Points, or 
Telecentres, (including Cybercafé, Cabina Publica Internet, Telecentre, 
Infocentro, Multi-purpose Community Telecentre, Community Technology Centre, 
Locutorio, e-government centres, etc.), are finding it difficult to sustain 
themselves independently in the long term and thus require outside funding.

The global telecentre movement can now reflect on a history of more than 20 
years. Many initiatives and models have been tried and tested and some real 
success stories have emerged. Still, one of the “holy grails” of the global 
telecentre movement seems to be out of its grasp: The real sustainability of 
Community Telecentres. However, a few remarkable examples have emerged to 
reflect sustainability of telecentres provided that basic principles and rules 
are followed in their implementation and running.

Find a complete version of this article at: 

Resources

Digital Opportunity Channel: Latin America and the Caribbean

The Digital Opportunity Channel, a joint initiative by OneWorld.net and the 
Digital Divide Network, provides a summary of articles on projects and 
initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean.

More info: http://www.digitalopportunity.org/article/country/952

ITU: Initiatives in Latin America

In conjunction with the World Summit on the Information Society held in 
December 2003, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) compiled a 
collection of ICT stories from the field. The ITU’s Information and 
Communication Technology (ICT) success factor home page is designed to 
highlight some of the ongoing and successful ICT development projects taking 
place in the Latin American and Caribbean region and around the world. The 
showcase also provides specific overviews about how ICTs, and the Internet in 
particular, are being used to help bridge the global digital divide. This site 
will provide a glimpse of the many ways in which ICTs can help marginalized 
societies transition into knowledge-based societies.

Projects & Initiatives

Latin American and Caribbean ICT Policy Monitor

The central goal of the APC (Association for Progressive Communications) Latin 
American Policy Monitor (Proyecto "Monitor de Políticas de Internet en América 
Latina y el Caribe") is to ensure that the needs and demands of civil society 
in the region are taken into account at the time of developing ICT policies - 
especially those related to access and the appropriation of ICTs as a basic 
human right. APC aims to raise awareness amongst civil society actors 
regarding ICT rights and provides information, tools and training so that 
organisations can lobby decision-makers to ensure civil society needs are 
taken into account at the time that ICT policy is actually created and 
developed.

INFOLAC Programme

To bridge the Regional Digital Divide between LAC and the rest of the World, 
ORCILAC (UNESCO Communication and Information Regional Office for Latin 
America and the Caribbean) at UNESCO-QUITO is promoting a Regional strategy 
that joins the efforts of all the countries of the Region to share an 
International position, reinforcing their National Information Policies and 
concerned works. To this end, a number of projects have been launched to 
reduce the Digital Divide under the framework of the INFOLAC Programme 
(Information Society Program for Latin America and the Caribbean).

More information on these activities can be found at: 
(http://portal.unesco.org/quito, http://www.unesco.org.ec and 
http://infolac.ucol.mx/).

PAN-Americas Networking

The PAN Americas corporate project at IDRC supports research on the social 
uses and impact of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for 
development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The project focuses on 
strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations to better understand 
the implications of ICTs for development, and to more effectively participate 
and influence policy making in the region.

PAN Americas fosters collaborative approaches to research and learning, and 
promotes sensitivity to gender issues. The corporate project is part of the 
ICT4D (Information and Communication Technologies) Program Area at IDRC. It 
works c sely with the Institute for Connectivity in the Americas (ICA) and 
other regional and global initiatives.

For more information, please visit: http://web.idrc.ca/en/ev-2707-201-1-
DO_TOPIC.html

Gender and ICTs Group

Grupo Género y Tecnologías de la información is a group that focuses on gender 
and ICTs issues in Perú. This group aims to investigate the current trends for 
equitable access of both women and men and provides an avenue for debate and 
education.

For more information, please visit: http://www.concytec.gob.pe/generotics/

Women's Health Issues

The Impulsa Project is carried out the Peruvian University Cayetano Herredia, 
under the auspices of the Institute for Tropical Medicine Alexander von 
Humboldt and the Institute of Tropical Medicine Príncipe Leopoldo from Amberes-
Belgium. It is aimed at spreading educational information on the various 
aspects of HIV / AIDS in a simple and accessible language. It spreads 
information of prevention programmes that promotes women's health such as 
education and information on sexual and reproductive health issues and on 
sexually transmitted disease and HIV/AIDS.

More information: http://www.upch.edu.pe/tropicales/impulsa/upch.htm

The Europe Latin-America Cooperation Portal On Information Society (@LIS)

The aim of the @LIS International Stakeholders Network is to support 
cooperation and knowledge building on every topic related to the Information 
Society between Latin American and European actors, and to make visible and 
usable the results of the @LIS-Alliance for the Information Society Programme.
On this site you will find updated information, documentation, news and events 
about Information Society developments in Europe and Latin America.

More info: http://www.alis-online.org or http://europa.eu.int/alis

National Programme TICBolivia

TICBolivia is part of the propositions of the International Institute for 
Communication and Development (http://www.iicd.org/), based on a methodology 
to implement ICT projects for development sustained by feedback and 
strengthening of initiatives. 15 projects share a vision of sustained 
development that includes ICTs, both new and traditional ones, to foster 
progress focused on opportunity, transparency and continuous learning. 
TICBolivia is the only national programme in Bolivia that acts in an organized 
manner, since it looks for integration with the sectoral programs of the 
Bolivian government.

Organisations

ESPOL Information Technologies Center (Centro de Tecnologias de Información) – 
CTI (GKP Member)

The general objective of CTI is to transfer and disseminate knowledge to 
contribute in the search of the best solutions for the rational development of 
the Ecuadorian Society, and the integration of autonomous technology to 
contribute to the improvement of the life conditions and culture of Ecuador

CTI has successfully implemented a number of successful projects and 
initiatives including developing teachers’ and children’s skills in rural and 
urban marginal sectors, through the integration of ICT in their classroom 
(IEPSE), mobile computer labs that provide Internet connectivity and access to 
information to poor rural zones (MLCC) and recycling used technological 
equipment to provide public rural schools with basic computing infrastructure 
and training (EDUC at DIGITAL).

Fundacion ChasquiNet (GKP Member)

Chasquinet is an a private non-profit organization in Ecuador dedicated to 
empowering grass-roots organizations, campesinos, minority groups and 
impoverished sectors in general through the promotion and use of the Internet. 
Chasquinet views the Internet as a tool that can be used to enable poor 
communities to improve their living standards, to help them voice out their 
opinions and demands, and to create an impact on the crafting of social and 
economic policies that affect communities.

For more information, please visit http://www.chasquinet.org

Institute for Tropical Medicine Alexander von Humboldt (GKP Member)

The Institute for Tropical Medicine Alexander von Humboldt carries out 
research in order to contribute to the solution of national health issues, 
particularly those of tropical and infectious diseases. They offer medical 
services such as a hospital and specialized practices on those diseases, as 
well as research laboratories to support diagnosis. The Institute also carries 
out graduate and postgraduate programmes on specialised areas. Their research 
side is centred on development and investigative projects on medical practice 
and laboratory diagnosis carried out in partnership with European institutions.

More information can be obtained from: 
http://www.upch.edu.pe/tropicales/capacita/contenido/otros_info.htm

Omar Dengo Foundation (GKP Member)

The Omar Dengo Foundation is a private, non-profit organization created in 
1987 to promote the economic, social and human development of Costa Rica, 
implementing innovative programs to improve the quality of education. The 
Foundation is a pioneer in the introduction of computer technologies, 
innovative educational programs and new learning environments into the 
country’s public elementary schools system. It stimulates learning processes, 
creativity and development of thinking skills in public education and in the 
different situations in which learning takes place.

RITS – Information Network for the Third Sector (GKP Member)

RITS - Information Network for the Third Sector – is a private, autonomous and 
non-profit organization founded in 1997 which seeks to contribute to the 
critical appropriation of ICTs as a tool for empowerment, working together 
with civil society organizations, social and community movements. RITS also 
participates in the discussions on the right to freedom of _expression in 
cyberspace that comprises new ways and possibilities for the practicing of 
citizenship.

Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)

ECLAC, which is headquartered in Santiago, Chile, is one of the five regional 
commissions of the United Nations. It was founded for the purposes of 
contributing to the economic development of Latin America and the Caribbean, 
coordinating respective action, and reinforcing economic relationships among 
the countries and with the other regions of the world. Among its primary 
objectives is the promotion of the region's social development.

For more information, please visit http://www.eclac.cl/default.asp?idioma=IN

Institute for Connectivity in the Americas (ICA)
ICA has established an interactive portal for public policy makers, 
entrepreneurs, community activists, and digital pioneers dedicated to using 
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to shrink the digital divide 
in the Americas. ICA is involved in many different activities, support 
collaboration and multi-sectoral integration of ICT agendas for development. 
The multi-lingual website (4 languages) provides information about ICT/ICA 
events in the region.

For more information, please visit: 
http://www.icamericas.net/index.php?module=htmlpages&func=display&pid=9

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EVENTS CALENDAR

Regional ICT4D calendar (January to December 2004) for the LAC region

CELACOM - VIII International Colloquium on the Latin-American School of 
Communication
“Knowledge Society: Latin America Approaches” 
Date: 29-31 March 2004
Venue: UMESP - São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo — Brazil
Website: http://www.metodista.br/unesco

ICT tools and services in support of development of organic agriculture in the 
Caribbean: 
a training workshop for women farm entrepreneurs
Date: 27 March-3 April, 2004
Venue: Kingston, Jamaica
Website: http://www.networkedintelligence.com

I International Forum e-Panama
Date: 6-7 April 2004
Venue: Panama City, Panama
Website: http://www.e-panama.gob.pa/foro/index2.html 

4th World Summit on Media for Children and Adolescents: Media from All, Media 
for All
Date: 19-23 April 2004
Venue: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Website: http://www.riosummit2004.com.br/index.asp?idioma=ing

Latin American Regional Workshop On Radio, new ICTs and rural development
Date: 20-22 April 2004
Venue: Quito, Ecuador
Website: http://onda-rural.comunica.org/en/index.htm 

Latin American Awards for Digital Cities 2004
Date: April, 2004
Venue: Bogota, Colombia
Website: http://www.iberomunicipios.org/premio/

Seminar - Capacity Building Workshop
Date: 5-7 May 2004
Venue: Santiago, Chile
Website: http://www.apc.org/espanol/rights/lac/cnoticias.shtml?x=17345 
3rd Regional S at T Meeting
Date: May 2004
Venue: Sao Paolo, Brazil
Website: http://www.tele-centros.org/

After Geneva before Tunis
Date: May 2004
Venue: Sao Paolo, Brazil
Website: http://www.chasquinet.org

ICA Third Hemispheric Advisory Board Meeting 
Date: June 3-5, 2003
Venue: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Website: http://www.icamericas.net/index.php?
module=htmlpages&func=display&pid=235

CATI Annual Information Technology Congress
Date: 23-25 June 2004
Venue: São Paulo, Brazil
Website: http://www.fgvsp.br/cati/index.cfm?ChgIdioma=S

Youth Employment Summit (YES)
Date: October 4-7, 2004
Venue: Veracruz, Mexico
Website: http://www.yesweb.org/mexico

6th Annual Conference of the Global Disaster Information Network
Date: March 2004
Venue: Washington D.C., USA
Website: 
http://pele.apan-
info.net/QuickPlace/gdin_conference/Main.nsf/h_Toc/9398ead65996c9ff0a256d730074
9dfd/?OpenDocument

IInd. International Basin Conference
Date: 16-18 March 2004
Venue: New Delhi, India
Website: http://www.devalt.org/Basin/index.htm

Conference on Implementing the WSIS Follow-up
Date: 25-26 March 2004
Venue: Nairobi, Kenya
Website: http://www.aitecafrica.com/Kenya/cto.htm

Dare to Share Fair
Date: 30-31 March 2004
Venue: Ausserholligen / Berne, Switzerland
Website: http://www.daretoshare.ch

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