Title: ICTs and Informal Learning in Developing Countries
Author: Christopher Foster
Pages: 44 pp.
ISBN: 978-1-905469-16-1
Source: Working Paper Series, Paper No. 46, Development Informatics Group
Publisher: Institute for Development Policy and Management, University of Manchester
Date (published): 09/03/2011
Date (accessed): 04/12/2011
Type of information: working paper
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
"This paper presents an approach to understanding information and communication technology-for-development (ICT4D) interventions based around informal learning, where the ongoing process of using ICTs – rather than informational products – is seen as the principal development driver.

A conceptual model of informal learning in ICT4D is constructed. This model moves beyond the treatment of informal learning as a single unproblematic concept, to illustrate that there is a landscape of contrasting modes of informal learning and subsequent development outcomes that can occur within the processes of ICT4D projects.

We use this model to provide guidelines that will help practitioners to understand ICT process within their projects and how they might 'design' projects around informal learning; through linking actions and ICT use to desired development outcomes.

This study is supported by a review of the literature; in particular using case studies from India and Brazil to illustrate how informal learning can become the principal focus of an intervention, and potentially provide more appropriate ways to understand empowerment, social change and participatory production within ICT4D.

Educator's guide to student questions for this paper.

Table of Contents
Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2
A. INFORMAL LEARNING IN THE LITERATURE………………………………………………….. 3
A.1. ICTs and Informal Learning in Developing Countries ……………………………….. 3
A.2. Theoretical Approaches …………………………………………………………………………. 5
B. THE 'THREE DIRECTIONS' MODEL OF INFORMAL LEARNING………………………… 6
B.1. A Critique of Development as Empowerment ……………………………………………. 6
B.2. Three Informal Learning Outcomes Beyond Empowerment………………………… 8
B.3. Pedagogical Approach within the 'Three Directions' of Informal Learning…..11
B.4. Summary – A Model for Informal Learning in ICT4D ……………………………… 14
B.5. Locating ICT4D Projects in the Three Directions Model ………………………….. 15
C. APPLYING THE 'THREE DIRECTIONS' MODEL…………………………………………….. 16
C.1. Learning and Radio in India…………………………………………………………………. 16
C.2. Networked Cultural Learning in Brazil ………………………………………………….. 21
D. PRACTITIONER ADVICE ON USE OF INFORMAL LEARNING APPROACHES ……… 29
E. CONCLUSIONS…………………………………………………………………………………………. 33
E.1. Informal Learning and ICT4D2.0 ………………………………………………………….. 33
E.2. Future Work………………………………………………………………………………………… 33
E.3. Final Summary ……………………………………………………………………………………. 34
REFERENCES …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 35"

Title: The “Rede Brasil de Bibliotecas Comunitárias”: a space for sharing information and building new knowledge
Authors: Elisa Campos Machado, Geraldo Moreira Prado, Jailton Lira, Kleber Tadashi
Pages: 13 pp.
ISSN: 1712-4441
Source: Vol. 7 Nos. 1 & 2 (2010/2011) Special Double Issue: The Internet and Community Informatics in Brazil
Publisher: Journal of Community Informatics
Date (published): 26/08/2011
Date (accessed): 19/11/2011
Type of information: report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
"This is a report on the experience of creating the Rede Brasil de Bibliotecas Comunitárias (RBBC), an online social network that aims to bring together and share information regarding practices employed in setting up local library collections and making them available to the public; discussing the principles that govern the autonomous management of these spaces; establishing ties and creating exchanges between the different agents and spheres involved in this process; and encouraging society’s participation in the construction of public policy for Brazilian libraries. The work presents the theoretical references that make up the foundation of the proposal, the methodology employed and analyzes the data obtained during the first ten months of the network’s existence."

Title: Evaluating ICT Adoption in Rural Brazil: A Quantitative Analysis of Telecenters as Agents of Social Change
Authors: Paola Prado, Mauro A Câmara, Marco A. Figueiredo
Pages: 25 pp.
ISSN: 1712-4441
Source: Vol. 7 Nos. 1 & 2 (2010/2011) Special Double Issue: The Internet and Community Informatics in Brazil
Publisher: Journal of Community Informatics
Date (published): 26/08/2011
Date (accessed): 19/11/2011
Type of information: peer reviewed article
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
"This quantitative study surveyed 538 adults in isolated rural settings in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, to examine whether telecenters operated by the non-profit organization Gems of the Earth improve digital literacy and promote social change. Using multivariate logistic regression, the study examined how individuals use information and communication technologies (ICTs) at the telecenter, and tested for predictors of their use. The findings confirm that these rural communities use ICTs for entertainment, to engage in civic participation, and to practice professional skills. The findings suggest that digital inclusion impacts these isolated communities by creating opportunities that may foster human development."

Title: Mobile Financial Services Development Report 2011
Pages: 221 pp.
ISBN: 978-92-95044-80-7
Publisher: World Economic Forum
Date (published): 16/05/2011
Date (accessed): 12/08/2011
Type of information: research report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTMl + pdf + zip)
Abstract:
"The Mobile Financial Services Development Report 2011 provides a comprehensive analysis of more than 100 variables across 20 countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia. Developed in conjunction with the Boston Consulting Group, the report measures the critical factors necessary to achieve meaningful scale of mobile financial services and to meet the needs of billions of individuals excluded from the formal economy.

Defining mobile financial services devel­opment in terms of the key drivers across the institu­tional, market and end-user environments that lead to adoption and scale, the aim of the Report is to build consensus by proposing a taxonomy and analytic structure for assessing the mobile finance landscape in addition to the provision of a comprehensive data set.

The report takes a wide-ranging view in assessing the factors that contribute to the long-term development of mobile financial services. Along with including mobile payments and transfers, vital financial services such as savings, credit, and insurance are also within the Report’s scope.

Measures of mobile financial services development are captured across seven pillars:

Regulatory proportionality
Consumer protection
Market competitiveness
Market catalysts
End-user empowerment and access
Distribution and agent network
Adoption and availability

The report highlights that the adoption of mobile financial services is currently confined to a few countries where access to financial services has been historically constrained and the scope of services limited to mobile money transfer. The findings also suggest that the adoption of financial services such as savings, credit and micro-insurance are nascent and that regulatory environments, market competitiveness and the financial literacy of end-users all need to be collaboratively addressed before meaningful scale can be achieved.

Countries such as Kenya and the Philippines are among the few countries covered by the report that have achieved adoption levels of more than 10% of their total adult population. A defining characteristic of these countries is a dense network of agents – retail access points that are capable of registering account holders and handling cash transactions. However, as these countries look to achieve scale beyond payments, focusing on factors such as government disbursements through the mobile platform, the competitiveness of their financial and telecom sectors, and better data collection to facilitate “test and learn” approaches will need to become a priority.

Several countries such as Brazil and India demonstrate relative strengths when compared to those countries that have currently achieved scale in mobile payments. The ability to leverage existing agent networks and consumer protection in Brazil may facilitate the development of more complex financial services through the mobile platform. The widespread availability of mobile phones within India, the degree of competition within its telecommunications sector and recent regulatory changes may drive dramatic improvements in adoption levels."

Title: Sustainability First: In search of telecentre sustainability
Author: Harsha Liyanage
Pages: 171 pp.
ISBN: 978-955-599-507-8
Source: BookRix
Date (published): 05/04/2011
Date (accessed): 26/07/2011
Type of information: research report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
"Sustainability First is a research project carried out to capture the key sustainability lessons emerging from this mix of dynamic and evolving efforts, which is unique due to the involvement of such varied participants, which include grassroots leaders, corporate executives, bureaucrats, and politicians. Although the word “sustainability” implies broader social, cultural, political, and environmental aspects, the attention of the current research was focused mainly on economic sustainability. The research was carried out over nearly two years, beginning in January 2007, and involved a deeper cross-section of the telecentre ecosystem, which started with telecentre operators from individual telecentres in South Asia, Africa, and South America and extended through the senior managers of selected corporate, civil society, and government institutions in Brazil, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Although this book derives its main lessons from five key case studies, which feature ATN (Brazil), Grameenphone CIC (Bangladesh), D.Net (Bangladesh), Drishtee (India) and Sarvodaya-Fusion (Sri Lanka), the overall content of the book was not limited to those lessons, but was derived from the broader spectrum of telecentre experiences studied in Africa, Asia, and South America. This book attempts to capture the rich lessons of that relatively complex larger research study in order to uncover the key constraining factors that work against telecentre sustainability, and then to derive key strategies for success from selected telecentre networks.
...
Table of Contents
...
Preface – Sustaining Telecentres in Development Landscape
Introduction
Research Methodology
Chapter 1 Sustainability Dream – Why is it Unsustainable?
Chapter 2 Sustainability – What Makes it Possible?
Chapter 3 The Silver Lining of the Sustainability Cloud; Building partnerships for telecentre sustainability, case study – ATN, Brazil; Tapping the bottom of the pyramid, case study – Drishtee, India Exploring the knowledge market at grassroots, case study – D.Net, Bangladesh • Telecentres as a corporate social responsibility, case study – Grameenphone CIC,
Bangladesh; Evolution of a social enterprise, case study – Sarvodaya-Fusion, Sri Lanka
Chapter 4 Social Enterprise Approach to Telecentre Sustainability
Conclusion and Recommendations
Bibliography "

Title: Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Colombia: Cross-country Study on Violence against Women and Information Communication Technologies
Authors: María Isabel Davidziuk, María Alejandra Davidziuk
Pages: 8 pp.
Publisher: genderIT.org
Date (published): 22/02/2010
Date (accessed): 24/02/2010
Type of information: research article
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
This article presents and compares the findings of four national reports from Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Colombia undertaken by the Association for Progressive Communications Women’s Networking Support Programme (APC WNSP) as part of the project “Strengthening women’s strategic use of ICTs to combat violence against women and girls”. Despite the differences between and disparities among countries in the Latin American region, and that a great deal needs to be done before women achieve full digital participation and ownership, it is possible to assess a number of issues from a common perspective, in order to more clearly understand the problems faced, identify the challenges that need to be tackled, and find solutions that allow greater freedom for women and girls in Latin America.

Title: Technology for employability in Latin America: Research with at‐risk youth & people with disabilities
Authors: Joyojeet Pal, Jay Freistadt, Michele Frix, and Phil Neff
Pages: 94 pp.
Publisher: Technology & Social Change Group, University of Washington
Date (published): 06/11/2009
Date (accessed): 20/11/2009
Type of information: research paper
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
Since the early 1990s, there has been an increasing interest in technology training centers to build employability options of socially excluded groups in Latin America. This study examines the recent investment into computer centers providing basic technology training for people with disabilities and at‐risk youth. Using primary research in five countries: Brazil, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Venezuela, we discuss the ways in which technology training impacts the employability concerns of two populations with diverse needs and histories of social and economic exclusion from formal labor markets. The goal of this report is to provide scholars and policy‐makers an expansive survey of the landscape of issues around technology employability for socially excluded populations. Our findings are broadly divided into three segments. We first examine the environmental factors that impact such projects including the aspirational environment and the discourse of technology. We then discuss the short‐term impacts of these programs including the creation of pathways to employment, community‐building, as well as impacts on selfesteem and stigmatization and the potential of mismatched employment expectations from access to these programs. We finally turn to factors that influence the success of such programs including cost, certification, and accessible technology.

Title: Training on Communication and Information Technologies, Employment and Youth: The Case of Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico
Author Editor: Judith Mariscal, Antonio Jose Junqueira Botelho, Luis Gutierrez
Pages: 12 pp.
ISSN: 1544-7529
Source: Information Technologies & International Development, Volume 5, Number 2, Summer 2009, 19–30
Publisher: USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
Date (published): 10/07/2009
Date (accessed): 13/11/2009
Type of information: peer-reviewed article
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML and pdf)
Abstract:
As information and communication technologies (ICTs) become widely used in most economic sectors, there are increasing opportunities for marginalized groups to join new productive processes. These career advancement opportunities are particularly attractive for poor, young individuals; however, this increased adoption may also widen social and economic gaps by providing few access points to already-marginalized groups. This study examines ICT training by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in three countries in Latin America: Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico. Specifically, the study analyzes the use and effects of such training as a strategy for integrating marginalized youth groups into the knowledge-based economy. NGOs may play important roles as liaisons for effective adoption of ICTs. Professional training skills required by current market demands are, undoubtedly, a factor that contributes to the ability of marginalized youth to search for and secure employment. Today, these groups are socially and economically excluded. They face numerous obstacles, including a lack of both the quality education and the skills currently required by industries using ICTs and the support networks to obtain either employment or self-employment. ICT training offers unique opportunities for integrating marginalized youth into the new knowledge-based economy.

Title: LAN Houses: A new wave of digital inclusion in Brazil
Authors: Ronaldo Lemos and Paula Martini
Source: Publius Project
Publisher: Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University
Date (published): 21/09/2009
Date (accessed): 24/09/2009
Type of information: essay
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
The majority of Brazilians who access the Internet today do so through lan-houses. LAN stands for “Local Area Network”, i.e, computers assembled together to allow people to play multi-player games. Popular in Asia, in places like Korea, and previously existing only in the rich neighborhoods of Brazil, they have now become a phenomenon proliferating in poor communities, especially the favelas.

Title: Economic Development and Inclusion through Local Broadband Access Networks
Editor: Jaime García Alba
Authors: Stefano Migliorisi, Alessandra Balletti, Karl Edwards, Roberto Donà, David Mendoza, Ugo Silva Dias, Miguel Collado di Franco, Luis Deza
Pages: 145 pp.
Publisher: Multilateral Investment Fund, Inter-American Development Bank
Date (published): August 2009
Date (accessed): 28/08/2009
Type of information: research paper
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML, PDF)
Abstract:
The theme of the study is the recent experience of community-based initiatives driven by municipal governments, community organizations, local entrepreneurs associations, NGOs that have deployed sustainable local broadband connectivity services. This report provides a detailed mapping of best practice for the implementation of sustainable local broadband access networks and an analysis of the situation in Brazil, Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Peru.